OPEN SPACES
OPEN SPACES
The newsletter of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Roger Essick, President
Stefanie Coeler, Vice President
Martha Groszewski, Treasurer
Bret Bradigan, Secretary
Phil Bradley
Sandy Buechley
Wyatt Harris
Phil Moncharsh
Tonya Peralta
Don Reed
Meredy Benson Rice
STAFF
Tom Maloney, Executive Director
Tania Parker, Deputy Director
Jill Lashly, Conservation Director
Brendan Taylor, Stewardship Director
Dan Pizano, Operations Director
Xena Grossman, Development Associate
Emmie Pinedo, Development Assistant
Nathan Wickstrum, Stewardship Manager
Caitlyn Barrera, Restoration Crew
Supervisor & Conservation Assistant
Destinee Rabelo, Restoration Specialist
Mayra Diaz, 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 CONNECTED WITH THE OVLC: OVLC.ORG / FIND US ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM
Welcome to the Team!
Dan moved to Southern California after living overseas to pursue an aviation career in international disaster relief. His academic and career experience are in technology, aviation, and astrophysics. Prior to moving abroad, Dan worked at multiple Silicon Valley start-ups in software development, communication networks and business intelligence. He balances his technical work with a passion for the outdoors and trail running. As an ultra trail runner, he combines his running and technical skills to reach remote areas to collect information about trail networks, infrastructure, and status on OVLC Preserves. Dan is dedicated to OVLC’s mission and is excited about evolving OVLC’s operations. Dan can often be found running on the trails and ridgelines in the Los Padres National Forest from Ojai to Solvang or the Santa Monica Mountains from Point Mugu to Santa Monica.
Dan Pizano Mayra Diaz
Born and raised in Ventura County, Mayra went to community college at Ventura College, and then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona where she obtained her B.S. in Biological Sciences. It was there where she developed a love and passion for nature and native plants of California. After college, Mayra returned to Ventura County where she volunteered at a few local organizations (one of them being OVLC!) doing plantings, pulling weeds, and trail maintenance. She landed an internship working for Catalina Island Conservancy, and it was there she found her passion and love for plant restoration. Mayra lived on the island for four months, and she worked on native plant restoration projects around the island as well as the native plant nursery. Mayra also worked on invasive plant removal and invasive plant surveys down drainages. Mayra also gained more experience working with invasive plant removal under Channel Island Restoration where she worked on an arundo removal project in Ventura County. Mayra is excited to be part of the OVLC team, and part of the restoration efforts for the valley. In her free time, you can find her hiking and enjoying charcuterie board.
Cover Photo by Nathan Wickstrum
From the Director
Ojai is an extraordinary place filled with remarkable people in an amazing natural setting. It seems that the valley exerts a persistent pull on anyone who has spent any time here. In addition to these distinctive qualities, increasingly the Ojai Valley faces many challenges all too familiar to communities throughout California and the West.
Perhaps nothing epitomizes these shared challenges more than the recent adjudication of water use throughout the Ventura River watershed. As others have pointed out, the recent passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) by the California legislature was an overdue but vital first step for California to get a handle on the over-drafting of our groundwater basins. (For instance, in the nearby Cuyama Valley, groundwater levels have dropped over 400 feet from irrigation pumping!) SGMA requires consideration of nature’s needs—particularly “groundwater dependent ecosystems,” like rivers. How the planning for this interacts with the adjudication of water use is impossible to predict, but the adjudication places the Ojai Valley at the crossroads of water planning statewide.
Meanwhile, the catastrophic Thomas Fire is the regional embodiment of shifting fire regimes statewide and across the West. The effects of climate on fire behavior are demanding more proactive planning and management. Also, how natural communities respond to more intense fire in a drier climate is also a concern. Innovative planning to protect our communities (human and natural) is imperative in response to the shifting conditions.
Thankfully, proactive land conservation with willing sellers can be a highly strategic, cost-effective and lasting strategy to advance water sustainability and mitigate fire concerns. The OVLC has been, and will continue to be, a leader in the broad partnership to protect and restore the Ventura River and its tributaries. Targeted land protection can also help with groundwater recharge. Similarly, in addition to providing critical recreational linkages, protecting land in the wildland urban interface can bolster the protection of life and property in the face of wildfire.
The staff and board of the OVLC are eager to work with more landowners to accelerate our land conservation program to enhance our collective response to climate challenges that are increasingly acute in Ojai, and emblematic of issues across the American West. Together, as a community, Ojai can be a leader in planning for resilience by pairing land conservation with community adaptations in this changing climate.
Tom Maloney, Executive Director
FROM THE FIELD
Here at the OVLC rain is a very exciting event—it kicks off the start to planting season for our field crew! We are out and about on all of the preserves, but we are especially proud of our plantings along San Antonio Creek, where native plants have successfully replaced invasive arundo, and at the old Farmont Ranch on the Ventura River Preserve, where native plants are thriving in what used to be an orange orchard!
Plants that thrive at San Antonio Creek and other riparian habitats include arroyo willow, giant wild rye, mulefat, mugwort, southern honeysuckle, and Western sycamore. These natives help to stabilize the banks of the river by preventing soil erosion, conserving water (which invasive plants greedily extract), and providing native habitat for local wildlife. Things are definitely getting greener here in Ojai and we cannot wait to see what this rain season has in store for our planted saplings near the creek. One volunteer organization that is as passionate as the OVLC about riparian restoration is the Sespe Fly Fishers, and they recently assisted our field crew with planting baby oak trees and companion shrubs at the Ventura River Preserve. Overall, volunteers helped us kick off planting season with over 300 plants and countless numbers of acorns in the ground near San Antonio Creek and the Ventura River. The planting season has not yet concluded and there is still a lot left to tackle, however with the support of volunteers, we will continue these large planting efforts and sustain a greener future here in the Ojai Valley.
CREATURE FEATURE
Mule Deer
With the onset of rain and the changing season, have you noticed things growing? The local mule deer certainly have! Not only are mule deer excited for the new vegetation they can now browse, but the males have fully grown their antlers for mating season. Mating season for these deer begins in the late fall and lasts until mid-spring, where typically a family group of deer consists of one male and a few females. All of the bucks that were not successful in “wooing” females either remain solitary or form bachelor groups.
So if you’re wondering why there is a group of bucks wandering about without any does, these are the notorious bachelors of Ojai. Each buck aspires to have the largest antlers and will physically challenge one another with their rack. Eventually the bucks shed their antlers and regrow them come the next mating season. Once spring comes it may become difficult to differentiate between the males and females, so be sure to admire those racks while you can!
We hope you’ve been using the new, volunteer-built Allan Jacobs Trail these past few months since it opened in November. If you have used it, no doubt you’ve seen the piles of lumber on the south end of the trail near Oso Ridge Trail. That’s for the new bridge that’s being built. With support from the local Rotary Club of Ojai and Ojai Lion’s Club, we were able to purchase material for an equestrian bridge over Olive Creek. As before, it’ll be all volunteer built, and since we won’t be finished until late March at the earliest, there’s plenty of opportunity to help out. Come on out and build a bridge with us!
Allan Jacobs Bridge
Photos taken by our wildlife preserve cameras.
SAY HI TO GOJAI!
Gojai is a proud OVLC business sponsor and was our premier sponsor for Montaintainfilm on Tour 2019, and will be again in 2020!
We are excited to welcome them to our community of Ojai Valley Land Conservancy partners!
GOJAI Organic’s Founder Lindsay Chambers’ love of nature inspired her to move to a farm in Ojai, California. Lindsay’s other great love? Her family. So when her mom was diagnosed with cancer, she took time off to be by her side. While undergoing chemotherapy, her mom decided to give up her daily diet soda routine, but she couldn’t find a simple, healthy caffeinated alternative on the market. Energy drinks had too much caffeine and unnecessary additives. And like many people, she liked the simplicity of sparkling water.
GOJAI Organic is the nation’s first organic, gently caffeinated sparkling water. It has zero preservatives, calories or sugar, and the caffeine source is from organic un-roasted coffee beans. Beyond GOJAI Organic’s support of the OVLC, GOJAI also created a college scholarship that it provides annually to a Nordhoff High School Senior.
Photos by Marc Alt
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IN HONOR OF:
Bert Carter’s birthday from Alice Barnwell
Brian Johnson
“Brian! I know how much you love Ojai’s mountains and hikes.. Sending Love! Happy Everything! :)” from Monica Pattera
Cassidy Teufel Family
Merry Christmas from Kathy Teufel
David Beckwith and Michael Shapiro from William & Wendi Knox
Early Malloy from Grace & Dan Malloy
Marti Reid’s Birthday from Candace Grodin, Paula & Geoffrey Clarke, Wayne Lattimer
GIFTS MEMBERSHIP FOR:
Christine Bednar
Rowanne Henry
Fred Fisher
Emily Burson
Donnie Cervantes
Jennie Prebor
Lisa Morehart from Lynette Cervantes
Colleen Cooney from Brendan Taylor
IN MEMORY OF:
Allan Jacobs
“In memory of Allan Jacobs and his dedication of making it possible for us to climb our mountains.” from Friend’s Ranch
Allan Jacobs from Janet Jacobs, Topa Topa Optometry, Inc.
Charlie Eller from Carrie Eller & Jimmy Harvey
Douglas Theriault from April Theriault & Ken Eros
Joan Landfield
“May Mom’s love of Ojai live on” from Daniel Landfield
John Whitman from Heidi & Andrew Whitman
Michele Briley
“This gift is in honor of our beautiful mom and nana. May her gentle soul live on in the serenity and peace of Ojai’s lands. Xoxo, Kat, Dan, Max, and Mia”
Sara Roxanne Schneider from Amy Schneider
Theodore Walsh from Chris & Mark Marmes
A cknowledgments: 11/20/19—1/14/20
ALCO Plumbing
Anthony and Angela Ocone
Artizen Floor Corp, Mike Bennett
California Solar Electric
Canvas and Paper, Neil Kreitman
Damar Construction, Mike
Marshall
David Cohn
Deborah Pendrey
Eagle Demolition Services
Forest Nielsen Woodworker
Hartmann Electric, John Hartmann
J. Larson Tile, Jordan Larson
Ken Beisel
Mike Cleary Tile
Nyla and Peter Adams
Ojai Custom Paint, Titus Painting
Ojai Electric, George Hartmann
Ojai Playhouse, The Alawars
Pacific Stoneworks
Phillip Collins
Reliable Heating & Air
Conditioning, Brian Klindt
RTC Plastering, Robin Chavez
Sam Houseman Construction
TJM Drywall, Tim Malloy
Tobias Parker, General Contactor
Ventura Roofing, Tim Reed
Virginia Siegfried and Barry Verga
WJW Masonry, Bill Welch
In honor of his dedicated contractors and clients from Kerry Miller
Designer/Builder, Inc.
Photo by Fridolin Schöpper
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 8: Women in the Wild Events
- Visit ovlc.org/wildwomen20 for more information and to RSVP
• Yoga on the preserve with Peak Power Yoga
• Trail run on the Ventura River Preserve
• Mother-Child Nature Discovery with Ventura Wild
• Guided hike
April 4: Stewardship Director Hike & Picnic
-Space is limited: Registration required
April 18: Spring Native Plant Sale at the OVLC Nursery on Besant Road
For the most up-to-date information about OVLC events visit ovlc.org/ events
2019 Fiscal Year* Annual Report
* FY 2019: Fiscal Year October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019
As our supporters will recall, last summer the OVLC’s former office manager and bookkeeper was arrested for grand theft and forgery. With this unfortunate incident, the board took immediate steps to improve internal controls on bookkeeping. In our continuing efforts to ensure that this sort of criminality never occurs again at OVLC, the board retained a new auditor who is familiar with land trust work. The auditor has been conducting a thorough examination of our books and operating procedures to help us refine our systems. We are still in the process of working with the auditor to determine ways to improve our systems. This process has taken longer than our typical annual audit and therefore our financial statements were not yet ready to include in this newsletter.
We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. Once available for review, we will post fiscal year 2019’s audited financial statements at ovlc.org/financials.
Tom Maloney Executive Director
Thank you to our FY 2019 Donors Our trails live on what you give.
Donors $99 and Under
Aaron Kreisberg
Al Stroberg & Betsy Patterson
Alan & Jan Peter
Alan & Jazmin Charlesworth
Alexander Shorb
Alice & Richard Matzkin
Alicia & Franco Campana
Alison Huyett
Alix, Sierra, & Brycycles
Alojai Creations
Amanda Peacock
Amy Hueppe
Anamaria Schmid
Andrea Gleysteen
Andrew Baksh
Andy Brucker & Amy Bruckmeier
Anita C. Cramm
Anita Hendricks
Ann & Neil Havlik
Ann Gartrell
Ann Horton & Fred Line
Ann James
Ann Koons
Anna Julien
Anna Szymkowiak
Annette Cooper
Anthony Vollering
April Armstrong
April Theriault & Ken Eros
Ashley Berry
Ashley Nielsen & Nicholas Mang
Avery Colborn
Barbara & Charlie Snyder
Barbara & Michael Rugo
Barbara Gibson & Bill Shields
Barbara Rose
Barry & Paula Wayne
Belinha Beatty
Benjamin Holland
Bent & Else Lundbye
Beth Dorenkamp
Betsy Fields
Betty Gutman
Bettyanne Sessing
Bill & Maggie Mors
Bill Thatcher
Bob & Heather Sanders
Bob & Joan Grove
Bob & Leslie Nutting
Bonnie & Jeff Jenkins
Bonnie Bartling
Brad & Maria Marcus
Brandon & Catherine
Bencomo
Brendan Taylor
Brian Kimball Pidduck
Brittany Blackwell
Brook Montagna
Caitlin Praetorius
Caitlyn Barrera
Callen Gartrell
Caren Olsen
Carol & David Castanon
Carol Cohen
Carol Day
Carol Garramone
Carol Smith & Larry Yuva
Carolyn Emmons
Catherine Lee
Catherine Wilcox
Cathie Ferro
Cathy Moon
Celeste Gabriele
Charla Brown
Charles Perry
Chelsey & Josh Fink
Cherie Windsor
Chery Cerise
Cheryl & Dean Geiser
Chris Brock
Chris Broman & Mary Mohr
Christina Kennedy
Christina Lee
Christine Cooper
Christine Gallagher
Christine Humphrey
Christy & Don Jackson
Cindy & Douglas Bower
Cindy & Lynn Mullins
Cindy Hansen
Cindy Pitou Burton
Claudia & Drew Lurie
Claudia Boyd-Barrett
Clementine Turner
Conejo Valley Homeschoolers
Cookie & Bill Miley
Craig Aitken
Craig Jennings
Cynthia Grier & Jon Cotham
Cynthia Watchorn
Dai Leon
Dalit Fresco
Dan Parziale
Dana Stephens
Dana Stroh
Daniel Boyd-Barrett
Daniel Johnson
Daniel Moses &
Charlene Spretnak
Daniel Parks & Debra Brittain
Daniel Silver
Danielle Suarez
Darian & Peter Dragge
Dave, Jen, Claire & Julia Hankins
David & Aimee Mendoza
David & Amy Bransky
David & Lisa Luckenbach
David & Marilyn Neuman
David & Mary Cunning
David & Pamela Lee
David Brown
David Kille
David Kramer
David White
Dawn Blauer
de Vie Weinstock
Debbie & James Harmon
Debora Kirkland
Deborah & Richard Waxberg
Deborah Whorf
Dee Reid & Jeff Starkweather
Deneille Ingram
Denis Thomopoulos
Derek Mason
Diana Goodrow
Diana Kelly
Diane Sharani McLaughlin
Dirk Farner
Dirk Schubert
Dmitri Siegel & Woodwyn Koons
Dogs Fly Design
Dolli Alexander
Don & Colleen Cutler
Don & Sue Reed
Don Brusselars
Don Cervantes
Donna Freiermuth
Doug & Moira Volpi
Dou-Yan Yang
Dr. Ian & Ginny MacLean
Drew & Kris Mashburn
Drew Ferrie
Duncan Wallace
Dwayne & Marilyn Bower
Dyan Berk
Ed & Diane Colby
Edgar Kyle
Edward Bailey
Elaine Reasor
Elaine Sweet
Eleanor Crilly
Elena Rios
Elisa Taylor-Godwin
Elizabeth & Bill Tallakson
Elizabeth Clarke
Emilee Dziuk
Emily Prather
Eric Ehlers
Eric Johnson
Erika Lindquist
Erin Mills
Eva Grasso
Evert Nygren
Flynn Vanauker
Frances Perez
Frank Hanson
Fred & Judy Bysshe
Gabe Trujillo
Gail Cooley
Gail Furillo
Gail Smith
Gary & Carmen Glenn
Gary Gartrell
Gary Nichols
Gayla Swann
Gayle Caldwell
Gerald & Darlene Carlson
Gerri French
Gerry & Beverly Ching
Gerry Bradberry
GoOjai
Gracie Gartrell
Graham Smith
Grant & Erika Gorman
Greg & Martha Lepine
Greg & Mary Wood
Gretchen Garnett
Gwen Bell & Alex Seizew
Heidi & Gunther Zweimuller
Heidi Hamilton
Herbert & Charlie Rogove
Holly & Paul Woolson
Huntra Becket
Irene Tirella
Ish Goldstein
Jack & Traci David
James McEachen
James Odling & Gloria Valladolid
Jan & Marc Key
Jan & Roy Worsham
Jan Hiester
Jan Scow
Jane & Dennis McCarthy
Jane Morris
Janet & John Owens
Janice Dependahl
Jaspa
Jeanette & Joel Berkovitz
Jeanette Robinson
Jen Muller
Jennifer & Richard Niles
Jennifer Holland
Jerry Millstein & Jill Penkus
Jerry O’Brien
Jesse Ridenour
Jessica Brown
Jessica Cesar
Jill & Evan Lashly
Jim & Lisa Greenway
Jim & Susan Jackson
Jim & Susan-Marie Moody
Jim Parker
Jo Ann Monak
Joan & Willis Allen
Joan Samara
Joanne & Neil Quinn
John & Jessica Nava
Joel Weishaus &
Susan Rowland
John & Joan Sherfey
John & JoAnne Wilson
John & Lisa Boyd
John Dutton
John Hankins
John Krist
John, Reese & Brianna Lamar
Johnny Dresser
Johnny Park
Jolene Catlett
Jonathan & Julie
Marie Teichert
Jonelle Miller
Joy Atrops-Kimura
Joy Fedele & Scott Forsyth
Judy & David Poultney
Judy Mize
Judy Piazza
Judy Ross
Julia & Joe Alcocer
Julie Griffin & Stan Schneider
Juliet Henderson
June & Michael Juett
Justin & Viki Purvis
Kai Ewert
Kara & Jeff Hooper
Karen & Craig Harris
Karen & Gary Bednorz
Karen & Woody Traudt
Karen Ciabattoni
Karen Sama
Karen Storey
Kat Howell
Kate Furlong
Kate Hadeka
Kate Horwick
Katherine Crook
Kathleen & Raul Kottler
Kathleen & Wayne Morris
Kathleen Moore
Kathreen Smith
Kathryn Le Grice
Kathryn Soares
Kathy & Wes Theis
Kathy McAlpine
Kathy Walker
Katie Cook
Kay Renius
Kelli & Shane Butler
Kellie Warriner
Kelly Hahs
Kelsey Bailey
Ken & Karen Lemieux
Ken Delbo
Ken Leandro
Kendall & Ron Verkennis
Kendra Yoes
Kevin & Susie Hanson
Kevin Lively
Kevin Reed & Cathleen Lynch
Khaled & Sheryl Al-Awar
Kikki Eilertsen
Kim Maxwell & Patrick Lashly
Kim Vincent
Kip Mikler
Krista Bloom
Kristen Smith
Kristen Sullivan
Alexandra Gritlefeld
Balian-Chinn Family Charitable
Bank of the Sierra
Brad Boyd
Brenda Flores
Bryan Gonzales
Catherine Ann Jones
Dane Kapler
David Low
Debra Eve
Donna Baumann
Dylan Boeken
Elissa O’Brien
Eric Adams
Francis Pepper
Kristina & Eric Vallen
Kristina & Gary Duncan
Larry & Elizabeth Memel
Laura Denne
Laura Pavliscak
Lauren Nichols
Laurie Edgcomb
Laurie Hope
Lavonne Theriault
Lee & Katherine Rosenboom
Les Weber
Lesley Laine
Leslie, Glenn, & Alex Paxton
Liberty Hanson Wild
Liesel Rigsby
Lin Mullenneaux
Linda & Robert Meyer
Linda Aldous
Linda Bogart
Linda Groberg
Linda Laughner
Linda Parks
Linda Steis
Lindsey & Dylan Roddick
Lisa Hacker
Liz Haley
Lori Blackmon
Lori Calabrese
Lori Cleary
Lori Farrar
Lucille Elrod
Lucy & Peter Read
Lydia Ruark
Lynn & George Malone
Lynn Dorgan
Lynn Rimkus
Lynne Doherty & Helen Allen
M. Therese Brown
Malgorzata Materka-Ulivo
Marcia & Richard Sykes
Marcia Doty & Celeste
Matesevac
Margot & Rich Blacker
Marilyn Clay Noad
Marilyn K. Whitford
Mark & Susan Hibberd
Mark Fox
Mark Miller
Mark Wieneke
Marlayn Riley
Martha Saxe
Marvin & Trina Stevens
Marvin & Anne Johnson
Mary Ann, Chuck & Eleanora Burright
Mary Godschalk
Mary Guinn & Michelle
Guinn-Di Bernardo
Mary Jane McCall
Mary-John Hart
Matt & Betsey Funderburk
Maureen Tunney & John Oldach
Maureen Volland
Me Gusta Tamales
Megan & Scott Pemberton
Meher Mount - Buzz & Ginger Glasky
Meredith Martin Treadwell & Tom Treadwell
WELCOME NEW DONORS!
Glen Eidson
Graham Chisholm
Holly Vesecky & Josh Beckman
Jhaura & Mihaela Wachsman
Jill & Chris Borgeson
Jill Cohen
John Holt
Johnathan Reinbold
Law Office of Robert Long
Leslie Z Tobin
Liliana Bettolo
Louis Hunt
Lucy & Jonathan Tolmach
Margaret Jones
Marissa Bills
Mike Frisk
Nancy J Madsen
Nancy Mana
Patrick Mahoney
Peak Design
People to People, LA Chapter
Peter Seery
Pressley Johnson Design
Richard Appelbaum
Richard Carlson
Robert Beitcher
Sarah Clabeaux
Sarah Jacobs
Sarah Trudeau
Scott Weiss
Michael & Stacy Havstad
Michael & Susan Weaver
Michael Boggs
Michael Daley
Michael Finley
Michael Marks
Michael Tregler
Michele DuPratt
Michelle Cassel
Michelle Sherman
Mike & Nancy Krumpschmidt
Mitchell R. Yount
Molly Jordan Koch
Monique Navarro
Mooney Creative
Moorea Kern
Nancy & Gerry Moir
Nancy & Glenn Perry
Nancy Aguilar
Nancy Clark
Nancy Currey
Nancy Escher
Nancy Pepper
Narmeen Hashim
Nate & Lindsey Yeager
Nick Bobroff
Nicole Stern
Ojai Blooms
Ojai Pottery and Clay School
Owen & Jaimie Judkins
Pam Tonucci
Pamela Fetter
Patricia Bailey
Patrick & Sarah Karinja
Patrick Taylor
Seal Graeber
Soul Body Ojai Healing Arts & Yoga Center
Susan King
Susie Kenefick
Tanner Yould
Tee Smith
Tessa Byars
Tigran Nahabedian
Tom Atherton
Tom Maloney & Andrea Jones
Yvonne Besvold
Acknowledgments: 11/20/19—1/14/20
Topa Topa Sponsors
MOST LIKED PHOTO OF 2019
By Gretchen Garnett
Patti Jones
Patty Fry
Paul & Carol Belser
Paul DeLapa & Bruce Owen
Paul Wah
Peggy & Dennis Wood
Peter Schreiner
Philip Fickling
Philip Rosenbaum
Pippa’s Print Shop
Priscilla Archibald
R.A. & A.P. Bernhoft
Rachel Kondor & Brian Segee
Rae Amey
Ramona Andrews
Ramona Mejia
Ramsay & Elise Rayner
Rena Randall
Rhiannon Kingston
Richard & Sharon Rockefeller
Richard Bradley
Richard Flowers
Richard Hiltner
Richard Jones
Richard Omura
Richard Parsons
Robert & Amy Dennis
Robert Hartmann & Mel Welsh
Robin Fontana Kent
Robin Wallace
Ronald & Charlotte Williams
Ronne Grasberger
Rose C. Boggs
Rosemarie Singer
Rosie & Barney Tower
Roy Hooper
Ruth Cooper
Ruth Walker
Ryan Imhof
Sallie G. Reynolds
Sally & James True
Sally Greenwood
Samuel Thomas
Sara Zicherman
Sarah & John Alderson
Sarah Ferranti
Sarah Lubeck
Sarah Morrow
Scott & Leilani Weigand
Sepideah Mohsenian-Rahman
Serena Warner
Sespe Farm Management
Sharlene Smartt
Sharon Best
Sharon Madonna
Sharon Thames
Sharon Van Riper
Sheila McCue
Sholom Joshua
Sid & Sheila Cohn
Sierra Alder
Sierra Sanchez-Grossman
Simone Berkovitz
Slow Tech Labs
Soheila Kolahi
Solveig Listerud
Sooz Glazebrook
Sophie Loire
Stacey Bennett
Stacy Smith
Stephanie Wald
Stephen & Judy Walker
Stephen & Ruby Pronovost
Stephen & Sandra Selwyn
Stephenie Steger
Steve & Debi Carr
Steve Clark
Steve Offerman
Steven & Nancy Baker
Stuart & Kyle Crowner
Susan & Dwayne McCulloch
Susan Capper
Susan Draffan & David Buehrens
Susan Hardenbergh & Rod Jacobsen
Susan King
Susan Leech
Susan Provost
Susan Van Abel
Dr. David L. Garber, D.D.S
Gojai
Patagonia
Ventura River Sponsors
El Segundo Brewing Company, LLC
Lorraine Lim Catering, Inc
Topa Topa Brewing Company
Ojai Meadows Sponsors
Brent Jacobs Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley
California Resources Corporation
High on Kennels
Ojai Valley Trail Riding Company
REI
Rotary Club of Ojai
San Antonio Creek Sponsors
Channel Islands Sportfishing
The Glass Man Professional Window
Washing Company, Inc.
The Gables of Ojai
Kerry Miller Designer & Builder, Inc
Laughing Dog Ranch LLC
Meiners Oaks Ace Hardware
Meridian Design Construction
Ojai Valley Inn
Ojai Valley Lions Club
Optimize
Riverview Ranch
SC&A Insurance Services LLC
Thomas E. Malley Law Office
West Coast Air Conditioning
Sulphur Mountain Sponsors
ALCO Plumbing
California Solar Electric
Compass and Nail, Inc
Don & Cheree Edwards ~ RE/MAX
Gold Coast Realtors
Dreamcatcher Animal Sanctuary
Euterpe Farms
Firestick Pottery
McDaniel Insurance Services
Rabobank
Rains
Shelter Social Club
Soul Body Ojai Healing Arts & Yoga Center
Ventura Wild
Vitality Fitness Ojai
In-Kind Sponsors
BioResource Consultants
bITvision
California 101 Guide
Custom Printing
Michael Lommel | ClarityWebworks.co
Ojai Quarterly
Ojai Valley Directory
MOST LIKED PHOTOS OF 2019
Susan Yarnell
Susie & Anthony Tomlinson
Suzanne Harvey
Suzanne Lugotoff
Suzanne Soule
Sydney Robertson
Sylvia Muñoz Schnopp
Tamra Reza
Ted & Pearl Malos
Terra Candiloro
Terry & Alan Maulhardt
Terry Beckett
Tessa Magill
The Balina Family
The Southern Los Padres
Trekking Company
Theresa & Cesar Mendoza
Thomas Fredrickson
Tim Nafziger & Charletta Erb
Timothy Teague
Tom & Vickie Robertson
Tom Rambo
Tony Sturgeon
Tracee Sorrentino
Tracey Jackson
Tracey St. Johns
Travis Dasnoit & Bethany Inoshita
Trent & Olga Jones
Van Doan
Vanessa Rogers
Vida Vida
Vikki Havle
Virginia Siegfried
Wade Dazey
Wayne Tate
Wendy & Jerry Jacobs
Wendy Ford
Wendy McCobb
Wendy Waudby
Whitney & Christopher DeMoor
Will Johnson & Victoria Matthews
Willa Irwin
Wilson Miller
Yolande LaBelle
Zoerita & Clark Bowers
Sustaining Donors $100+
A Taste of Ojai
Adam Kear
Adaya Walsh
Adrienne & Christopher Stephens
Airdrie Martin Kincaid
Alan & Jeanne Templeman
Alan & Liz Forbess
Alex & Sarah Sheshunoff
Ali S. Widmar
Allen & Theresa Bridges
Allen Vail
Allison Reed
Andrea Brook
Andrea Gaines
Andrew & Sharon Engel
Angela Heald
Anna Thomas
Anne & Chad Carper
Anne & David Brown
Anne Hallock
Anne Kaplan
Anne Ricketts
Annie Nyborg & Matt Brunetti
Anthony & Kathan Glassman
Arne Anselm & Michelle Velderrain
Art & Margie Coats
Aryna Swope & Phil Caruthers
Awhai Pottery
Barbara Bones
Barbara Bowman & Sol
de la Torre Bueno
Barbara Feild
Barbara Sorem-Hughlett
Barry & Chris Betlock
Barry & Donna Rabe
Benjamin Mati
Bert & Lanae Carter
Betty & Maynard Olson
Bill & Renate Funk
Bita Ratkevich
Bob & Kathleen Blackmur
Bob & Kim Perron
Bob Dreger
Bonnie LaForge
Brendan Soule
Brett & Denise Kantrowitz
Brian & Marie Haase
Brittany Sanders
Bruce Jugan
Carl & Jody Cooper
Carol Peterson & Curt Mossestad
Carol Shore
Carolee Tibbitts
Caroline Good
Carolyn M. Huestis
Carrie Eller & Jimmy Harvey
Caryn & Charlie Bosson
Cathi & James Nye
Cathy Diorio
Charlene Broudy
Charles Crofoot
Chester & Bernadette Jagiello
Chet & Mellanie Hilgers
Chris & Anna P. Rhoda
Chris & Karen Birbeck
Chris & Mark Marmes
Chris & Suzy Reinhart
Chris & Wendy Hilgers
Christie Mattull
Christina Taylor & John Webb
Christine & Bud White
Christine Bednar
Christopher Bates & Sandra Torres
Christy & Karl Hunter
Cindy Frings
Cindy Gordon
Cindy Rowe
Claire & Brad Brian
Claire & David Paulson
Claudia Wilson
Clinton & Eileen Vocke
Cowles Clan
Dale Cundiff
Dalius Gedgaudas
Dan Chase
Dan Walsh
Dana White
Danielle Thulin
Darlene Patrick & Jim Selman
Dave Schaar
David & Vicki Hunt
David Byars & Stephanie Niccora
David Mayer
David Pacheco
David Wheaton
Dean Hazard
Dean Zatkowsky
Debbie & Frank Parisi
Debra Wilson & Gary Heuer
Denise Chacon
Dennis & Meredy Benson Rice
Dennis & Stacy Allison
Diana Feinberg
Diana Trent
Dick & Kris DeVillers
Dixie Fullerton
Dolores Seely
Donald Rodrigues
Donna Darm
Doug Reed & Kristine
Humphries
Douglas Schmalenberger
Dr. William Fox
Eamon O’Byrne & Stephanie Linder
Ed & Judy Savage
Eileen & Andrew Atkinson
Elains Enns & Ched Myers
Elizabeth Martin
Elizabeth Watson
Ellen Sklarz
Emily & Tony Ayala
Emily Duke
Eric & Missy Stoen
Eric Dilks
Erick & Jen Lord
Erin & Jon Bernthal
Ernie & Carly Ford
Evelyn Caliri
Frances Fitting
Fred Chase & Martha Moran
Fred Rothenberg
G. Scott Miller
Gail & Alan Mintz
Gary & Dorothy Hitch
Gem Quest Jewelers
Gios Tacos
Gloria Gerace
Grace & Dan Malloy
Grace Lin
Greg & Darcy Gamble
Greg Cooper
Gretchen Greenberg & Keith Buchan
Hattie Vail
Hayley Marcus
Heather & Michael Holden
Heather Jameson
Heather King & Greg Grant
Heide Kurtz
Helene & John Vachet
Heritage Financial
Herring Law Group
HHL Foundation
Howard & Irene Hoos
Irshad & Linda Haque
Isla Claire Smith
James & Carlito Paul
James & Dawn Engel
James Henry
James Turnbull
Jan Chase
Jane Carroll
Janice & Dan Lang
Janis Emhardt
JB & Elizabeth White
Jeff & Debbie Frank
Jeff & Elisabeth Otterbein
Jeff & Theresa Ferguson
Jeffrey Peariso
Jeffrey Zurofsky
Jens & Laura Riege
Jeremy Henry
Jeremy Kottler
Jerry & Kerry Holden
Jessica Donahue
Jill Forman & David Young
Jill Grantham
Jim & Fran Christiansen
Jinny & Rob Feiss
Joan & Bill Vogel
Joan Roberts
Joe Stronks
John & Andrea Nelson
John & Fran Pavelko
John & Kelly van Houten
John & Laurie Bodine
John & Lisa Adair
John & Maureen Hannah
John Brokaw
John Kuney & Christy Sebastian
Joline Godfrey
Jonathan & Linda Lambert
Joyce Sattler
Judi Morningstar & Alberto Kywi
Judith & Bennett McCutcheon
Judith Mercer
Judy Macy
Judy Oberlander & Reynold Akison
Judy Pugh
Julie & Bo Manson
Julie Lovejoy & Antoinette Pineau
Kara Partridge Ralston & Darrell Ralston
Kara Lakes
Karen Kaminsky
Karen Mason
Kashi & Jennifer Lee
Kat Romo
Kat West
Katherine Regester
Kathi & Mark Connally
Kathleen Richards
Kathryn & Jason Headley
Kathy Nolan
Katrina & Robert Schmidt
Kay Wilson
Keith & Kathleen Manion
Kenley Neufeld & Leslie Davis
Kerry & Ramona Ellison
Kevin Moore
Kim & Mike Regan
Kim & Steven Rapholz
Kira Krukowski
Kristan Altimus
Kristen Lamb
Kristi Schoeld & Neil Jorgensen
Ladonna & Russell Hawkins
Lanny & Rondia Kaufer
Larry & Joyce Steingold
Larry & Karen Hanson
All photos taken on the Ventura River Preserve.
Photo credits - Left page: Ashley Berry
Right page: Nathan Wickstrum
Larry Cowles
Larry Smith & Dorothy
Dron-Smith
Laura Brown
Laura Crary Interior Design
Laura Peck
Lee Ann Dawson
Len Klaif & Linda Harmon
Leslie Leavens
Lin Coleman Massey & Paul Massey
Linda & Boris Chaloupsky
Lisa & Stephen Duncan
Lisa Baum & Mark Sausser
Liz Goldman
Lois Barnes & Steven Jung
Loren Miller
Lori Siegmund & Howard Sherer
Lou Ann Schlichter
Louise Heydt
Lynda Scott & John Marshall
Lynette Cervantes
Lynn & Ron Render
Lynn Braitman & Robert Moser
Lynn Brookhouser
Maggie Kaufman
Mandy Cisler
Margaret Magnus & Sam Ervin
Margaret Tarmy
Margo & Christopher Land
Maria Halvorson
Marilyn Bodo & Chuck Wood
Mark & Gail Stubbins
Mark Silbernagel
Marty & Barbara Pops
Marty McDonald
Maruja Real
Mary & Greg Iler
Mary & Les Baker
Mary McConnel
Mary McGrath & Richard Simon
Matthew & Taralee Schoen
Maureen & John Hannah
Merrill Williams
Michael & Arlene Ross
Michael & Sally Leon
Michael Kittrell
Michael Price & Leslie Clark
Michael Zierhut
Michele Cardella
Michele Murdoch & Paul DelSignore
Mike & Cory Zielsdorf
Mike & Joanne Caldwell
Mike & Michele* Briley
Mike & Tobi Greene
Mike Westbrook
Mister Softee of Southern California
Natalie Gray
Nicola Bennett
Nicole & Trevor Goller
Nita Whaley & Don Anderson
Nomi Morris
Norma Jean Bennett
Norman & Marion Livermore
Nutmeg’s Ojai House
Ojai Valley Family
Medicine Group
Pat & Julie Dexter
Patricia & James Correll
Patrick J Garahan
Patti Hardman
Paul Ramirez
Paula Power
Paula Scott
Pegi & Jeffrey Skoff
Penny Wheat
Peter & Heidi DiCapua
Phillip & Mary Nelson
Polly & Scott Nelson
Priscilla L. Brennan
Rachel Haymon & Ken Macdonald
Raj Ramasubramanian
Randall & Renee Roth
Ray Abel & Pilar Pacheco
Ray King & Kale Starbird
Raymond Bransfield
Reed & Heather Cowan
Rene Briggs
Richard & Mary Kanatzar
Richard & Sandy Hajas
Richard (Drew) Rhone
Rick & Robin Beers
Rikki Horne
Risa Horowitz
Rob & Antoinette Tivy
Robert & Alice Rene
Robert & Carole Adams
Robert & Donna Lloyd
Robert & Linda Long
Robert Dodge
Robert Wedin
Robyn L. Posin
Roger Beerworth &
Barbara Parsons
Roger Conrad
Rosalie Zabilla
ROWSIE VAIN
Ruby Qurashi
Ruth Pastine & Gary Lang
Ruth Sayre
Ryan Blatz
Sally Carless
Sally Lemire
Samantha Dowdall-Green
Samantha R. Lau
Sarah & Greg Delvecchio
Sarah Raskin
Scott Ripple
Scott Silver
Sharon Bushman
Shed & June Behar
Sheila & Donald Cluff
Shelby Campbell
Sheryl Shushan
Sienna Yoast
Sol Haus Design
Stacia Young
Stephen & Sheila Cox
Stephen Adams
Steve Matzkin
Steven & Jacqueline
Wegerbauer
Sue Horgan
Supan Builders
Susan & Jim Florence
Susan Bransfield
Susan Smartt
Suza Francina
Tamara & Greg Haggard
Tamara Iwerks &
Daniel Webster
Tania & Tobias Parker
Terramor Organic Home
Terry & Cricket Twichell
Theresa & Melvin Simpson
Thomas & Janice McCormick
Tia & Pat Marshall
Tiese & Bob Quinn
Tim & Gloria Lawson
Tim & Lucinda Setnicka
Tom & Nanette Benbrook
Topa Topa Brewing Company
Tricia & Todd Mills
Trish & Kent Hardley
Trish Whalen
Trudy Frohlich
Ventura Wild
Vera & Juergen Pahl
Vertoch Design Architects, Inc.
Virginia & Peter Aguirre
Walter & Julia Hamann
Wanda Weller
Warren McConnell
Watercolors by Patty Van Dyke
Wendy Hubbell
William Girvetz
William Shouse
William Spina
William Weirick
Anonymous
Stewards $250+
Allan & Joyce West
Allison Hendricks
Andrew Gilman
Andrew Snett
Angela & Anthony Ocone
Ann Framson
Anne & Mike Morris
Ara Guzelimian
Aura Carmi
Barbara & Jack Wells
Barbara Balderman
Ben Nilsson
Bernhard Reutemann
Beth & Bruce Brown
Bill & Marcia Wakelee
Bill Norris & Judith Hale Norris
Brigitte Lovell
Bruce & Jan Hunter
Bruce & Linda Nofrey
Bruce & Marie Botnick
Bruce & Patricia Kuebler
Bruce Stenslie & Julie
Tumamait-Stenslie
Buffalo Exchange
Cari Guerrero Shore & Peter Shore
Caroline Lieber
Carolyn & Doug Kirkpatrick
Charlene & Ken Hartenstein
Charley & Sandy Sledd
Chip & Lori Collins
Craig Marcus
Dan & Betsy George
David & Mary Trudeau
David Bender
David Hurwith
David Loe
Debra & Ted Reed
Dorthea Atwater & Peter Hay
Ed & Barbara Kutchma
Edie Lambert
Elizabeth Hawn
Eric Humel & Alise Echele
Ernie Roide
Frederick & Margaret
Menninger
Friend’s Ranch
Gary & Brenda Farr
George & Peggy Melton
Graham Beck
Green Goddess Garden
Howard Asher & Jan Helfrich
In the Field
Ingo & Leslie Schreiber
Jackie & Derek Dammers
James & Tina Little
Jamie & Carolyn Bennett
Janice & Rob Hastie
Janis Huerta
Jay & Pam Windsor
Jerry & Merry Dunn
Jesse & Trina Grantham
Jim & Rebecca Malone
Jo-Anne & Harold Guy
John E. Peakes Jr
John Galaska - BeCalm of Ojai
Julie Grist & Paul Holahan
Julie Hahn
Karin & Rod Dingman
Katherine & Glenn Erickson
Kim & Troy Hardcastle
Laurie Arnold
Lincoln & Sheila Anderson
Linda Granat
Linda L. Maigret
Margaret & Duane Williamson
Maria & Tyler Barrell
Mark & Caroline Stubbs
Marsha & Paul Fonteyn
Marti & Dan Reid
Mary & John M. Cuthbert
Mary Natwick & Larry Scott
Mary Nelson Skincare and Massage Studio
Matt Norris
Michael & Kathy Ogden
Michael & Susan Addison
Michael J. Jauregui & Susan Olson
Together, our community will help protect Ojai’s open space for everyone to enjoy, forever.
Thank you to our Wild About Ojai partners who help make this possible. Visit a participating business today and take part.
A Taste of Ojai
Alojai Creations
BeCalm of Ojai
Chamber on the Mountain
Char Man Brand Hot Sauce
Dogs Fly Design
The Glass Man Professional Window
Washing Company
GoOjai.com
Greyfox Investors
Jennifer Keeler, Hair Stylist & Owner at Salon Rise
Lorraine Lim Catering
Mary Nelson Skincare & Massage Studio
Just by including the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in your estate plans, you can help protect the beauty of Ojai for generations to come. A bequest is a simple way to support the OVLC in the future while retaining control of your assets during your lifetime. By making the OVLC a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy, or financial accounts, you ensure your values will be passed on after you.
The real beneficiary, of course, is Ojai.
Meridian Design Construction
Mooney Creative
Ojai Quarterly
Rowsie Vain
Sol Haus Design
Tobias Parker, General Contractor
Tonya Peralta Real Estate Services, Inc
Watercolors by Patty Van Dyke
Michael Stevens - Grand East Oak Apts
Michael Taylor
Michael Watling
Michele Sordi
Mike and Kelly Laber
Norm & Susan Reccius
Pamela Phillips
Pat & Larry Hartmann
Pat & Steve Edwards
Paul E. Niedringhaus
Paula Spellman
Peter & Cindy Cantle
Peter & Debra Wilkens
Peter Cambier
Peter Passell & Joan Peters
Phillips/Bandoli
Charitable Fund
Ray Castellino & Charlotte Janus
Rick & Jennifer* Ridgeway
Robert & Katy Zappala
Robert (BD) & Liz Dautch
Robert Davis
Roger Erickson
Ronald & Linda Phillips
Ryan Firestone & Wendy Morales
Sarah Otterstrom & Rick Rutherford
Scott & Hannah Erickson
Scott & Jeri Johnson
Shelley Scott
Sherri Drifka
Shining Spirits
Stefanie & Myron Roth
Steven & Elaine Miller
Stuart & Mary Niebel
Swanner Physical Therapy
Tabula Rasa Bar
The Vondriska Family
Tina Pukonen
Tom & Rebecca Lowe
Tony & Roslyn (Roz) Demaria
Troy & Jeri Becker
Anonymous
Champions $500+
Alan & Jan Rains
ALCO Plumbing
Allison Binkowski & Alden Broome
Barnhart & Barnhart Insurance
Brian & Amy Stark
Brian & Chris Zeiner
Brian Stafford
California Solar Electric
Carrie Ruscheinsky
Charles & Barbara Jerviss
Chelsea Sutula
Cherie Beers
Chris Hacker & Will Thomas
Clark/Thomas Foundation
Craig Wilson
Dan & Vicki Breen
David & Elizabeth Silva
David Bonham
Diana Syvertson
Don & Cheree Edwards ~ RE/ MAX Gold Coast Realtors
Doug & Mary Jo McLeod
Douglas & Angela Parker
Duane Dammeyer & Marty Bonvechio
Eliana Thacher
Euterpe Farms
Fred & Dana Fleet
George & Debbie Watson
Glenda & Darrell Jones
Hank Pepper
Island Packers
James Capito & Terri Davis
Jane & Steve Murray
Jim & Barbara Tipton
Joan Hurak Welborn
Joellen Alflen
John & Harriet Clise
Karen & Bill Evenden
Katherine Holden & Tom Atherton
Lanyard, Mary & Hannah Dial
Laura & Guy Ring
Lauren Nilsson
Leanne & David Tilmont
Loren Bouchard
Margaret Grossman
Martha Groszewski
Mary Thompson & Don Higgins
Matthew Hately
McDaniel Insurance Services
Michael & Julie McFadden
Michael Shapiro & Louise Sandhaus
Mike & Erika Swimmer
Nancy Vaniotis
Peter & Barbara Bonsignori
Peter & Jeanne Tymstra
Peter Strauss & Rachel Ticotin
Phil & Suzanne White
Phil Moncharsh & Diane Zusman
Rabobank
Randy Banchik & Jannell
Greene-Banchik
Ron Stark
Ross & Patty Atkinson
Ruric & Gwen Nye
Ruth Hemming
Scott Bevans & Valerie Dykeman
Scott Silver & Jill Greene-Silver
Susan Gary
Tasha Sween
Thomas & Nancy Michali
Tim & PJ Norian
Tobias Parker - General Contractor
Ventura Rental Party & Events
Virginia & Ted McConnell
Vitality Fitness Ojai
William & Sue Gilbreth
William Spellman
William Tully
Anonymous
Friends of the Ojai
Valley $1,000+
Alan & Carol Saltzman
AmazonSmile
Amy Schneider
Anne & Garrett Clifford
Arthur & Judy Vander
Bill & Sherry Loehr
Bill Brothers & Susie Ault
Blake & Susanne Wilson
Char Man Brand Hot Sauce
Brent Jacobs Financial
Advisor at Morgan Stanley
Brian Johnson
Bruce & Virginia Hibberd
Bruce Mason
California Resources Corporation
Carol Bishop
Channel Islands Sportfishing
Chevron Humankind
Matching Program
Chip & Sheryl Lesch
Connie Eaton & William Hart
Cynthia & Byron Grant
Dave & Sally Hackel
David & Deborah Junod
Donna & Ted Miller
Eric Goode
Evander Schley
Firestick Pottery
Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks
Gerben & Jill Hoeksma
Greyfox Investors LLC
High on Kennels - Fred Presson
Huora L. Williams
Intel Corporation
Janet Jacobs
Jennifer Keeler
Jennifer Kistler
Jerry & Linda Bruckheimer
Joan Kemper
Joe Rohde & Mel Malmberg
John & Kathy Broesamle
Judith & Donald Diaz
Judy Meleliat & Reilly Jensen
Julie Rischar
Justin Shipp & Sara Masterson
Karen Courington & Dan Lukasiewicz
Karen Hellmuth & Bob Vandersluis
Kay & Jack Chatowski
Kerry Miller Designer/ Builder, Inc.
Kitty & Johnny Johnston
Kristen & Alan Bell
Lachlan Nutting
Larry Rose & Lisa Larramendy
Laughing Dog Ranch LLC
Law Office of Thomas E. Malley
Linda & Tim Turner
Lisa Smith
Loebl Family Fund
Lorraine Lim Catering, Inc
Marcy & Steve Toscher
Margot Griswold
Mario & Therese Molina
Mary Bergen
Mary Ellen Egleston
Meiners Oaks Ace Hardware
Michael Newkirk &
Olivia Garfield
Michal Mitchell
Mike Sullivan & Melissa Bishop
Niels & Robin Nyborg
Ojai Valley Inn
Ojai Valley Lions Club
Ojai Valley Trail
Riding Company
Oliver Wilson &
Kaarina Tienhaara
Paul Fortune
Philippe & Betsy Caland
Phillip Bradley
R.A. Atmore & Sons, Inc.
REI
Rob & Maureen Young
Robert Tallyn & Betsy Bachman
Roger & Kathryn Wachtell
Roger & Pat Essick
Rotary Club of Ojai
Ruth Lasell & Bob Bonewitz
Sandy Buechley
Sasha & Hanson Gifford
SC&A Insurance Services LLC
So Hum Foundation
Susan Bee
Susan Foster Terry & Cindy Wright
The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Company, Inc.
The Hess Family
The Robert M Nutting Family Foundation
The Walt Disney Company Foundation
Tom Tamplin
Tonya Peralta Real Estate Services, Inc
Trent & Kris Greco
Tucker & Phil Adams
West Coast Air Conditioning
William H. & Mattie Harris
Foundation recommended by Louise Heydt
Wyatt & Claudia Harris
Anonymous
Guardians of the Ojai Valley $5,000+
Alissa & Rob Russell
Allen & Marilyn Camp
Andrew & Judith Gustafson
Ann & Harry Oppenheimer
Anna Getty
Barbara Sunderland
Benjamin & Meredith Wallace
Bruce & Marilyn Wallace Foundation
Caroline Hawkins*
Deven May*
Dr. David & Cindy Garber
El Segundo Brewing Company, LLC
Elizabeth Wallace
George E. Berg & Gail Topping
Gojai
Jakob & Marianne Vos
Jill & Bill Shanbrom
Jim & Becky Campbell
Kimberly & Mike Robertson
Mary M Downer
Nathan & Rebecca Wallace
Otis & Bettina Chandler Foundation
Patagonia
Patagonia.com
Peter K. Noone*
Pfizer Foundation
Matching Gifts Program
Tom & Esther Wachtell
William H. Painter, Jr.*
Anonymous * Deceased
Photo by Tylar Harrison
TRAILHEAD HOSTING
We used to estimate the number of visits to our preserves by tallying the number of doggy poop bags we had to order each year. This was, suffice to say, a ruff estimate. For that simple reason, we decided to develop the new Trailhead Hosting program and after four hosting days in 2019, we have a much better idea of how many visits we get, and we learned quite a bit more.
On February 9 and August 16 at the Ventura River Preserve, April 24 at the Valley View Preserve, and December 14 at the Ojai Meadows Preserve, volunteers spent 9 hours each day interacting with and counting visitors. One those four days, our volunteers counted 1,153 users (1,006 pedestrians, 35 equestrians, and 112 mountain bikers) not to mention 295 dogs. Over two days, the Ventura River Preserve had a total of 671 visits, while Valley View Preserve had 183 visits in one day, and Ojai Meadows Preserve had 299 visits in one day. Extrapolating this data, we potentially have over 300,000 visits to our preserves in a single year!
Quantifying visits to our preserves helps us in grant applications. It also helps us understand the real impact on our trails, and by continuing to
do Trailhead Hosting in the future, we will be able to see how preserve use changes, and likely increases, over time. These data help with planning and budgeting for trail maintenance and when considering building new trails.
Of course, it’s not just how many visits we get, but where and when people are visiting. Riverview Trailhead on the Ventura River Preserve is the busiest trailhead, while the early morning (8-9am) and lunch time (12-1pm), are the busiest times across all of the preserves. Having this type of specific information can help the OVLC in our stewardship of the land, directing our efforts and limited resources to the best time and place as needed.
In addition to counting the users, our volunteers provided community outreach by answering visitors’ questions, offering advice on where to go on the preserves, and collecting feedback through optional surveys. According to the majority of our visitors, the most important thing that the OVLC can do in this valley is to protect more land, and provide wildlife habitat.
Photo by Brendan Cleak
Ever wonder how people hear about the OVLC? We learned that word of mouth is far and away the number one means by which people find us. To all our visitors, we thank you for promoting the OVLC!
Understanding the values of our community helps the OVLC plan for the future, prioritize our work based on community expectations, and overall, helps us be a more supportive and integral part of this community. So, if you stopped by to fill out one of those surveys this past year, thank you for helping to direct land management in this valley! We’ll be doing more Trailhead Hosting in the future, so we hope to see you again, perhaps even as a volunteer host!
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS
In the field, in the office, at events, and wherever else we need help—our amazing volunteers put in 3,795 hours last year! We are so grateful for every minute you take to help us conserve Ojai. You make it possible for us to do all that we do and we are excited for another year with all of you!
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Thank you Patagonia for matching $49,121 for donations made through Patagonia Action Works!
If you donated through Patagonia Action Works, and did not receive a thank you note from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, you may have unselected the top box (see below), and therefore we do not know who you are. Unfortunately, this means we could not properly thank you, nor credit the donation to your name.
Please reach out to xena@ovlc.org, if you think this may have happened with your donation. We received 30 “anonymous” donations. If you did indeed want your donation to be anonymous, there is no need to reach out, and we thank you for your support.
Share my contact information with the group receiving this donation.
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