OjaiMeadowsRestorationProjectBegins!
WWetlandsrestorationontheOjaiMeadowsPreservewill soonmakeefficientuserainwaterrunoff.Theprevious weed-chokedandunsightlydrainageditchisbeingturned intoameanderingstreamleadingtoatwoacrepondwhich willprovidestormwateraplacetodrainduringrainyseasons.Thisre-contouringofthewaterwaythroughthepreservewillrestorethelandtoconditionssimilartothosethat existedpriorto developmentof thesurrounding areas.Nativetrees, shrubsandother vegetationwillbe plantedalongthe streamandaround thepond.
Thestreamwillmeanderthroughthe eucalyptusgrovebeforejoiningwiththe HappyValleyDrain.Asmallpartoftheeucalyptusgrovewasremovedtoaccomplishthis work.Theywillbereplacedwithnative oaks,willowsandsycamores,leavingthe majorityoftheeucalyptusgroveintact.
Servicelearningstudentsfrom CSUChannelIslandsandSantaBarbaraCityCollegesortandsterilizesomeof thethousandsofacornscollectedbychildren,youthandadultvolunteersin preparationforplantingonthepreserve.Approximately5,000acornshavebeen plantedtodate,withthousandsmoretobeplantedincomingweeksandmonths.
GarrickThompsonof CoastalRestoration ConsultantsandOVLC restorationassociateSheri Maytatendnativeseedlings beingpropagatedonsitefor transplantingalongthe meanderingstream,inthe newly-createdwetlandsandbordering areas.Asmanyas40,000nativeshrubs, wildflowersandgrasseswillbetransplantedinthenextseveralmonths,inaddition tothe7,000nativesalreadyplanted.
Fordetailedprojectinformation,pleasevisit ourwebsiteatwww.ovlc.org
PEOPLEINTHENEWS
OJAI VALLEY LAND CONSERVANCY
PostOfficeBox1092•Ojai,California93024
OFFICE ADDRESS:370W.BaldwinRd.Bldg.A4
Tel.(805)649-OVLC(6852)•Fax(805)649-8913
WEBSITE www.ovlc.orgEMAIL ovlc@ovlc.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RogerEssick,President
GeorgeBerg,VicePresident
VickiBreen,Treasurer
AllanJacobs,Secretary
JanBlakslee
JimCombs
JesseGrantham
ADVISORY COUNCIL
BarryBetlock
CarynBosson
JohnBroesamle
VickieByrne
FredBysshe
JimExon
ThadHyland
JimJackson
JoanKemper
MarcLarson
WendyLockwood
STAFF
LarryRose
CarlThelander
BarbaraWashburn
PhilipMoncharsh
SteveOlsen
SylviaOverton
AlanRains
MichaelShapiro
NinaShelley
SpencerSilver
DavidTrudeau
PatWeinberger
AllanWest
StevieAdams,AssociateProjectManager stevie@ovlc.org
SherryDoyle,OfficeManager&DevelopmentAssociate sherry@ovlc.org
FredFox,ExecutiveDirector fredfox@ovlc.org
LynnMalone,MemberServicesDirector lynn@ovlc.org
SheriMayta,ProjectCoordinator sheri@ovlc.org
DerekPoultney,ProjectManager derek@ovlc.org
ManyThankstoOutgoingBoardMembers
TThankyoutoGeorgeBerg,EllenHallandAllanJacobsfortheir servicetoOVLCasBoardmembersandvolunteerleaders.Ellen recentlyresignedherseatontheBoard,whileGeorgeandAllan’s termsareupattheendof2007.
EllenHallhasbeeninvolvedwithOVLCfromthebeginning. Sheisafounderoftheorganization,servedontheBoardthroughoutitsearlyyears,andalsoservedasExecutiveDirectoronapart timebasisatatimewhentheofficeconsistedofacornerofher diningroom.
Morerecently,EllenservedasChairoftheRestoration Committee,overseeingthepreparationofecologicalrestoration plansforOjaiMeadowsandVenturaRiverPreserve.Underher leadership,restorationonbothpreservesisnowunderway.
DuringhertenurewithOVLC,Ellenhasprobablyheldjustabout everyofficepossible.Herleadershipisinlargemeasureresponsible fortransformingOVLCfromadreamtowhatitistoday.
GeorgeBergservedonethreeyeartermasaDirector,andis theoutgoingVicePresident.HechairedtheHumanResource Committee,andservedasvolunteerinterimExecutiveDirector throughpartof2006.
Georgebroughtananalyticalmindtoanydiscussion,andwas alwayscountedontopointoutrealitiesthatneededtobeconsidered.
AllanJacobshasbeeninvolvedwithOVLCformanyyears. HismostrecenttenureontheBoardbeganin2002.
AllanhasservedasSecretaryoftheorganization,andisavery effectiveadvocateforopenspaceandOVLC,particularlyamong thebusinessandprofessionalcommunity.
AllanchairedthetaskforceoftheBoardwhichledtheeffortto findanewofficetomeetOVLC’sgrowingneeds.Hispersistent leadershipinthatendeavorpaidoffwithourmovetoHELPof Ojai’sWestCampusinNovember.
“Onbehalfoftheentireorganization,Iextendaheart-felt thankyoutothesethreefineleaders,”saidOVLCPresidentRoger Essick.“Withouttheircollectivewisdom,experienceanddedication,wewouldnotbeanywhereclosetowherewearetoday.”
RichHandleylefthispositionasOVLC PreserveManagerattheendofSeptemberto takeapositionwithTheNatureConservancy asmanagerofitsSantaClaraRiverlands.
RichwasPreserveManagerfor3½years. HewasafixtureonthevariousOVLCproperties,particularlytheOjaiMeadowsand VenturaRiverPreserves,takingresponsibility foreverythingfromtrailconstructionand maintenancetosignagetoneighborrelations
toencouragingthepublictouseOVLC’slands appropriately.
RichwasoneofthefoundersofOVLC,servedon itsBoard,andwasparttimeExecutiveDirector throughsomeofitsearlyyears.
HundredsofresidentsoftheValleyhaveparticipatedinguidedhikesledbyRichoverthe years.Hisknowledgeofthelandsmanagedby OVLCisencyclopedic.Richwillbefondly rememberedbyall.
EllenHall
GeorgeBerg
AllanJacobs
RichHandley
Pleasenotethatwehaveanewphonenumber 649-OVLC(6852). Ourmailingaddress,emailandwebsitewillremainthesame.
W WStopbyandvisitusanytimeandpleasejoinusforour WELCOMETHENEWYEARATOURNEWHOME•OPENHOUSE•January11,2008from4-7pm Enterthemaingateat370W.BaldwinRoadandfollowtheOVLCsigns.You’llfindusinbuildingA4.Seeyouthere! WehavefinallyvacatedourlittleArcadePlazastorefront officeinfavorofnewdigsoutattheoldHonorFarmat370 W.BaldwinRoad.HELPofOjaihastakenonachallengeto preparethefacilitytobethehomeofseveralnon-profitsin theOjaiarea.SofarHELP’sSupportCenter,theLand Conservancy,TheRaptorCenterandC.R.E.W.areonboard, withmoretenantstofollowinthenextseveralmonths.
VisioningtheFuture
Yes,itreallyisadoublewideatanoldjailandweareso excited!Ournewspaceisaboutthreetimeslargerandisat thebackdooroftheVenturaRiverPreserve.We’llbesurroundedbyopenspace,trees,aseasonalcreek,andgolden fields,whichmorethanmakesupfortheremnantsofchain linkandrazorwireleftoverfromthepreviousoccupants. ManywonderfulvolunteersattheWestCampuscontinueto workhardtobeautifythegrounds.Weplantohaveawork partysoonforOVLCvolunteerswhomightenjoyhelpingus withlandscapingandotherimprovements.
WhatdoweasresidentswanttheOjaiValleytolooklikefiveyearsfrom now?WhatisthemosteffectivewayforOjaiValleyLandConservancy topreservethemaximumamountofopenspace?
Thesearequestionstheboard,staffandothersassociatedwith OVLCaddressedduringaweekendstrategicplanningretreatfacilitated byMilanandLindaHamiltonof ParticipationWorks,professionalfacilitatorsfromRedlands.
“Itisveryusefultotakeabreakonceinawhilefromourday-to-day andweek-to-weekactivitiestoexaminethebigpicture,”saidRoger Essick,presidentofOVLC.“Bydoingso,wemakesureweareallonthesamepageandpullinginthesamedirection.”
FacilitatorsLindaandMilanHamilton
Thetwo-dayretreatresultedinafiveyearvision,identificationofpotentialobstaclesandchallengestoachievingthat vision,severaloverallstrategicdirectionsfortheorganizationtopursue,andacomprehensive,detailedactionplan.
“Itwasanenergizingexperience,withlotsofenthusiasmonthepartofeveryonewhoparticipated,”saidFredFox,Executive Director.“Wecameawaywithaverypracticalvisionofwhatweshouldbedoing,alongwithaconcreteplantoimplementeverythingweagreedon.”
Toviewthestrategicplan,visitourwebsiteatwww.ovlc.org.
MOONLIGHTONTHEMEADOW
CattailsfromtheOjaiMeadows Preservemadelovelyflower arrangements.Assembledbya teamofvolunteers,including OVLCboardmemberVicki Breen(below),andvolunteer, StefanieCoeler,anddeliveredto tablesbyexecutivedirectorFred Fox(atleft).
Whethervisitingorshopping,thesilent auctionhappy hourwasgreat funforall!
SpecialthankstoBarbaraWashburn,auctionchair,Stefanie Coelerauctionvolunteerteamleaderandtoallofourfriends, membersandbusinesseswhogenerouslydonatedover160auction items.Foracompletelistingofallthoseweoweourmostsincere thanksto,seetheMoonlightrecaponourwebsiteeventspage. www.ovlc.org
AveryspecialthanksgoestoLeanneCampbell (shownwithJoanRobertsonnapkinfolding detail)whowithherhusbandDougcampedout ontheMeadowfor4dayswhiletakingcareof settinguptheevent.Leannealsogetstheprize forbeingthemostgenerousauctionshopperat theevent.Nowthat’sdedication!
Guestsenjoyedlovelycuisine thankstothehardworkand generosityofPatsyGlenn, KathyBroesamle, andseveral localrestaurantsandcaterers. Guestswerewelcomedtobeautifultableswithafirstcourseof freshtomatoensalataCaprese by4worldscatering.
CarolBishop(atleft)enjoysalovelyeveningofauctionshoppingforgiftsforherfriends!“Idon’tneed anything,IjustwanttosupporttheOVLCandI lovemakingotherssmile”saidCarolthenextday.
JimJacksonenjoysamomentwith SupervisorSteveBennettandLeslieOgden. SupervisorBennettreceivedtheOVLC2007 ConservationAwardlaterintheevening.
IncelebrationofOVLC’s20thanniversarysomeofitsoriginalpioneerswerespecialguests ofhonor.Shownfromlefttorightare:RichHandley,PhilMoncharsh,EllenHall,Steve Olsen,AlasdairCoyne(withwifeLauren,)andJimLashly.
EllenHallshareshermemoriesof havingbeenoneofthetwofounders oftheOVLC.CandaceandKen Delboandfriendsdonatedthe musicfortheeveningandwere joinedbyCarlyBrockman, AmandaLandisandSarahVan Sonwhosangalovelytributetothe pioneersaswellasathankyou songforOVLCbusinesssponsors.
PatWeinbergerisoneladywho reallyknowshowtohavefun!
PeterBellwood, morefamousfor hisacting,playwriting,singing andukulele playingwiththe HouseholdGods humoredusall byplayingthe roleofauctioneerfortheevening’sliveauction.And livelyitwas!
Visitourwebsiteformoremoonlightphotos.www.ovlc.org
StillWildAboutOjai
EnvironmentallearningseriesbeingplannedforSpring08
IInresponsetogreatattendanceandravereviewsafterour2007environmentallectureseries,weareplanninganallnewseriesforearly spring.Topics,hikesandhands-onactivitiesunderconsiderationare:
•Sustainablelandscapingwithnativeplants
•OaktreecareandcultivationintheOjaiurbanforest
•MigratorybirdsoftheOjaiValleyandbirdhousebuilding
•Livingwithwildlife-MountainLionsandotherlocals
•MedicinalandEdibleplantsoftheOjaiValley
•TheChiefandhispeople-astudyofChumashhistory
•Theoutdoorclassroom-achild’sconnectiontonature
•Streambankstabilizationforriver-sidepropertyowners
Wewouldlovetohearyourthoughtsontheseandothersubjectsyouthinkmightbeofinterest.Wewouldliketothank workshoppresentersJesseGranthamandMikeInabawhohave graciouslyofferedtheirservices.Ifyouoranyoneyouknowmay beinterestedinbeingapresenter,pleaseletusknow.Email ovlc@ovlc.orgorcall646-7930.
Workshopswillbeheldatournewoffice,onOVLCpreserves andotherOjailocations.Checkourwebsitefordetails.www.ovlc.org
AHiketoLookForwardTo
OnSaturday,March15,OVLCmembersandfriendswilltakethe IslandPackersboatouttoSantaCruzIsland,fora2hourmoderatelystrenuoushikefromPrisonersHarbortoPelicanBay. Gorgeousviewsoftheocean,springtimewildflowers,andnesting birdsawaitourarrival.ThehikeleaderwillbeourownOVLC memberandChannelIslandsBiologist,PaulaPower.Forinformationandtosignupforthistrip,contactKathyBroesamleat 646-5948.
WhaleWatchAdventureinBaja!
Feb.26-Mar.2,2008
ForOVLCmembersandfriends.There’sstilltimetobook yourtripduringprimewhalewatchingseason
Includes2nightshotelinLoreto,3nightscampingin MagdalenaBay,meals,andwhaleandbirdwatching. AppreciationEventinHonorof
$995perperson-20%ofproceedswillbedonatedtotheOVLC ReservationsmustbemadebyDec.15•Call1-800-616-1943 Fordetailscheckout:http://www.SeaKayakAdventures.com
FriendsoftheOjaiValley,President’s CircleMembers&BusinessSponsors
AAsaspecialthankstothewonderfulstewardsofOjaiopenspace whogenerouslydonate$1,000ormoreannually,theOjaiValley LandConservancyBoardofDirectorswillhostaspecialeventon December6thinappreciationformakingitpossibleforusto protecttheOjaiValleyforfuturegenerations.Ifyouwouldlike tojointhiscircleofspecialfriends,wewouldbehonored.Please giveusacalltodayandletusknow.Ifyouhavealreadyreceived yourinvitation,pleaseremembertocallandreserveyourspot!
JoinOjaiValleyLandConservancy friendsinaspringtrektoYosemite NationalParkApril4-9,2008.The tripwillbeduringtheOjaiSchool Districtspringbreakforafamilyfriendlyvacation.
Grouppotlucksandarangeof hikesfromeasytochallengingwillbescheduled,aswellasday tripstoYosemiteValley,GlacierPointandBigTrees.Aprilprovidessomeofthebestwildflowerandwaterfallviewingofthe year.Participantswillchooseactivitiestosuittheirinterestsand willarrangetheirownaccommodations.Afullrangeofaccommodationsisavailable:
• Fully-equippedcabins maybereservedatTheRedwoodsin Yosemite,beginningat$150/nightly,orcabinsharing arrangementsat$50perpersonnightlycanbearranged. Call1-888-225-6666forreservations,orbookonlineat www.redwoodsinyosemite.com.
• TheWawonaHotel wherereservationsbeginat$123and includebreakfast.(Breakfasttimesmayinterferewithtrip departures)Call1-559-253-5635orbookonlineat www.yosemitepark.com.
• Camping reservationsareavailableattheWawona Campground($20/nightly).Call1-877-444-6777or bookonlineatwww.recreation.gov.
BesuretomentionthatyouarewiththeOjaiValleyLand Conservancygroupwhenmakingreservations.PleasecallKathy orJohnBroesamleat646-5948formoreinformationandtolet usknowifyou’llbejoiningthisgreatOVLCgroupadventure.
RenewingMembers
EachyearhundredsofOVLCmembersrenewtheirmembership.We thankthefollowingmembersforyourloyaltyandsupportduringthe period fromAugust1throughOctober31,2007
Robert&CaroleAdams
GeorgeBall&
AmandaMcBroomBall
EvelynBaran
Troy&JeriBecker
SteveBennett&
LeslieAnnOgden
Zoerita&ClarkBowers
BarbaraBowman
Mike&MicheleBriley
LisaMcHenryBrown
Fred&JudyBysshe
Jim&MyrnaCambianica
Allen&MarilynCamp
Peter&CindyCantle
SarahClark&TimothyThomas
Tom&BeckyCollins
KarenCourington& DanLukasiewicz
DavidBury&Co.Architects
LarryDavis
Lanyard,Mary&HannahDial
JonDieges
Richard&PatriciaClarkDoerner
DianeDuncan
SelimSandoval&
BarbaraVojasova
Linda&HugoEkback
Karen&BillEvenden
Ray&SylviaFaulstich
Jack&MargeFay
Maudette&FrankFinck
Carl&MarianGreenfield
MargueriteHackett
Nancy&BillHammond
Pat&LarryHartmann
Donald&RuthHauser
Richard&VelvetHeller
Dr.Tony&BarbaraHirsch
Charles&WillaIrwin
KarenF.Jenkins
MarvinandAnneJohnson
CarlJohnston
Johnny&KittyJohnston
AnnDerbyJoy
StefaKalnins
Brett&DeniseKantrowitz
Ed&BarbaraKutchma
ElizabethLashbrook
Claudia&DrewLurie
SteveMatzkin&MelissaWolfe
Thomas&JaniceMcCormick
CraigMcDonald
Geraldine&DeanMiner
JimMoreland
Anne&MikeMorris
Bill&MaggieMors
JaneC.Murray
RuthMillerNature’sStudioPhotography
Karin&DavidNiles
PeterK.Noone
Tetsuya&ChiekoO’Hara
Maria&JonParisen
JackandSimonePatterson
Marty&BarbaraPops
Larry&LauraRagan
Alice&EarlRagland
Kelly&RenaRandall
Robert&AliceRene
KayRenius
ScottRobertRipple
Fred&IlaRothenberg
RoyalCleaners-DanKurilchyk
BarbaraFitzgerald& StanleyScharf
LauraScheerer-Whitney& JamesWhitney
HowardSmith&EdieSimone
Michael&
GennevaMaschlerSobczak
DennisStern&CatherineGould
KimStroud
NiluferJ.Torun
TottenhamCourt-AndreaBloom
Kay&WhitUlrich
Helene&JohnVachet
Arthur&JudyVander
WendyVarian&RichardBradley
Gilbert&CarolynVondriska
Jakob&MarianneVos
Roger&KathrynWachtell
RuthWalker
Stephen&JudyWalker
ChristineWallach
BarbaraWatson
President’sCircle
Ann&HarryOppenheimer
FriendsoftheOjaiValley
MaryBergen
CarolBishop
Sandy&GeorgeBuechley
JeanColonomos
HuoraL.(Sam)Williams
CorporateMatchingGifts
PatagoniaGreatPacificIronworks
AnnualGifts
HilaryOlmsteadandTerryChaffee
OjaiCommunityBank-ShariSkinner
InHonorOf
JaneShanahanInhonorof JohnShanahan
Thomas&PhyllisLoftusinhonorof MarquiandBobBury
WelcomeNewMembers
BonnieLaForge
Ted&PearlMalos
ErinMarnocha
RainPerry&BillSlaughter
Kate&PaulRussell
JaneShanahan
WandaWellerandKurtisSakai
DudleyZoll
Whenyouryearenddonationrequestarrivesin yourmailboxsoon,pleasetakeamomenttoreflecton thebeautyoftheOVLCpreserves.Takealittlemental strollalongtheriverbed,oramongtheoaksofWills Canyon.Imaginethevastnessofnatureallaround you.Birdschirping,lizardssunning,waterrushing overtherocksafteraspringrain.Wildopenspaces. Nowpicturemorehousingtracts,golfcoursesor shoppingcentershere.NOT?
Yourtaxdeductibleendofyeargiftwillhelpus preservethistreasurewecallOjaiforever.Thankyou forhelpingustoprotectOpenSpaceinOjai.Together wecankeepthisdreamalive!
Severalofourmembershavementionedlatelythatintheinterestofconservingresourcestheywould prefertoreceivetheirnewslettersandotherOVLCinformationelectronicallyratherthanstandard mail.
TherewasadaythattheOjaiValleyLandConservancyconsidereditselfsoluckytobeableto produceitsfirstnewsletters,ortobuypaperandpostageformailingsinordertogrowitsmembership.Fortunatelythosegrassrooteffortshavegrownintoa communitywidemembership.Whilethatisanexciting achievement,wearenowatalevelthatpaper,printingand postageexpensesmakeasubstantialimpactonourbudgeteach year.
Whenwebegantoconsideradditionalprojectswewouldlike todoonthepreservessuchasaddingmoreinterpretivesignage andeducationalprograms.werealizedthatourmembersare right.SomeofthefundsgoingtowardtheexpenseofmailingscouldbeusedinotherwayspromoteawarenessoftheimportanceofopenspaceinOjai.
Ifyouwouldprefertoreceivecommunicationsviaemail,wewouldliketohearfromyou. Wouldyoubesokindtakeamomenttosendusanemailtoletusknow?Ifso,pleaseremembertoallowouremailaddressinany“spam”blockersyoumayhave.
Thoughitwillrequiresomedatabase“springcleaning”toupdateoursystemstomeetour membersindividualpreferenceswewanttoserveeachandeverymemberinthebestwayforyou. Ifyoupreferregularmail,noproblem,wearemorethanhappytocontinuetomailyournewsletterandothercorrespondence.If thisisyourpreference,noneedtorespond.
Pleaseletusknowifyouhaveanychangesinyourcontactinformation, orifyouwouldprefertoreceiveyournewsletterviaemail.
P.O.Box1092 Ojai,CA93024
U.S.POSTAGE PAID PermitNo.351 Ojai,CA