OPEN SPACES
Nurturing the Spirit
FOR 30 YEARS, AND FOREVER.
A Letter from the Director
The last few months have been busy and exciting. Over 1,500 people came out to our annual Mountainfilm on Tour event under the stars at the Ojai Valley School. I hope the films inspired you to get outdoors and plan your next adventure.
Just two weeks later, we celebrated our 30th birthday with members at the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. It was a beautiful night to enjoy among new and old friends and supporters of the OVLC. Jerry Dunn thrilled guests with his extraordinary mind-reading and The Townies entertained us with local stories. The solar lights may have gone out in the middle of Noah Crowe’s inspiring talk about a futuristic utopian world, but that just caused us to come together as a community and gather closer.
The OVLC has also been looking to the future to set and confirm our priorities. In July, the OVLC Board held an all-day retreat to review our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. We are proud of all we have accomplished and continually look for ways in which we can improve. We decided that we could best support our mission—to permanently protect the open space, natural scenic beauty, wildlife, habitat, and watershed of the Ojai Valley for current and future generations—by taking advantage of our existing talent and by hiring a new Stewardship Director who we hope will deepen and broaden our community of volunteers. We are proud to share that Jill Lashly, our Restoration Program Manager of three years, has been promoted to Conservation Director. Learn more about her accomplishments on page five.
For the past few months the Stewardship Director position has been open, and the entire staff and volunteers have contributed to cover preserve needs. Over 40 people with diverse skill sets and experiences applied for the position. One applicant regularly herded wayward bison back onto a game reserve with a helicopter, while another managed
the maintenance of 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Among the long list of certifications held by our candidates were Certified Trail Master, Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness First Responders, and certified sawyers. Skill sets included community organizing, construction, and education. After initial interviews, we brought our two top candidates into the office and out into the field for day-long interviews with our entire team.
At the time this newsletter heads to press, we have an offer out to fill the position. We know that many of our members are looking for more volunteer opportunities at the OVLC, so we chose someone who has strong experience managing large volunteer crews. We are confident that the OVLC will be stronger with our new Stewardship Director and we look forward to welcoming and introducing him soon.
Despite a few changes around the office, two things remain completely unchanged—our dedication to the protection of our open spaces and the appreciation we have for the community that supports our work.
We are sincerely grateful for all our members. You make possible what we simply can’t do alone, and your partnership makes all the difference. Please join me in welcoming the 161 new members who recently joined the OVLC and our conservation community. Together, we make Ojai a better place to live, work, and play.
Brian Stark, Executive Director
Above: Greathorned Owl on the Ojai Meadows Preserve photographed by Dean Zatkowsky
Restoration on the Land
Above: The OVLC Restoration Field Crew worked with 25 students from Villanova Preparatory School during their community service day. They spent the morning planting oak circles at the Ventura River Preserve. In the top photo, the students are enjoying a break exploring the dry swimming hole. Below on the Ojai Meadows Preserve: In the photo on the left, the dark circle in the center is an area being prepped for the planting of native grasses. The center photo is a successful grass circle that was planted in 2015. In two years, these newly planted circles will help spread new seed. In the photo on the right, while the water system was down for a few weeks during the fall hot spell the field crew had to do some extra heavy lifting carrying buckets of water to the newly planted natives.
OPEN SPACES
The newsletter of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sandy Buechley, President
Larry Rose, Vice President
Martha Groszewski, Treasurer
Stefanie Coeler, Secretary
Bret Bradigan
Bill Brothers
Wyatt Harris
Meredy Benson Rice
Sarah Sheshunoff
Roger Wachtell
Nathan Wallace
STAFF
Brian Stark, Executive Director
Tania Parker, Director of Advancement
Jill Lashly, Conservation Director
Marti Reid, Office Manager
Xena Grossman, Development Assistant
Nathan Wickstrum, Senior Restor. Specialist
Niko Georghiou, Restoration Specialist
Natalie Jones, Restoration Specialist
Ron Singer, Nursery Manager
Mission: The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is a community-based nonprofit organization working with partners to permanently protect the open space, natural scenic beauty, wildlife, habitat, and watershed of the Ojai Valley for current and future generations.
STAY CURRENT WITH THE OVLC: OVLC.ORG / FIND US ON FACEBOOK
2018 California Naturalist Course
Spring 2017 Graduating Class
California Naturalist Open House
Saturday, December 9, 2 - 3 pm
OVLC Office: 370 W Baldwin Rd, Bldg A4
The OVLC is hosting an Open House featuring the California Naturalist Certification Program that will be offered in Spring 2018.
Drop in and meet the class instructor
Professor Don Rodriguez, as well as several California Naturalist graduates who will share their experiences and show their Capstone Projects.
The Naturalist Program introduces students to the wonders of California with a special focus on the Ventura River Watershed’s unique ecology. It also engages them as volunteers in the stewardship of our natural communities. The program combines a science curriculum, hands-on learning, problem solving, and community service to instill a deep appreciation and understanding of the natural environment of California and to inspire individuals to become guardians of their local resources.
The next California Naturalist training will be held on Friday evenings with Saturday field trips March 31 - May 6, 2018. Early Bird registration is $375 and runs from December 10 - January 31. Registration after January 31 is $425. Registration includes a copy of the required textbook “The California Naturalist Handbook.” Two limited scholarships at $175 are available for qualified applicants. For more information contact Marti Reid at (805) 649-6852 x 2 or marti@ovlc.org.
Special Acknowledgments
Gift Membership for Christina Quayle
Carolyn Maeder
In Honor of Dottie Loebl’s Birthday!
Ann & Harry Oppenheimer
Gregory Rosston
In Honor of Rick Bisaccia for his vision, vigilance & Valley View
Friend’s Ranch
In Memory of Barbara Moon
Jim & Myrna Cambianica
In Memory of Bruce McCormick
Erendira McCormick
In Memory of Irene Isgur
Bill & Marcia Wakelee
In Memory of John Hasbrouck
Bonnie Griffin
In Memory of Oliver Greenhill Hess
Gary & Michele Douglas
In Memory of Sylvia Richter
Jack Weber
In Memory of Tanner and in Honor of Wiggly-Pants
Clare Bland
Jill Lashly Promoted to Conservation Director
Jill Lashly has worked at the OVLC for three years as our Restoration Program Manager— promoting habitat restoration and conservation in the Ojai Valley. She manages important habitat restoration projects, plays a vital role in land conservation projects, and monitors our conservation easements. Her accomplishments include working with 40 private landowners and the community to remove approximately 23 acres of Arundo (an invasive plant that threatens our watershed) along five miles of San Antonio Creek and supervising a restoration team that has planted tens of thousands of native plants on our preserves. She has brought in $760,813 of grant funds to the OVLC’s restoration program in the last three years.
Her understanding of a breadth of conservation issues, grant writing skills, and knack for working with landowners led to her promotion to Conservation Director. While she will continue overseeing the restoration projects, which are in good hands with our field crew leader and restoration team, her new focus will be on emerging land projects. We are excited to see the direction Jill takes the OVLC as our new Conservation Director. Congratulations, Jill!
New Tie Rail at the Ventura River Preserve
Volunteers and staff installed a new tie rail in memory of Sara Roxanne Schneider on the Ventura River Preserve. The plaque reads, “ ‘God forbid that I should go to any heaven in which there were no horses.’
Written by R. B. Cunningham-Graham in a letter to Theodore Roosevelt, 1917.” A fitting tribute to a young woman who loved horses so much.
Jes MaHarry Trunk Show – benefit for the OVLC
Saturday, December 2
11 am – 4 pm
Jes MaHarry Flagship Store, Downtown Ojai
Join us at Jes MaHarry’s flagship store in the Ojai Arcade for a trunk show, raffle, appetizers, and fun. Jes will be donating a percentage of that day’s proceeds to the OVLC.
This beautiful necklace (pictured right) will be released at the trunk show. A percentage of the proceeds from all sales of this necklace will go to the OVLC. It will also be for sale at the Jes MaHarry Flagship Store.
Jill and her husband Evan in the Sespe Wilderness
Upcoming Events 2017 Mountainfilm Wrap-up
December 2
All About Ojai: Winter Migration Bird Walk with Jesse Grantham
December 2
Jes MaHarry Trunk Show benefiting the OVLC, Ojai Flagship Store
December 9
California Naturalist Open House
January 20
All About Ojai: Chumash History & Culture by Julie Tumamait- Stenslie
January 21
A Very Special Herbwalk with Lanny Kaufer - Limit 25 people
January 27
Free Guided Birdwalk at the Ojai Meadows Preserve with John Pavelko and Art Vander
February 10
All About Ojai: Tales of the Condor with Debbie Parisi and Jill Forman
February 24
All About Ojai: Dirt time with the Ventura County Wildlife Trackers
March 10
All About Ojai: Matilija Dam Removal Project by Paul Jenkin, Matilija Coalition
Wow – what a night! Thank you to the 1,500+ people that came out to our Mountainfilm on Tour event and made it such a success! I had an amazing time and I think you all did too!
It was fun to see so many familiar faces in the crowd as well as welcome many new members to the OVLC. As the sunset cast its famed pink glow on the Topa Topas, friends and family gathered to share in picnics and conversations. Everywhere I turned there were smiling faces— the experience created was a true community gathering in our beautiful Ojai.
I want to send a big THANK YOU to Patagonia – your sponsorship helps make this event happen. Many thanks go out to Daniel Patrick Finley (@danpatfin) and Mariana Abaroa (@easytobreathe) for photographing our event this year (see pictures on right page); to all our Wild About Ojai partners and Business Sponsors who came out to support us and entertain the crowd before the films started (California Solar Electric, Char Man Brand, The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Company Inc., Parker Jellison and Awhai Pottery); and REI for providing great prizes for those who played their giant Jenga.
Vaughn Montgomery and the chillz rocked it again this year. Thank you to Topa Topa Brewing Company and OBC for donating so much beer— and Salmon Creek for sponsoring the wine. I am so grateful for your continued generosity and I know all of the attendees were grateful for the good beer and wine in the beer garden. Thank you to the food trucks for coming out and supporting the OVLC. Pro Outdoor Movies and MTS Audio, your projection, sound, and giant screen were outstanding. We can’t wait to have you both back next year!
To our volunteers, we could never pull off an event like this without you. This year there were more than 80 of you helping the day of our event. You made everything run so smoothly. Thank you for all the hours of dedication you put in to helping the OVLC not just for this event, but throughout the year. Ojai Valley School, thank you for welcoming us to your campus and providing a fabulous venue and another perfect Ojai night. We look forward to returning next year!
Sincerely,
Tania Parker, Director of Advancement
Visit ovlc.org/events for the times, locations, and the most current event information.
Mark your calendars now for next year’s Mountainfilm on Tour stop. You won’t want to miss the event of the year! Also, watch for upcoming details about a special VIP ticket package including dinner and films on Friday night, September 21, at the Caravan Outpost.
Aaron Kreisberg
Alex Wilson
Alison Frey Andersson
Amy Kunze
Angela Sowers
Ann Framson
Anna Szymkowiak
Anthony Vollering
Antoinette Levine
April Armstrong
Ariel Bishop
Benjamin Mati
Betsy Fields
Bonnie Griffin
Bruce Jugan
Carlos Ramirez
Carolyn & Doug Kirkpatrick
Carolyn Maeder
Carrie DeVaney
Celeste Manolas
Charles Perry
Christian Regester
Christina Quayle
Christopher Davies
Courtney Boyer & Josh Peters
Craig A. Walker
Craig Percy & Silvia Berg
Danielle Suarez
David Estrada
David Wolstencroft
Dean Thomas
Debbie Schaaf
Denise Frisbee
Donn Longstreet
Dorene Cowart
Dyan Berk
Elaine Reasor
Elena Hall
Emily Burson
Emily Denver
Erendira McCormick
Eric Ehlers
Eva Ettedgui
Francesca Pascolini
Fred Fisher
Gary Gartrell
Gayla Swann
Gerry Bradberry
Greg Cooper
Greg Frank
Harold Karsenty
Haylee Heller
Heather Mackey
Heathers D’Anna
Jack Weber
James Pritchard
Jan Hiester
Janna Williams
Jeff Johnston
Jeffrey & Susan Brand
Jeffrey Davidson
Jennifer Gagne
Jenny McCracken
Jinny & Rob Feiss
John Detring
Joseph Neulight
Judith Rodenbeck
Julianne Faye Johnston
Julie Coffey
Jynell Bosacki
Kara Lakes
Karen Laing
Kate Kalanick
Katherine & Kevin White
Kelley App
Kellie Warriner
Kiara Jackson
Kira Sloane
Kristen Sullivan
Kristi Schoeld
Kristy Timpone
Ladonna & Russell Hawkins
Laura Stinchfield
Lauren Glass
Laurie Cornell
Lee Roberts
Lee Silva
Liesel Rigsby
Linda Jordan
Linda Parks
Lise Gottwald
Liz Loseb
Lori Aragona
Lori Blackmon
Lorraine Walter
Marie Holguin
Marie-Pierre Agostini
Mark & Gail Stubbins
Mark Mcintire
Marnie Northrop &
Chris Toland
Martin Harris
Mary Ann Williamson
Melanie Berner
Micaela Clegg
Monique Navarro
Nancy & Glenn Perry
Nancy Opitz
Nancy Vaniotis
Noah Crowe
Ojaiultradan
Otto Svoboda
Paloma Sandoval
Pamela Fetter
Patty Haddad
Paul Mithra
Peter Bowie
Pierre & Beverly Schuberth
Preston Lanning
Priya Ayyar & Jesse Rivkin
Rachel Costello
Rachelle Gray
Reed & Heather Cowan
Renee Ludwig
Ricardo Alvarado
Robin Nahin
Rocio Mariposa
Rowanne Henry
Roy & Pauline Grillo
Sabine Coble
Serena Handley & Anthony Ellison
Shawn Clark
Sherrie McNeil
Sienna Yoast
Sonja Lindstrom
Stephen Carr
Stephen Stone
Steven McCurry
Susan Godfrey
Susan Hamilburg
Suzanne Craven
Suzanne Lugotoff
Tamara Haggard
Tamra Reza
Tanishia Brown
Tasha Marvin
Tawnya Love
Theresa Pagan
Thomas Manfredi
Timothy Morse
Tina Pukonen
Tom Davis
Tony & Roz Demaria
Tracy Jean Shields
Tuck Engelmann
Vaikko & Amy Allen
Vanessa Rogers
Velda Garcia
Vicki Means
Virginia Aguirre
Walter Empson
Wendy Elliott
New Donors
8/23/2017– 11/19/2017
OVLC welcomes our newest Wild About Ojai partner Noah Crowe
“Hopping from riverstone to riverstone through Matilija Canyon is where I found my sense of home as a youth growing up in Ojai. Ojai is a rare paradise, and I think we all have a part to play to keep it that way.”
- Noah Crowe, Home Solar Consultant for Sunrun
Together, our community will help protect Ojai’s open space for everyone to enjoy, forever.
Visit a participating business today and take part.
A Taste of Ojai
Awhai Pottery
Axxess Ventura
BeCalm of Ojai
Bliss Frozen Yogurt
California Solar Electric
Chamber on the Mountain
Char Man Brand Hot Sauce
Dogs Fly Design
Erik Wilde, Coldwell Banker
Gabriela Ceseña, Berkshire Hathaway
The Glass Man Professional Window
Washing Company
GoOjai.com
Greyfox Investors
Jennifer Keeler, Hair Stylist
Lorraine Lim Catering
Mary Nelson Skincare & Massage Studio
Mooney Creative
Noah Crowe, Sunrun Solar Consultant
Ojai Food Taxi
Ojai Quarterly
Parker Jellison Realtor
Rowsie Vain
Sol Haus Design
The Southern Los Padres Trekking Company
Susan K Guy Art
Suzanne’s Cuisine
Tobias Parker, General Contractor
Tonya Peralta Real Estate Services, Inc
Watercolors by Patty Van Dyke
West Winds Landscape
Celebrating a Life Dedicated to Conservation and Helping Others
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy lost a dear friend, dedicated volunteer, and conservation champion with the passing of Allan Jacobs on October 8. Allan led a life dedicated to helping others, including an extended tour with the Peace Corps in Bolivia, decades as an estate attorney, and his involvement with the Rotary Club of Ojai Education Foundation. He was a long-time volunteer at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy where he served 15 years as a board member and many more as a committee member and volunteer. Allan always promoted the community of Ojai and the OVLC. When he was outdoors, which was often, it was common to see him sporting his OVLC hats in their various states of wear. He probably wore out more OVLC hats than anyone in the valley.
Allan was a passionate hiker, always celebrating his birthday with a hike up to Norhoff Peak. These hikes always attracted a diverse group of
hikers and new community connections would be made during these outings. Bringing people together to experience the land was something that was natural for Allan. When the OVLC was raising funds for the Valley View Preserve Allan led hike after hike to show prospective donors the magic of the property and its views of the valley. For Allan, it was always about the land and the community. He never sought the limelight. Instead, he worked behind the scenes offering sound guidance and advice, and instilled strong ethics in our work.
Most community organizations have a select few people that play outsized roles in their growth and development—Allan was one of these people for the OVLC. The OVLC is working on plans to honor Allan’s contribution to local land conservation, and we look forward to sharing these with you in the near future.
Bill Brothers, Allan Jacobs, Rick Bisaccia, Brian Stark, and John Broesamle at the Nordhoff Ridge lookout tower for Allan’s annual birthday hike - June 3, 2017
Leaving a Legacy
We can confidently say it is because of Allan Jacobs that so many people who love Ojai have included the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in their estate plans. He was a firm believer in including non-profits in your estate plans and the legacy you can leave after you pass on. Allan was part of the formation of the new Pushing Up Poppies Legacy Giving Club. He realized the importance of a legacy giving program to a non-profit. It offers a powerful means to enhance and diversify a charity’s fundraising efforts. Legacy gifts enable organizations to achieve long-term financial stability and sustainability.
Pushing Up Poppies honors, thanks, and recognizes those who have included the OVLC in their estate plans. If you have included the OVLC in your estate plans, please contact Tania Parker today. You can let us know if you would like your legacy giving to be anonymous or if you would like to be recognized and included in the Pushing Up Poppies Legacy Giving Club.
Tania Parker, Director of Advancement: (805) 649-6852 x 6 or tania@ovlc.org. You can also join or update your preferences online at ovlc.org/pup.
In Memory of Allan Jacobs
Catherine Lee
Danielle & Melvin Willis
Friend’s Ranch
Huora L. Williams
Jerry & Anne Kaplan
Jill & Bill Shanbrom
Jim & Myrna Cambianica
Jim & Susan Jackson
John N. Hall
Judy Pugh
Larry Rose & Lisa Larramendy
Leonora Defterios
Leslie, Glenn, & Alex Paxton
Lisa & Robert Meeker
Marti & Dan Reid
Mary & Les Baker
Nancy Kochevar & Michael Lurie
Peggy Spellman
Rod & Joyce Greene
Sandy & Libby Treadwell
Sheila & Donald Cluff
Theodore & Claudia Gall
Thank you to all of our Business Sponsors for your generosity!
Topa Topa Sponsor
Patagonia
Ventura River Sponsor REI
Ojai Meadows Sponsors
Aqua-Flo Supply
California Resources Corporation
Union Bank
San Antonio Creek Sponsors
Barnhart & Barnhart Insurance
Brent Jacobs at Morgan Stanley
Channel Islands Sportfishing
Derby & Derby, Inc.
Dr. David L. Garber, D.D.S
Euterpe Farms
Laughing Dog Ranch LLC
Lorraine Lim Catering, Inc
Meiners Oaks Ace Hardware
Mountains 2 Beach Marathon
Ojai Community Bank
Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company
Riverview Ranch
SC&A Insurance Services LLC
SusanKGuyArt.com
Thomas E. Malley Law Office
Waite, Jacobs & Atkinson Attorneys-at-Law
West Coast Air Conditioning
Sulphur Mountain Sponsors
Alco Plumbing
Heritage Financial
John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc.
McDaniel Insurance Services
Ojai Deer Lodge
Phil Moncharsh (Roger, Sheffield, & Campbell LLP)
Rains
In-Kind Sponsors
BioResource Consultants
bITvision
California Solar Electric
Frameworks of Ojai
Michael Lommel | ClarityWebworks.co
Ojai Beverage Company
Ojai Quarterly
Ojai Valley Directory
Shelter Social Club
Topa Topa Brewing Company
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
FOR 30 YEARS, AND FOREVER .
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy has been protecting and caring for our local landscapes for 30 years. While this may seem like a long time, we know that local land conservation will always be needed and that our mission is forever.
In this season of peace, we reflect on how grateful we are for your past support and we ask you for a special year-end gift so that Ojai’s open spaces will continue to nurture the human spirit.
Thank you for your generosity.