Ojai Quarterly — Summer 2020

$5.95

FROM TURTLE KING TO ‘TIGER KING’ Why Eric Goode’s Netflix Hit Benefits Ojai ALL ABOUT EVE

PEDAL POWER

LA ‘It’ Girl & The Ojai Music Festival

Riding the E-Bike Revolution

Wilde

Larry 805.640.5734

Erik 805.830.3254

Modern Ranch in Downtown Ojai $7,900,000

East End | Spectacular Views “Rodney Walker” Pedigree $2,950,000

Ojai Church For Sale | Half Acre | Approximately 4000 SF Steps to Ojai Downtown | $1,295,000

East End Six Acres | Very Productive Water Well Grand Avenue | $1,200,000

2+ acre Oak Studded lot with water in Rancho Matilija | $549,000

East End Ojai Craftsman | $1,800,000 | 1615McNellRoad.com

Downtown Ojai | 2000SF Village Mixed Use Adjacent to Farmer’s Markets | $950,000

Light-Industrial | Bryant Circle | 2450 SF Solar Electricity | $959,500

Commercial Lot in Ojai $375,000 727 W. Ojai Ave. - Ojai - CA 93023 - Larry - 805.640.5734 - Erik - 805.830.3254 wilde-wilde.com - lwilde@west.net - erikw@west.net Larry Wilde DRE:#15216270 - Erik Wile DRT:#01461074

Ojai Avenue Lot For Sale $325,000

Sitting on over three acres in the prestigious Persimmon Hill area of downtown Ojai. This five-bedroom, three-bathroom sprawling ranch style home showcases open-beamed vaulted ceilings, a stunning great room with a massive brick fireplace, formal dining room, hardwood floors and a large master suite.

DONNA SALLEN

w w w.donnasal l en.com

805.798.0516

donna4 r em ax@aol .com

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

Fabulous and charmingly inviting, this two-story Victorian estate is nestled in the magical East End of Ojai.

Surrounded by organic orchards and meticulous landscaping, this home is filled with Southern Charm. The wraparound porch looks out to the gardens, as the country kitchen and breakfast nook looks out to the pool and tennis court. Perfectly situated nearby are the spacious guesthouse, separate cottages, and a writer’s studio creating plenty of living space for friends and family. This relaxing and inviting estate is truly elegant.

DONNA SALLEN

w w w.donnasal l en.com

805.798.0516

d o nna4 remax @ao l. c o m

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

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

G a b r i e l a Ce s e ñ a T H E N E X T L E V E L O F R E A L E S TAT E S E R V I C E S Re a l t o r ® | L u x u r y S p e c i a l i s t Unwavering commitment to my clients’ satisfaction.

D R I V E N B Y PA S S I O N F O R T H E W O R K I D O !

805.236.3814 | gabrielacesena@bhhscal.com LIC# 01983530

Gabrielacesena.bhhscalifornia.com © 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC.

As a fourth generation native with over twenty years of experience, I’ve built a team that shares my great passion for Ojai. We have closed hundreds of sales together—embracing a commitment to honesty, integrity, and hard work.

Take advantage of our comprehensive knowledge of the buying and selling process, and you’ll quickly learn why our team is voted “Best [Realtor] of Ojai” and “Top Team” again and again.

“The Peralta Team gets the deal done. We could not recommend an agent more. Absolutely phenomenal experience on every level.” –Erik & Jessica Haney Uniquely qualified to help you achieve Real Property Success.

10

ILiveinOjai.com | (805) 794-7458 OQ / SUMMER 2020

Mid-Century in Ojai’s East End $1.895M

Ojai Foothills with Pool $1.839M

SOLD

16 Acres in Ojai’s East End $3.5M

Mid-Century in Foothills | Call for Price

SOLD

2 houses plus a large workshop $799,500

Upper Signal, Guest House, Studio $3.425M

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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BRE#01862743

Dedication. Determination. Distinction.

Serving Ojai since 2007 New look Continued excellence in client service Stay safe Stay healthy Find joy!

Phone - 805.272.5221 Email: RayandCheryl@kw.com Website: www.BestBuysInOjai.com BRE# 01761150, 00780642, 01962884, 02019595, 02018091

Cheryl & Ray Deckert

Sheryl Whipple

Robert Perron

Paul Johnsen

Ojai, We’re Here For You.

No matter whether there’s a fire threatening our town or a pandemic sweeping the globe, Ojai Valley REALTORS ® are here when you need us. And right now, we’re taking extra precautions to keep home buyers and sellers safe. Real estate has been designated as an essential business. People need homes no matter what’s happening in the world. But we encourage you to shop for your home online, taking advantage of the 3D floor plans, videos, and virtual tours that help you narrow your choices. When you’re ready, your REALTOR ® can arrange a live showing, making sure you have masks, gloves, and booties to cover your shoes. This is a comfort to both buyers and sellers. And it’s just one of the ways we are keeping the Ojai Valley safe and sound. We hope you and your family are sheltering at home and staying well. We look forward to seeing you in person as our valley comes alive again.

The REALTORS ® of Ojai Valley

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

This ring features a magniďŹ cent blue diamond and ethically sourced yellow gold

Please visit our website and be sure to check for our Ojai store reopening hours by calling or emailing us prior to your visit.

Lovingly handcrafted in Ojai, CA Jes MaHarry Store - 316 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai CA 93023 jesmaharry.com ~ 877.728.5537 ~ info@jesmaharry.com jesmaharryjewelry

Photo by: Rylann Smith

OJAI QUARTERLY

p.88

COVER STORY From Turtle King to ‘Tiger King’ Story by Bret Bradigan Photo by Brandi Crockett

Cover

$5.95

FROM TURTLE KING TO ‘TIGER KING’ Why Eric Goode’s Netflix Hit Benefits Ojai

p.100

ELECTRIC AVENUE Assisted Wheeling On the Streets, Trails of Ojai

By G Lev Baumel

ALL ABOUT EVE

PEDAL POWER

LA ‘It’ Girl & The Ojai Music Festival

Riding the E-Bike Revolution

p.52

Hip hop ojai

Chrysalis of Rhythm

By Betty Nguyen

Eric Goode by Brandi Crockett/Fancy Free Photography

FEATURES NEWT GENERATION Amphibians on a Mission to Survive in Backcountry Waters

By Chuck Graham

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p.78

Age of Eve Los Angeles “It” Girl and Ojai Music Festival

By Mark Lewis

michaels

+a s s o c i a t e s OJAI

REAL

ESTAT E

GR OU P

Luxurious Ojai compound Twenty-Three Palms

With unparalleled privacy, views & quality, this elegant 3,249 sq ft main villa, 2 bdrm guest cottage & separate artists studio are as luxurious as the finest Aman Resort and offer 5,000 sq ft of combined living area.

Whether it's your primary sanctuary or a getaway retreat you're seeking; this incomparable 2 acre compound with infinity pool & spa, solar panels, back-up generator and 4 car garage offers a lifestyle and experience you won't forget!

$3,850,000

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

A Slice of Ojai Paradise This impeccably renovated 1928 East End cottage designed by Austen Pierpont enjoys a most magical 1.1 acre setting and unparalleled privacy for the 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath main residence plus newer 1 Bedroom guest cottage. The enormous renovated kitchen with Wolfe, Miele & Sub-zero appliances will inspire any chef and the remodeled baths are absolutely classy!

Relax by the Saltwater Pool or retreat to the very cool 1920’s vintage stone outbuilding: a perfect hideaway for your wine cellar and tastings with friends. Come enjoy the magic!

$3,449,000

Char Michaels

(805) 620-2438 www.ojaihomes4sale.com

Keller williams west ventura county DRE# 00878649

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OQ | DEPARTMENTS p.35

Ojai Notes

OJAI LIFE:

Podcasting and Marilyn’s Last Will

By Bret Bradigan

p.44

Tree’s Bali Days Going Away, Being Someone Else

p.28 Editor’s Note p.30 Contributors

By Kit Stolz

p.35 Ojai Notes

p.64

p.36 Animal Neighbors

Sea-Questered & Cooking in Place

p.51 Ojai Reads

Food & Drink

By Ilona Saari p.71

Chef Randy Grilled Peach & Avocado Salad

By Randy Graham

p.106

Ask Dr. Beth Top 10 Superfoods & You

By Beth Prinz, M.D.

p.55 Artist Spotlight p.56 Artists & Galleries p.72 Ojai’s Wine Trail Map p.96 Beyond the Arcade Map p.106 Ask Dr. Beth p.109 Healers of Ojai

p.120

Nocturnal Submissions The Corona Diaries

By Sami Zahringer

p.110 Top Ojai Hikes p.117 Calendar of Events

15% Discount Restrictions apply. Not to be used with other offers or discounts.

Call for free design consultation

805-988-7861

the art of organization

closets | garages | home offices | entertainment centers | wall units | wall beds pantries | craft rooms | laundry rooms | mud rooms | wine rooms ©2019 Closet Factory. All rights reserved. CA Lic. #937353

HOLISTIC, REGENERATIVE GARDENS Organically improving soil water holding capacity and vitality through water catchment systems, applications of active compost, soil injections and foliar spraying compost teas & extracts and mulching

Native and Mediterranean garden specialists

805-640-1827 • www.greengoddessojai.com 22

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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23

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

24

Lynn Goodman 805.573.5927

Ojai

Heather Erickson

805.798.3358

OQ / SUMMER 2020

CA

Riley Becker

805.646.6768

OJAI QUARTERLY Living the Ojai Life

SUMMER 2020 Editor & Publisher Bret Bradigan

Director of Publications Ross Falvo Contributing Editors Mark Lewis Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr. Jesse Phelps Creative Director Uta Ritke

Columnists Betty Nguyen Chuck Graham Dr. Beth Prinz Ilona Saari Kit Stolz Sami Zahringer Circulation Target Media Partners

CONTACT US: Editorial & Advertising, 805.798.0177 editor@ojaiquarterly.com sales@ojaiquarterly.com The contents of the Ojai Quarterly may not be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to the OQ, visit ojaiquarterly.com or write to 1129 Maricopa Highway, B186 Ojai, CA 93023.

Subscriptions are $24.95 per year.

#OJAIQUARTERLY The Family That Climbs Together: Melissa Cuellar climbing, Lucas Uribe on belay, at an undisclosed location up Highway 33.

IG: @lucasuribe03

OQ / SUMMER 2020

You can also e-mail us at editor@ojaiquarterly.com.

Please recycle this magazine when you are finished. © 2020 Bradigan Group LLC. All rights reserved.

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Dr. Drew eggebraten, DDs

general & family dentistry...

“We specialize in biomimetic principles. Biomimetic dentistry is the reconstruction of teeth to emulate their esthetic and natural form and function. It is the most conservative approach to treating fractured and decayed teeth — it keeps them strong and seals them from bacterial invasion. By conserving as much tooth structure as possible, we can eliminate the need for many crowns and root canals.”

Dr. Andrew Eggebraten, USC Graduate

Dr. Drew eggebraten, DDs

...for a better smile!

805-649-1137 110 E Portal Street Oak View, CA 93022 Fax: 805-649-1919

•

ojaidental@hotmail.com

•

www.dreweggebratendds.com

Š2020 Ojai Valley Inn

In these unprecedented times, the moments we share and the connections we make are more vivid than ever. We look forward to the day when we can welcome you with open arms, when life becomes whole, when experiences are made new, and when dreams are restored. #DreamingOfOjai

855.420.9209 OjaiValleyInn.com

Images of treasured moments shared by guests on Instagram

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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O Q | ED I TO R’ S N OTE

OJAI RISES, YET AGAIN “Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves,” — Mason Cooley

Ojai has been through a rough few months. Even rougher for us than a lot of places, because the foundation of our economy is built on tourism, which came to a standstill with Gov. Newsom’s stay-at-home order in mid-March. It’s still a shaky foundation, because if this pandemic is like others, there will be further waves, which means further social distancing.

Yet our underlying strengths haven’t changed. I remember all too well the Thomas Fire’s devastation and being surprised by the economic resiliency of Ojai. This feels different than the fire, in important ways. The Arcade was already going through a major turnover with the loss of generations-long mainstays like Kindred Spirit and Human Arts Gallery retiring, and the Oaks at Ojai, a downtown nexus since the Cluffs bought it in 1977, succumbing to fire damage.

Yet plenty of cause for optimism remains. It will be months before the Oaks reopens as the El Roblar Hotel, but given the stellar experience of the principals in that venture (see cover story on page 84), we have every reason to believe that it will again attract people to Ojai.

Just as America entered into the pandemic and was eager for an entertaining binge, along comes “Tiger King,” led by Joe Exotic, the gay polygamist zookeeper who enjoys blowing up things in his backyard with the readily available explosive tannerite. The murder-for-hire plot at the center of the story is just icing on the cake. But the show’s creator, Eric Goode, uses this eccentric cast to make a subversively poignant point — these beautiful wild cats are being exploited right under our noses. By creating something so wildly entertaining, Goode has done more to bring to light the suffering of these caged cats than a dozen preachy documentaries.

The things that make “the Little Orange” a desirable destination, our natural beauty, charming village atmosphere and sturdy social infrastructure, become even more valuable in proportion to the disappearance of those attributes elsewhere. The demand for serenity and mindfulness, which Ojai offers in abundance, exceeds the supply.

Betty Nguyen’s well-tuned ear brings us two stories about two very different musicians, both of whom find inspiration from our natural beauty and a supportive community of fellow artists.

And speaking of fellow artists, Eve Babitz, famed muse and Los Angeles “It” girl, has her many Ojai connections brought together, beautifully, by Mark Lewis. It’s another fascinating cultural history of our community. Backcountry explorer Chuck Graham goes deep into our more diminutive dwellers, the California Newt, which, not unlike us with the pandemic, faces its own threats — introduced crayfish and the native two-striped garter snakes, which have adapted to the newt’s protective poison. This is natural selection at work right under our noses. Then Ilona Saari generously shares her and her husband’s food enthusiasm, making a proper hash of it. Her wordplay is as delightful as her husband’s cooking.

Perhaps no one is more naturally selected to make light of, and bring light to, the social distancing era than Sami Zahringer, whose “Coronavirus Diaries” will likely become a treasured artifact of this age, of how mankind adapts to crisis with humor, perhaps the most necessary survival instinct we have.

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

Riki Strandfeldt

1 .1 2 ac re H o r se P rop er t y

Residence + 1/2 acre vacant lot

SOLD!

CA DRE Lic. # 01262026

(805)

794-6474

Your call is always welcomed.

Riki4RealEstate.com

Search all Ojai Valley & Ventura County MLS Listings (no sign-in required) Back porch vistas

www.11209CreekRd-Ojai.com

www.Bear-Creek-Ranch.com SOLD!

Craftsmanship

Cabin, Guest House & more on 39 acres

www.403NFulton.com

Vivienne Moody CA DRE Lic. # 00989700

(805)

798-1099

Call to see any listing!

OjaiViv.com vmoody10@sbcglobal.net

+ A New Listing ~ Walk to downtown Ojai

4 bedroom / 2 bath

OQ | C O N T RI BU TO R S

SERGIO ARAGONÉS

G. LEV BAUMEL is

JERRY DUNN

CHUCK GRAHAM’S work

began drawing for Mad Magazine in 1963 and he has drawn tens of thousands of cartoons since. He is regarded as among the world’s most distinctive and prolific cartoonists.

received the 2011 Gold Award for best travel column from the Society of American Travel Writers. His latest book is “My Favorite Place on Earth.”

BETTY NGUYEN

works as a creative consultant to help clients rebrand, offering fresh copy, engaging photos and impactful marketing strategies.

Follow @chironhouse

ILONA SAARI is a writer who’s worked in TV/film, rock’n’roll and political press, and as an op-ed columnist, mystery novelist and consultant for HGTV. She blogs for food: mydinnerswithrichard. blogspot.com.

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BRANDI CROCKETT is an

a mother, writer, language and writing teacher, an MFA-candidate, potion maker and an avid doodler based in Ojai. She is happiest when she knows her next travel dates.

Ojai pixie tangerine peelin’ native and an editorial and destination wedding photographer.

Check out her work at fancyfreephotography.com

MARK LEWIS

is a writer and editor based in Ojai. He can be contacted at mark lewis1898@gmail.com.

has appeared in Outdoor Photographer, Canoe & Kayak, Trail Runner, Men’s Journal, The Surfer’s Journal and Backpacker.

UTA CULEMANNRITKE

DR. BETH PRINZ

has lived and worked as a doctor in New York, London and locally. If she were president, she’d make fruits and vegetables free for everyone, and end chronic disease. Until then, she hopes to persuade with words. askdrbeth@ ojaiquarterly.com

is an independent artist, designer and curator.

She is a member of Ojai Studio Artists and runs utaculemann.design and inbetweenwhite.art

SAMI ZAHRINGER is

KIT STOLZ is an award-winning journalist who has written for newspapers, magazines, literary journals, and online sites. He lives in Upper Ojai and blogs at achangeinthewind.com.

an Ojai writer and award-winning breeder of domestic American long-haired children.

She has more force meat recipes than you.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

Check Out The Ojai Podcast!

Subscribe

OJAI HUB

wherever you get your Podcasts Reviews are in!

“As if we don’t have enough drivel already,”

— George Shaw

Your Central Source for Events, News & Living the Ojai life.

WWW.OJAIHUB.COM

805.798.0177

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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OJAI’S BEST LAND BUY!

12412 Linda Flora Drive | Ojai REDUCED 50K! Prime 2.4 acre parcel behind the gates in Rancho Matilija. Completely flat, utilities in street, water meter and mountain views zoned for horses and adjacent to walking and horse trails. Perfect for mini estate - A great value at $499,000

PENDING

1102 N. Montgomery Street | Ojai Desirable single story custom home on almost 1/3 acre in great Ojai culde-sac location. Main house has 3 beds, 2 baths and a beautiful backyard built for entertaining. Home has raised ceilings, a remodeled kitchen, rock fireplace, wood floors, French doors to large patio and pool/spa area with beautiful mountain views. Newer roof with owned solar panels and low maintenance landscaping. Property includes legal second unit - studio room with bath and kitchenette.

Dennis Guernsey Broker | Cal DRE 00499291 805.798.1998 dguernsey@livsothebysrealty.com © 2020 LIV Sotheby’s International Realty. All rights reserved. All data, including all measurements and calculations are obtained from various sources and has not and will not be verified by Broker. All information shall be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy.

LIV Sotheby’s International Realty is independently owned and operated and supports the principals of the Fair Housing Act.

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | OJAI NOTES The village of Ojai takes it name from the Chumash village of Ahwa’y, in upper Ojai. It means “Moon,” according to Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, Chumash elder.

Remains of a village site in what is now Libbey Park date back to 9,000 to 10,000 years ago.

CONTROVERSIAL OJAI-MADE DOCUMENTARY DE-PLATFORMED

Mikki Willis, owner of Elevate Films, an Ojai-based community, generated a firestorm of controversy with the 26-minute trailer for his film, “Plandemic, “alleging conspiracies surrounding the spread of coronavirus. In an interview with anti-vaccine activist, Judy Milkovits, claims are made that wealthy people are intentionally spreading the novel coronavirus to increase vaccination rates in the population at large and that wearing a mask can actually worsen viral symptoms.

Posted on May 4, the video racked up millions of views within hours, then Facebook and Youtube removed the video and any ads containing it. A spokesperson for Facebook was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, “Suggesting that wearing a mask can make you sick could lead to imminent harm, so we’ve removed the video.”

MARILYN MONROE’S LAST WILL & OJAI

‘OJAI: TALK OF THE TOWN’ PODCAST TAKES LOOK AT COMMUNITY “Ojai: Talk of the Town” podcast launched April 14 with a package of four episdoes dealing with the community and the pandemic.

An interview with eminent physician Dr. Marty Pops, former chair and current board member of Community Memorial Health Systems, covered Ojai’s state of medical readiness for the coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Pops also talks about his time at UCLA as director of admissions for one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country, sharing stories about John Wayne and John Wooden.

Episode two featured Ojai’s Mayor Johnny Johnston about the community’s mutual aid and social cohesion, as well as his experiences orchestrating the O.J. Simpson trial as a court administrator in Los Angeles County. Johnston also talks about the Civil War, Jim Thorpe and Henrik Ibsen.

Dr. Tiffany Morse, superintendent of the Ojai Unified School District, talks in episode 3 about the challenges of distance learning, the enormous social needs in the community that the pandemic exposed, and what the future of education might look like.

Episode 4 featured renowned

2

TWO DEGREES

of

OF SEPARATION BETWEEN

OJAI

ONE: Marilyn Monroe, one of the foremost cultural icons of America, died prematurely at age 36 after an overdose of barbiturates. She was shooting her final film, “The Misfits,” based on the screenplay from her former husband Arthur Miller.

Her will proved contentious, with her splitting proceeds from her fortune among several close friends, including her psychiatrist. The images and archives of her estate proved immensely valuable as her fame only deepened from the tragic mystery of her death in 1962.

Download and hit the Subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts — iTunes, Spotify, Anchor or Google.

Shakespearean dramatist Michael Addison, who talks about what the Bard can teach us about creating art during periods of isolation, the mystery plays of Mexico during their revolution and how astounding it is that so many talented people live in Ojai.

Other guests include Jamie Fleming, CEO of the Ojai Valley Chamber, and chef and former TV host Claud Mann, both of whom talk about the lasting impacts of the pandemic on Ojai’s shaky economy.

The podcast is an extension of, and discussion about, Ojai from the people who bring you Ojai Quarterly and Ojai Monthly.

Episodes will be released on Thursdays through the Ojai Hub newsletter.

?

TWO: In her will, Marilyn Monroe left a sizable portion of the fortune to Michael Chekhov’s widow.

The revered acting teacher, nephew of Anton Chekhov, was close friends with Monroe, aside from being her mentor. Her last will and testament from 1962, set up a trust fund to pay $2,500 a year to Chekhov’s widow in perpetuity. Chekhov was very active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, close friends with upper Ojai theater professionals Iris Tree, Woody Chambliss and Ford Rainey.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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OQ | A N I MA L NEI G HB OR S

1 TURTLE CONSERVANCY

turtleconservancy.org info@turtleconservancy.org.

The Turtle Conservancy, located in Ojai’s East End, is dedicated to protecting threatened turtles and tortoises and their habitats worldwide, and to countering the illegal trade in such animals, which is decimating their numbers. Working with partner organizations, they’ve purchased land and established preserves for endangered turtles in Africa, Asia and Mexico. They’ve established a captive breeding center with the ultimate goal of re-wilding species to their native habitats when it is safe to do so. The Turtle Conservancy depends on donations to fund its programs, and welcomes volunteers to help out with numerous projects at our Ojai facility.

2 LOCKWOOD ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER

info@lockwoodarc.org phone: 661-220-5505

The Lockwood Animal Rescue Center (LARC), founded by Dr. Lorin Lindner and Matt Simmons, offers a therapeutic work environment for returning combat veterans and a “forever home” to wolves, wolfdogs, coyotes, horses, parrots and other animals. Located on a 20-acre facility with a 3,000-acre buffer, we offer both the veterans and animals an opportunity to heal and thrive in a back-to-nature setting. “Though not open to the public, we cater to veterans suffering from trauma, and are welcome to participate in our work therapy program. We offer an immersion program for veterans to stay and participate, and to learn basic skills for caring for animals and self healing,” Dr. Lindner said.

3 OJAI RAPTOR CENTER

ojairaptorcenter@gmail.com phone: 805-649-6884

ORC was founded and is directed by Kimberly Stroud, who started her training at the Raptor Rehabilitation and Release Program in 1992. In 2000 she went on to found Ojai Raptor Center. First and foremost, Ojai Raptor Center is a fully functional and permitted wildlife rehabilitation center, specializing in birds of prey. Every year they take in 500 to 1,000 sick, injured or orphaned birds (including many non-raptor birds, and a small percentage of mammals) with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back to the wild. Our four-acre campus is comprised of a medical room and hospital, as well as outdoor flights, aviaries and mews. The center also features the largest flight in California.

4 HUMANE SOCIETY OF VENTURA COUNTY

animals@hsvc.org phone: 805-646-6505 or 805-656-5031 36

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Ojai Valley lies a 4.4-acre hidden haven for wayward animals.

Founded in 1932, the Humane Society of Ventura County has been serving not just the animals of the Ojai Valley, but all of the animals in Ventura County. Traditionally, an animal shelter is thought of as solely a place for animals to seek refuge until a permanent home can be found.

While here at the Humane Society of Ventura County they provide this safe refuge, they also strive to remedy the greater problem of animal overpopulation, abuse and neglect.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

michaels

+a s s o c i a t e s O JA I

R E AL

E STATE

GRO U P

historic ojai landmark This exquisite 1921 Spanish Revival Estate built by Ojai benefactor Edward Libbey is Ojai Landmark #16. You'll benefit from its Mills Act status with measurably reduced Property Taxes.

The spectacular Arbolada estate features 4 Bdrms, 3.5 Baths, detached Artist Studio with 3/4 Bath, Saltwater Pool, Solar & 3 Car Garage. designed by renowned architect George Washington Smith, this legacy home showcases the original Imported Spanish Tile Floors, Accent Tiles, Fountain and Roof Tiles. Outside pathways lead to Fruit Orchard, Raised Beds and a Sparkling Pool accented by RTK Tiles & encased by a beautiful Stone Wall.

$3,995,000

Char Michaels

(805) 620-2438 www.ojaihomes4sale.com

Keller williams west ventura county DRE# 00878649

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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an Ojai tradition since 1964

Open Every Day 9:30 - Sunset

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302 W. Matilija Street | 805-646-3755 OQ / SUMMER 2020

Photo by Betty Love Nguyen

OQ | A RTS & L I T ERATURE

52 40 Music Maestro

Bali Ojai

48 Music Makers

Ara Guzelimian’s Plans as Festival’s New Music Director

Tree Bernstein’s Journeys Result in Next Book

Austin Leonard Jones’ Goes to ‘Polo Club’ For New Recording

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Hip Hop Ojai Rapper’s New Release has ‘Made in Ojai’ label

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Artist Profile Gallery Owner Shultz’ Plein Air Artistry OQ / SUMMER 2020

artists & galleries The People, Places That Make Ojai An Arts Destination 39

BY BRET BRADIGAN

LIGHTING THE L ARA GUZELIMIAN

This Year’s Festival Goes Virtual as 2021’s 75th Anniversary Plans Laid During the weekend of June 9-12, passerbys and passersthrough at Libbey Park will notice a familiar sight — the soft light-green lanterns signifying the Ojai Music Festival. But the festival itself will take place virtually, with online performances and talks. Ara Guzelimian, who steps into the Artistic Director role on July 1 of this year, talks about the festival, which, along with the Ojai Tennis Tournament and other signifying Ojai events, fell victim to the pandemic this year.

“The idea is to bring out the lanterns that illuminate, to keep the light burning and have a symbolic presence. Much of the festival will be online— a series of online events — that honors music that was going to be performed. We’ll stage Ojai talks with Olga Neuwirth and Matthis Pintscher as well.” he said.

Guzelimian, whose full-time job is as dean of the Julliard School, replaced Chad Smith as Artistic Director of the Ojai Music Festival this year. He is no stranger to this contemporary music organization, with 50 years of experience. He not only spent seven years as artistic director in the 1990s, but he sang on the Libbey Bowl stage in 1974 with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting. Even earlier than that, he attended the festival as a child growing up in Los Angeles.

He has fond “only in Ojai” memories, of attending a festival event at Larry and Maj Hagman’s mountaintop palace, with Michael Tilson Thomas playing Mary Martin’s piano. Martin, 40

(Photo by Ben Hoffman, Squared Productions)

a Broadway star, was Hagman’s mother. He also remembers enjoying regular visits to Wheeler Hot Springs and dinners at the on-site Landucci’s restaurant. “These are one-of-a-king Ojai snapshots,” he said.

Chad Smith took over last year from 17-year veteran Tom Morris, who then stepped down as the festival’s artistic director after a few months when he was offered the chief executive officer job for the Los Angeles Philharmonic this past October. Smith had been the operations director of the LA Phil prior to that, and has been with the organization for 17 years.

This year’s 74th annual festival is bittersweet for Guzelimian, with the pandemic canceling what would have an extraordinary creative pairing, he said. It would have featured Matthias Pintscher as Music Director, with the programming he developed with Smith, with an emphasis on performances from Ensemble Intercontemporain, of which Pintscher, considered one of the foremost modern music composer, is the music director.

The ensemble was founded by an Ojai Festival favorite, Pierre Boulez.

Guzelimian is already at work on programming for 2021 with music director, John Adams, which will be the festival’s 75th year. He said, “I’m sensitive for the fact that for some people in the community, it feels like something lands for a few days in June and departs. Because of my own history in Ojai I want to OQ / SUMMER 2020

Photo by Dominik Scythe

LANTERNS make sure festival engages, in real deep ways during festival, and rest of the year.”

Adams, considered among the preeminent modern composers in America, was the music director in 1993. “He really occupies a place comparable to Aaron Copland, who was a director of the festival in ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. He has a huge presence in capturing the spirit of American music in our time,” Guzelimian said.

“John grew up in New Hampshire. His dad was a local bandleader. He grew up listening to Duke Ellington, hearing that brass, the writing and the voicing, and how American that is,” Guzelimian added. “John and I have talked about a forward-facing festival, not at all retrospective, but looking at next generation of artists and composers, to put forward artists he’s really passionate about … very present day.”

Guzelimian has been deeply influenced by his friendship with Lawrence Morton, one of the early artistic directors and inspiring organizers of the festival, who brought luminaries like Copland and Igor Stravinsky to Ojai. “We met late in his life, he was my mentor and we became great friends. I’d drive him to concerts and talk music together. My official involvement with the Music Festival began in the 1980s, writing for the program book. I like to think I’m honoring and updating work Lawrence did two generations ago.”

One of those founding characteristics of the festival is “that it reinvents itself each year,” and younger composers and audiences “are less bound by genre. The divisions between classical and very

MATTHIAS PINTSCHER

inventive areas of rock and pop have become more blurred. The young generation naturally speaks multiple (musical) languages and things nothing of it,” he said.

Tom Morris also left a last imprint on the festival after 17 years as artistic director, one which Guzelimian observed closely. “It follows from Tom, that interweaving of continuity and new discovery, if we succeed (next year) that’ll be a characteristic moving forward. That’s been in the DNA of the festival since the beginning.”

Another initiative of Morris’ years at the festival was holding events outside of Libbey Bowl. Guzelimian said, “We’re really interested in exploring partnerships and interesting venues – one of the most memorable concerts I’ve attended was at Meditation Mount – using Ojai as a creative setting even beyond Libbey Park … to use the natural landscape and what it inspires musically. The Festival has flourished because its long history of seekers and artists – Krishnamurti, Beatrice to the present day.

That’s the challenge, how to make that connection even more tangible. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that distinctive creative flourishing happens in the Ojai Valley.”

Ojai has deep meaning for Guzelimian after his decades of attending performances, performing on stage, writing the program book, giving Ojai Talks on the festival programming, and his earlier experience as artistic director. “There’s a free spirit of creativity, an active embrace of unusual and fresh ideas,” he said.

“That’s the magic that will renew itself — the human need for that experience will not go away.”

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OQ | OF F T HE S HEL F

THE INTERIOR LIFE IN THE AGE OF PANDEMIC

BY KIT STOLZ The viral pandemic that has engulfed much of the developed world has changed Tree Bernstein’s life — she has had to cancel promotion events for her newly-published book of stories — but on the phone from Colorado she sounds far but panicked about COVID-19. For a writer and an artist who has lived around the world despite being “a woman of modest means,” Bernstein frequently brings ironic asides and bursts of laughter into the conversation.

“Life in the pandemic is not that much different for artists,” she said chuckling a little. “Luckily my housemate is also an artist. We go about our business in our respective studios.”

Bernstein lived in Ojai for about a decade, from 2004-2015, while publishing poetry, teaching English at Ventura College and at the now-shuttered Brooks Institute of Photography, and helping to organize numerous readings and events at Bart’s Books, as well as the Ojai Poetry Festival. Her new book of short stories, called “The Last Tourist in Bali,” published this year

by Baksun Books, available at the Boulder Book Store on or Amazon, comes from a time in her life when she choose to live for a year in almost complete freedom, leaving the West behind to reside in beauty and ease in Bali on $400 a month.

“In my recollection, now almost 18 years later, 2002 seems so long ago,” she writes in the preface. “A quaint, old-fashioned time.

We had cellphones, sure, but people weren’t so involved with them. You had to go to an internet cafe to check email. Social media was unknown. I lived a couple of kilometers from the village at a guest bungalow in a rice field that overlooked the Bali Sea. So much beauty ringed the island with a sleeping volcano at its heart.”

Bernstein’s painterly watchfulness pervades these ten interlinked stories. Raye, a character on a midlife journey — not unlike Bernstein herself — paints in the day and visits the village at night. Time moves slowly on the little-populated east coast of Bali. Raye lets it pass, unworried. She can spend a month 44

painting the field of rice outside her bungalow, just to understand how the golden light of sunset changes as it passes through the fine green rice stalks. “The more she gazes at the field of rice, the more she understands the color is not green at all, but waves of alternating yellow and blue.”

“Bali was rich with so many things I didn’t quite understand,” Bernstein says now, looking back on the experience with a kind of rueful wonder. “I tried to weave my way into life there, and not be a judgy-judge. After a time I began notice that we Westerners were always comparing other cultures against our culture. When you’re in a place where the norms are so different from our own, weird things begin to happen. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I saw ghosts in Bali.”

Over the course of her time in Bali, the character of Raye falls in with a number of characters that she might have judged more critically in another life. These characters include Asa, a Muslim married woman who makes a living in the black market overseeing the smuggling of teak logs. After a bomb in a tourist cafe in a distant city kills dozens of tourists, Raye and Asa find themselves together in the isolated village in a sort of suspended animation.

Asa waits for the teak and her money, and Raye waits for the perfect light by which to paint in the evenings. “They admired each other’s patience,” Bernstein writes. A mostly unspoken and unexpected friendship grows in between these two very different women.

The beauty of Bali can hide darker truths. “Too Good for Ubud” tells the story of Dion, a young gay man who liked to dress outrageously, working as a hairdresser in the day, while performing as a lip-synching woman in a bar at night. Raye meets him at the hair salon, and enjoys his campy outrageousness, but neither she nor her gay English friend Clive — who is attracted to Dion — understand the danger Dion is courting. One night Dion is found in an alley, brutally murdered in a knife attack. A devastated Raye pours her heart out to Clive. Clive tries to reassure her over the phone as he is watched by his slim, attractive houseboy Gede — who knows that Clive wants him, and wanted Dion too.

“When [Dion] put on his shimmy-shimmy dress and got all OQ / SUMMER 2020

the

LAST TOURiST in

BAli stories

“YOU GO SOMEWHERE AND BECOME SOMEONE ELSE”: TREE BERNSTEIN ON THE EDGE OF BALI

made up,” Raye says, knowing nothing of Gede’s jealousy, “he was the most beautiful girl in Bali.” As sexually sophisticated as both Raye and Clive are, neither can imagine the possibility that Dion was killed for his beauty by someone close to them. So much of Balinese life goes unseen by visitors.

Wordsworth famously claimed that poetry originated in “emotion recollected in tranquility.” Bernstein comes from the world of poetry, and her sentences — written with a transparent simplicity — convey a sense of limpid tranquility. Bernstein sometimes lets an image tell the story. The title story in the collection focuses on a male painter who comes to Bali hoping to be reinspired as an artist, and for a time thinks he has found that inspiration, in the form of a beautiful young Balinese girlfriend. One day she borrows some money and goes shopping with her girlfriends, and comes home with armloads of disposable junk the painter abhors.

Suddenly Bali itself seems cheap and plastic, and he impulsively decides he must get away.

“He had almost felt inspired by her, almost wanted to paint her,” writes Bernstein. “Now all that passed like a sigh from the center of his desire ... He had no idea about Beauty now. He had no idea who this girl was he’d been making love to. He looked into the future and it was crowded with cheap, ugly stuff. The sea itself a crude cliché — a postcard parody of paradise.”

In her time in Bali — just before coming to Ojai — Bernstein came to think that the Balinese saw much more than they let on about Westerners. The vast inequity between a tourist such as herself — considered “rich” because she could spend $10 or $15 a day — and the Balinese was just another fact of life. Bernstein came to see that the Balinese have traditional ways to survive when the tourists go away, and sly ways of getting what they need when the Westerners return. Even if it meant entering a marriage sure to go bust.

“I thought those [Balinese] girls were much more savvy than their pretty faces showed,” Bernstein comments now. After Bali, serendipity brought Bernstein to Ojai. A car repair forced her to stop in the area for a time. She found a teaching job, a safe and hospitable place to live, and good friends and relations. She looks back on her years in Ojai fondly, in part because the Ojai

Tree Bernstein

Quarterly ran for years her unique advice column incorporating the wisdom of the great poets, called “Ask Ms. Metaphor.”

“This allowed me to develop a voice that is not me, to write from the point of view of a know-it-all character. It’s always practical, but my hope with the poetry portion is that it will be interesting enough that the reader will want to pursue it further — I always include a link to the work,” she says now.

In the Ask Ms. Metaphor column (which still runs on Bernstein’s site on-line) in April a letter writer asked if in these pandemic times Americans will become more tolerant of introverts, and stop asking them to be upbeat and social if they’re not in the mood.

Ms. Metaphor replies that labels such as “extrovert” and “introvert” categorize behavior in interesting ways, but have their limits. “Along comes COVID-19, and suddenly the social dance changes — everyone is a wallflower. Truth is, we’re all more complex than an easy check-the-box Type A or Type B personality. Under quarantine, we are learning to become our opposites,” she writes, before going on to quote Wordsworth’s poem about “wandering lonely as a cloud” and coming upon a crowd of daffodils, “ten thousand strong,” and finding a communion for introverts there.

In Boulder now, where in her youth Bernstein studied poetry and literature at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, when asked about advice for writers, Bernstein mentions not craft or agents or promotion but simply persistence. In her teaching she says she often encounters students who want her to tell them what’s wrong with their writing, when part of her wishes that they just trusted their instincts.

“My teachers were the Beats,” she says firmly. “What they taught me was that writing is not done with a particular sort of No. 2 pencil, but just by showing up, by staying in the practice.

You may not need another workshop; you might need to just love yourself and your work a little bit more. Get that little tickle of an idea and have the urge to follow it.”

Bernstein laughs again.

“This is a difficult job for someone who wants a relationship,” she adds, sounding a little amused once again by her artist’s life.

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Photo by Betty Love Nguyen

BY BETTY NGUYEN

A T THE P O STORY BY BETTY LOVE NGUYEN

Austin Leonard Jones is a whole-hearted eccentric who does, and plays, as he pleases.

There’s something different about Austin. He’s got this Ray Bradbury-esque, complex yet optimistic, classic-clown vibe. Not the face makeup or creepy, sad kind, but he’s got this matterof-fact, John Candy vibe underlying with life experiences that makes him stand out and lends to his great showmanship. His friendliness is disarming and his music is surprising.

The first time I witnessed him on stage, he included The Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog” punk anthem in his set at a live show off of Creek Road. I love a good cover, so when they started playing the song, it made me immediately take stock.

He turned the angsty Detroit ballad into a pop song that pushed 48

parents to get up and dance with their kids. He’s got this way of lightening a loaded song and making it easy to swallow. On his song, “Glowing Windows” (2015), right smack in the middle of this light, handshaker feel-good song is a version of “Moon River” that sucks the harmonica sappiness out of it, replaced with melodica that is both gobsmacking beautiful and unbelievably smart.

Perhaps it’s because he grew up around country music in San Antonio, Texas. He spins this somber, country sensibility into his own colorful pop art, where rule breaking and spontaneity define his lifestyle and musical output.

“I live a life of creativity, transforming myself into the work,” he said. “There’s no end to the work or anything else in my life. It’s all one thing, an ongoing process that takes up a 100 percent OQ / SUMMER 2020

Photo by Start Digital Photo by Kay-Kj4o6jCPulI

O LO CLU B of everything I do and breathe. Like Walt Whitman or Mayo Thompson (Red Krayola), you are the work. It’s not just one thing. It’s a whole string of experiences together where you can grow and continue to each day.”

He tells me that The Stooges song wasn’t rehearsed at all and it was something that they just decided to try on stage together that day in that moment. “There’s no judgment or reactions to anything we do.

Before he moved to Ojai last year, his time in Texas gave him plenty of music to chew on. “I like the honesty of the lyrics in country music. There’s three chords and a simplicity and lack of posturing that comes with rock n’ roll more often times than not.

They talk about real things that happen to everybody — death, alcoholism ... I don’t know what Radiohead is talking about.

Like, The Strokes might as well be from Mars. I don’t know what that life is like. I know exactly what George Jones is talking about.”

Unfortunately, he’s had to cancel his tour due to the pandemic.

“This is the first time in 12 years that I don’t have a plan for the year. A lot of friends in Texas are hosting digital streaming shows with a kind of e-pass the hat,” he said.

What we can count on is that he is self-releasing his 20-song album on cassette tape and vinyl. Called “At the Polo Club,” it’s his “mid-thirties ‘man’ album that processes post-tragedy losses, but I’m sure even with those themes, you’ll be dancing along.

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | OJA I R EA D S

On Flying & Racing

BY SAMI ZAHRINGER

“The world was hers for the reading,” — Betty Smith, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”

The world is very strange right now, for all of us, but, in this time of social-distancing, when we’re all spending much more time at home, many people are finding the best way to be out in the world again is to read. Studies regularly show that readers have, in general, greater empathy, and better critical thinking skills than their non-reading peers. The benefits are demonstrably enormous.

And what many of us have right now is more free time! According to Statista, 33 percent of Americans are reading more books during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the OQ’s continuing series on what Ojai is reading, we take a look at what people around town are absorbing during lockdown.

Grammy-nominated Simon Phillips “is by far one of the world’s most renowned and respected drummers,” according to Drummerworld magazine. As a 16-year-old prodigy, he was the drummer for the original West End production of “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” before becoming one of London’s most sought-after session musicians during rock’n’roll’s heyday. He has played on more than 500 albums and to date, he has toured and recorded with many bands and artists, including: Mick Jagger, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Pete Townshend, Russ Ballard, Robert Palmer, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders … to name but a few. In between all that, he was a member of Toto for 21 years.

He moved to Ojai in 2017 and promptly lost his house to the Thomas Fire. Rebuilding has been a long process, but Phillips feels lucky to have been able to continue to record, engineer, and produce for major artists, right here in town, as well as touring worldwide with his own Grammy-nominated, jazz-fusion project, Protocol.

Being on the road is no longer possible for a while and that, for Simon Phillips, has meant an an unaccustomed amount of time at home. The OQ asked him what he’s been reading during this time.

“Adrian Newey’s How to Build A Car” is the autobiography

of arguably one of the world’s greatest Formula 1 designers. Phillips used to race Formula Ford (F1600) back in England and is a lifelong fan of motor-racing, especially F1. He found this memoir a “thrilling, illuminating” account of the design-challenges, politics, and mistakes in the sometimes secretive world of F1: “It’s the best F1 book I’ve ever read,” he says. “Hyper-technical but fascinating and I learned so much about the technical side of a racecar. Highly recommended for any car nut!”

“The First and Last:” Adolf Galland was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who flew 705 combat missions on the Western Front during WWII. Having just read a biography of legendary RAF ace Douglas Bader, who lost his legs but still carried on flying successful missions, Phillips became intrigued by the great mutual respect and lifelong friendship which sprang up between Bader and Galland, his German counterpart, when Bader was a POW in Germany. This led Phillips to “Galland’s extraordinary autobiography which details the death-defying missions, the conferences with Hitler, and the experience of being on the losing side of World War II. Lots of first-hand information about German operations during the war; the tactics that worked and those that, crucially, didn’t. An unforgettable book.”

In addition, “I love reading autobiographies of musicians and sound engineers,” says Phillips. “I was lucky enough to work with Phil Ramone and have loved reading his amazing autobiography, “Making Records: The Scenes Behind The Music.” All these amazing stories of the making of iconic records. Ray Charles, Sinatra, Streisand, Dylan, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Pavarotti, McCartney, Sting, Madonna — he recorded everybody! He was a young violin prodigy himself !”

Ramone recorded musical superstars for five decades. His book is “all about the art and craft of record-making across the different eras, and all the changes,” says Phillips, “There are some brilliant anecdotes. Recommended!”

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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BY BETTY NGUYEN

52

OQ / SUMMER 2020

STORY & PHOTO BY BETTY LOVE NGUYEN The most notorious rapper you’ve never heard of before is collaging together his debut album in a little Airstream right here in Ojai. The last one to get up on stage at MC Solar’s all-star release party (1998) and blow the roof off. Singled out to perform by soulful Macy Gray at her Grammy’s after party (2000) the night she won. The slayer who was so loyal to his crew that he skipped a solo album offer from Island Records president himself, Clint Blackwell.

speakers, Klipsch, developed in the ‘40s. The party ran from 7 p.m. to 7 p.m. the next night á la New York’s David-Mancuso-private-club-style, where friends brought and cooked food to share throughout the happening and all genres of music were fair game, if not encouraged. DïN wanted to bring his AKAI sampler to play over my records. “Don’t tell anyone,” he texted. DÏN arrived and snuck his flight case under the table. There was fish broiling in the kitchen, a disco ball spinning and people filtering in.

Evolving, observing and growing into a powerful force for the past two decades, with his knowing glance, glowing, humble heart and Cheshire cat smile, Din Morris aka JBL ( Just Being Lyrical) aka DïN, is forever impressed upon you if you have had the honor of encountering his lightness of being and more so, if you’ve witnessed his heavy weight performances. JBL was his moniker from ‘91-’02 and now he goes by “DïN.”

When any good DJ plays, they’re setting up a journey of sounds for their audience to ride with them. Layered across my vinyl landscapes, DÏN intuitively played his textured vocals and samples. This slowed down the crowd, which started to take notice because something unfamiliar started to synergize. As my records began to lose their beginnings and endings, the our richness of perceptions and possibilities expanded.

He’s been seemingly in and out of the hip hop scene for the past two decades, but actually, he assuredly says, “I’ve always been here.” Showing up at parties at just the right time and place; fine tuning his rap muscle memory and experimenting with his production sounds in his spare time. After two years of getting to know this one as much as one can, as he’s been one foot in Ojai and the other in the rest of the world, he’s finally laying roots and has promised to dedicate himself to his god-given, cultivated craft.

Pre-governor mandated lockdown,

“It all began in high school at a talent show in Altadena. I was asked to MC the Kool Moe Dee part for this super group and we won,” he said.

I ask DïN if he can take a break from his lucrative day job to dedicate three to four months to his music. And then as fate would have it ... COVID19 happened.

So, what better time to put that bedroom producer cap back on, now that the world is standing still?

The first time I heard DïN play was at an underground party in Ojai last December. A friend got hold of some especially coveted

His crew, DILLIGAF (Does It Look Like I Give a F**K) started canvassing handmade flyers to compete in countless Open Mics including one sponsored by Cypress Hill, where he battled and befriended Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. “At that time, we ended up doing a lot of work with Ice T’s production studio, Rhyme Syndicate. I mostly laid down vocals for cuts that got licensed for TV and films.” JBL’s voice could be heard on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons and commercials in Japan, but he never fully cut an album. DÏN lives on the West Coast, but he was born on the East Coast in Trenton, New Jersey.

His style is mainly influenced by that first generation of hip hop that fused punk with electro, art rock and disco as well as the culture of battle MCs and the conscious hip hop that prevailed at the time like BDP, Native Tongue, the Juice Crew and West Coast

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‘chrysalis’ continued from page 53

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DïN’s rap is fierce, audible and catchy likened to the style of the trailblazing hip hop MCs that he grew up listening to, that were part of his tribe growing up.

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He’s got a precision all his own that feels like Muhammad Ali throwing a round of punches with that elevated, educated candor. “I MCed for Dakah, the formidable orchestra comprised of session players and established musicians in 2000. It was a dream to play with them at the Hollywood Bowl since I was going to concerts there as a kid with my parents. We sat in the nosebleed section and would make it down further and further each year closer to the stage. I saw Etta James front row while eating chocolate cake with my mom and the next year I had the honor to perform there. I had my Bono (U2) moment when I ran down off the stage to this lake separating the stage from the crowd. I MCed across the concrete that wrapped around the edge.” The next year they made a rule that forbade performers to go anywhere near the water, let alone walk the strip. Dakah’s guests have included the multi-talented Thundercat and acclaimed saxophonist-composer Kamasi Washington who has produced with world class stars like Lauren Hill, Snoop Dogg, Flying Lotus and recently Kendrick Lamar.

DïN’s the architect of his own legacy. Now that he lives in Ojai, he waxes poetic, “I’m influenced by the four directions; from the L.A. River, with the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, Pedro to the south, five C’s to the east and valley of the moon to the west, with the streets and culture between, cradled by ocean, mountains and deserts!”

In the pandemic, we have the opportunity to take a dive deep into the cenote that is our soul, spirit and heart, to shape our voices. Stripped down during times where we face the mortality of the world and the sixth extinction. We can hear what is of value to our true livelihood as everything else falls away. From this root called Ojai that he has tethered himself to, like many others who after years spent in the big city trenches — learning, absorbing, stimulated, he takes a step back to crystallize his highest self into being. In this “Shelter in Place,” DïN’s Airstream transforms into a chrysalis where he can sculpt his lightning lyrics and musical intuitiveness from these past two decades into pure heaven.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | A RTI ST S P OT — da n s c hu ltz

ABOUT THE ARTIST Dan Schultz is the owner of Dan Schultz Fine Art Gallery & Studio at 106 North Signal Street on the west side of the Arcade.

His phone is 805-317-9634. His website is danschultzfineart.com

HOW’D YOU BECOME AN ARTIST?

ABOUT THE ART:

“Ojai Morning Light,” Oil on Linen Panel, 18x24 inches, 2020 I grew up in a small, dusty New Mexico town without much exposure to the arts. But I spent a great spend painting every day, and others are focused on the business deal of time outdoors playing in that dust, which side. I paint the landscape outdoors as often as possible, while transformed into my love for the southwestern landscape. A famkeeping works in progress in the gallery’s studio area. ily move took me to Colorado where my high school art teacher encouraged me to enter a national art competition. An ink drawI’ve found ongoing camaraderie and encouragement from artists ing of mine won first place, which helped convince me to study here in Ojai and beyond. Artists are a kind and generous breed. commercial art at Pensacola Christian College in Florida.

While we need the solitary times in our studios, we also benefit from sharing ideas and experiences together that get us out of our Back in Colorado after graduation, I found work doing graphic own heads now and then. design. But two important turning points lay ahead. The first was that I met artists who were creating fine art for the gallery market.

I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I love in such an inspiring I suddenly realized the possibility of a career in painting. Those place. In a roundabout way, my dusty childhood wanderings continartists graciously helped me get started in this new direction. Soon ue to define my adult life as I explore and paint the quiet landscape. after my wife, Sarah, and I married in 2004, I began painting full time. Success came in varying degrees for the next several years.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR STUDIO PRACTICE: That leads to my second turning point, which was the idea to open I paint daily. I use my whole house as a studio. I listen to music, a storefront gallery of my own. This endeavor brought my family audio books and podcasts. A perfect day begins with an hour of to Ojai where I opened Dan Schultz Fine Art Gallery & Studio meditation, a long walk and then uninterrupted time in my studio. in 2011. It has made it possible for me to dedicate my full focus to Much of what we do as visual artists is very isolating, so having my artwork. I love being able to interact directly with art collectors kindred spirits to connect with is really valuable. Having friends and meet new customers who visit Ojai or those who make Ojai who get excited by the same things I do is very special. In Ojai their home.

Studio Artists we have a wonderful support system, sharing resources, information and connections.

A typical day finds me balancing my workflow. Some weeks I

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OQ | V I S UAL ARTI STS Perhaps it was potter and “the Mama of Dada” Beatrice Wood’s influence, going back nearly 90 years. Maybe it even goes back further, to the Chumash people’s ingenious and astounding artistry with basketry.

It’s clear that Ojai has long been a haven for artists. The natural beauty framed so well by the long arc and lush light of an east-west valley lends itself to artistic pursuits, as does the leisurely pace of life, the sturdy social fabric of a vibrant community and the abundant affection and respect for artists and their acts of creation.

RICHARD AMEND

Mysterious equations of abstraction, nature, architecture, and illumination rolled into the stillness and clarity of singular, psychological moments.

“Thought Form #1: Clearing.”

Oil on canvas, 48” x 36.”

Contact: amend@pobox.com or visit RichardAmend.net.

323-806-7995

PATRISH KUEBLER

is an artist who expresses herself in two strikingly different mediums: soft pastel and rich encaustic.

805-649-3050 PatrishKueblerFineArt.com

MARC WHITMAN

Original Landscape, Figure & Portrait Paintings in Oil. Ojai Design Center Gallery.

111 W Topa Topa Street. marc@whitman-architect. com. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

JOYCE HUNTINGTON

Intuitive, visionary artist, inspired by her dreams and meditations. It is “all about the Light.” Her work may be seen at Frameworks of Ojai, 236 West Ojai Ave, where she has her studio. 805-6403601 JoyceHuntingtonArt.com

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SUSAN STINSMUEHLEN AMEND Paints on

CINDY PITOU BURTON

Photojournalist and editorial photographer, specializing in portraits, western landscapes and travel.

805-646-6263 798-1026 cell OjaiStudioArtists.org

clear glass with kilnfired enamels, mapping unpredictable rhythms of thought. Custom commissions for art & architecture welcome.

SusanAmend@pobox. com She is also on Facebook.

DUANE EELLS

KAREN K. LEWIS

Eells searches for beauty in his work. His paintings are about energy, empathy and connections. Bold strokes with classical drawing principles drive his work. Studio visits by appointment. Collect online at eells.com 805-633-0055

Painter and Printmaker of People, Places and Things.

Media: oil on canvas and printers’ ink on paper. lewisojai@mac.com.

805-646-8877 KarenKLewis.com

ELAINE UNZICKER

LISA SKYHEART MARSHALL

Inspired by medieval chain mail — stainless jewelry, scarves, purses, belts and wearable metal clothing.

UnzickerDesign.com 805-646-4877

Original botanical paintings: birds and insects, scenes of cottages and gates inspired by Ojai and travels. Watercolor+Ink and Acrylic. Paintings, Cards, Prints at Poppies, 323 East Matilija Street SkyHeartArt.com

MARY NEVILLE

TOM HARDCASTLE

Working in acrylic and mixed media, Mary Neville builds her large scale canvases into rich layers where there’s much more than meets the eye. For more information about the the studio go to: www.

MaryNevilleArt.com 805-798-4269

Rich oils and lush pastel paintings from Nationally awarded local artist.

805-895-9642

OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | A RT GA LLERIES

FIRESTICK GALLERY

Firestick Pottery provides classes, studio/kiln space and a gallery abundant with fine ceramics.

1804 East Ojai Avenue. Open from 10 am to 6 pm every day but Tuesday.

FirestickPottery.com 805-272-8760

NUTMEG’S OJAI HOUSE

Featuring local artists, including William Prosser and Ted Campos.

American-made gifts and cards, crystals, new and vintage goods.

304 North Montgomery OjaiHouse.com 805-640-1656

OVA ARTS

40+ LOCAL artists with a unique selection of contemporary fine arts, jewelry and crafts.

238 East Ojai Ave 805-646-5682 Daily 10 am – 6 pm OjaiValleyArtists.com

PORCH GALLERY

Contemporary Art in a Historic House.

310 East Matilija Avenue PorchGalleryOjai.com 805-620-7589 IG: PorchGalleryOjai

CHIRON HOUSE

Working with reclaimed, organic, local materials such as bones, clay and drawing on fabric and newsprint. “Datura / Kanye” (2019) bettynguyen.carbonmade.com

POPPIES ART & GIFTS You haven’t seen Ojai until you visit us! Local art of all types, unusual gifts, Ojai goods! Open daily 10-6. Closed Tues. 323 Matilija Street

DAN SCHULTZ FINE ART

Plein air landscapes, figures and portraits in oil by nationally-acclaimed artist Dan Schultz.

106 North Signal Street | 805-317-9634 DanSchultzFineArt.com

STUDIO SAUVAGEAU

Exquisitely handcrafted bags.

305-G East Ojai Avenue New Location!

StudioSauvageau.com 805-798-2221

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OQ | W I NE & DIN E

Photo by Andy Chilton on Unsplash

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Cooking in place

Sculpting, With FOOD

Finding A Kitchen Sanctuary With a Little Help From Carly Simon

The Gables Chef ’s Mastery With Knife Blends Art & Cuisine

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CHEF RANDY

oq wine map

Grilled Avocado, Peach & Jalapeno Salad for Summer Taste Bud Revival

Local Wineries, Breweries & Tasting Rooms

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Ojai Cafe Emporium Ojai’s favorite gathering and eating place for over 30 years.

Voted Best Bakery, Breakfast & Lunch Place ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16

805 646 2723

108 S. Montgomery Street / off Ojai Ave www.ojaicafeemporium.com BREAKFAST Served All Day Every Day LUNCH Served Daily11am-3pm BAKERY & COFFEE BAR Open Daily 6:30am-3pm 60

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Espresso

Breakfast

Lunch

CIAL CAF O E S

OJA I

Love is gr eater than everythi ng.

2 0 5 No r t h S ignal S t ree t

D aily 8a m-2p m

L o v e S o cialC af e.co m

Mo b ile Orders

“...The feel is fun, energetic & evokes the perfect Ojai picnic...”

469 E. Ojai Ave.

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www.OjaiRotie.com

805–798–9227

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NOURISH YOUR EYES AND SOUL WITH THE SUPERFOOD OF ART.

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Celebrating 32 Years Breakfast

•

Lunch

•

Dinner

Open Daily 8 am to 10 pm (Call for summer hours) Home of the $2.50 Mimosas and $4 Bloody Marys and Margaritas. All Day, Everyday.

Sea FreSh SeaFood

Restaurant, Sushi Bar and Fresh Fish Market

805-646-7747

• 533 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai

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OQ | FOOD & DR I NK

SEA-QUESTERED - COOKING IN PLACE

Photo by Swabdesign

BY ILONA SAARI

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OQ | FOOD & DR I NK

Photo by Janine-Robinson

Photo by Caroline-Attwood

While we are sheltering in place, sequestering, self-isolating/self-distancing or recovering from same, I thought a little inspiration for “cooking in-place” was in order. Please continue to support your local restaurants by ordering take out (if those rules still apply) but, on those nights you feel like making something special in the comfort of your own wiped-down kitchen, here are two delicious, healthful recipes, the ingredients for which can be found locally in our very own Westridge, Rainbow Bridge, Sea Fresh, Ideal Seafood and Vons markets. A heartfelt thank you to the personnel who’ve been stocking the shelves and watching out for our safety throughout this ordeal.

The first entrée is Carly Simon’s grilled salmon with summer vegetable hash… perfect for this summer issue of the Quarterly. When my husband, Richard, discovered the recipe, he said “I can do that! Easy.” I replied, “You’re so vain, you probably think this dish is about you!”

I kid. But when he first made this recipe a few years ago, I waited in anticipation to taste the results. Why? I love hash! I love the idea of mixing whatever’s in the fridge and slinging it all together.

Since, in our house, nobody does it better than Richard in the kitchen, I was thrilled with the results, but then, that’s the way I’ve always heard it should be!

(I know, cheezy, right? I just couldn’t help myself.)

Now that the hot weather is here — this is a perfect summer meal for yourself or for company... Open up a chilled bottle of white or a tasty pinot noir or whatever your version is of a quarantini and enjoy, because you know, we haven’t got time for the pain. (Sorry.)

The second dish is one of Richard’s “go to” recipes for dinner guests: Giada DeLaurentiis’ salmon in lemon brodetto (“broth” for people like myself with no clue what brodetto means) with a minted pea puree.

The first time he made it for friends in L.A., the summer evening was beautiful, and the dining room door was wide open. The twinkle lights in our garden shone through the windows. A slight hum from the freeway mimicked ocean waves, so in my mind we weren’t in our cottage in the San Fernando Valley, but on the deck of a Malibu beach home with lights flickering off the Pacific from a distant ship on its way to some far off exotic land. Oh, well, a girl can fantasize, right?

Candles glowed as Richard served this fabulous dish with crusty bread to soak up the broth like an ocean sponge. Dinner party over, I drifted off to sleep feeling the ocean breeze sweeping through the bedroom window of my beach home. Oh, wait, it was the ceiling fan … but a girl can continue to fantasize, right?

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OQ | FOOD & DR I NK

Photo by Michaela-Siska

SALMON IN LEMON BRODETTO INGREDIENTS: Lemon Brodetto: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 shallot, diced 2 lemons, juiced 1 lemon, zested 2 cups chicken broth 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves

Minted Pea Puree: 2 cups frozen peas, thawed (about 10 oz) ¼ cup fresh mint leaves 1 clove garlic ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ½ cup EVOO ½ cup grated Parmesan

Salmon:

DIRECTIONS: Lemon Brodetto: Warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté until tender (about 7 minutes). Add the lemon juice, zest, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and keep warm, covered, over low heat.

Minted Pea Puree: Combine the peas, mint, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor and puree. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady drizzle.

Transfer the pea puree to a small bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Set aside.

Salmon: warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Season the salmon pieces w/ salt and pepper. Sear the salmon until a golden crust forms… about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side – flip the fish and continue cooking until medium rare, about 2 minutes more depending on the thickness of the fish.

Assembly: Add the tablespoon of chopped mint to the Lemon Brodetto and divide between 4 shallow soup bowls or dishes. Place a large spoonful of Pea Puree in the center of each bowl, then place a salmon piece atop each mound of Minted Pea Puree.

To keep the Puree from dissolving into the Brodetto, Richard now puts it on top of the salmon – it actually looks prettier that way, too. Use the bread to sop up the broth. Sooooo good.

even the day before — I do the dishes)

¼ cup olive oil 4 (4 to 6 oz) pieces of skinless salmon freshly ground black pepper 66

Bo

Note: Richard often makes the minted pea puree and the lemon brodetto the morning of or

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OQ | FOOD & DR I NK

Photo by Igor-Miske

CARLY SIMON’S GRILLED ATLANTIC SALMON INGREDIENTS: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons julienne summer squash 2 tablespoons julienne red bell peppers 2 tablespoons julienne red onion 3 ounces bliss potatoes, cooked and crumbled (other potatoes can be substituted) 4 (5-6 oz) salmon fillets Belgian endive spears and asparagus spears for garnish - optional.

DIRECTIONS: Heat a skillet over moderately high heat.

Add oil and julienned vegetables and saute until slightly colored.

Add potatoes and toss. (Sometimes Richard substitutes turnips for potatoes when I’m doing the non-starch-y, low-carb thing).

Season hash with salt and pepper to taste and keep warm.

Preheat the grill while sauteing the veggies, then grill salmon until done.

Serve atop the vegetable hash, garnished with the asparagus and endive.

Note: Believing this was a recipe “adaptation to the magazine” mistake since tablespoons of juli-

enne summer veggies barely feed a hamster, never mind the four this recipe is designed for, Richard

Bon Appétit just juliennes away and suggests you julienne as much veggies you think you will need to feed four.

Give the Gift of Ojai!

Send a subscription to Ojai’s locally owned and operated magazine.

— ONLY $24.95 per year! — By nationally award-winning writers and photographers.

Make checks payable to Ojai Quarterly, 1129 Maricopa Highway, Suite B186, Ojai, CA 93023 or Visit OjaiHub.com 68

OQ / SUMMER 2020

CARVING OUT A CAREER Chef Combines Love of Art, Food. “Much of my inspiration comes from the residents (at the Gables). In this stage of their life, they really appreciate the artistic side of my work.”

INTERVIEW WITH CHEF SALVADOR RAMIREZ Ojai is well known for its artists and galleries. But there’s one sculptor who creates his masterpieces not to be mounted on pedestals or hung on walls — but to be eaten.

It’s one of the advantages that residents of the Gables of Ojai enjoy.

Their chef, Salvador Ramirez, creates for their delight, and consumption, sculptures from food.

Besides at the dining tables at the Gables, his work has been featured annually at the Rotary Club of Ojai’s Taste of Ojai. His swans carved from watermelon, or radish roses, melon hydrangeas, papaya petals and more have been centerpiece fixtures at this community event for decades.

“I have been a chef and an artist my whole life, “ he said. “My first memory of cooking was sitting across from the fogon (an open hearth) helping my mom turn the Buñuelos at Christmas when I was 6 or 7 years old. We had six boys and a baby sister. Normally cooking was left to the women, but all of us boys helped cook and turn the tortillas.”

Growing in Guanajuato, Mexico, his desire to express himself had already found other outlets besides food, Ramirez says. “My earliest artistic expressions were drawing letters and learning calligraphy. There weren’t many books available for teaching calligraphy, so I learned from the priests at my church. Their penmanship influenced me. I first did all the capital letters and then went on to the lowercase.” Ramirez says that what connects food and art is that he wants to make people happy. “Much of my inspiration comes from the residents at (the

Gables). In this stage of their life, they really appreciate the artistic side of my work.”

He became serious about combining his two passions in 2012. “I started carving fruits and vegetables after assisting at a food show, and encountered a table full of beautiful fruit carvings,” he said. “I knew that I could make those carvings, too, since the very first time I tried.”

A mentor was renowned artist Marta Nelson, Gables resident and co-founder of the Ojai Studio Artists. “My most memorable carving was the dove for the Peace Pole (in 2014). And that was because Marta encouraged me to try different medias,” he said. “That was my first carving in wood, then I did some in stone as well.”

Self-trained, Ramirez has figured out how to combine his passions, “I love art, and I love cooking.” That’s a good thing. He’s been at it for 35 years in Ojai, including 20 years (and counting) at The Gables. Prior to that, Ramirez worked at Backstage Cafe, Antonio’s, Los Caporales (he designed their distinctive vaquero logo), the Deer Lodge and then at the Ventura County Honor Farm.

Ramirez has been carving walking canes, which he hopes someday to sell to supplement his retirement income. In the meantime, he’s busy nourishing both minds and bodies at the Gables.

Pictured Above: From left, from a 2014 Peace Day event at The Gables: composer David Henderson, Marta Nelson, Chef Salvador Ramirez and Hazel Stillman. Photo by Raymakers Photography.

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Gojai Organic proudly supports the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy & Nordhoff seniors through our annual Gojai College Scholarships program.

Gojai Organic gives 1% of our profits to OVLC and is a Topa Topa Business Sponsor.

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CHE F R A N DY

GRILLED PEACH, AVOCADO & JALAPENO SALAD PREP 15 MIN

COOK 4 MIN

SERVES 4

EASY

This is a fresh salsa with a taste of summer barbecue. What could be better? I think I’ll serve it once with roasted jalapenos and then again with the firm, fresh jalapenos sliced super thin. The smokiness of the grilling process plus the combination of the sweet peaches and the spicy jalapeños goes nicely with potato or honey-lime sweet potato tacos. I’ve also used it as a condiment with crispy beer-battered avocado tacos. Give it a try!

INGREDIENTS: Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados 2 ripe peaches 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (divided) ¼ cup shallots (chopped fine) 2 garlic cloves (minced) 2 jalapenos (seeds removed an sliced thin) ¼ teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS: Preheat grill on medium-high heat (400 to 450 degrees).

While the grill is heating, slice the avocados and peaches in half lengthwise and remove the pits. Brush a mixture of one tablespoon olive oil plus one tablespoon lime juice on the flat sides of each half. Make sure they’re coated generously to avoid sticking to the grill.

Once the grill is hot, add the avocado and peach halves, cut side down, and close the lid. Grill for four minutes. Use grill tongs to carefully remove the peach and avocado halves to a plate. While the peaches are still hot they can be easily peeled. Allow them to cool before dicing. Use a large spoon to scoop the avocado flesh away from the peel.

In a large bowl combine the remaining lime juice, shallots, garlic, jalapenos, and salt.

Dice the avocados and peaches into small pieces and fold into the salsa. Cover and chill before serving.

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OQ | OJA I W I NE MA P CASA BARRANCA ORGANIC WINERY & TASTING ROOM Historic Downtown Arcade. Stop by and relax in Casa Barranca’s Craftsman style-designed tasting room.

Taste our award-winning wines made with organically grown grapes, also our USDA certified wines containing no added sulfites!

Join our Wine Club!. 208 East Ojai Avenue, 805-640-1255. OPEN DAILY: Sunday — Thursday 1 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday until 1-7 p.m. CasaBarranca.com or facebook.com/casabarranca.

VENTURA SPIRITS Ventura Spirits is a California Craft Distillery specializing in distilled spirits inspired by the native and cultivated flora of California’s Central Coast. We offer distillery tours and tastings of our award winning spirits in our new onsite tasting room. For more information or to contact us please visit: venturaspirits.com, email to: info@ venturaspirits.com or call us at: (805) 232-4313

TOPA MOUNTAIN WINERY Topa Mountain Winery offers handcrafted wines made from grapes grown on its estate in upper Ojai and sourced from other premium vineyards in the region. Located on two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, Topa Mountain Winery has been voted Ventura County’s best Tasting Room two years in a row, is family and dog friendly and offers live music every Saturday and Sunday. TopaMountainWinery.com

OJAI OLIVE OIL Ojai’s no. 1 rated visitor experience, our Olive Mill & Tasting Room is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free tastings and shopping. We also offer free guided tours on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit an organic family permaculture farm and learn everything about extra virgin oil. We also have balsamic vinegars, olive trees, skin care products and more. No reservations required, pets welcome. 1811 Ladera Road , Ojaioliveoil.com, 805-646-5964.

BOCCALI VINEYARDS & WINERY is a family-owned and operated winery located in the scenic Upper Ojai Valley.

Father and son winemakers DeWayne and Joe Boccali are the driving forces behind the label. Boccali Vineyards produces 100 percent estate wines; grown, produced and bottled at Boccali Ranch. Visit us in Ojai’s East End on weekends for a tasting at 3277 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai. Visit us on the web at BoccaliVineyards.com.

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OLD CREEK RANCH WINERY Old Creek Ranch Winery is Ventura County’s only rural winery situated on an 850-acre ranch in the Ojai Valley. A tasting room as well as lawns and guest areas with handcrafted chairs and couches, surrounded by lush landscaping, have been designed for relaxing and enjoying fine wines. Pack a picnic, gather up the kids and dog, and head to the Ranch! A selection of 25+ red and white varietals are available for wine tastings and purchase.

Check oldcreekranch.com for a schedule of live music and food trucks.

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Located at 10024 Old Creek Road, Ventura, CA 93001. 805-649-4132. OldCreekRanch.com OQ / SUMMER 2020

MAJESTIC OAK VINEYARD Hidden in the stunning Ojai Valley, the Majestic Oak Vineyard is deeply rooted on land our family has held for decades. As fifth generation Ojai-ans, we had a dream of bringing you the quintessential Ojai experience — something as beautiful and unique as the Valley itself. We believe a great bottle of wine represents the hard work that goes into it. From the land, to our hands, to your table, we are proud to offer you our labor of love. We invite you to be part of our legacy.

321 East Ojai Avenue (downstairs), 805-794-0272, MajesticOakVineyard.com.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

OJAI ALISAL’S handcrafted wines are made only with grapes we grow in Upper Ojai. We grow Syrah, Grenache, Malbec and Viognier in our beautiful vineyards dotted with California walnuts and sycamores (or Alisal in Spanish), bringing the spirit of the Rhone region to California. Please visit our Weekend Tasting Room at Azu Restaurant, 457 East Ojai Ave, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m.. For more information 805-640-7987 or online at OjaiAlisal.com and AzuOjai.com.

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We Are ...OJAI STRONG ...GABLES STRONG ...SAFE

Gables of Ojai stands strong with the Ojai community in these challenging times.

As a community and as a town, we will help each other through this.

Independent Living, Assisted Living, Concierge Services and Special Needs 701 N. Montgomery St., Ojai, CA | 805.646.1446 | GablesofOjai.com RCFE# 565800551

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OQ | YEST ER DAY & TODAY

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78 Eve Babitz’ Ojai Los Angeles “It Girl” and The Ojai Music Festival

By Mark Lewis

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Turtle King’s next steps

OQ BEYOND THE ARCADE MAP

After Runaway Success of ‘ Tiger King,” Goode Plans Next Moves

By Bret Bradigan

Street Map & Landmark Businesses

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Pr ic e ffe ri n g O Ne w

AZU RESTAURANT AND BAR A zu has been a central downtown gathering place for nearly 20 years. Ojai’s original California tapas bar, A zu is a place where foodies and families can enjoy casual sophistication and local flavors. The lovingly restored 1910 building has over 5600 sq. ft. of indoor space. An historical building in a prime location, it could easily be conver ted to offices, a wellness center, or a retail space.

Currently, A zu has multiple dining areas with 160 seats. In front is a full bar with family tables, front sidewalk dining, and an intimate fireplace dining room. In back is a private dining room with a second full bar and a garden patio. There are two full k itchens, one for regular dining and one for private events and catering.

AzuRestaurantOjai.com Offered at $2,450,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

4 0 ACRE EAST END ESTATE This magnificent gated Mediterranean estate has panoramic views of the Ojai Valley. The main struc ture features a great room with vaulted ceilings, a huge family room and a large eat-in farmhouse k itchen.

I t has luxurious amenities, such as a zero EMF sauna, a stone wine room and 3 k iva fireplaces. Outside there is a 75 ft infinity pool and spa that take full advantage of the views, a 4- car garage, a guest suite with bath, an EV charging station, horse corrals and guest park ing. Ever ything is built with the highest quality construc tion and the latest green materials. The beautifully landscaped grounds include a tangerine orchard, a private well, solar power and a hand-laid stone driveway.

2661LaderaRdOjai.com Offered at $5,400,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

(805) 340-3774

pattywaltcher.com

ALL ABOUT EVE (AND OJAI)

BY MARK LEWIS

Rediscovered in her 70s, Eve Babitz now reigns as the new literary lioness of Los Angeles, celebrated for puncturing the quaint notion that Southern California is a cultural wasteland. But when Babitz lays out her anti-wasteland case, Exhibit A is not the L.A. Philharmonic or LACMA; it’s the Ojai Music Festival.

“There were Evenings on the Roof and the Ojai Festivals for concerts in our wasteland,” she wrote in her first book, “Eve’s Hollywood,” first published in 1974. “The Ojai Festivals were sponsored by the ladies of Ojai, a small community of old ladies who were seduced by John Bauer, an Englishman, who did a lot of things in Los Angeles by dint of sheer charm and energy …”

Actually, the charming Mr. Bauer was from New York. But his wife, Helen, was indeed English. They founded the Festival here in 1947 with help from friends, including Eve’s father, Sol Babitz, a violinist with the 20th Century Fox orchestra, and her mother, Mae, an artist. Eve (born 1943) and her younger sister, Mirandi, would be dragged up to Ojai every June to attend the performances. Eve liked Ojai but disliked the concerts. She may have been Igor Stravinsky’s goddaughter, but she was not into avant-garde classical music.

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While she was still a teenager, Eve began cutting a wild-child swath through the L.A. of the ‘60s and ‘70s, dating the likes of Jim Morrison and Harrison Ford, creating arty album-cover collages for Buffalo Springfield and the Byrds, partying at the legendary Barney’s Beanery with bad-boy artists like Ed Ruscha.

Her autobiographical books and essays are heavily laced with sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. So why, when she came to write “Eve’s Hollywood,” did she make such a fuss about sleepy little Ojai and its annual classical music festival?

We tried to ask her, but Eve these days is very reclusive, and we could not snag an interview. Fortunately, we stumbled across a piece she wrote about the Festival for Westways magazine back in 1995. It was reprinted last fall in her latest book, “I Used To Be Charming,” a collection of her magazine pieces. You’ll find it reprinted (with permission) in this issue beginning on Page 81. But there’s more to the story of Eve and Ojai than she revealed to the readers of Westways.

We poked around in her other books to dig up more clues.

Clue No. 1: The ruby-handled letter opener. Eve describes it in her Westways piece as a souvenir from China belonging to one Mrs. Grant, a kindly Ojai dowager who hosted the Babitz family in her stone house each year when they came up for the festival OQ / SUMMER 2020

E

Mrs. Grant had kittens too, which Eve and her sister “considered just further evidence that the best place on earth was Ojai.” But in “Eve’s Hollywood,” she tells a slightly darker version: “In her study was a knife brought back from the Orient by her brother in 1903 or something and it had a carved red ruby handle which I coveted each year until I stole it. I was so overwhelmed by what I had done that I buried the knife in our back yard when I got home and never looked at it again.”

Presumably, Mrs. Grant’s ruby-handled letter opener still lies buried in the former Babitz back yard on Cheremoya Avenue in Hollywood, waiting to puzzle some future archeologist who happens to dig it up.

Clue No. 2: “Marcel Duchamp and Eve Babitz,” Julian Wasser’s famous 1963 photograph of a nude Eve playing chess with a fully clothed Duchamp in a Pasadena museum gallery. She was 20; the Kennedy assassination was a month away; the ‘60s were about to kick into gear. The photo remains iconic, the go-to image people choose to illustrate the moment the L.A. art scene

emerged from the wasteland and placed itself on the map.

How did Eve come to pose for Wasser? The story begins several days earlier, when the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Norton Simon) held a private, invitation-only party at the Hotel Green to celebrate the opening of its now-legendary Duchamp retrospective exhibit.

“Guests included movie stars … and people played by movie stars (Beatrice Wood, the ceramicist and the real Catherine – the Jeanne Moreau role — in Truffaut’s “Jules and Jim),” Eve’s biographer Lili Anolik wrote.

Yes, Ojai’s own Beato, Duchamp’s former lover and lifelong friend, was at the Hotel Green that night, dominating the dance floor. She evidently felt a spark of nostalgic passion for her former flame, according to Kevin Wallace, director of the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts. In his book about Beato’s friend Liam O’Gallagher (also present that night, chatting with Andy Warhol), Wallace writes: “When public accounts of Beatrice Wood doing the twist and exhausting a number of dance part-

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ners came out, she explained it differently. She admitted dancing with others as Marcel watched, but claimed that ‘… though his arms were not around me at the time, it was with him that I danced, as the music played on …’ ”

Jim Morrison

All in all, it was quite a night. All of Eve’s artist pals from Barney’s Beanery were there. Even Mirandi Babitz, Eve’s 17-year-old sister, was there, as Julian Wasser’s date. But Eve was not invited, even though it was her lover Walter Hopps who had organized the Duchamp exhibit. Hopps had left her off the guest list because his wife would be present. So, to get back at Hopps, Eve agreed to pose nude for Wasser.

As it happens, Hopps was among the group of art luminaries whom Beato invited to Ojai to attend a luncheon she hosted for Duchamp a day or two after the Hotel Green party. A photo of this luncheon shows Beato gazing rather wolfishly across a table at the handsome young Hopps. Meanwhile, back in Pasadena, Wasser was arranging for the shoot, which took place at the museum several days later. Hopps was caught by surprise when he walked into the gallery to find a nude Eve sitting across a chessboard from Duchamp. Whether Eve’s stunt annoyed Hopps or impressed him is unclear, but it certainly captured his attention, and thus accomplished her purpose.

Years later, Eve apparently made a veiled allusion to Beato in an Esquire article she wrote about another former lover, Jim Morrison. By the time of her fling with Morrison, she had segued from Barney’s Beanery artists (Ojai-raised Ron Cooper was among her conquests) to Sunset Strip rockers. She thought Morrison was beautiful, but she was less impressed with his band.

Ed Ruscha

Lunch in Ojai, 1963: Walter Hopps, far left; Beato far right; D

“The Doors were embarrassing, like their name,” she wrote. “I dragged Jim into bed before they had decided on the name and tried to dissuade him; it was so corny naming yourself after something Aldous Huxley wrote. I mean, ‘The Doors of Perception’

Teenage Eve 80

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EVE’S OJAI

BY EVE BABITZ

Mae, Sol, Eve and baby Mirandi, circa 1947, the year the Ojai Music Festival was founded.

right; Duchamp, center.

Editor’s note: Due to the pandemic, this is the first spring since 1947 without an Ojai Music Festival. In lieu of our usual coverage, we present this charming piece about the 1994 festival by the celebrated writer Eve Babitz, whose father was among the event’s founders. This piece originally appeared in Westways magazine in June 1995 with the title “Keeping Time in Ojai,” and it was included in “I Used to Be Charming,” a collection of Babitz’s journalism published last fall by New York Review of Books. Reprinted here with permission. To order the book (and other Babitz titles, such as “Eve’s Hollywood”) visit www.nyrb.com.

In the 1994 Ojai Music Festival Playbill, Michael Tilson Thomas, the musical director, wrote: “I can clearly remember the clear, dusty California days, shadowed by live oak and sycamore with the music and presence of Ingolf Dahl, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss, Alice Ehlers, Sol Babitz, Mel Powell, and Pierre Boulez, to name but a few …”

My father, Sol Babitz, was the first violinist in the orchestras then, plus one of the originators of the Ojai festival, which he loved because they played interesting and early modern music.

Photo courtesy Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts/Happy Valley Foundation

Tilson Thomas was dedicating this festival to his memory of earlier times, times I too remember, though I cannot remember when I first went to the Ojai music festivals because I was too young. But I remember that every year, around April or May, my father would get out these various sheets showing an orchestra’s seating arrangements for different pieces of music, and he’d be on the phone, day and night, acquiring musicians to fill those seats — and the great ladies of Ojai would allow

… what an Ojai-geeky-too-L.A.-pottery-glazer kind of uncool idea.”

Geeky? Uncool? This comes across as a shot at Ojai’s best-known pottery glazer. But Mirandi Babitz Ssays Eve’s target probably was Ojai in general rather than Beato in particular.

“She was a big fan of Ojai when we were kids there but seemed to lose interest in it later and I think it was all too geeky for

words around the time that she started writing,” Mirandi said via email. “I suspect her disdain for all things the Corey family loved may have had something to do with that because they moved to Ojai around 1965 or ’66. That was the great actor and acting coach Jeff Corey and his wife, Hope, who were long-term residents of Ojai from the mid-‘60s on. Eve hated all things Corey-related because we grew up across the street from them in the 1940s and ‘50s in Hollywood and she did not get along with the Corey children. But then she got back in love with the place

A reimagining of the famous Julian Wasser photo of Marcel Duchamp playing chess with Eve Babitz Illustration by Jules Weissman,

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when her friend Caroline Thompson, the movie writer, moved to a big farm outside of town.”

“Personally,” Mirandi added, “I loved Ojai from childhood on, loved the Coreys and stayed at their house to go to the Festivals, and remain a fan to this day. We all knew and loved the Bauers … John was a marvelous person, tall and handsome with an elegant back-east accent who was the inspiration for my own concert-promotion days, which I did for about 10 years. Mine

EVE’S OJAI, CONTINUED

these musicians and their children to come stay during the festival weekend, so what I remember first, being one of the children, was the lane scented with orange blossoms and honeysuckle as we drove to Mrs. Grant’s house. She was a classical kindly old American lady with spectacles, with a beautiful old bungalow house with a stone porch, filled with remnants of travel in China, like a ruby-handled letter opener. She had an orange grove behind her house and something of a farm with chickens and cows too; it was paradise, a house inside full of books and culture, and outside the country in the way old California was “country.” And in the backyard, she always had kittens that my sister and I considered just further evidence that the best place on earth was Ojai.

In the mornings, Mrs. Grant would make my sister and me fresh orange juice and cinnamon toast and then we’d go play with the kittens and we definitely hated being dragged to concerts and considered one of the fabulous things about being an adult that we’d never have to go to a concert again.

In later life, what I loved about concerts was the intermissions where you could find great funny people that talked a mile a minute and were deeply civilized, but still to this day, the idea of being stuck, having to sit through a concert, drives me somewhat over the edge, though once I’m there, I usually find something funny enough or transcendent enough or amazing enough to capture my imagination, at least for a few moments.

Last year, my friend Paul Ruscha and I drove up to Ojai and stayed for two nights, not with Mrs. Grant, who is now, alas, dead and her home but a sigh in my memory, but at the fabulous Ojai Valley Inn, which has lately undergone a $35 million makeover and is now a place transcendent among golf fanciers, though even for the ordinary person, the lanes lined with honeysuckle and the balconies of jasmine are a thrill, as are the great birdcages outdoors filled with spectacular parrots and various other things and the indoor birdcages filled with gorgeous chirpers too. For breakfast, their open buffet is so decadent that Paul could hardly walk after actually eating eggs Benedict, which is I guess is OK since I’m his sole beneficiary though if I weren’t, I’d rather he stick to the oatmeal and all the great fruit they had as well as the divine muffins and incredible waffles with maple syrup. (On Sundays they actually had blintzes, which for a Republican-type golf place is amazingly Jewish.)

added and these gigantic haciendas that I hadn’t remembered for sale.”

The house she did remember was Mrs. Grant’s, where her family had stayed when she was a child. Later, after she and Tina had returned to L.A., they had a telephone conversation about their recent road trip: “ You know,” I said, it’s always been my secret ambition to get one of those stone houses up in Ojai.”

“Really?” She sounded a trace lightened. “God it’s beautiful up there.” “ Yeah, well, what I wanted to do was have this house and all these cats and orange trees and even a goat. A stone house with a dirt road.”

“Oh, that sounds fantastic,” she said. She could see it clear as day.

“And the thing was, my secret ambition has always been to be a spinster.” “ Yours too?” were rock ‘n’ roll, but I learned so much from hanging around John. He was the bridge between the musicians and the Festival and accepted by them all because of the depth of his musical knowledge.”

“And then we’d have this house and every now and then we’d be visited by M. and other flashy people, but then they’d go away and we’d have this house and the sun would set and you’d be able to smell orange blossoms and we’ll never die.”

Mirandi became friendly with Beato too in later years, and would visit her studio.

“Gee, that sounds terrific. Let’s do it.”

“My mother, the artist Mae Babitz, was a big fan of hers too. I took my mother to many Festivals in the later years of her life after my father died in 1982.”

So, at least 75 percent of the Babitz family — Mirandi and her late parents — remained steadfast fans of Ojai and its Music Festival. As for Eve, to judge from that piece she wrote for Westways, she eventually developed an appreciation for the Festival, despite her low tolerance for sitting through concerts.

And here’s another clue: the vignette she included in “Eve’s Hollywood” about visiting Ojai for the first time in many years, accompanied by her friend Tina.

“I hadn’t been to Ojai since I was about 9 and had been at the mercy of my parents who went and participated in the Ojai Music Festival each year,” Eve wrote. “I hoped it was still beautiful because it was a long drive and Tina was driving. But it was even more beautiful than I remembered and there was a lake now

“OK,” I agreed.

So that’s what we’re going to do if we ever get out of Hollywood. And we both felt so much better, we met for a drink at Musso’s and ran into some friends.

Eve Babitz never did get out of Hollywood. The years passed and her books went out of print and then in 1997 she suffered a traumatic injury when her dress caught fire. After that, she stopped writing and withdrew into seclusion. Then, around 2014, a new generation of readers discovered her work, and she came back into vogue with a vengeance. Nowadays, all her books are back in print and Hulu is making a TV series out of her “L.A. Woman.” So, if Eve still nurses the same secret ambition, she can now afford to buy that stone house in Ojai. Maybe Mrs. Grant’s old place is available.

EVE’S OJAI, CONTINUED

Ojai today is almost exactly like it used to be, the corner with the pharmacy where I used to buy books when I was little is still the corner with the pharmacy and nothing in the town has been allowed to go the least bit slick – there are no malls, no gigantic discount drugstores, no “improvements” that wreck life and make you think California isn’t that great after all.

If nearby Santa Barbara is the bastion of hidebound city planners absolutely refusing to allow anything but exactly what’s already there to be built again and so determined that the city never even take so much as water from Los Angeles so it won’t have to pander to ignorant nouveau “improvements,” then Ojai is equally bent on quaintness, though being inland and farther away from hoi polloi, it’s got a gentler, quainter, sweeter grace that, still today, is exactly as marvelous as it must have been in the 1920s when it became somewhat of a town and definitely as it was in the early ‘50s when I remember my first concert rehearsal, for Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat” conducted by Edward Rebner, which included a kind of theatrical event, the devil, the soldier with his violin (my father played that part), and the princess — and the devil jumped out from under the bed, giving me nightmares for years and years afterward.

When Paul and I went to the concerts, we sat in the front where I never sat before, since in the olden days when we were children, it was better sitting out on the lawns with picnics and others equally uninterested in music and more interested in the birds or the stars at night. They played a Lukas Foss piece, described as “ungirdled silliness” or something in the Playbill, which did make everyone laugh because it was like Bach only with sampling, things stuck in like Spike Jones did. It was so wild and funny. Sitting way up front, it was practically like being in the orchestra yourself, and it’s great that only about 800 people can fit into this bowl because it’s possible not only to park but also to get the feeling that you’re in something personal and special, rather than the way most concerts are today, where it’s so computerized and vast, you can’t wait for the intermission to go stare at people in their clothes.

The clothes at this concert were mainly khakis, walking shoes, sweaters and pants, nobody was dressed amazingly, but then

it was all outdoors and cozy and inspired and brilliant anyway, the way the originators like my father and John Bauer hoped it would be, and the way Mrs. Grant and the other wonderful ladies of Ojai long ago imagined — civilization in the country, a perfect combination, a divine melding of the outdoors and the very, very sweetly cultivated — one of the great things about living in Southern California as it started out to be, and somehow still manages to be.

The tug-of-war that goes on within me about sitting through concerts at all, and the feeling that concerts are really the most sublime thing on earth and probably ought to be gone to as much as possible, still causes me trouble, but if you have to go to a concert, it’s probably most wonderful to go to these in Ojai, held in June, under the stars or gentle shade, hearing a young orchestra filled with technique and spirit and enthusiasm, and with the least expensive seats, the ones on the lawn behind the small bowl, where you can eat your picnic dinner and be there but not too there, the perfect way to hear music on a soft California lawn, the air perfect, the people gentle, civilized and kind as the avant-garde used to be and still, today, is.

Between concerts, we went to Suzanne’s, this elegant place, except that it was too early for us to have dinner, so we just had gazpacho, and I had iced tea, Paul had a beer. Later, in Santa Barbara, we went to a cute French restaurant called Mousse Odile, where for the first time in the years since I went to Paris, I found celery root just like it’s supposed to be, perfect, and the best bread on earth too. Even the coffee was so great, Paul bought some to take home with him, but then Santa Barbara has always had secret great places, and one of its secrets is that that 25 miles inland is Ojai with its orange groves, music festivals, and the beauty of country life lived in the grand manner of people who want to be out where they can see stars at night, but not that out.

Wherever Mrs. Grant is, I hope she’s in a place as divine as her farm in Ojai, but I doubt anything could be more divine than the place I remember, the kittens, the ruby-handled letter opener from China, and the cinnamon toast.

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TURTLE

FROM

BY BRET BRADIGAN

After the runaway success of the Netflix documentary, Ojai turtle conservationist, New York City hotelier, is bringing life back to downtown’s Oaks At Ojai Hotel.

For all the ways in which it captured the cultural moment, “Tiger King” creator and Ojai resident Eric Goode hopes people link the tragic comedy of his documentary series to the Covid-19 lockdown. Bad things happen when you meddle with nature.

“This current time is really poignant,” Goode said in an exclusive interview with the Ojai Quarterly. “The coronavirus coming in from the wet markets in Asia, how these zoonotic diseases spread. Ebola, SARS, bird flu, these lethal pathogens can shred and torture animals (including human animals) in all parts of the world.”

While getting his New York City hotels back in operation after the extended lockdown, Goode has been quarantined in Ojai, a place he’s known well for most of his life. The recent success of the Netflix seven-episode documentary is, in a real sense, Ojai’s success. Goode is partners with Ramin Shamshiri and Werner Ebbink on the Oaks of Ojai, the 61-room hotel that formed an important hub in downtown Ojai for decades, until it closed during the Thomas Fire in December, 2017.

Shamshiri, husband of Dame Donna Langley (who runs Universal Studios,) owns the historic Libbey House in the Arbolada and founded, along with his sister, Pamela, Studio Shamshiri; one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 list. Ebbink founded much-loved Los Angeles restaurants Dominick’s in West Hollywood and then Little Dom’s in Los Feliz. Goode, for his part, brings in extensive experience as New York City nightlife entrepreneur and hotelier, who founded the legendary ‘80s nightclub Area, base camp for art scene luminaries Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Hockney. It was famed for its innovative fusion of arts and nightlife.

Also an artist himself (his first show was curated in 1981 by Keith Haring), Goode has filmed videos for Robbie Robertson and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. He branched into hotels in the 1990s, and now owns the Lafayette House and co-owns the Bowery Hotel, Jane Hotel, Maritime Hotel and Waverly Inn (partnered on the Waverly with erstwhile Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter) — known for 88

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their vibrant décor and pulsing nightlife.

While construction at the Oaks has been slowed due to the lockdown, Goode holds out hope for a successful renovation and re-opening as the El Roblar Hotel, its original name. “We just want to Eric Goode. Photograph restore the Oaks to back to what it was — this year

by Brandi Crockett will be its 100th anniversary.”

Don and Sheila Cluff, a pioneer fitness celebrity, bought the Oaks in 1977, where it became a landmark wellness destination until the Thomas Fire. The Cluffs were key community leaders and philanthropists during those years.

“We are excited,” Don Cluff said. “The hotel, and Ojai, has given us a lot over these years. The timing was absolutely perfect.”

As a former electrical engineer, Cluff still enjoys getting the occasional call from the contractor about the wiring of the place he knew well for so many decades. “The place has given us a lot to be thankful for,” he said. “But we sure feel like we’ve earned some rest.”

Goode understands that there’s a delicate relationship between Ojai’s authen

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Bhagavan “Doc” Antle

Erik Cowie

ticity and economic vitality. Too much tourism means the magical feel is crowded out. Too little, and the ghostly absence of commerce during the lockdown can become the new normal.

“I bought a house in Ojai in 1989, and when I first moved here 30 years ago, Ojai was really struggling,” he said. “On the flip side, we need vitality, need commerce. But you really need to strike a careful balance. We don’t want Ojai to turn into just another place that gets overrun with tourism and traffic. We’re trying to strike that happy balance — a vital economy with smart civic planning. This project is right in the center of town — it can help revitalize Arcade retail outlets.”

Goode, as a globetrotting conservationist, has been filming the interface between man and wild creatures for years. “I’ve witnessed the most barbaric conditions. At this time, as we’ve been sequestered, we should be thinking about our relationship with the natural world.”

His childhood was immersed in the natural world. His father, Frederick Goode, a Navy veteran during both World War II and the Korean conflict, taught at The Thacher School, where he was known for his booming voice and classroom theatrics that made him a favorite teacher for many. “I remember those days as a kid in Ojai as the halcycon days of California,” Goode said. “It was a beautiful, magic time in my life, with so many indelible memories connecting with nature.”

Goode founded the Turtle Conservancy in the East End in 1989, inspired by his backcountry roaming and the mystique of Ojai.

“I was a faculty brat, just falling in love with the backcountry, the Sespe wilderness, especially the turtles or snakes. Every photo of me from that period, I’m always holding a turtle or snake,” he said. After his fortune was made in New York City, Goode felt again the pull of Ojai.

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Carole Baskin

Partnering with the Bronx Zoo, Goode’s mission was to save rare turtles and tortoises; he says half of the chelonian species are threatened or endangered, not only through habitat destructions but also by black-market smuggling. The five-acre preserve on the East End became a research center as well as a place to guard precious specimens like the Madagascar plowshare tortoise, which can fetch $50,000 on the black market.

“When I came back, so little had changed. It’s such a wonderful, secret valley with no sprawl. Now, it does seem more diverse, (with) more young people moving here. I think of Porch Gallery, the little restaurants, the coffee shops,” he said. “(Patagonia founder) Yvon Chouinard said that without Los Padres National Forest, we’d have Bakersfield behind us.”

If there’s anything to connect Goode’s diverse enthusiasms, it is wildlife — whether rescuing rare turtles in Indonesia or mingling with the artistic elite in his teeming nightspots. So he was ready when the opportunity to create “Tiger King” presented itself, through a chance encounter with Mario Tabraue (called by The Daily Mail, among other sources, as one of the real-life inspirations for “Scarface.”)

“I’ve known a lot of the exotic reptile dealers in South Florida, like Tommy Crutchfield, the ‘Breaking Bad’ of the reptile world.

Mario (Tabraue) drove up with a snow leopard in a van …I was there to rescue a gaboom viper, and I was frankly shocked that you could own such an incredible, elusive species.” (Peter Matthiessen wrote an entire bestselling book about not finding a snow leopard in the Himalayas). “Just seeing a snow leopard in south Florida — it was like 100 degrees out with 90 percent humidity!,” he said. “These cats need cool, clear air. They live around 12,000 feet elevation and above.

“That moment was really shocking, frankly,” he said. “That set me OQ / SUMMER 2020

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A NEW SPECIES EMERGES IN OJAI’S BACKYARD

BY BRET BRADIGAN

Southwest Pond Turtles identified, endangered 4 Rick Kirkham off on a journey to find out what’s really going on.”

Goode had a production deal to create a series with CNN but “they recognized I wasn’t Anthony Bourdain — so I shifted gears, got engaged with Netflix (in the winter of 2019) .” He also began working with acclaimed producer and director Rebecca Chaiklin. “We filmed another year, then showed them the material, which was quite substantial at that time, documenting the big cat world. They were really intrigued. So I made a deal and I began working with Netflix — casting a wide net.”

From Tabraue, it wasn’t long before Goode met the man of the moment, the gay, polygamist, gun-toting zookeeper named Joe Exotic, whose given last name was Schreibvogel, and who goes by Joe Passage Maldonado, taking the last names of his spouses. At his GW Zoo in southern Oklahoma he kept lions, tigers and ligers, among a wide array of other exotic animals.

Joe Exotic, and his colorful crew, along with his years-long dispute with Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue in Florida, formed the heart of the documentary, which entered the scene, and the zeitgeist, in early March, just as the world went into the social-distancing era of the Covid-19 crisis.

The seven episodes covered several years with many miles of footage from this colorful tale of big cats in captivity— the most charismatic of megafauna — with a murder-for-hire plot. Goode had been looking around and filming plenty of other angles, including people who raise monkeys for medical research, but he kept coming to “the war that was ensuing between Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic — representing the animal world. And it was a war in Carole’s case. She was looking at all these people keeping these tigers, exploiting them for financial gain,” he said. “Joe represented worst of worst. He had over 200 tigers, and was so flamboyant. The back-and-forth between the

For all the inventiveness Eric Goode has engineered at the Turtle Conservancy on Ojai’s East End, simulating dozens of micro-climates — Phillippines Islands rain forests as well as arid wastes — his mother, Marilyn Goode, a prominent Sonoma conservationist, wishes he’d stick closer to home.

She told the Ojai Quarterly, “I’m for taking care of what’s in your own backyard. I guess my son’s work in South Africa and around the world is OK, but it’s not my idea.”

She wishes that her globe-trotting conservationist and “Tiger King” creating son would concentrate on protecting the endangered Pacific pond turtles, Actinemys marmorata.

That task took on a more proximate urgency in 2014, when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service split the western pond turtle into two species: which now includes the Actinemys pallida for the populations from the San Francisco Bay and Central Valley to the south, including the Ojai Valley and populations in the Ventura River drainage.

Rick Ridgeway, mountaineer and explorer, sits on the board of the Turtle Conservancy, and is keenly aware of the precarious situation of the local pond turtle populations. He said that not long ago, virtually every floating object in Matilija Reservoir held sunbathing turtles; now, there’s somewhere between few and none. It’s been a while since he’s seen the once-ubiquitous turtles on his bird-watching rounds.

Ridgeway speculates that hatchling turtles are apparently the snack of choice for invasive bullfrogs from the eastern United States. “There’s a pressing need for measuring their existing status. It appears to be declining and declining rapidly,” he said.

The mission to save endangered turtles and tortoises can encompass both global and local approaches, Ridgeway said. “We’re all of us at the Turtle Conservancy very interested in initiating more strategic initiatives for the southern pond turtle – and a survey is

two of them was fascinating. But we recognized that there were others involved. The dots connected to the other pole — Mario and Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, Tim Stark and other characters.”

The documentary has come in for criticism for its “cultural voyeurism” into this demimonde, but Goode made clear that he was intent to make an advocacy film where the advocacy wasn’t hitting you over the head.

“Number One — we wanted to make a film to reach people, not just preach to the converted,” he said.

Goode had been featured in Louie Psihoyos’ acclaimed documentary “Racing Extinction,” which included footage shot in Ojai at the Turtle Conservancy. Psihoyos, who besides “Racing Extinction,” won an Oscar for “The Cove,” about dolphin slaughter in Japan, is a friend and has consulted with Goode on “Tiger King.”

Goode said, “With a lot of these kind of films, you don’t get a wide viewership. People have a low tolerance for watching the abuse of animals. So we recognized that we had to tell this story in a way that was interesting for people, not in a preachy, voice-of-Godkind-of-way, but really to make it an interesting journey.”

By all accounts, they succeeded. The film burrowed deep into the national psyche, spawning a million memes and rampant speculation. Twitter tags like #carolekilledherhusband trended, and comedians had a field day. But inside the carnival atmosphere, there was a real story to tell. Goode said, “People recognize in the end this was not right. The film has done a lot so far in a short period, to help legislation and people like (Rep.) Mike Quigley, sponsor of the Big Cat Public Safety Act — really giving us new ammo to stop the private ownership and exploitation of cats.

“Number Two — I also had a fascination with American sub-

Kelci Saffery

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cultures — and not in a demeaning way,” Goode said. He was fascinated by “this obsession of some people to go against the grain of mainstream America. But to look at it, not from the lens of an anthropologist, but more the lens of an ethnographer. I was observing them. I’ve done that all my life — hotels, restaurants, nightclubs — bringing people together. So really, we set out from that vantage point.”

“We were inspired by works such as Christopher Guest’s “Best in Show” and Errol Morris’ early films like ‘Gates of Heaven,’ looking into these worlds, not in a condescending way,” he said. He let the characters speak for themselves, and, in doing so, captured on film their compelling authenticity. “That’s who ( John) Reinke is, who Saf (Kelci Saffery) is, who Mario is” he said about key characters. “The people portrayed in this film were exactly who they said they were. These people are real and often bigger than life. They are celebrities in their own minds.”

Goode wished he could have gotten insight on the hoopla from Andy Warhol, his art-scene companion who understood the nature of celebrity in revelatory ways. He died in 1987. “I would like to think Andy would have loved this,” he said. “These people, bigger than life. It’s all of a part of his fascination with celebrity — Liz Taylor, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe.”

After the runaway success of “Tiger King,” Goode has quietly resumed his conservation work, as well as keeping busy with plans for his Ojai properties, expanding the Turtle Conservancy’s education and conservation mission and renovating what will become the El Roblar Hotel. “We’ve developed a Thacher School elective class on the biology of turtles and tortoises, integrating applied science into the curriculum,” he said. “It’s an increasingly wonderful relationship; it brings me full circle from being a faculty brat at Thacher.”

John Finlay

Jeff Lowe

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He’s also got a pipeline full of future documentaries. “There were so many people deserving to be in the story. We’ve been working closely with Tippi Hedren and her daughter Melanie Griffith.” Hedren runs Roar Foundation’s Shambala preserve in the desert east of Los Angeles. Hedren, star of Alfred Hitchock’s “The Birds,” and “Marnie,” rescues big cats. “Her and her daughter have a colorful, long history working with lions and tigers,” Goode said.

In fact, Hedren and then-husband Noel Marshall, along with Melanie, filmed “Roar,” about a naturalist in East Africa hosting his visiting family. The film has achieved cult status, more for what went on behind the camera than in front of it.

One theme that runs through “Tiger King,” the Shambala rescue operation and other people and organizations Goode and his crew have filmed, is obsession. “These are an interesting, colorful, eccentric group of people. I guess I’m not that different, just I love turtles, not dangerous tigers. But there’s something to be said for having an interest in life … it’s a gift to be interested and obsessed with anything,” Goode said.

Southwestern Pond Turtle, Actinemys pallida, photo by Chuck Graham

the initial unfolding of that initiative.

That’s why partnering with students at Thacher School is so important for the Turtle Conservancy. “Thacher students come into the nursery and incubator in partnership with us. We’re really excited about that,” he said. “We need to develop a parallel research program to go alongside (population) survey — to try to determine reason for decline. We suspect its bullfrogs, but we don’t know that for sure,” he said.

“Right now, there’s not an answer for that question. We’re bringing in world’s leading scientists, trying to determine the reason,” he said. “There’s so few other populations, really. We really want to expand student support for survey work on the Sespe.”

Amid all the “Tiger King” hullabaloo —(Spoiler: Joe Exotic has been imprisoned for 22 years for his murder-for-hire conviction while he awaits a possible pardon from President Trump) — Goode hopes people don’t forget “that the real victims of this story are the cats. These animals are suffering, and exploited for monetary gain. The relationship is deeply one-sided and I hope it highlights the importance of protecting all wildlife.”

The Turtle Conservancy has successfully purchased and managed preserves in South Africa and Mexico for critically endangered tortoises, examples of which are housed at the East End conservancy. “It’s an insurance policy for these endangered species,” Ridgeway said. “They’re also ambassador animals; we bring in potential funders to see these turtles and tortoises in person, to inspire people to help save habitats.”

Goode said, “Remember in Ojai the efforts to save the California Condors? It was conservation biologists who saved the species. We have now 500 condors flying free. What Ojai did for condors we can do for tigers, for any endangered species.”

The conservancy also works to stop the illegal traffic in turtles and tortoises, which “affects the illegal trade in other species as well,” Ridgeway said. “Traders are very often the same people. This is also going to help control the future spread of pandemic viruses.

We consider this work essential for turtle conservation. It’s also essential if we are ever going to control zoonotic transmissions.”

“Tiger King” Joe Exotic

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On January 9, 2018, a torrent of rain in the middle of the night poured down up on the coastal range above Montecito, setting in motion a churning river of boulders and debris, killing 22 people and shutting down Highway 101. Less known is that torrent also scoured out the other side of the ridge into the upper reaches of the Middle Fork of the Matilija, unleashing several million cubic yards of rocks, trees and other debris, destroying a large area of the prime habitat for these newly named turtles.

As the habitat shrinks, we need to work that much harder to keep these rare local turtles alive, Ridgeway said. “It is an endangered species, and we in Ojai need to take part in the effort to save them with pride.”

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

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OJAI BEYOND

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9. ROTI 469 E Ojai Avenue 310-770-3282 4444

10. Ojai Art Center 113 S Montgomery Street 805-646-0117

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

THE ARCADE

11. Nutmeg’s Ojai House 304 N Montgomery Street 805-640-1656

12. Ojai Café Emporium 108 S Montgomery Street 805-646-2723

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13. Ojai Valley Electronics & Hobby 307-A E Matilija Street 805-646-7585 14. Ojai Valley Museum 130 W Ojai Avenue 805-640-1390

15. Ranch House 102 Besant Road 805-640-2360 11 11

16. Sea Fresh 533 E Ojai Avenue 805-646-7747 19 19

17. Studio Sauvageau 332-B E Ojai Avenue (Inner Arcade) 805-646-0117

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STAY ON HWY 150 for about 2.2 miles 11

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18. Treasures of OJAI 110 N Signal Street 805-646-2852

19. Porch Gallery 310 E Matilija Street 213-321-3919

20. Ojai Olive Oil 1811 Ladera Ridge Road (off Hermitage) 805-646-5964

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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Photo by Tylar Harrison

Together, our community will help protect Ojai’s trails and open spaces for everyone to enjoy, forever.

Visit a participating Wild About Ojai business today and take part.

A Taste of Ojai

GoOjai.com

Ojai Quarterly

Alojai Creations

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Jennifer Keeler, Hair Stylist

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Lorraine Lim Catering

Sol Haus Design

Char Man Brand Hot Sauce

Mary Nelson Skincare & Massage Studio

Dogs Fly Design The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Company 98

Tobias Parker, General Contractor

Meridian Design Construction

Tonya Peralta Real Estate Services, Inc

Mooney Creative

Watercolors by Patty Van Dyke OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | HEA LT H & W E LLN ESS

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100 Pedal Power Riding the Trails of Ojai, With a Little Boost

By G. Lev Baumel

110 Ojai’s Hiking Map Our Top Trails Art by Colleen McDougal

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112

ask dr. beth

Brave Newt world

Top 10 Superfoods and How to Get Them Into Your Diet

By Beth Prinz, M.D.

Rare Creatures Face Multitude of Threats

By Chuck Graham

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calendar

nocturnal submissions

Ojai’s Busy, But Mostly Online, Schedule of Events

Coronavirus Diaries — Bin Days 1-33

By Sami Zahringer

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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Pedal Power The Ojai Valley on Two Wheels

BY G.LEV BAUMEL

If I got a dollar for every time someone said I was cheating when I ride my electronic bicycle, commonly known as an e-bike, I could buy the Tour de France. Once upon a time, I too believed e-bikes meant cheating. My opinion shifted when I started looking for how I might fit exercise into my busy days. I didn’t want to arrive at work all sweaty, but I still needed to move my body.

Someone recommended I try an e-bike. I rented one for a day and that was all it took. These days, I ride my e-bike as often as I can.

I have commuted to jobs across town and all the way to Ventura. Date nights on my e-bike are my favorite. More recently, my e-bike has allowed me to cover longer distances in the short spurts I have to get outside during this period of social distancing. Put simply: my e-bike has changed my life.

I am aware that talking about bicycles during a global pandemic may seem strange. However, while we spend our days sequestered inside our homes, and weeks and months away from loved ones and life as we knew it, questions about the future are constantly present: when we are, once again, free to roam the earth, how would we, as a society, like to re-emerge? I also wonder about the normal life we speak of missing — how well was that “normal” really working?

What would we like to go back to, and what do we hope may be forever changed as a result of these unprecedented times?

One small silver lining of the horrendous COVID-19 virus is a substantial drop in world pollution. For one, carbon and nitrogen dioxide levels are down by as much as 40 percent, which lessens the risk of asthma, heart attacks and lung disease — all factors in being able to fight off the Coronavirus. And with traffic reduced by nearly 40 percent, CO2 levels are lower than they have been in decades. As a result, coyotes have been spotted on the Golden Gate Bridge, deer are grazing in Washington DC, and there has been a steep drop in roadside killings of wildlife. In Kenya, a photograph of Mount Kenya, suddenly visible from Nairobi, was

Photo by Jeff Kingma

er:

accused of being fake. It is real — and apparently hard to believe.

What, you ask, does this have to do with e-bikes?

Photo by Giorgio Trovato

E-bikes are touted as both an eco-friendly transportation alternative to cars, and a more efficient way to incorporate exercise into everyday life. For starters, e-bikes don’t run on gasoline; their motors are battery powered, and they charge when plugged into an electric socket, which makes them more environmentally friendly. This, along with low upkeep and insurance, also means that e-bikes cost a small fraction of what cars do per year.

In addition, e-bikes combine the physical benefits, fresh air, and velocity of regular bikes, with a motor that helps eliminate the slog and sweatiness that can accompany regular pedal pushing. An e-bike means less recovery time between rides, which translates to a more seamless integration of day-to-day exercise with the need to get around. Personally, I went from riding my regular bike maybe once or twice a year, to being on my ebike at least three or four times a week.

In terms of cheating, the technology most used in e-bikes is called Pedelec, or pedal assist. The way it works is that the rider can choose whether, and to what extent they would like to receive a boost from the motor. But, as is the case with regular bikes, if the rider doesn’t pedal, the bike does not move.

When people comment on cost, I have to admit that, while my e-bike was certainly not cheap, between my time spent riding, the amount I’ve saved on gas, and the aerobic workout I’ve enjoyed with little to no pain, it has more than paid for itself.

However, I am just one person. I wondered: am I alone in this? I decided to reach out and get others’ perspectives. The Ojai Valley is a perfect place for e-bikes, says Mob Shop co-owner, Kelly Pasco.

For most of their clients, the e-bike is a game changer. Pasco cites

Xena Grossman

a 2019 Dutch study that compared exercise on regular bikes versus e-bikes. The conclusion was that although physical exertion may be lower on e-bikes, most riders still get around the same amount of benefits because, on average, e-bike riders tend to take longer journeys, both in terms of time spent as well as distance traveled.

Most people, says Pasco, are more curious than judgmental and, as a result, The Mob Shop has seen a sharp increase in e-bike sales in recent years. The shift, Pasco says, comes when people actually come in and try them. “Their mind starts to spin with all the things they could do that they aren’t doing now,” he says. “People think it’s like a scooter or something. But once they ride one, once they get on one and see how well designed and how engaged they are with the e-bike, it immediately changes the perception. You’re engaged with the e-bike just like you are on a regular bike.”

Co-owner Tim Rhone, concurs: “At first,” he says, “for a lot of people, ego can get in the way, the perception that it does all the work for you and that it’s cheating. For the most part, you put those people on an e-bike and send them out and they come back with a huge grin on their face.” The cheating element, Rhone specifies, “is that e-bikes don’t require any effort at all. They realize that it does take effort, just less effort. You can boost the power a little and it’s fun. E-bikes bridge the gap between zero fitness and a level of fitness that allows people to enjoy themselves.”

Porch Gallery co-owner Lisa Casoni enjoys getting on her bike and venturing into new parts of Ojai. “The thing I like most,” she says, “is you’re still pedaling, you’re still working out, you can have it set so you’re actively pumping your heart, but you can also dial it back when you need a breather.” During our conversation, she uses the word happy repeatedly: the nostalgia of riding her bike as a child makes her happy, as does riding around town and discovering new parts of Ojai, corners she never would have known had she stayed in her car; she is happy when she sees others — 102

G Lev Baumel Photo by Igor-Miske

both tourists and locals — riding bikes. “We have the mountains, this gorgeous environment,” she says, “if you’re in a car, you’re not smelling the beautiful things coming out of people’s houses when they’re cooking or barbecuing. You notice a lot more, not just on a visual level, but on so many other levels.”

Her goal is to encourage people to have more of those kinds of experiences. In fact, Casoni and her partner, Heather Stobo, keep extra bikes on hand for their guests. E-bikes, she says, should be viewed as a long-term investment, in the planet and one’s overall health.

Xena Grossman works at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy at the old county work farm off Baldwin Road. She lives at the top of a very steep hill on the East End, which made riding her regular bike from one end of the Ojai Valley to the other a challenge, and purchased her e-bike with the intention of using it to commute to work. “When I got the e-bike, I decided I would ride once or twice a week. Within a couple of weeks, I was riding almost every day,” she says. Because her weekday commute is mostly on the bike path, Ms. Grossman does not have to worry about cars and can simply enjoy the exercise. “It’s a really great time to be thinking and breathing,” she says. Her e-bike also includes space on the back for her young daughter. “When you put a motor on it, it’s no longer ‘I have to ride my bike,’” she says, “it becomes let’s go to town, it’ll be fun.” Grossman admits that she and her husband have discussed the possibility of swapping out their second car for another ebike. “As a means of transportation, it’s opened up something that wasn’t accessible to me before. It’s also lowering my impact on the environment. It’s amazing.”

Rick Rutherford, an ER doctor and father of four, has been mountain-biking since he was a child. Ojai is tricky terrain, he says, the first sections of many trails can be steep and rocky — not ideal when you have limited time and energy.

E-mountain bikes are uniquely challenging, he explains: “They have to internalize all the parts so they don’t become damaged OQ / SUMMER 2020

Lisa Casoni

a Casoni

Suza Francina

when riding up a hill, and then the other thing is to try to keep the bike as light as possible and also put a powerful battery on it that can take you long distances.” For these reasons, they can also be more expensive. After doing some research, Dr. Rutherford decided to convert one of his regular mountain bikes himself, for a fraction of the price. “The main thing for me,” he says, “is that I’m able to bike to places that I wouldn’t have previously been able to go. I’ve ridden up and down Nordhoff Ridge by various routes. I’ve been able to ride over the Murrieta divide, from Matilija Canyon to come out behind Goleta — that was an amazing, beautiful ride. When I want to go on shorter rides, I’m able to go up Rice and Willett Canyon or get to the top of Oso Ridge, which I couldn’t do on a regular mountain bike, it’s just too steep.” Because he can control how much support he gets from the motor, Dr. Rutherford remains vigilant to ensure he still gets a good workout. Whereas he used to only have time to get in a good ride once or twice a month, now it’s once or twice a week.

He admits that since he discovered e-mountain bikes, he’ll never go back: “If it’s just me, and I have three or four hours, I’m always going to ride my e-bike because I want to be able to get further into the wilderness and explore some new areas.”

It would be nearly impossible to find a more vocal proponent of e-bikes than current city councilwoman and former Ojai mayor, Suza Francina. She campaigned on a platform of making the city bike-friendly and climate resilient. Over the years, she has gone through phases when she didn’t own a car, and riding her bike has remained a priority. “As you get older,” Francina, who is 71, says, “energy is a big thing. You don’t have the energy of youth at some point. I can’t afford to come home exhausted, because I’m still working, I have dogs, I have grandchildren. The e-bike definitely helps me conserve my energy.”

Currently, she does own a van, in case there’s another fire but, she specifies, “it will sit in my driveway for days.” Francina does not use her car for solo trips under three miles, and allows herself

Rick Rutherford

only one tank of gas per month, which she tries to stretch to six weeks. About e-bikes specifically, she is very clear: “a lot of people who use bikes for recreation, if they had an e-bike, they could use it for normal, daily life, for transportation, not just recreation. The e-bike expands into your life because it’s such a joy to be on.”

Francina plans to ride her e-bike until she’s a 100, or however long she lives. “It’s empowering for any age,” she says, “but for an older person, the possibilities are endless — I can do anything on my e-bike, I can go anywhere.” In her opinion, “Keeping the older population active and independent is one of the greatest things we can do for society as a whole.”

She is right: thanks to the pedal assist option, e-bikes offer the opportunity for older people and those with disabilities and health challenges to nevertheless get exercise. A recent New York Times article featured the story of a couple who conduct daily afternoon schnapps dates on the border of Denmark and Germany, which is currently closed due to the Corona virus. She is eight-five, he is eighty-nine and rides his e-bike to his meetings with his lady-love.

Cycling through Ojai during social isolation, I have nevertheless been able to enjoy the scents of the orange blossoms in bloom, I have listened to children playing in their yards, and observed families spending time together in their driveways — all tender glimpses into a world outside my own. Riding my e-bike is a way of remaining engaged and present, while keeping a distance of six feet; it still allows for serendipity — a quick stop, an unexpected detour — and experiences like sunsets, lemon-filled baskets with handwritten signs saying “Free. Take one,” and unexpected, wave-by encounters with friends. In a time when everything has changed, I realize that my e-bike rides are the one thing that hasn’t, and when the time comes to reopen the world, I hope that, as I cycle through a busier town, and find myself rushing to and from work again, my rides help me remember these quieter days — and what is truly important.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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OQ | A S K D R . B ET H

TOP 10 SUPERFOODS DR. BETH PRINZ Contact: doctorbeth@ojaiquarterly.com The Food Doctor M.D. – Dr. Beth Prinz is

Between Coronavirus & Chronic Conditions, It’s Time to Take Charge of Lifestyle Choices

Chronic conditions — obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease — and the novel coronavirus and chronic conditions are a risky combination, we’ve been told.

It all feels so random and out of control.

But lifestyle changes are all about the things we CAN control, for ourselves. This is empowering.

We’ve seen more people than usual at the clinic requesting to get back on their medications, get their diabetes under control, get help with stopping smoking, update their asthma medications. This is a good thing to do.

Lifestyle measures are equally if not more important. We don’t yet know all the variables as to why people respond differently to the coronavirus.

Until more is known, it makes sense to take care of ourselves the best we can.

Stress management, not smoking, adequate sleep, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and a healthy diet are the things we can choose as individuals that may protect and fortify us if we do find ourselves battling this virus.

As a reminder, here are 10 everyday 106

superfoods. Keep these on hand. Consume daily.

1. Leafy Greens: The healthiest foods on the planet. No food offers more nutrition per calorie. Think of greens as a daily medicine, best eaten at least 3 times a day.

2. Steel Cut Oats: People who eat more whole grains tend to live significantly longer lives. Whole grains reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and stroke.

Oatmeal suppresses inflammation and is a great source of fiber, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, and protein.

3. Blueberries: Throw them on your morning oatmeal with cinnamon. Berries are the healthiest of all the fruits. Packed with cancer-preventing antioxidants anthocyanin. Boosts the immune system and protects against liver, brain, and heart disease.

4. Potato With Skins: Excellent source of fiber, potassium, starch, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, choline, B vitamins, iron, and calci-

Board Certified in Internal Medicine and passionate about preventing disease through healthy living and a whole-food, plant-based dietary approach to health.

um! Sweet, white, or purple, potatoes when consumed with skins and without excess oil, are an underrated champion.

5. Spices & Herbs: Turmeric, cumin, pepper, paprika, saffron. You name it. Add spices to your food daily for the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Capsaicin found in chili peppers is noteworthy.

6. Mushrooms: Lending a meaty umami flavor to foods, the ordinary white button mushroom stimulates the immune system, activating the gut to produce IgA and IgG. Mushrooms also increase the diversity of our microbiome.

7. Black beans: Loaded with protein, iron, zinc, fiber, folate, potassium and calcium.

Free of cholesterol and low in fat. Protects against cancer. Eat beans or whole grains with every meal.

8. Chia Seeds: People who added chia seeds to their breakfast yogurt consumed 300 fewer calories at lunch in one study. A OQ / SUMMER 2020

Photo by Vince Lee/Unsplash

good source of omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, selenium, vitamin K, chia seeds contain lignans which help repair damaged heart tissue after a heart attack. Soak chia seeds in almond milk overnight with a natural sweetener such as maple or coconut syrup and vanilla for a healthy delicious daily pudding.

9. Quinoa: The quintessential “mother of all grains� (technically a seed) that is a complete protein. Boil then simmer in

vegetable broth until tender. Use as a base for plant-based veggie bowls.

10. Garlic & Onion: Garlic increases the number and potency of our immune T cells and natural killer (NK) cells resulting in fewer colds and flu symptoms amongst research subjects consuming garlic extract.

Onion is a kitchen staple, the base of soups, stir fries, and sauces.

COUNTY-MANAGED TESTING OQ / SUMMER 2020

SITES: See location information for days and times. Ventura County Ambulatory Care Urgent Care Locations. For pre-screening and appointment, call the hotline at 805-652-7660.

The testing centers will conduct a virtual PCR test performed using a nasal swab.

Anyone with symptoms is encouraged to call; screening questions will be asked by phone.

Testing is free, and no insurance or physician referral is required.

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LAUREL FELICE, LMT Offers Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology, reiki, cranialsacral and pre and post natal massage with a reverent and joyous balance of hands and heart. laurelfelice54@gmail.com 805-886-3674

DR. JOHN R. GALASKA Dr. John R. Galaska, PsyD, BCN, Cht, university professor of Psychology, Neurofeedback, biofeedback, hypnosis for past troubling experiences and enhancing subjective life experience.

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NATHAN KAEHLER, MA, LAC Nathan Kaehler (Best of Ojai 2014). Licensed Acupuncturist, MA Psychology. Gentle acupuncture, 14 years experience Personalized herb preparations Large onsite herb dispensary OjaiHerbs.com | 805-640-8700

SOMATIC SANCTUARY Welcome to Somatic Sanctuary — a somatic-based healing and movement arts center. Explore healing treatments, group movement sessions, workshops and community events.

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ALARRA SARESS Gong Meditation and Acutonics Sound Alchemist. Master Bodyworker. Founder of Harmonic Earth — sacred space for healing arts and performance. Call or text.

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JULIE TUMAMAITSTENSLIE Chumash Elder Consultant • Storyteller • Spiritual Advisor • Workshops Weddings & Ceremonies JTumamait@sbcglobal.net 805-646-6214

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

109

OJAI HIKES

7 WAYS TO GET LOST

By Bret Bradigan

Photo by Caitlin Petersen

1.

SHELF ROADROAD, OJAI 1010 EL TORO

Follow it to the gated end, about two miles. Length: 3 miles Directions: From Ojai Avenue, head north on Signal Street to the Gridley Springs, 6 miles to Nordhoff Peak. Difficulty: 3 Beds • 2.5 Baths • 2,934 SF • 2.55 Acres • $1,895,000 until it ends. Length: 3.5 miles return trip. Difficulty: Easy. It Moderate to strenuous. Elevation gain: 1,200 feet to the springs. takes about an acres hour at brisk Arbolada pace to walk length of the trail along This trail, at thegated northroad end in ofthis Gridley Road just after to thecomleft before Beautiful 2.55 ofaprime realthe estate ideally situated a private much sought munity. serenity, and natural beauty in abundance around the neighborhood, closeclimb, proximity and backPrivacy, between the trailheads at either North Signal Streetwith great thewalkability gates to Hermitage Ranch, begins withand a steep then to Gridley town. A sturdy and hike spacious 2,934 foot single level home with attractive stone facade and or Road. This is perfect forsquare visitors or residents to 3 bedroom, follows2.5 anbathroom orchard road through avocado trees before making stucco Built in 2003 with materials, gas fireplaces, real hardwood get “ theexterior. lay of the land” in Ojai.

It ispremium also one of the mosthigh “dogceilings,a commodious northeastwardliving turnareas, along two the rocky western flank of the flooring, wood cabinetry, granite counter tops, Viking range, Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, office, family, dining and living rooms, friendly” walks around. mountainside. The trail winds along the steep flank of the finished 2-car garage and loft. Water self-sufficient with private wellmountain and 5K-gallon water tank and booster-pump house.

80 treelies until it enters the cool, dense side canyon wherein orange orchard, along with plum, apricot & apple trees. White picket fence surrounds the backyard lush lawn and stone patio.

2. VENTURA RIVER BOTTOM TRAILS Gridley Springs.

Front yard adorned with roses, lavender, rosemary and a variety of other plants and trees.

Directions: From Highway 150, there’s a trailhead just east of the Ventura River bridge. From South Rice Road, there’s 6. COZY DELL TRAIL a trailhead just north of the intersection with Lomita Road.

Directions: Head east on the Maricopa Highway (Highway Also from South Rice, take a right on Meyer Road to the Oso 33) for 3.3 miles. The turnout is on the left, just before and Trailhead. Length: Varies. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Three across from Friend’s Ranch packing house.. Cross the street to trailheads lead you into the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy’s the trailhead. Length: 1.9 miles to Cozy Dell Creek. Difficulty: 1,600-acre Ventura River Preserve. This three-mile stretch of the Moderate. The trail begins along a seasonal creek and quickly Ventura River offers a spectacular glimpse into old-growth oak climbs about 640 feet in elevation along a well-forested and canopy, splendid vistas from rocky ridgelines, deep swimming wild-flowered canyon to a ridgeline knoll with spectacular holes, lush fern grottoes, rare wildflowers and many miles of views of the Ojai Valley. trails to choose from.

3. PRATT TRAIL

7. MIDDLE FORK OF MATILIJA CANYON

Directions: Head east on Highway 33 for about 4.7 miles to Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn north on Signal Street and Matilija Canyon Road. Follow the road to the end — about drive about 1.2 miles until you see the Forest Service sign on the another two miles. Length: Up to 7 miles (14 miles return). left. trailhead is a furtherOAK half-mile.

Difficulty: Moderate. Follow the trailhead at the end of Matilija 290The N VENTURA AVENUE, VIEWLength: 4.4 miles to 3 Beds • 3Ridge.

BathsDifficulty: • 2,054 SF •Moderate 0.91 Acres • $980,000 Nordhoff to Strenuous.

The Pratt Canyon Road through the gated property to the west side of the Trail criss-crosses a seasonal stream through the backyards of creek. The trail, more of a one-track road at this point, heads Great opportunity to acquire an iconic Viewbowl property upgradedtowards and improved with modern amenities infrastructure. private properties before opening onto aOak natural formed the gates of Blue Heron Ranch, aand historic farm with Spacious 3 bedroom 3 bathroom residence with large courtyard area, oversized two-car garage, and additional office, art studio by the slope of Nordhoff Ridge. Follow the signs through about orange and lemon groves. The trail then clambers through or gardener’s potting shed.

Nearly one acre of land situated for mountain views and the potential for a variety of uses. two miles of dry and dusty switchbacks until you reach the thickening chaparral scrub for another 1.5 miles until you can ridgeline. From there, it’s another two steep, dusty miles to see tilted slabs of weathered granite and a long, green pool to the Nordhoff Peak, 4,426 feet above sea level. right. The trail descends back into the creekside sycamore and Kirk Ellison willow forest through a series of campsites, swimming holes DRE 01884301 4. GRIDLEY TRAIL and geologic marvels. The shifting and often-concealed trail 805-340-5905 Directions: From Ojai Avenue, turn on the Gridley Road. eventually leads you to the fabled Three Falls of the Matilija.

kellison@livsothebysrealty.com ojaiproperty.com

© 2020 LIV Sotheby’s International Realty. All rights reserved. All data, including all measurements and calculations are obtained from various sources and has not and will not be verified by Broker. All information shall be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. LIV Sotheby’s International Realty is independently owned and operated 110 supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act. OQ / SUMMER 2020 and

OQ | HI K IN G 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

6

7

COZY DELL 2.2mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft |

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1,200 ft |

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.

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. Trailhead on eastern side of Sulphur Mountain Road.

Only for experienced, f it hikers.

Views are unsurpassed.

NE W TI FI ED STORY & PHOTOS BY Chuck Graham

The creeks were flowing, spilling over a configuration of cobble that snaked their way to the Santa Clara River. As water pooled up and calmed, California newts (Taricha torosa) gathered, the only endemic salamander species in the Golden State.

As I rock-hopped upstream, I found one of the orange-bellied newts out of the water, out of its comfort zone, working its way against the grain, an upper pool all to its own awaited. Moving slowly and awkwardly as if it had a hitch in its giddy-up, it finally found its aquatic haven, diving in and swimming efficiently to a dark corner of the pool, its tail propelling crocodilian-like in the replenished creek.

LIKE MOST CRITTERS It is all about habitat and like most critters it’s how bountiful that habitat is. For the California newt, they need suitable riparian environments possessing free-flowing creeks and streams.

Clear ponds and pools with surrounding upland chaparral habitat are vital, with lots of mud and leaf litter in California’s coastal ranges.

California newts require moisture. Like most other amphibian species, they spend winter and spring where water flows, but also a significant amount of time is spent out of water in summer and fall — the driest months of the year — buried in mud, patiently waiting for the next significant rains.

Because much of their habitat has been altered in some capacity,

these medium-sized, 5-to-8-inch-long salamanders possessing rough, textured skin is listed as a California Species of Special Concern. And like so many endemic species, they have been forced to compete with introduced, nonnative species. The red swamp crayfish is a true threat to the existence of the California newt.

Initially introduced as fish bait, this aggressive crayfish species feasts on helpless California newt larvae and egg masses. The invasive crayfish also disrupts newt breeding cycles where aquatic space is vital. Breeding is aggressive enough with newts, let alone to be harassed by antagonistic, introduced crayfish. California newt adults cannot defend themselves as they are mauled, disfigured and even killed by the red swamp crayfish, armed as they are with sharp claws. When both species are present in the same habitat, it is not uncommon to see California newts with portions of their tails gone missing.

NEWT SCRUM As I carefully tiptoed along the cobbled creek, I hiked gingerly so as not to disturb California newts or anything else enjoying the recent, late winter rains. California newts blend in so well with their environment, and because they move slowly, methodically out of water, I did not want to step on one.

A decent sized pool emerged where at least 15 newts congregated in the shallows. A few swam effortlessly from end to end. Then, underneath some storm debris,

a tangled ball of newts swirled in the corner of the pool. King of the Pool?

Newtmania? A family get together?

Apparently, none of the above. A breeding ball of newts is something to behold. While observing several twisted balls of newts, it was difficult to count how many newts were actually taking pleasure in the mating scrum. They get so entangled some were hanging on for dear life to participate in what can be a mortal ending for the female newt.

I even watched a few newts hanging onto the tails of other newts that were already in favorable position to fertilize eggs, essentially the equivalent of climbing a rope or ladder to hop onboard and get a chance to sow their seeds of love.

It does not look anything like love for the female though. In fact, some females do not survive the breeding ball.

At times it looks like they are being strangled and suffocated in the water.

Generally, reproduction occurs from December through May. Amazingly enough, adult newts find their way back to the pools they were hatched in. The 7 to 30 eggs appear like a thick gel and are attached to whatever is lodged within a pool: sticks, crevices within rocks and vegetation. Once the breeding scrums have finished, some adult newts

disperse. Others choose to stay close to home looking to feed for several months more.

SLOW BUT POTENT The sleek, smooth-swimming, two-striped garter snake had its head out of the water. It seemed to be on the hunt. The look on its face was that of laser focus. It appeared menacing, intent on consumption. The water was clear, visibility was excellent as the serpent scoured all crevices within the three-foot deep pond. Then there was a flash of movement. A Pacific green tree frog flinched, and the chase was on.

California newts are not the swiftest on land and would seem to be susceptible to predation, but as newts plod along they never fear. I certainly would never have thought a small, dawdling, seemingly defenseless amphibian could pack such a lethal punch, but they can.

Apparently, like other newt species the glands hidden within the rough skin on the back of a newt secretes neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, 100 times more lethal than cyanide. It is enough to kill any potential predator including us humans, but only if ingested. I cannot think of anyone who would skewer a newt and throw it on the barbeque, but stranger things have happened. Meat lovers beware.

Having said all that, the California newt has very few natural predators except for one. There is always at least one. Over time, two-striped garter snakes have developed a resistance to the newt’s toxins, so the newts take their chances by land or water, never really looking over their shoulders but knowing concealment is their best defense.

OQ / SUMMER 2020

113

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Serenity & Seclusion This stunning architectural marvel will capture your senses! Enjoy vistas of sparkling sunrises and radiant sunsets.

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116

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OQ / SUMMER 2020

OQ | EV EN TS CA L ENDA R J U N E -j u ly - a u g u s t

| ONGOING WEEKLY

weekdays

CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET Every Sunday Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

4.22-26

Contact: 698-5555 Location: Matilija Street city parking lot behind the Arcade.

Open air market featuring locally grown

SOMATIC SANCTUARY | MON-FRI @ somaticsanctuary.com

OJAI MUSIC FESTIVAL | THU-SUN @ OjaiFestival. org | VARIES

OPC NEW WORKS FESTIVAL | AUG. 9-16 @ ojaiplays.org

produce, as well as plants, musicians and handmade items.

Monday, Wednesday & Friday “Somatic Stretch for Self Healing”

JUNE 6 Thucydides - The Peloponnesian War, II Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2020 Location: agorafoundation.org, register to receive link Is there an art to writing and reading history? Is a detached view of historical events desirable, or even possible? What does this conflict (431-404 BC) in particular have to teach us. This series will cover all eight books over time, with one two-hour online seminar per book.

JUNE 13 Series On Marcel Proust – Swann’s Way – Part II – Combray II, pp. 49-135 Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2020 Location: agorafoundation.org, register to receive link “Always try to keep a patch of sky above your life.”

Tutor: Patricia Locke JUNE 11-14 74th Ojai Music Festival, Online Edition The Ojai Music Festival will honor the spirit of the unrealized 2020 Festival, cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic, by bringing online offerings June 11 to 14, including Ojai Talks hosted by Ara Guzelimian. The free virtual events will feature insightful conversations with special guests interspersed with video and music excerpts. Audiences can watch at OjaiFestival.org beginning at 6 p.m. each evening.

Also available on the Festival website will be complementary program notes and links to music and video playlists.

JUNE 11 Conversation with Chad Smith and Matthias Pintscher Time: 6 p.m.

Musical excerpts of Ensemble intercontemporain’s performance of Pierre Boulez’s sur Incises and Matthias Pinscher’s Bereshit FRIDAY, JUNE 12 Conversation with Matthias Pintscher and Olga Neuwirth Time: 6 p.m.

Musical excerpts of Ensemble intercontemporain’s performance of Olga Neuwirth’s Le Encantadas and Eleanor SATURDAY, JUNE 13 Conversation with the Calder Quartet Time: 6 p.m.

With musical excerpts of a Calder Quartet performance.

SUNDAY, JUNE 14 Conversation with Steve Reich Musical excerpts of Steve Reich’s Tehillim and Drumming AUGUST 9-16 Ojai Playwrights Conference, New Works Festival Times: TBA Location: Besant Hill School campus, other venues Through a rigorous process, 500 submissions are reviewed annually for the Ojai Playwrights Conference. Ultimately, eight new play workshops — by both emerging and established playwrights—– are chosen to participate in the Workshop Series. More information about the shape of the 2020 Festival will be announced in late June.

Instructor: Meredith Sands Keator Time: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Location: Anywhere you can find a sturdy internet connection.

Contact: somaticsanctuary.com

email support@somaticsanctuary Phone: 805-633-9230

Monday & Thursdays “Introduction to Somatic Stretch” Instructor: Sultana Parvanka Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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Wednesdays “Offerings with Sarah Grace” —

Somatic Satsang, free community gathering and tools for resiliency

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Thursdays “Awareness Through Movement” Instructor: Mary Jo Healy Time: 4 to 5 p.m.

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118

OQ / SUMMER 2020

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OQ | N O C T U R NA L S U B MI S S I ONS

CORONA DIARY 2020 A Housewife’s Log

DAY 1.

BY SAMI ZAHRINGER

Not Bin Day: Spent most of day aggressively posting CDC guidelines on social media and typing “Do you have a source for that claim?” at people on the internet. Screamed myself hoarse at the news by 11 a.m.

DAY 2. Not Bin Day.

DAY 6. Not Bin Day.

Woke early and settled in eagerly to watch tense feud develop between friends online. It started days ago as a humdrum conversation about bins but has now morphed into a full-scale, passive-aggressive, shit-fest. People are at the stage where they are starting sentences by saying “Look, at the end of the day, Janet, …” and “Come on, Kevin, let’s stick to the facts, shall we?” Any minute now somebody is going to say “I don’t want to sound rude but, frankly, Kenneth, …” followed by something quite unarguably rude. It’s fascinating.

Decided to have an eccentric day with steak tartare and trifle for breakfast! (Tofu tartare for my vegetarian loinfruit). Next we dressed up like prominent politicians and made a satirical TikTok! It was a scream! Without wanting to seem cocky, I’m PRETTY sure that one’s going to go viral. Went to bed dressed in pearls and a black taffeta evening gown. Isn’t lockdown jolly! What are people complaining about? They clearly lack the moral fiber to make the most of it.

DAY 3. Not Bin Day.

Sudden and inexplicable melancholy all day. Fried a potato but forgot to eat it. Dreamt I was an 18th century spinster of no fortune, fewer prospects, and a case of galloping consumption. Woke up before I found out if I died.

Noon: I’ve run 4 miles and made 83 face-masks already and am now planning out a thought-provoking educational program for my loinfruit! We are going to start improving ourselves in approx.

14 minutes by memorizing the Longfellow’s stridently edifying poem “A Psalm of Life.” It’s going to be great. We will remember these days of lockdown as some of the richest of our lives! Baked bread, puff pastry, and cheese straws.

DAY 4. Bin Day!!!!!

Put interview suit and make-up on and hauled trash to road. Didn’t see anyone but you’ve got to make an effort, haven’t you? Don’t you?

DAY 5. Not Bin Day. Getting really into Nature! Was watching some in the garden earlier when I remembered that, strictly speaking, the neighbors aren’t Nature. Very soon after that I discovered that, technically, being up a tree watching them with binoculars and a notepad isn’t so much Nature appreciation as it is A Crime.

DAY 7. Not Bin Day.

DAY 8. Better Day. Better day! Although still not Bin Day. Brussel sprouts are emerging as my emotional support vegetable. Baked 4 pies and 4 dozen round things that I’m not really clear on.

DAY 9. Not Bin Day. Baked. Also made chilled quince and ox-tongue soup with anchovy cream swirl, from Brooklynlife.com. Offered to loinfruit. Might as well have asked them to drink their own urine. Can’t help feeling wounded by their piercing laughter and vomity gagging sounds. Went to my room and sulked. Fell asleep clutching empty tin of White Claw.

Perhaps not the healthiest way to deal with disappointment but, well, I don’t have anything to say after but. Look, just shut up.

DAY 10. Not Bin Day. Appear to be baking myself whole new bottom. Never mind though! Not bothered! Really! It will see me through the famine like a camel’s hump. Hahahahahahahahahahaha! No, no, it’s OK! These are just laughter tears. Honestly. This isn’t even the most personally upsetting thing I have noticed about myself in all this.

DAY 11. Not Bin Day. Putting them out tonight though! Have outfit laid out in spare room so it doesn’t get pet hair on. I am getting much more in touch with my dog’s inner life on lockdown. How she sees the world. Today we stared at a spider on the wall together for about half an hour.

Now we are watching rabbits in the garden and I swear something deep inside me wants to woof and sink my slavering jaws into their broken, bloodied little bodies.

DAY 12. Missed Bin Day! Can NOT believe it! So angry with stupid self ! Woke just in time to hear truck trundle past the house. Punished self with a budget-brand Earl Grey and my least favorite cookie.

DAY 13. Not Bin Day. May have done something. Can’t remember. Spiraling a bit.

DAY 14. Not Bin Day. Only wearing caftans now. Personal grooming has fallen by the wayside and have involuntarily (at first) started to grow mushrooms in my hair. I will not let my children go hungry.

DAY 15. Not Bin Day. Not Bin Day. Spent day on internet reading known experts on a number of subjects and having disquieting revelations about the world about me. Veeeery interesting…

DAY 16. Not Din Bay. Woke up sweating after a dream in which I was a runaway nuclear tractor crashing into a vast citadel built from bricks made of money and blood and the disembodied sneering lips of the contemptuous rich, plus an egg to bind. Apparently had chewed pillow a bit. Drank a quart of strong coffee, smoked 3 cigarettes (just taken smoking up this week), decided that my bloodshot eyes and maniacal hen-like

appearance were a sign of a passion and fire for all that is just but which my pre-lockdown friends could never understand. I’ve moved way beyond them now. Sometimes you just have to leave slower people behind. Made stout and compelling argument on Twitter that people with whom I don’t fully agree politically ought to be chemically neutered as a matter of moral imperative for the species.

A little surprised at myself but felt no shame or any sense of self-doubt at all about this. Doubled down, and wound up joining a secretive, not entirely legal, semi-militant collective! We are actively organizing to round up our ideological enemies and encase them in lead in a facility near REDACTED. The old timid me would have been far too uptight about respecting people’s individual rights to their opinion to scream Fascist! or Libtard! or Racist! or Dumbocrat! or attempt to encase them in lead, but that was the old me.

Now I have 33 hours of internet research under my belt and I see the vast conspiracy laid out in front of me. I see right through their “facts.” I need to wake up the sheeple and fill them too with my giddying sense of moral certainty! Sure some former friends will try and tell you “Ooh, Sami’s started peddling vacuous, irresponsible, evidence-free horseshit and thinks she’s a genius free-thinker privy to knowledge the rest of us are blind to in order to fill some terrible gnawing void within,” but they are just puppets of the Deep State + something to do with the Rothschilds that I’m not quite clear on yet.

DAYS 17-31 Unclear. Sedated by my own children, now my gaolers, under authority from the doctors. Have now missed 3 bin days in a row. Chaos is hard.

DAY 32 Slowly emerging from apparent catastrophic personal and political breakdown. Allowed my own spoon and select benign reading materials. World is actually beige but it’s so soothing. Mmmm. Beige.

DAY 33 Today I sneaked onto the internet and learnt that a single strand of spaghetti is called a spaghetto. It has set my recovery right back. How am I supposed to sleep now?

DAY 33 No idea whether Bin Day or not. Went into the sunlit garden to listen to the birdsong. Isn’t it loud these days, have you noticed? I can barely hear myself scream…

HISTORICAL ARBOLADA This beautiful historical home was commissioned by Edward Drummond Libbey as his Chauffer's Cottage and was completed in 1917. Nestled between upper Del Nor te and the private entrance of Palomar on the edge of the Arbolada, it is close to town, ver y quiet and totally private. Built in the Spanish style, it has been renovated with highest quality materials to reflec t the integrity of the original home. I ts charm and idyllic setting make it a per fec t jewel with authentic Ojai charm. The proper ty includes an ex tra studio space, a separate guest house, ex tensive landscaping and a beautiful lavender grove.

1001PalomarRdOjai.com Offered at $3,100,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

25 years matching people and property in the Ojai Valley

ed ur at Fe on ck Ba r ve Co

PRIVATE DOWNTOWN OASIS Situated on a private road in downtown Ojai, this elegant oasis is graced by ancient oak trees and stunning views of the Topa Topas. The 5 bedroom, 4½ bath home features a great room with a standalone double fireplace, skylights, vaulted ceilings and a chef ’s k itchen. The floors are reclaimed oak and the bathrooms feel like spas. Amenities include solar panels, a 3-zone HVAC system, double paned windows, a circulating hot water system, and a mud room. On over an acre, the proper ty includes more than 40 organic fruit trees, a double car por t, a chicken coop and an organic vegetable garden. A grapevine covered pergola offers spectacular outdoor dining and some of the best hik ing trails in Ojai are only minutes from the door.

815CanadaStOjai.com

Offered at $1,840,000

PAT T Y WALTCHER

(805) 340-3774

pattywaltcher.com

Patty Waltcher 25 ye a r s o f e x p e r i e n ce m a tc h i n g

p e o p l e a n d p ro p e r t y i n t h e O j a i Va l l e y

P R I V AT E D O W N T O W N O A S I S O N LY M I N U T E S

FROM

O JAI’ S B EST T RAILS

On a private road in downtown Ojai, this elegant oasis has stunning views of the Topa Topas. The 5br/4½ba home features a great room with a double fireplace, skylights, vaulted ceilings, a chef ’s kitchen and many modern upgrades. The floors are reclaimed oak and the bathrooms feel like spas. On over an acre, it includes a vine-covered pergola, 40 organic fruit trees, a chicken coop and an organic vegetable garden.

815CanadaStOjai.com

Offered at $1,840,000

I will help you discover the home that brings peace to your mind and heart ( 8 0 5 ) 3 4 0 -3 7 74 ~ pa ttywa ltc her. c om