Ventana Monthly - October 2020

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CONTENTS

Step Into Fall With New Boots

ventana

VOL.14 NO. 8

OCTOBER 2020

F E A TU R ES

editor’s note

6 Deliciously Cool

About Town 10 Orchard Fresh

Anna’s Cider puts Santa Paula on the microbrew map.

Conversation 16 “Not trying is the kiss of death” Maestro Michael Christie embraces the new normal.

Profile 22 A Woven Legacy Porfirio Gutiérrez keeps a family tradition and centuries-old Oaxacan art form alive.

Cover Story 28 Elegance and Power Despite climate change, pests and a pandemic, Ventura County’s 2020 grape harvest shows great promise.

PHOTO CREDIT: ALLISON HADAR

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COVER STORY: A particularly promising grape harvest means good things for 2020 vintage wines.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer

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DELICIOUSLY COOL

he heat wave is over, the nights are getting chilly and there’s actual cloud cover as I write this. It is finally starting to feel like fall! No guarantees that another scorcher isn’t in our futures, but I’ll choose to remain blissfully unaware for now and put my knits in easy reach.

ners share their thoughts about the 2020 grape harvest in our Cover Story.

On the farm, autumn means harvest time. And while the pumpkin reigns supreme in October, apples are a close second. And the coolest way to enjoy an apple just might be in the glass. Hard cider has a lot of history in the U.S. (Johnny Appleseed’s planting efforts were largely done to support early Americans’ drinking habits) but later fell behind beer and spirits in popularity. It’s been making a comeback over the last decade thanks to the craft brew boom, and one local favorite is Anna’s Cider. In just three years, this Santa Paula-based family business has risen from the ashes (quite literally) to make its mark on the cider scene, as we explain in About Town.

Michael Christie, Grammy winner and conductor extraordinaire, took over as music director of New West Symphony in 2019, and got one solid year under his belt before performances were canceled. He’s made the most of his downtime, however, and shared some ambitious plans he has for the orchestra in Conversation.

Autumn is also the time to bring in the grapes. As Ventura County vineyards turn gold, the fruit ripens to perfection and it’s a race to get clusters off the vine and ready for the long, slow process of turning it into wine.

COVID-19 impacted nearly every aspect of human existence, but the grapes have paid it no mind. Despite late season heat and nearby fires, this year’s crop is rumored to be one of the best we’ve seen in some time. Local vint-

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CONTRIBUTORS Gwendolyn Alley Luis Chavez Daphne Khalida Kilea Chris O’Neal

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OCTOBER 2020

October traditionally is our month to focus on the arts. And while we’ve veered off that course a bit, we do have some intriguing creative types you’ll want to get to know.

Porfirio Gutiérrez (Profile) is an artist whose ties to the past inform every aspect of his work. Born and raised in Oaxaca, he comes from a long line of Zapotec weavers.

He has lovingly maintained the traditions of his craft — spinning wool into thread, harvesting natural materials, dying yarn by hand — even as he takes his art in new and exciting directions, weaving a legacy for the future.

We’ve done something similar in this month’s issue, interlacing a bit of history and tradition with some forward-looking elements, all tied up with a wine-colored bow. I hope our “gift” will delight and entertain you during these delicious autumn days.

– Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nancy@ventanamonthly.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Nathalie Proulx ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Warren Barrett ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Barbara Kroon

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ARTE FORASTERO OPEN HOUSE

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MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY AND VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Photos by Jonathon McGee/Museum of Ventura County

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his fall, the Museum of Ventura County and the Ventura Botanical Gardens collaborated to present Arte Forastero, an outdoor sculpture exhibit including more than 20 fine works of contemporary art from 14 Ventura County artists. The works are installed at two separate locations: the courtyard of the museum, which can be seen from Main Street in Downtown Ventura, and at the entrance and along the hiking trails of the Ventura Botanical Gardens behind Ventura City Hall. In addition, on Sept. 18, the museum hosted an after-hours open house for artists and members of the museum and the gardens.

Attendees had the opportunity to examine some of the works up close, speak with artists and enjoy a safe evening of art and (socially distanced) conversation. Arte Forastero will be on exhibit through Nov. 30. venturamuseum.org www.venturabotanicalgardens.com 1. Elliot Turner and Carol Spector check out Wrona Gall’s “The Where and The Why” trailside at the Ventura Botanical Gardens. 2. Zachary Miller with Paul Lindhard and Kevin Carman’s “The Acorn” in the museum plaza. 3. Artist Bob Privitt with his “Captured Semisphere” at the Museum of Ventura County. 4. Sandy Nelson and Alex Wilson at the Museum of Ventura County with “Flaming Medusas” by Paul Lindhard and Kevin Carman. 5. Ellen Lewis takes in “Nuclear Family”

by Paul Lindhard and Kevin Carman at the Ventura Botanical Gardens’ visitor center.

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IT'S TIME TO VOTE! Ballots have been mailed to all registered voters in Ventura County.

Track your ballot now at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov For a list of voting and ballot drop box locations, go to VenturaVote.org Voting from home is encouraged, but in person voting is available! #VoteSafeVenturaCounty

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Return your completed ballot to one of the 34 official ballot drop boxes, visit one of the 48 voting locations or send by mail.

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Register now at registertovote.ca.org

Vote now through November 3

ORCHARD FRESH ANNA’S CIDER PUTS SANTA PAULA ON THE MICROBREW MAP.

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BY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER

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PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

hile the California beer boom has been going strong for decades — San Francisco’s Anchor Steam showed up on the scene in 1971, long before the term “craft brewing” had been coined — ciders are the new kids on the microbrew block. Although “new” isn’t quite right, either.

Made from fermented fruit juice (usually apples), the brewing and consumption of cider goes back centuries, before the Romans invaded Britain.

In the United States, cider making went hand-in-hand with apple

growing. Apple saplings were carried over on the Mayflower, and John Chapman — better known today as Johnny Appleseed — helped introduce the plant to present-day Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and parts of West Virginia. Not all apples were made into cider, but wherever apple orchards flourished, ciders could be found.

Craft beer lovers, always on the prowl for something novel to tempt their sophisticated palates, have helped revive a number of specialty ales: saisons, lambics, goses, sours. Ciders might have fallen into this category originally, but have thrived independent of their “niche” origins. One of cider’s great success stories is Anna’s Cider of Santa Paula.

FROM GRAPES TO APPLES Anna’s Cider is named for Anna O’Reilly, one half of the couple that founded the company. Husband Dominic is the fermentation wizard while Anna’s role is “basically making the business work,” handling everything from bookkeeping and dealing with city regulations to bottling.

Dominic was born in Ojai but moved to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, south of Portland, when he was a toddler.

“My father went to become part of the new wine region,” he explains.

This was in the late 1980s, when the Pacific Northwest was still a new frontier for the wine industry. Dominic’s parents, David and Angelica O’Reilly, would go on to found Owen Roe Winery in 1999.

“I grew up doing wine from a young age,” Dominic says. “I worked in my dad’s cellars. It’s very hands-on and very scientific, and at the same time it’s very artsy. The combination of art and science really appealed to me.”

Dominic would eventually return to Ventura County to attend Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, which is where he met Anna. After graduation, he worked at the Ojai Vineyard under Adam Tolmach.

“Other than my dad, he had the most impact . . . he taught me the art of winemaking,” Dominic recalls. 8

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Dominic and Anna O’Reilly, left, with partners Elaine and Alex Tombelli designed the Santa Paula tasting room as a family- and dog-friendly space for cider lovers near and far.

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ABOUT TOWN SUPER SIPS: Anna’s Cider’s crisp Hazy Dry (left) and aromatic Rosé Cider have become favorites among craft brew drinkers.

Later, he joined Topa Mountain Winery as head winemaker, where he continues to work while producing Anna’s Cider — a passion project which has evolved beyond his wildest dreams.

“My whole life has evolved around wine,” Dominic says. “Cider was something that Anna and I could do together. Cider seemed like a natural progression for us. We wanted to do something to make a family business.”

FRUIT WITHOUT THE FUNK “Historically, cider is the American drink in many ways,” Dominic explains. “Apple orchards . . . planted here in America are for cider production.”

Dominic says that his background in wine has primed him for success as a cider producer. “I know I can take this ancient craft and put my winemaking twist on it.”

Anna’s Cider is known for its semi-dry concoctions — a far cry from apple juice, and developed to appeal to beer drinkers . . . and themselves.

“We didn’t like a lot of the ciders we tasted,” Dominic confirms.

“They tended to be really sweet and kind of boring.”

From the beginning, the O’Reillys aimed to develop something interesting, with greater depth and more nuance…similar in some respects to wine. Something that would appeal to a connoisseur.

They’ve achieved that goal with ciders that are clean and fresh, fragrant

and delicate — fruit forward without a lot of sugar or additives.

“We want our ciders to be really clean,” Dominic adds.

“Something very pure . . . [that] doesn’t have funky, off flavors . . . sort of like French farmhouse cider without the funky stuff.”

Anna says that their ciders are often compared to a sparkling wine. “It’s one of the most common comments we get. It’s like champagne or a really light beer. It has a nice, light, natural carbonation.”

Anna’s Cider uses Braeburn apples as the “backbone.”

“It’s an old cider apple,” Dominic explains. “It tends to be very acidic. It’s probably 50 percent of the base.”

Other flavors and characteristics come in with Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala, Pink Lady and other varietals. All the fruit comes from family farms in the Sierra Foothills, San Luis Obispo County and San Diego.

Crops are picked in the fall, but unlike other produce, apples can be stored — in cellars or coolers — and grow sweeter over time.

“We have access to fresh apples all year round,” Dominic confirms — which is strange to him as a winemaker, where much more delicate grapes need to be harvested and crushed right away before they rot.

RISING FROM THE ASHES Anna’s Cider produced its first batch — about 30 gallons of cider, or 240 pints, made from 600 pounds of apples — in November 2017. A month later, nearly everything — facility, equipment, inventory — was lost to the Thomas Fire.

Continued on page 12

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Anna and Dominic — parents to three children, with a fourth on the way — were bolstered by the support of the community, who rallied around them to donate to a Kickstarter campaign which allowed them to get back on track.

In early 2018, they also added some partners to the business: Alex and Elaine Tombelli.

“We just needed more help with the business,” Anna acknowledges.

Alex Tombelli and Dominic have been friends for many years, working together at Owen Roe, Ojai Vineyard and Topa Mountain Winery. It was a perfect fit.

“Alex knows how to make cider,” Dominic says. “And he’s a craftsman; he knows how to build.”

In fact, Alex helped get the Anna’s Cider Tasting Room in Santa Paula ready for opening this summer. He built the beautiful patio, where the proprietors now serve customers, and the gorgeous live-edge table that has become the tasting room’s centerpiece. More importantly, the Tombellis’ involvement has allowed the O’Reillys to keep Anna’s Cider in operation

while they both continue to work at their “day” jobs — Dominic’s with Topa Mountain Winery, Anna as an online math teacher who mainly serves homeschooling families.

“We were doing Zoom classes before it was cool,” she jokes.

OPPORTUNITY ON TAP

TOP RIGHT: The team enjoys takeout from neighboring El Capricho, which has worked with Anna’s Cider to create a custom menu for the tasting room.

ABOVE: Alex and Elaine Tombelli. Alex’s craftsman skills are on display throughout the Santa Paula tasting room, including the large live-edge table that dominates the patio.

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Anna’s Cider acquired the space in Downtown Santa Paula — on Main Street near the corner of 8th — over a year ago with the intention of opening a tasting room. It took a long time, however, to work their way through “city bureaucracy,” Dominic says. But several months and two more kids later (for a total of five), the tasting room finally opened on Aug. 7.

“Opening up now, during COVID-19, I felt like a madman,” Dominic acknowledges. “It was the worst time to start a business. But we were sick of waiting. We’d been sitting on the property for months. And I was going stir crazy with nothing to do . . . and we thought other people might be feeling the same way.”

They were right: Craft brew lovers from across the county have flocked to Santa Paula, queueing up (socially distanced, of course) to partake in the cider revolution. 8

music and activities such as bocce ball. Just more opportunities for the O’Reillys to use their family business to build community. It is this community, after all, that helped Anna’s Cider weather some spectacularly difficult times.

As Dominic says, “We have a lot to be thankful for.” v

Anna’s Cider 801 E. Main St., Santa Paula 805.421.8270 annascider.com

Two ciders serve as the company’s bread-and-butter offerings: the unfiltered Hazy Dry (crisp, dry, no sugar, unfiltered — ideal for beer lovers) and the rosé (fermented with cranberries and raspeberries, which give it a pretty pink color and fruity aroma).

The tasting room has given Dominic and Alex a chance to experiment as well. Once or twice a month they’re offering something special, bringing in local produce and herbs to make limited edition pours, like the pineapple habanero and cucumber ginger that were on tap for opening weekend.

“These pour out quickly,” Dominic cautions.

He hopes to continue adding new and different options to the list, including “heritage” ciders made from a single apple varietal. Fans can monitor availability at the Anna’s Cider Instagram page, and he’s always open to suggestions from customers. In addition, the tasting room offers Topa Mountain Winery wines (owner Larry Guerra has supported Dominic from the beginning — and sells Anna’s Cider at his Ojai tasting room) and light bites courtesy of El Capricho next door, which keeps Anna’s Cider in tacos, wings and other food.

“We’ve been doing rotating menus every single week, keeping it fresh and interesting,” Dominic says.

Future endeavors might include gourmet farm-to-table meals, live

LIVING THE DREAM: Anna and Dominic O’Reilly have found an endeavor that allowed them to work together as a family.

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“NOT TRYING IS THE KISS OF DEA Maestro Michael Christie embraces the new normal.

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BY NANCY D. LACKEY SHAFFER

hen Michael Christie joined New West Symphony as music director in 2019, he brought with him a Grammy Award, a career that spanned the globe from Minnesota to Australia, and more than two decades of experience conducting for opera and symphonies. A little more than a year after taking the helm, he found his live performances canceled by the pandemic. Nevertheless, Christie has rallied, engaging fans online through Zoom concerts with musicians performing from home, the friendly competition of “Battle of the Sections” and the online music and education events of the “Pleasure of Your Company” series (developed in conjunction with the New West Symphony League). His curated “Michael Christie’s Jukebox” playlist (available on both the symphony website and YouTube) shows the depth and breadth of the conductor’s musical inspiration, with everything from Bach, Beethoven and Brahms to The Beatles, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Dolly Parton.

Amidst program development and planning for the 2020/21 season, Maestro Christie found time to talk to Ventana Monthly about emotionally connecting through music, the balancing act of working from home, classical music’s technological awakening and more.

Tell us a little about your life previous to New West Symphony.

I was born in Buffalo, New York to a music- and arts-appreciating family, but not to performing artists. The first instrument that I became proficient on is the trumpet. (My biggest life regret is not to have taken piano studies more seriously!) My parents were diligent about making sure my siblings and I had exposure to a wide range of artistic and sporting experiences. I attended Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio as a trumpet player and left a conductor! After winning a prize for “Outstanding Potential” at the First International Sibelius Conductor’s Competition in Helsinki, Finland in 1995, I went on to become the principal conductor/chief conductor/music director of many ensembles before arriving at the New West Symphony. These included the Queensland Orchestra in Brisbane, Australia, the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony and Minnesota Opera.

What originally drew you to New West Symphony?

I appreciated that they were looking for a curatorial presentation style along with significant conducting experience. When we discussed developing an audience with an open and welcoming disposition, I knew this was going to be a perfect opportunity to develop fun relationships with the community and bring the enjoyable experience that I have with many ensembles and artists to the table.

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Your career absolutely spans the globe, with appointments in Phoenix, Brooklyn, Minnesota, even Australia. Did you see a distinct musical personality in each of these areas?

My greatest realization over all of the years of travel and performing is that patrons attend whatever style of music they like because it connects with them emotionally, spiritually or even physically. This is what connects us as human beings no matter where on the globe we live and regardless of our backgrounds. I am grateful to have experienced the different approaches both performers and patrons bring to concerts. These traditions/approaches are where we diverge as humans to a certain extent, but at the same time there isn’t an Australian way to appreciate a performance that differs from a Southern California way. Ultimately, experiencing music means a great deal to people.

You won a Grammy in 2019 for Best Opera Recording for The (R) evolution of Steve Jobs with the Santa Fe Opera. What’s it like to win a Grammy?

Winning a Grammy is euphoric. I feel very honored to be among incredible artists that were just as deserving, and of course it was a thrill to come out on top. I was in Macy’s Department store in Chicago buying brown socks when the awards were announced! It was a very cold February day and I vividly remember standing outside taking dozens of calls after we won. It was amazing.

One of the remarkable things about being part of the creative team and bringing a new work to life is working closely with its composer and librettist and, to a certain extent, creating the traditions that will influence future performances. A little slower here, faster there; amp up the emotion at this critical moment are discussions you can’t have with Beethoven or Aretha Franklin now. To have that connection with the creators is remarkable, but also very humbling.

Your first concert with New West Symphony was “Rhapsody in Blue” in October 2018, when you were still in the running for music director. Why did you select this particular piece?

One of my guiding principles when working with an artist like pianist Kevin Cole is to establish and understand their artistic strengths and priorities.

Kevin has made it his business to know exactly how Gershwin interpreted his own music and the DNA of Gershwin’s musical language. I knew Kevin would bring that authenticity to his performances and would beautifully blur the line between jazz and symphonic concert music. He was fabulous. 8

CONVERSATION

ATH” Photo by Kenny Backer

What are some of the things you’d like to do differently with New West Symphony?

Most important has been to make the New West performance experience more personal, engaging and welcoming. The addition of Intermission Insights and Entr’Acte have made our performances unique in our industry.

Usually intermission is this blank space in a concert program and I wanted to offer patrons the opportunity to learn more and experience more if they wished.

Having a nice glass of wine and chatting with friends is just as important to some folks, so I leave it up to the patron to decide how they’re feeling that evening. But I can say with hand on heart that if you attend a NWS performance you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the performers at intermission and hear something you’ve never heard before — AT EVERY PERFORMANCE. Mix that with great classical music and the concert becomes an experience, and not simply just another event.

I also know that the depth of connections between musical styles is very profound, so creating more thematic programs is a good pathway for people to experience things they know and love alongside related new experiences.

The pandemic has obviously had a huge impact on live music and orchestras, including New West Symphony. What canceled concert was most disappointing for you?

The postponement of both our Violins of Hope and Season Finale programs were deeply disappointing. We had put a lot of effort behind the Violins of Hope initiative and people were clearly responding, as demonstrated by the unprecedented ticket sales. It was to be a very touching and in many ways defin-

ing series of events to demonstrate how New West was going to be developing more immersive thematic programming in the coming seasons. And of course, not to be able to bring violin superstar Sarah Chang to New West was very sad.

There was also a work, Sibelius’ Third Symphony, on the program that was a personal calling card of sorts since this was the conclusion of my first season. It was the first symphonic work I conducted with a professional orchestra 25 years ago, the same year the New West Symphony was created!

You have not been idle during the shutdown. With your curated “Jukebox” and the “Pleasure of Your Company” series, you’ve tried to stay connected to the symphony audience. What has the response been like?

It’s been very fulfilling to connect with our patrons in many ways during Shelter-in-Place. Although health regulations have required us to produce online, we’ve been committed to creating original content in order to continue employing our musicians as much as possible. The impact on their lives has been unfathomable. I’m proud of the special online concerts we brought to the community during the early days of lockdown on Memorial Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with New West Symphony musicians and friends of the orchestra.

My Jukebox Playlist (available on YouTube) has been fun because these weave together eclectic music and let me dip my toes in every imaginable genre. Our supporter-focused “Pleasure of your Company” and “Up Close and Personal” initiatives have grown substantially during this period as well. My mission has been to look at our offerings from the audience viewpoint and try to provide context and knowledge that enhances people’s love of the music.

Continued on page 18

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MAESTRO CHRISTIE conducts the New West Symphony in October 2019. Photo by Eugene Yankevich What have been the biggest challenges?

Clearly, getting up to speed with the technology has been the biggest variable for me. Virtually nothing we have to do now was required pre-COVID, but I feel like not learning and not trying is the kiss of death. Actually, for as stressful as this year has been, the “classical music” world was long overdue for a technological awakening and now I see a world where we can produce performances in a concert hall and at the same time build global audiences connected by the Internet.

Exactly how that reality is implemented is going to be part of the dramatic evolution unfolding before our eyes.

Practically speaking, the biggest challenge is who will tune in and who will support us financially because we currently have no choice but to be online. I can assure patrons that their experience and connection to the music and musicians is at the forefront of our thinking. While the venue may be different in the short term, we are working as hard as we can to provide a great experience.

Any new endeavors on the horizon for you — be they live or online?

Out of necessity, we’ve reimagined our 2020-21 season and we believe that the community will be very excited about what we’re doing. Our reimagined season called “Global Sounds, Local Cultures” will feature eight mini-festivals to be held October through June and made available streamed or on-demand.

These digital concerts, along with engaging complementary content, will reflect the music, cultures and family traditions found in Ventura County. And we’re thrilled to have the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library as our venue partner for our fall productions There are several pillars guiding this effort. These include: Employing as many musicians as we are allowed, reflecting the population of Ventura County and the Conejo Valley more than ever, providing the comfort and inspiration of human beings performing music together and emerging from this COVID nightmare with a larger base of support and participation than we started.

We have set the entry price as low as we can and are offering a great deal more than we ever could in a concert hall setting. This is the deal of the decade but also a critical moment for us. Efforts to “support local” are no laughing matter. So many people and organizations are on the edge because of this situation, and with our board, musicians and supporters we are committed to successfully achieving our goals. But we do need folks to participate and help us on this journey, financially as well as critically assessing the online experience and helping us shape offerings that broaden their horizons and entertain.

How have you been spending your time during quarantine?

My wife, Alexis, and I, with children Sinclair and Beckett, live in Minneapolis. She is working very hard as an intensive care physician and the kids are participating in varying degrees of distance learning. My days are pretty much 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. helping with schooling and 3 p.m.-10 p.m. working for New West Symphony. So many people know this routine now and I just hope we don’t all collapse into a heap of stressed-out flesh and bone!

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Still, being home for such a long time with my family has been amazing in its own right. I’ve spent the better part of three decades traveling, so now I’m more fully experiencing the balancing act of laundry, meal prep and the solemn duty of helping my children advance in their education.

I think the experiences people are having are so extreme — isolation and/or a suffocating pile up of responsibilities. I honestly don’t know what kind of emotional condition people will be in a little way down the road.

I just hope to provide some artistic expression people can connect to and treasure. What more can I ask?!

What have you missed most during this time?

Hugs. Smiles.

What are you most looking forward to doing once live performances can take place again, or we can safely meet in crowds?

I can’t wait to see what we learn from all of this and what we can do much better for our communities when it is safe to convene again.

What plans do you have for New West Symphony once things open up again?

I hope that we create an audience for our “cultural nexus” programming that will live side by side with our symphonic concert hall programming. I also want to expand into summer and holiday programming, which is very much lacking in Ventura County. In a way, none of these avenues requires us to be in a post-COVID environment but we are focused on surviving this and growing where we can.

Who are some of your favorite musicians and composers?

I love trailblazers. Music of the 1960s and 1970s holds a very special place in my heart. Many of these artists were geniuses. They had a level of inspiration and curiosity that I marvel at. Check out my Jukebox Playlists and you’ll get a good sense of my musical heroes!

Who are some of the people you would really love to work with one day?

COVID has made me really appreciate the striving artist. People who are hardwired to adjust and push forward; they will cleverly navigate our post-COVID reentry and are the ones I want to work with most. v

New West Symphony newwestsymphony.org Michael Christie www.michaelchristieonline.com Visit Michael Christie’s YouTube channel at www.youtube. com/channel/UCgqXG4HCxL228q8X7aN4nTg.

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A WOVEN LEGACY Porfirio Gutiérrez keeps a family tradition and centuries-old Oaxacan art form alive.

BY DAPHNE KHALIDA KILEA

“M

Inevitably, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Porfirio Gutiérrez’s capability to work as he typically would. Nevertheless, he remains focused on his mission to share the artistic techniques that have been valued for more than two millennia in his weaving community of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico.

The established weaver had to temporarily close his hometown studio in March and has since been unable to travel back.

In Teotitlán del Valle, the Gutiérrez family owns a small farm and has now safely resumed operations, which include collecting plants and insects to make the dyes that the artist uses to weave with manually operated looms and wool that is spun into yarn by hand. His processes are ancient Zapotec methods which he learned at the age of 12 from his father.

Gutiérrez relocated to Ventura from Oaxaca at 18 years old and it wasn’t until he returned there at the age of 28 that he decided to once again take up the loom.

With cultures merging, his worldview evolved in the 10 years he spent away and unlike some immigrants, he considers himself lucky to have been able to return to Teotitlán del Valle. Consequently, sharing part of home through his work with fellow Oaxaqueños is a privilege.

“By being away, it helped me to have something to compare it to. It helped me to value and revalue my culture and that’s how I got to start my studio and resume these traditions,” he said.

HANGING ON BY A (MODERN) THREAD Unfortunately, he will have to wait to share his traditional Zapotec weaving with some. Gutiérrez relayed that after March 15, many projects and exhibitions were canceled, including events in London, England and a workshop in Washington D.C. “Basically I became unemployed very fast.”

But like many others during this pandemic, working online and utilizing social media has become something of a lifeline.

Gutiérrez has always had a presence on various social media platforms.

While these once were strictly a means to share his passions, he has lately adjusted to use them to promote his work, and offer his pieces and materials for sale as well.

Despite the pandemic curveballs, he has plenty to keep him busy.

“There’s a major exhibition happenOAXACAN WEAVER Porfirio Gutiérrez at his studio in Mexico. Photo by Joe Coc

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PROFILE

ing but we continued to work on that throughout [the lockdown]. It is opening at the Arizona State Museum in the beginning of the year next year, and they’re gonna end up going online. Then, hopefully, it’s gonna be up for a year,” Gutiérrez said.

Recently, he completed Zoom presentations, including one for Parsons School of Design in New York on the importance of creating work by hand and using materials from nature.

“In October, I’m doing a presentation for the Mexican Cultural Affairs. I am also doing one for Massachusetts University Fashion Design (Mass Art, I think they’re called). And also in October in Mexico City I am part of an exhibition that opens in the [National] Museum of Anthropology,” he said.

REVITALIZING AN ANCESTRAL ART Gutiérrez has long been in demand in North America and around the globe. In turn, he feels that travelling has enhanced his vision and skills as an artisan.

There is also ample motivation,

however, to keep at it for the sake of over 80,000 Oaxaqueños that, like Gutiérrez, reside here in Southern California. It’s important to him to share Oaxaca’s rich traditions with others who also left home, and with those who are second, third etc. generation Oaxaqueños.

Without a dedication to foster the ways of ancient arts, he surmised that these Oaxacan practices may fade with time. It would be a tremendous loss for those who cherish what they left behind and those who wish to become more acquainted with their ancestral culture.

While Gutiérrez revealed that he has faced rejection on two fronts — in the United States for being a Mexican artist, and in Mexico for being “English speaking and living in the U.S.” — he is certain that he has found his calling. He is a Zapotec weaver who is proud and determined to share the gifts of his ancestors.

“Some of the things COVID has brought for me is . . . time to slow down and begin to be mindful about my journey. About where you wanna go as an artist, you know? So these are the things that have helped me to understand the fine points and continue to honor,” he said. “I often talk about this, my work’s life and my work as an individual — I see it as an offering to my parents, to whom I’ve come Continued on page 26

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ABOVE: Gutiérrez at his loom. Photo by Soraya Matos LEFT: “Espacio Celestial”

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from as the Zapotec people. But also [as a way to] continue to honor the land where my kids are born, which is the United States.”

BACK AT THE LOOM Gutiérrez was only recently able to physically get back into a space at the Bell Arts Factory, even though his residency at the Westside Ventura arts institution began in early September. Luckily, his residency will last through the end of this year. The gallery is still closed to the public — although that might change soon, as Ventura County moves from the most restrictive “purple” tier to the “red” tier under the state of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Nevertheless, he is elated to once again work regularly with his hands.

And in fact, working in Ventura on a more permanent basis is a priority. After all, it is also home.

“I’ve been living here for the last 23 years of my life and I continue to be inspired and I continue to have an expression within the arts,” Gutiérrez explained. “And I’m really hoping in the future that I’ll be able to share that in a much more physical way. Maybe a gallery studio within Ventura County where people can come and see my work and see my projects as well. A gallery where I can also bring work and continue to expand my work as a designer working with other artists in Oaxaca, Mexico.” v Porfirio Gutiérrez Bell Arts Factory 432 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura Calle Simon Bolivar #6, Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico porfiriogutierrez.com

TOP: The yarns Gutiérrez weaves are all hand dyed using natural ingredients such as indigo (shown here), cochineal and pericon or Mexican marigold.

TOP RIGHT: Dyed yarn hanging to dry near Gutiérrez’s Oaxacan studio. Photo by Allison Hadar LEFT: Some tools of the weaver’s trade include plants used in the dying process and a spinning wheel to create yarn.

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ELEGANCE AND POWER

DESPITE CLIMATE CHANGE, PESTS AND A PANDEMIC, VENTURA COUNTY’S 2020 GRAPE HARVEST SHOWS GREAT PROMISE.

“T

STORY AND PHOTOS BY GWENDOLYN ALLEY

he birds and the bees know when the grapes are ripe,” said Clos des Amis winemaker Bruce Freeman. He was knee deep — literally — in 30-year-old zinfandel from a UC Davis experimental plot known as the Block Vineyard in Upper Ojai, not far from Summit Drive-In on Highway 150. The clusters were so low to the ground that Freeman kneeled to get to them.

If we’d picked the week before, I wondered whether the bees would be so bad. It wouldn’t matter, said Freeman; when the sugars are right, the bees know. They snuggle deep into the fruit, leaving hollow hulls and seeds behind. That’s one reason for picking early in the day: fewer bees and yellow jackets!

HARVEST IS ALWAYS FULL OF SURPRISES You have to be ready for anything — stings, weather, disease.

While bees are an important part of farming operations, other insects threaten. The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a powerful vector for Pierce’s disease which destroyed The Ojai Vineyard’s original estate syrah and sauvignon blanc planted in 1983 by Adam Tolmach. By the early 1990s, it had infected these and other area vineyards, and they were removed. Climate change has increased this pest’s range.

In 2017, Tolmach planted Pierce’s disease-resistant vines hybridized over the previous 20 years by Dr. Andy Walker at UC Davis; two white and two red. To address climate change and keep the plants cool, he grew the vines close and trained them high to create shadows.

“It makes a huge difference,” says Tolmach.

In 2019 and 2020, Tolmach harvested these as-yet-to-be-named grapes, and last month bottled the 2019 white. It has exciting aromas, vibrant acidity, and flavors reminiscent of sauvignon blanc and South African chenin blanc.

Unlike Pierce’s, the disease that caught everyone by surprise

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in 2020 is COVID-19. While wearing a mask is annoying, Topa Mountain’s Dominic O’Reilly said with so many people unemployed, they had great crews for harvest.

Some surprises are welcome. Like professional musicians in the vineyard during harvest.

When Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim drove up the dirt road to the Clos des Amis winery on South Mountain in their shiny red 1971 Volkswagen Vanagon to play their violins in the malbec, it caught almost everyone by surprise. During summer 2020, Gara planned on playing at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, while Kim had festival performances lined up. But when all concerts were canceled due to the pandemic, they decided to bring music to the people picking produce, calling their endeavor MusiKaravan.

“It was a gorgeous day in the vineyard,” recalled Gretel Compton. “The lovely music made the day poetry instead of work.”

She and fellow Clos des Amis winemaker Bruce Freeman loved the MusiKaravan vision, to play music al fresco for the enjoyment of the essential workers in the orchards, fields and vineyards: “Having the MusiKaravan play their beautiful violins in the vineyard for our 2020 harvest transcended time and place

COVER STORY

ABOVE: Bruce Freeman and Gretel Compton of Clos des Amis with zinfandel grapes fresh off the vine.

to help lighten the load of every bucket of grapes we picked. And the wine we are crafting from those grapes promises perfection!”

FIRE, SMOKE AND CLIMATE CHANGE The Halloween fire of 2019 on South Mountain threatened the adobe winery and estate vineyards of Clos des Amis; the 2017 Thomas Fire took out its Camp Bartlett garage where the owners stored winery and art supplies as well as Freeman’s work truck and classic 1951 Willys Jeep station wagon.

At Topa Mountain Winery, just up the road from Camp Bartlett, the Thomas Fire came within 100 yards CHAMBANG, Clos des Amis’ own sparkling wine made in the Méthode Champenoise.

from the barrel room and wiped out a section of the tempranillo, recalled winemaker Dominic O’Reilly. Far worse, the fire also threatened the life of Pacific View’s Patti Mitchell; she had to be rescued from her remote ranch on top of Sulphur Mountain.

These large Ventura County fires in 2017, 2018 and 2019 all came after the fruit had been harvested, processed and in tank or barrel. In addition to concerns about losing property and vines, smoke infiltrates everything and causes “smoke taint,” which mars the flavor of the wine.

Unfortunately, the 2020 fires came at a crucial point in grape development. The hazy skies bothered many in Ventura County, but the smoke didn’t settle close to the ground and the fruit. So far the juice is good — very good.

The primary concern for this harvest is centered on the heat spikes that fuel fires. Tolmach pointed out that it’s important as a winemaker to react to the weather as opposed to following a formula.

“I obviously pay a lot of attention to the weather,” O’Reilly said dryly. “I was concerned about the heat spells but we brought in the fruit before anything might have been damaged.” His 2020 crop yields Continued on page 31

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Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st SCREENING elly roon atPROOF the(APPROVED)” Colorbox,Bdate ar and 805.218.5370 AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on theK 1st proof,K check off “FINAL sign at the bottom.

ISS MAMMOGRAM* with DEXA

$175.00 with Screening 3D Tomo

*Cash only price, must be paid at the time of service.

This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction.

SCHEDULE YOUR MAMMOGRAM TODAY!

805-988-0616

GhostWalk 2020

Date: ___ virtual event NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS aPROOF TO (805) ASAP Streaming online648-2245 at YouTube and FaceBookLiveSignature

urday Friday, Sat at 7 pm y and SunDdaaylight Time) (Pacific

1

-3 9 r e b o t c O

Meet Doug Friedlander, this year’s ghost host of the Santa Paula Theater Center’s annual GhostWalk. An artistic presentation of Santa Paula’s history, tune in to see individual ghosts filmed at unique locations around Santa Paula.

Pay-What-You-Can Donations are greatly appreciated at this time.

For viewing information, go to ghostwalk.com

Providing Digital Mammography for Ventura & Oxnard

2151 E. Gonzales, #101, Oxnard | 2705 Loma Vista Rd., #100, Ventura 30

|

ventana | OCTOBER 2020

Curl up on the couch and prepare for a spooky night of ghostly tales!

All Proceeds Benefit Santa Paula Theater Center

are average or slightly lower.

With heat waves looming, everyone rushed to bring their fruit in quickly. Nevertheless, the 2020 grapes look good because the year was mild, said O’Reilly, who makes wine for both Topa Mountain and Pacific View.

“We had a very long ripening,” O’Reilly explained. The mild winter, spring and summer provided the grapes a long hang time which developed flavors and complexity and helped the vines as well. In contrast, in 2019, powdery mildew was a problem in some Ventura County vineyards and in 2018, many vineyards were decimated by a July heat spike that turned the grapes into raisins.

Pacific View’s Mitchell is also pleased with the 2020 harvest. Martin Ramirez and his crew picked her one acre of Dolcetto on August 23, between the two heat spikes.

“I didn’t want a high-alcohol wine,” Mitchell said. “I was concerned for that and the sugar was right.”

This she knew by sampling the grapes when her vineyard manager urged her, saying: “Oh

my gosh you should go taste your grapes! They’re fabulous!” Lab work showed 24.5 brix and 3.31 pH. In a difficult year, the 2020 harvest is a bright spot, said Freeman: “We had beautiful weather, beautiful fruit, and I’m excited about the potential for these wines. They are already showing elegance and power.” v

CLOS DES AMIS closdesamis.com OJAI VINEYARD ojaivineyard.com PACIFIC VIEW VINEYARD AND WINERY www.thewinecandycompany.com TOPA MOUNTAIN WINERY 805.640.1190 www.topamountainwinery.com

Author Gwendolyn Alley is the founder of Wine Predator, winepredator.com.

TOP RIGHT: Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Gemma Kim performed in the malbec vineyards of Clos des Amis.

ABOVE: Adam Tolmach of The Ojai Vineyard.

RIGHT: “When the sugars are right, the bees know.” A bee works its way into a sweet, ripe cluster of zinfandel grapes.

OCTOBER 2020

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FOR ALL YOUR GROOMING NEEDS

$5 OFF SELF WASH With this ad.

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By appointment only Call us at (805) 648-7768 Accepted Payment: Exact Cash-No Change or Check made out to Dee Dee’s Dog Spot No Credit Cards

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AD PROO

Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 2443 Portola Rd., Unit A, Ventura • (805) 207-8600

Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD DogIS.& IfCat + your Self approval Wash on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date andkittylandresort.com WILL RUN AS thisGrooming proof meets sign at the bottom.

ISSUE: OCTOBER 2020

NOTICE: FAX THIS PROOF W _______________________________ DOPLEASE NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF Date:W INTO This proof is to check for accuracy and is not (805) 648-2245 ASAP intended to show quality of reproduction.

Signature: ___________________________ TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP

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THE ONLY KNEE REPLACEMENT BUILT JUST FOR YOU Discover ROSA® Robotic Technology Only Available at Ojai Valley Community Hospital

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ROSA® Knee robotic technology allows your surgeon to tailor a knee replacement to your unique joint anatomy. As the surgeon restructures your knee, the ROSA® robot uses 3D bone modeling AD PROOF and real-time data to guide the process. This helps eliminate many of the problems associated with traditional knee replacements, 1306 Maricopa Client: Cypress Place Ad Executive: Barbara KroonHwy., Ojai(805) 648-2244 eases your recovery, and gets you back to your life faster! cmhshealth.org/rosa Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom.

ISSUE: OCTOBER 2020

F I N E

L I V I N G

I N

V E N T U R A

C O U N T Y

m o n t h l y

oof is to check for accuracy and is not ed to show quality of reproduction.

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP

Date: _______________________________

Signature: ___________________________

OCTOBER 2020 |

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OCT. 15 WE BELONG: A TRIBUTE TO PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO

SHORT LIST

ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 guet PANDEMIC

THROUGH OCT. 26 RESURRECTION: NEW WORKS BY DENNIS MUKAI

SANTA PAULA THEATER CENTER PRESENTS: GHOSTWATCH

Oct. 9-31 | Online Get historically spooked at this annual event gone virtual highlighting local history of the Santa Clara River Valley while providing a thrilling experience.

This year’s GhostWalk, better known for 2020 as GhostWatch, will feature an artistic presentation of the history of Santa Paula via ghosts filmed at unique locations, all streamed via YouTube. Knowledgeable guides will share nuggets of history about the locations while colorful spirits will share their stories — all from the comfort of your own haunted living room. For more information, visit www.ghostwalk.com.

AD PROOF

Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 WE BELONG: A TRIBUTE TO PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO

| Online e all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, Oct. “2nd15 Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN e 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date sign Sierras at the bottom.

Mike andand Debbie along with their talented group of musicians are bringing resounding tribute to Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo to the Canyon ISSUE:their SEPTEMBER 2020

Club and Oxnard’s Performing Arts Center via a livestreamed event. The duo will perform classics such as “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “You Better Run,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “We Belong,” “All Fired Up,” “We Live For Love,” “Hell Is For Children” and many more as part of this special performance. Bonus footage may be added to the livestream, which will be available for viewing for up to one week after the live broadcast. Show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets: $10. For more information, visit www.wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/opacc/events/.

Only With Us

ART A LA MODE DRIVE-IN GALA

®

onlywithus.com global reach brand heritage extraordinary marketing pr powerhouse proven results

Oct. 17 | Camarillo As the nights draw in, Studio Channel Islands invites you to join in on a fundraising drive-in experience unlike any other. Guests will receive a gourmet meal from Bistro Twenty88 followed by a drive-through classic car show to the sounds of the 1950s performed live by an in-house band.

To top it off, a 45-foot movie screen and superior sound system will enable you to safely socially distance as a live auction followed by a classic film gets underway. On the night prior, a virtual cocktail reception will be held wherein ticket holders will receive a hamper with all the ingredients you need to mix a cocktail under guidance from a professional mixologist. Tickets: $150. For more information, visit www.studiochannelislands.org.

HAUNTED BROADWAY DRIVE-IN THEATRE

Oct. 23-25 | Thousand Oaks Join the Conejo Valley Players for a live, socially distanced concert in your car, as the troupe proudly presents Haunted Broadway Drive in Theatre. With an all new cast of some of the best singers in the county, and a new layout with stage views from every parking spot, Haunted Broadway Drive-in Theatre will be a spooky fun featuring thrilling Broadway hits. Get in the spirit of the season as the spirits bring the theater straight to your car. Tickets: $40-60. For more information, visit www.conejoplayers.org.

RESURRECTION: NEW WORKS BY DENNIS MUKAI

Damian Bourguet Channel Islands Brokerage 805.844.4949 | DRE: 0189027 Damian.Bourguet@sir.com Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.

34 | ventana | OCTOBER 2020

Through Oct. 26 | Ojai Inspired stylistically by the Japanese Shin-hanga woodblock prints of the early 20th century, artist Dennis Mukai has added a personal touch to the traditional themes of landscapes, famous places, beautiful women, kabuki actors, and birds with flowers. Conceptualized in the aftermath of the 2017 Thomas Fire, Resurrection is a visual diary of beings and places that have, sometimes literally, risen from the ashes to prosper and grow. Born in Hiroshima and raised in Los Angeles, Mukai is most widely recognized as a contributing artist in Playboy magazine throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Porch Gallery Ojai, 310 E. Matilija St., Ojai. For more information, visit www. porchgalleryojai.com.

The Rutledge Results Team

From the Eastside to the Westside, And the Hillside to the Seaside

LAURIE RUTLEDGE

DEREK BERTHOLD

CalRE#01156115

CalRE#02038434

805.340.4854

805.869.8005

Laurie4Homes@aol.com

Derek@VenturaRE.com

REALTOR® / B.S. Industrial Design

REALTOR / M.B.A. ®

www.VenturaRE.com

www.LaurieRutledge.com

CALL TO LIST NOW! MULTIPLE OFFERS HAPPENING! Rates are LOW! It’s a great time to sell or buy.

685Creekmont.com

CL

SA LE

EA

RP

OI

NT

7221Briarcliff.com

PE ND IN G

We’re Experts in Virtual Showing & Selling | Call Us Today and “Let’s Keep you Moving”

Delightful 4+2 Clearpoint where the sun shines first!

VENTURA | $919,000

Spectacular 2019 built English Tudor Country House right here in Clearpoint!

VENTURA | $1,295,000 SALE PENDING!

Gorgeous remodeled baths, drought tolerant landscape, new heating/cooling & ducting, new insulation, some new windows, and lovely front porch.

This stunning 4+2.5 in approximately 2638sf was built by the highly respected Peter Livingston and exudes warmth and quality.

JU

JU

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E SA L

ST

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ND PE

SO

IN

N ST I LI EW N

1692REDROCK.COM

LD

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2651CEDAR.COM

LD

5606BRUBECK.COM

G

244ALABAMA.COM

Close to Beaches & Downtown!

The Groves At Riverbend Ranch

VENTURA | $760,000 JUST SOLD!

VENTURA | $820,000 JUST SOLD!

637 CREEKMONT COURT, VENTURA

7016ETNA.COM

467ALABAMA.COM

1706EMERALDISLE.COM

JU

JU

ST

SO ST

ST JU

SO

LD

LD SO

SO ST JU

LD

Gorgeous Harmony Condo!

VENTURA | $575,000 SALE PENDING!

LD

Gorgeous Solana Heights VENTURA | $770,000 NEW LISTING!

Clearpoint New Build!

Clearpoint Views!

Solana Heights Beauty!

Stunning Views!

VENTURA | $1,075,500 JUST SOLD!

VENTURA | $1,070,000 JUST SOLD!

VENTURA | $805,000 JUST SOLD!

OXNARD | $905,000 JUST SOLD!

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

ideal HOMES Ideal Homes

Your Guide To Luxury Living Throughout Ventura County

5307 DRIFTWOOD STREET, OXNARD SHORES

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN PRACTICE! When EXPERIENCE Counts...

BETTER CALL BLAKE! JUST LISTED! BETTER CALL BLAKE!

BIKE RIDE TO THE BEACH!

WOW! Spacious 2BR, 2BA penthouse condo with interior laundry & detached garage! Move-in ready! Granite kitchen & baths! All appliances included!

Resort-like pool & spa! Priced right! $365,000

Better Call Blake! 805-856-9350 JUST LISTED! BETTER CALL BLAKE!

Industrial chic meets sustainable modern elegance in this one of a kind townhome in Oxnard Shores. First time on the market since built in 2003, minutes to the beach, low HOA, and no Mello Roos! Designed as a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, trilevel with an urban feel, this one won’t disappoint.

Greeted by a private courtyard and outdoor shower. Upon entering, relax in the comfortable first-floor bedroom or let the striking reclaimed barn wood floors lead you up to the main living

area with vaulted ceiling, open concept living room, kitchen, and access to a sunny patio. The kitchen has granite counter tops, portable center island, stainless steel appliances, and large single basin sink. Each level has its own bedroom retreat including en-suite and sleek wall-mounted A/C & heating unit so each room can be set to the perfect temperature. The top floor is a loft-style room with ocean-views, enough space to meet all of your needs, and a relaxing patio overlooking

the nearby dunes.

Conveniently accessible 2-car garage with EV charger, epoxied floor, and tankless water heater.

Tesla Whole Home Battery & Solar System provide 100% independence, selfsufficiency, and complete sustainability.

Come enjoy the ocean breeze!

Listed by Juliet Esquibias, Coldwell Banker Realty.

805-616-4040.

BEDROOMS:

3

BATHROOMS:

3

PRICE:

$829,000

RARE! BEAUTIFUL HOME IN CLEARPOINT FOR UNDER $1 MILLION COLLEGE AREA COSMETIC FIXER! Single-level Ranch style!

Great area & schools!

4BR, 2BA, 1586+/- sq. ft.

Price reflects condition!

COLLEGE AREA BARGAIN!

WOW! 3BR, 2BA, single-family home in desired College Area of Ventura with almost 1400 sq. ft. of living space, all on 1 floor, vaulted ceilings, 2-car detached garage with laundry, RV access, needs cosmetic updating. ONLY $525,000

$609,000. Better Call Blake!

805-856-9350

Better Call Blake! 805-856-9350

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • COMMITMENT • RESULTS

CALL TODAY!

805-856-9350

www.BlakeMashburn.com Everest

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All info deemed accurate, but not guaranteed. If your property is currently listed for sale, please disregard our active marketing. DRE# 01065624.

ventana | OCTOBER 2020

Delightful 4bd/2ba, 1,928 sqft Clearpoint Home with many recent upgrades, including: gorgeous glass entry double doors, fabulous, completely remodeled master bath, updated hall bath, smooth ceilings, new interior paint,

textured carpets, granite counters in kitchen, stainless appliances, newer kitchen lighting, new drought tolerant landscaping in front and rear yards. Presented by Laurie Rutledge & Derek Berthold, Coldwell Banker

Global Luxury. Visit 7221Briarcliff.com today!

805-340-4854.

BEDROOMS:

4

BATHROOMS:

2

PRICE:

$919 ,000

VENTANA HOME SALES INDEX AVERAGE PRICE

➡

➡

HOMES SOLD

+20.3%

+17.6%

SEPTEMBER 2019 VS. 2020 TREND

CAMARILLO

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

SEPT. ‘19

SEPT. ‘20

PORT HUENEME

SEPT. ‘19

SEPT. ‘20

101 $618,200

123 $726,700

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

26 $388,600

26 $413,900

13 $519,100

16 $549,800

121 $627,300

150 $664,800

51 $919,500

80 $989,800

85 $683,300

101 $799,300

FILLMORE

SANTA PAULA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

11 $592,800

10 $565,800

45 $801,000

70 $895,700

SIMI VALLEY

NEWBURY PARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

52 $638,600

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

46 $811,500

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

14 $940,800

23 $1,392,400

99 $620,700

99 $856,700

OXNARD

I N

V E N T U R A

C O U N T Y

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

m o n t h l y

Client: Brushfire Battle Systems

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE VENTURA

OJAI

L I V I N G

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE THOUSAND OAKS

MOORPARK

N E

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE TOTAL # OF SALES

618

Ad Executive: Warren Barrett

744

AD PROOF (805) 648-2244

Ventana Home Sales Index is presented each month theProofs, real estate Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, andMonthly “Final Proof”.

If we receive no proof after theas1stpart or of2nd ADsection.

WILL RUN The figures are sourced from sales reported to MLS for the period of 9/1/20 to 9/29/20.

AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom.

ISSUE: OCTOBER 2020 Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index © Ventana Monthly, 2020.

Date: _______________________________ Turn Your Swimming Pool Into a Fire Truck Signature: ___________________________

NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP We provide: • Top of the line fire pump & suction line • Quick connect cam lock hose fittings • Fire hydrant hose splitter and two 50-foot 1 1/2” fire hoses with nozzles.

• Top quality American made fire hoses and suction lines • Honda powered high pressure water pumps

VENTANA HOME SALES INDEX

• Fire department grade valves

AUGUST 2019 VS. 2020 TREND

Provide fire fighters with professional grade equipment to defend your home!

Contact us today for a free demo (310) 692 - 9203 www.brushfirebattlesystems.com • info@brushfirebattlesystems.com OCTOBER 2020 |

ventana

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Is Now The Time?

Good reasons to sell a home now • Historically high demand sells homes faster and for more (a seller’s market) • Current low Capital gains tax rates may change in the future* • Tax exemption possibilities allow you keep more of your home’s appreciation*

Tina Comden 805 218 5926

Good reasons to buy a home now • Historically low interest rates ( gives you the ability to buy more house) • Coastal California has seen long term appreciation • Build equity for your long term future Bob Ridgway 805 320 1811

Call us today to discuss how current market conditions and trends can work to your benefit. * Always check with your tax professional before buying or selling a home

(805) 351-3500

crbrealestate.com CalDRE 01060428

Albert Barosso 805 901 3654

Welcome Home

Ariel Palmieri CalDRE #01501968

Karen Stein

CalDRE #01505059

Juliet Esquibias Linda Parizo

CalDRE #01831073

CalDRE #01509547

Exceptional Real Estate within Ventura, Santa Barbara & Los Angeles counties! www.ArielandKaren.com ArielandKaren.com IN ESCROW

www.LindaParizoHomes.com www.JulietReviews.com JulietReviews.com IN ESCROW

1327 Seafarer Street, Ventura

Stunning and spacious Ventura Keys mainland home with incredible upgrades, exquisite decor, solar and a private and lush entertainers’ backyard. Two primary suites, one on the first level and one upstairs.

4 bedrooms + 3 baths – 2,642 SF Listed for $1,399,888

IN ESCROW

4906 Island View Street, Mandalay Shores

Wonderful beach area home on a street with sidewalks and front yards as well as a large private courtyard between the home and garage. This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home has a spacious living room with fireplace, an open kitchen and a downstairs bathroom. 3-car garage! Listed for $965,000

SOLD

IN ESCROW

2204 Spyglass Trail West, River Ridge

This River Ridge Golf Course 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath home is located on the 15th tee and has spectacular views from almost every room. Remodeled gourmet kitchen. HOA has pool and spa.

3 bedrooms + 2.5 baths – 2,390 SF Listed for $799,000

SOLD

972 Loma Vista Place, Santa Paula

Mid-century modern home nestled in the McKevett Heights hillside. Classic charm yet elegantly updated.

Beautiful views from every room.

3 + 2, Approx. - 2,553 SF Listed for $629,000

2173 Eastridge Trail, Oxnard

1435 Marine Way, Mandalay Shores

Fabulous ocean frontage from this stylishly-reimagined A-frame on a quiet and exclusive street. Recently remodeled interior with gorgeous views. 10,000 SF lot with 40 feet of ocean frontage on beach side.

3 bedrooms + 2 baths – 1,680 SF Sold for $2,900,000

SOLD

SOLD

Immaculate Paseo Verde home in a gated community.

Numerous upgrades, including a flat rock custom fireplace, updated kitchen, downstairs primary suite, private yard, and newer flooring in a terrific location.

5 + 3, Approx. - 2,275 SF Sold for $675,000

5307 Driftwood Street, Mandalay Shores

Industrial chic meets sustainable modern elegance in this one of a kind townhome. Low HOA fee, no Mello Roos, and ocean views from top level. Private outdoor space including patio and balconies. Owned solar!

3 bedrooms + 3 baths – 1,400 SF Listed for $829,000

2201 Broadmoor Court, Oxnard

Incredible location and oversized private lot overlooking a lush greenbelt. Open concept home with 2 fireplaces and entertainers’ kitchen. Downstairs bedroom and bathroom. Large upstairs bonus room too!

4 bed + 3 baths – 3,005 SF Sold for $899,000

918 Colina Vista, Ventura

Buildable Onudlando lot. Backs up to lush barranca.

Within boundaries of award-winning schools. Owner is eligible for membership in Ondulando Club. 15 minutes to the beach or harbor.

Sold for $340,000

(805) 746-2070 (805) 824-2004 (805) 312-4654 (805) 616-4040 Ariel Palmieri

Karen Stein

Linda Parizo

Juliet Esquibias

Celebrating our

50th Anniversary! ina

rel a c Mus

la

R

os

In memory of Rosina Muscarella, Lynn’s Jewelry Studio will donate 10% of our October sales to support local women with breast cancer.

Shop early for the holidays and support women as they navigate a life during and after breast cancer

Special Pricing on the very best gems in the Robert A. Lynn collection

Beautiful, Affordable, Personalized Jewelry for the One you Love For more information please visit our website

www.LynnsJewelry.com

4572 Telephone Road, #906, Ventura

805.642.5500 All of our custom designs have been made from 100% recycled gold for more than 40 years. Respect for the Earth is not a new idea at Lynn’s.

John Muscarella Master Jeweler

www.ribbonsventura.org