OPEN SPACES
OJAIVALLEYLANDCONSERVANCYNEWS
Fencedown,Plantsup, THEMEADOWISOPEN!
AAlthoughworkingaroundheavystormshaditschallenges,andittooklongerthan expected,weareelatedtoannouncethattheOjaiMeadowsPreserveisnowopen.All themajorearthworkisdone–andthetreesandwildflowersareinbloom–socome onoutandenjoythepreserve.
Comeseethenewlazycreeks,duckpond,andthebountifulwildlife.Despite threemonthswithoutrain,MaricopaCreekishoppingwithtoads,frogsandbirds. Suchaninfluxofnewwildlifespecieshasbeenseensincetheprojectbeganthatwe’ve begunalisttokeeptrackofthemall!Wehopethecommunitywillhelpkeepthelist uptodate.Pleaseemailorcalluswithyourwildlifesightingand/orphotossowecan besuretheyareincludedonourlist.
volume15number2|summer2008
TakeATour
Bringyourfriendsandfamilyoutforaninterpretivetouroftheproject.Learnabout themajorchangesanduniquehistoryofthepreserveandcatchaglimpseofsomeof ournewestwildliferesidentsononeofourguidedtours.Pleasecall649-6852orsend anemailtoovlc@ovlc.orgtoletusknowwhenyouwouldliketotakeatour.Trained docentsarestandingbyandhavealreadyled15toursinthefirstmonth!
photocourtesyofOjaiValleyNews
CommunityDedication
Wehopeyou’lljoinusforapublicdedicationof theOjaiMeadowsPreservetothecommunityon Tuesday,June17that10am.Letyourgovernmentofficialsknowhowmuchweappreciate thatOjaihassuchatreasureforusandourchildren—andtheirchildren,forgenerationsto come.MeetattheMaricopaHighwayentrance oftheOjaiMeadowsPreserve.
OVLCMembersandFriendsPicnic
OnSaturday,June21st,OVLCmembers,friends andneighborswillcelebratetogetherattheannualOVLCMembersandFriendspicnicwhichwill beheldontheOjaiMeadowsPreserve.Enjoyan earlyeveningpicnicwithLandConservancy friendsandneighborstocelebratetheopeningof themeadow.We’llbeleadinginterpretivetours throughouttheevent,feastongoodfoodand wine,andwatchthesunsetontheTopaTopa mountains.Thispromisestobeasummer eveningtoremember.Wehopeyou’lljoinus.See page3formoreinformation.
ComeCelebrateWithUs!
Continuedonpage4
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
LarryRose,VicePresident
BarbaraWashburn,Treasurer
VickiBreen,Secretary
JanBlakslee
StephanieCoeler
JimCombs
JesseGrantham
CariGuerrero
PaulaPower
LarryRose
KiraRyder
BarbaraWashburn
STAFF
StevieAdams,AssociateProjectManager stevie@ovlc.org
RickBisaccia,PreserveManager rick@ovlc.org
SherryDoyle,OfficeManager sherry@ovlc.org
FredFox,ExecutiveDirector fredfox@ovlc.org
LynnMalone,MemberServicesDirector lynn@ovlc.org
SheriMayta,ProjectCoordinator sheri@ovlc.org
DerekPoultney,ProjectManager derek@ovlc.org
SeveralOVLCmembers enjoyedabreathtaking mini-vacationat YosemiteNationalPark thisspring.Backrow fromleftarePito Ramos,JulieWellings, ArthurVander,Judy Vander,Kathy Broesamle,JoanAlger, KaleStarbird,andJohn Broesamle.Frontrow, fromleft,areKay ReniusandCynthia Duncan.
SPECIALTHANKS
Toourdedicatedofficevolunteers,BarbaraSunderlandandPeggyBernard. Toournewestnewslettermailinghelpers,Audrey,Ivan,Matt,RyanandSheilafrom theARCEnrichmentCenterandtheirsupervisor,LindaCaldwell.Muchappreciation goestoKathyBroesamleforrecognizingthebenefitstobothorganizationsandputting ustogether.WorkingwithARCisarewardingexperienceforallconcerned.
ToalltheTaorminaresidentswhograciouslyenduredourdust,foryourpatience andunderstanding,andespeciallyJosephRosswhowasonthe“frontlines.”
ToLeonPahleforhisdailyswimmingholecleanupsandreports.It’sgreattohave friendswhokeepawatchfuleye.
AlongstandingloyalfriendoftheOVLC,localethnobotanist LannyKauferreturnstoleadaninterpretive herbwalkinWillsCanyonontheVenturaRiver PreserveSaturday,June28th. Widelyregardedasalocal expertonusesofindigenousplants,Lannyhasbeenleading nativeplantwalksandhikesinVenturaCountysince1976. Onthiswalkhewillsharehisknowledgeoflocaledible,usefulandmedicinalplants.
Themoderate3-hourwalkwillbeginattheVRPRiverview TrailheadparkinglotonRiceRoadat8:30am.OVLCmembers areinvitedasamemberbenefit.Costis$10.00perpersonfor allothers.ParticipantsareinvitedtojointheOVLCtoenjoy thisandotherinformativehikesforFREE.Bringwater,snack, hikingstickforeasystreamcrossingandsunscreen. Forreservations,contacttheOVLCat649-6852oremail ovlc@ovlc.org.
StillWildAboutOjai
The“StillWildAboutOjai”seriesofenvironmental educationprogramsandfieldtripswasenjoyedby approximately250LandConservancymembersand friends.Participantslearnedaboutsubjectssuchas landscapingwithnativeplants,Chumashuseofedible andmedicinalnativeplants,birdscommonlyseenin Ojai,livingwithwildlife,andtheroleahealthyriver playsinahealthycommunity.
Ourthankstotheprogrampresentersandfieldtrip leaderswhomadethissuchasuccess:JesseGrantham, MikeInaba,PaulJenkin,LannyKaufer,JohnLamar, NicaKatherineNite,PattyPerry,MartinPotter,Bianca Rice,JulieTumamait,andDanielWilson.
EquestrianFriendsoftheVenturaRiverPreserve
OnJune7th,agroupofEquestrianFriendsgatheredatthe OsoRanchforapicnictogetherandhadsomeboot stompinfun.Wewouldliketothankparticipants,donors totheVRPstewardshipfund,newmembersforjoining, ournewbusinesssponsors(RiverViewRanch,OsoRanch, andtheWharf)andmostofalltheorganizers,Stefanie Coeler,LeanneCampbellandLeslieConnellalongwithall theirgreatvolunteers.Muchneededfundingwasraised fortheVRPstewardshipfund,andwethankALLwho madethathappen.
AMomentontheMeadow MembersandFriendsPicnic andArtoftheOjaiValleyExhibitbythe TOPAGroupontheOjaiMeadowsPreserve
Saturday,June21st4-8pm
Wehopeyou’lljoinusforthiswonderfulopportunityto celebratetherecentrestorationofthisbeautifulproperty. HoldingtoMembersandFriendspicnictradition,we’lleat,drink andfillthetwilighthourswithmerrimentwhilewatchingthe sunsetovertheTopaTopamountainsfromtheOjaiMeadows Preserve.
Enjoyaspecialtreatasournewestmembers,theTOPA(The OjaiPreservationArtists)pleinairegrouppresentaspecial premiershowingofartoftheOjaiValley.30%oftheproceeds fromartsaleswillbenefittheOVLC.
EnjoytoursoftheMeadowRestoration,livemusic,birding activities,andotherfamilyfun.Ticketsare$25inadvance,$30 attheevent.MakeyourreservationbyJune16th!Seeyouthere. ParkinglocatedattheendofBesantRd.offofLomitanear theRanchHouse.
SAVETHEDATES!
TakeaHikebythe LightoftheMoon ontheVenturaRiverPreserve
MoonlightHikeinWillsCanyon
Date&Time: SaturdayJuly19th•7pm
Location: RiverviewTrailhead
Comealongonawonderfulfullmoon adventureontheVenturaRiverPreserve. PreserveManagerRickBisacciawillleadthegrouponanexplorationinto thesightsandsoundsofforestnightcrittersandstargazing.Thisisa moderate3-hourhike.Notsuitableforchildrenunder10yearsold.Be suretowearsturdyshoesandbringaflashlight,water,andasnack. Thankyouforleavingpetsathome.
And speakingofMoonlight…
Thoughplansarestillverymuchinthemaking, wedohaveadateforourannualsignatureevent inSeptember.MarkyourcalendarforSaturday, September20thandplantojoinusforavery specialeveningunderthemoon
T
CCorrectingthedecades-longfloodingofHighway33andNordhoffHighSchoolhas resultedinarapidlydevelopingwetlandecosystemthatmanywildlifespeciesarerediscoveringonadailybasis.Inashorttime, biodiversityisupandtherodentpopulationis down–andthistrendisexpectedtocontinue.
Onthegroundandintheair,redtailhawks, owls,greatsnowyegrets,blueherons,king snakes,gophersnakes,andcoyotesareallvisiting therestorationsiteandkeepingtherodentpopulationincheck.Anewweaselresidenthasrecently beenspottedperformingmuchneededgophercontrolinthearea.
Left:Acommonshorebirdcalledthe killdeerhastakenupresidenceinthe restorationareaandtwomatingpairs fledgedoffspringthisseason.
Right:Red-wingedblackbirdsthatare dependentuponwetlandsfornesting habitatarevastlyincreasingtheir numbers,asareover55otherspecies ofbirdsthatwerespottedonarecent birdwalkthroughthemeadow.
Nowallweneedisabridge
...foracreekcrossing.Wearekeepingoureyesandearsopenforabridge,so ifyoujusthappentohaveoneinyourbackpocketorhaveseenonelying aroundsomewhere,pleasecontactus.Thespanwouldneedtobeabout40 feet.Wecouldprobablyaccommodatejustaboutanyreasonable width.Alternately,wearelooking intoacommunity-basedprojectto buildone.Ifyou,oranyoneyou knowcancontributeinanyway,we wouldlovetohearfromyou.We wouldneedeverythingfromgenerousfolkswhocouldhelpfundthe projecttoengineering,earth,concreteandwood-work,etc.Ifyou canhelpinanyway,pleaseemailus atovlc@ovlc.org.
TheOVLCisintheveryearlystagesof returningthepropertyfromthedegraded fieldofweedsandgophersweinheritedin 2001toanaturallyfunctioningecosystem. Upcomingplantingsaredesignedtojumpstarttheland’sabilitytorestoreitselfand increasenativebiodiversityovertime. Thoughtherewillbeheavyhumaninvolvementinthenextfewyears(planting hundredsofthousandsofnativeplants), onlybasicmaintenancewillbeneededonce theplantsmatureandheadofftocollege.
Ifyouwouldliketohearaboutopportunitiesforrestorationworkand upcomingplantings,pleasesendusaquickemailtoovlc@ovlc.orgtosign upfornotifications.Wewouldlovetohaveyoujoinus.Thisisagreat opportunitytogettoknowyourOVLCfriendswhilehelpingtorestorenaturalbeautytoourcommunity.Duringthesummermonthsweworkearly inthedaytoavoidtheheat.RegularSaturdaymorningrestorationworkdayswillbegininearlyfall.
BusinessMembersmakeaBIGdifference!
VenturaRiverLevel
Rabobank
SanAntonioCreekLevel
BehavioralSciencesTechnology
BioResoruceConsultants
Bostrom&Associates
CasaBarranca
DavidBury&Co.
LuluBandha’s
TheOjaiPhoneBook
TheOjaiValleyInn&Spa
OjaiValleyCommunityBank
OjaiValleyDirectory
OjaiValleyNews
RainsDepartmentStore
Shanbrom,Casey&Associates
Venoco
Waite,Jacobs,Atkinson,Attorneys
Therearemanywaystohelp
Membershiporannualdonations–whetherbycheckorcreditcard,by phoneoronlineatwww/ovlc.org, everydollarhelps!
•Becomeabusinesssponsor
•Donatein-kindgoods&services
•BecomeapartoftheOVLC familyofvolunteers
•Donateauctionorraffleitems
•Joinoneoftheseveraltoursor minivacationsofferedtoOVLC membersandfriendsthat donateaportionofproceeds.
Pleasecallorvisitourwebsiteto learnmoreabouthowyoucanbea partofthiscollectiveefforttopreserveopenspaceintheOjaiValley. Ittakesacommunity,pleasejoinus!
CConvertyourmembershiptoa businessmembershiptoday.Business membersenjoyanassortmentof businessrecognitioninadditiontotax benefits.Wealsoacceptin-kind donationsofgoodsorservices.Give LynnMalone,MemberServices Directoracalltodayifyouwouldlike tohelppreservethefutureofthe naturalbeautyoftheOjaiValleyforall whosharethisspecialplace.
OjaiMeadowsLevel
bITvision
ColdwellBanker
PropertyShoppe
OldCreekRanchWinery
HeritageFinancial
Venoco
WellsFargoBankPCS
VolunteerOpportunities
•RestorationplantingonthePreserves
Checkourwebsitefornewson plantingdates.
•PreserveMonitors
DoyouwalkorridetheOVLCPreserves?
Helpuskeepaneyeoutformischief makers,andgetafreeshirttowear whiledoingso.CallRickBisaccia, PreserveManagertovolunteer,798-0650.
•AdministrativeHelp
Helpwithdataentry,mailings,filing, writing,andspecialprojects.
•SpecialEvents
Helpplan,setupandworkatthe upcomingmemberpicnicorotherevents.
•OnlineAuctionPerson
LiketoeBay? Helpusrunonline auctionsonawebsitededicatedto auctionsfornonprofits.
Formoreinformation,sendusanemail atovlc@ovlc.org.
SulphurMountainLevel
ALCOPlumbing
BankofAmerica
BarnhartInsurance
CoastalRestorationConsultants
ForbessConsultingGroup
GroveCare
IndexFresh
LosPadresBank
MeinersOaksHardware
OjaiValleyInsurance
OsoRanch
RanchHouseRestaurant
RickySmithHorseshoeing
RiverviewRanch
SoundNEyes-OjaiEyes
SprinkmaticCorp.
Sterling+Associates
TheWharf
SaveOjai’sOpenSpacewitheScrip
DidyouknowthattheOjaiValleyLand Conservancycanalsobenefitfromyoureveryday purchases,atnocosttoyou?
Here’showitworks:Ifyouregisteronlinewith eScrip,apercentageofyourpurchasesatmany participatingbusinessessuchasMacy’s,OfficeMax andBajaFresharedonatedtotheOjaiValleyLand Conservancy.Whataneasywaythisistohelp raisefundsforourorganization!
Here’sthe“howto101.”Gotothe www.eScrip.comWelcomePageandclickonsign up.EnterOjaiValleyLandConservancy.Continue tofollowtheprompts.Chooseanameandpasswordsothatyoucanmonitorcontributionsmade througheScriptoyourchosennonprofits.That’s allthereistoit!
Ifyoudon’tuseacomputerbutwouldstilllike toenroll,pleasegiveusacallandwewillmailor faxthepaperregistrationformtoyou.
Thanksforhelpingususeeveryavailableresourceto helpsaveOjai’sopenspaces
EEachyearhundredsofOVLCmembersrenewtheirmembership.Wethankthefollowingmembersforyour loyaltyandsupportduringtheperiod fromFebruary29,2008thruMay15,2008
RenewingMembers
Lincoln&SheilaAnderson
AliceM.deDadelsenAsquith
ChristopherBates
JohnBattel&HollyRichmond
RandyBanchik& JannellGreene-Banchik
Ron&JuliaBruns
MichaelCase
AustinR.Cline
Sheila&DonaldCluff
ChuckCook&MartyFujita
SteveCurry
MaryJoDavy
PaulDentzel
CathyDiorio
James&DawnEngel
Jeff&TheresaFerguson
FrancesFitting
David&CindyGarber
WilliamGirvetz
Patsy&HaroldGlenn
HeleneGordon
MargueriteHackett
Maj&LarryHagman
Stan&MaryHakes
JohnN.Hall
KathleenHellwitz
Sally&LamarHoover
DavidIntner&SageEssickIntner
BettyIzant
AnneN.Johnstone
ArnoldJones
LannyKaufer
NancyKochevar&MichaelLurie
FriendsOf
TheOjaiValley
Sandy&GeorgeBuechley
Scott&BetsySmith
StevenVelkei
Deric&BarbaraWashburn
John&ChristyKuney
Mike&KellyLaber
Mr.&Mrs.JamesA.Malone
Julie&BoManson
ElizabethMartin
Douglas&MaryJoMcLeod
George&PeggyMelton
Cookie&BillMiley
Charles&ThereseMontag
JaneC.Murray
BarbaraMuska
RuthMiller-
Nature’sStudioPhotography
HilaryOlmstead&TerryChaffee
YvettePadilla&SherylPearson
Edwin&ClairePaulson
TimPeddicordandMarleneMalin
PaulaPower
Alan&JanRains
LauraReed
JoanRoberts
LyndaScott&JohnMarshall
Tim&LucindaSetnicka
William&LisaSnider
Lawrence&LindaSorensen
WilliamSpellman,DDS
KimStroud
Gilbert&CarolynVondriska
Bill&MarciaWakelee
Terry&CindyWright
Ralph&AnneWuerker
JosephZorskie& SharonRussellZorskie
WelcomeNewMembers
KenjiAkune
TiaAndrews
JohnAzevedo
RichardBackus
William&JanetBarrett
Peggy&BryanBernard
FredChase
MelissaCherry
GayelChildress
GarrettClifford
MaryCogswell
LoriCorradi
Lance&DianeCross
MichelleM.Dohrn
Alan&JackieDorfman
TomFrancis
KatieFrazier
LindaFrazier
AnitaHendricks
ValerieHigginbotham
VivekKaliraman
ErinKowalczyk
JeffKuyper
Evie&BainDayman
ChristineGolden
Donald&RuthHauser
Mike&ElizabethHermes
RayKing&KaleStarbird
David&LisaLuckenbach
ReeseLamar
AllisonLeete
ConnieKayLowry
MarshaMacDonald
MaryMcConnel
JamesMenzel-Joseph
JenniferMoses
SaraPersson
AntoinettePineau
SuePrecht
DonaldRodrigues
JenSavage
RuthSayre
Charles&DeanaSherry
RonESinger
PattySmith RahulSonnad
CaroleeTibbitts
DonnaTimlin
KatieVanHorn
SabrinaVenskus
Sid&AnnWhite
MKathrynWaldman
AnnualGifts
DevenMay
KennethNiessen&SusanGuy
OjaiCommunityBank
KayRenius
AlStroberg&BetsyPatterson
GeorgeWymer
