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phonebooks are obsolete and a waste of trees. I understand that many folks still have no Internet access so I guess we need one but definitely not two.

What a coincidence. I just now had to tell one of the phone book publishers I could not afford to list this year, which is the truth. There is a whole story here and I hope you dig deep and get to the bottom of it. When this first happened many people screamed that Ojai does not need two phone books but now we are getting resigned to our fate. It is a waste of paper, time and energy all around. Many small business owners like myself resent having to pay for two yellow page listings. Plus now when I need a plumber or other service I have to look through two phone books, because many people cannot afford to list in both.

There hve been several Letters to the editor airing all this out!

Good for you for raising this sensitive issue! I wish you would interview both companies and get us the scoop. Good luck!

"There is a whole story here"...

Uh huh. I'd be interested to see someone publically shed some light on the whole thing.

well I'm going to step out and say that we only use the Ojai Valley Directory. Finally made our decision. I don't like the new smaller book. Not sure why. I just don't.

And no, we don't need two phone books.

I can't ever seem to find both phone books when I need to look something up, and inevitably the listing I need is in the book I can't find.

How the heck did Ojai wind up with two private phone book companies anyway?

I have wondered about this too. It certainly seems like a waste: trees, extra money spent by business owners, time and money spent by the two companies trying to prove they're better than each other, etc. It would be interesting to find out why the second company decided to start one here - was it just about making money or is there more to it? For a community that wants to be green, having two phone books (three, if you count the little one) seems way out of line.

I've heard both sides of the story, but only one from "one of the horses' mouths" so to speak. I agree that Ojai definitely doesn't need two books. Am I incorrect in feeling that the onus of proving their worth should be on those who came later and tried to displace the other (original) tried and true version?

Who publishes these directories?
Is this a case of Ren Adam vs. Bret Bradigan?

No.
Ojai Valley Directory is owned by Ren and Victoria Adam
Ojai Phone Book is owned by Julie Collins

If they can somehow sustain themselves, whatever. Not sure what their production is like, but It'd probably be good if they used recycled paper. They probably do...maybe.

This is kind of off topic, but Suza's comment started me thinking and there's no open thread. She said she couldn't afford an ad this year. We just got back from our monthly grocery shopping trip. We buy a lot of staples at Trader Joe's each month. Whenever possible I shop at the independent markets and businesses here in Ojai as well as the farmer's market. But for constant monthly staples we go to TJ's because of their business practices and because they have good products at very good prices.

Like everyone else, I've been watching prices for everything but houses go up in a big way. I keep fairly meticulous records so I know just how much things have gone up lately. Last late Spring and early Summer we were paying in the neighborhood $190 a month at TJ's. Since then it's been going up steadily . Yesterday we spent $275 for only 3/4 of a month of stuff. That would translate into a monthly bill of about $360! That's a 90% increase. Almost double in nine months. Economic indicators are not good. It doesn't look like it's going to go back down any time soon if ever.

Awhile ago El A asked me what effect the current administration and any future administration's fiscal and foreign policy would have on me personally. Most of our economic woes can be attributed to this administrations mishandling of our fiscal policy. By allowing the dollar to tank, inflation and energy prices have soared. Real wages for the majority of the people in this country have stagnated or actually declined since 1980. A direct result of the insane Friedmanesq economic and trade policies of Reagan, Bush, CLINTON, and Bush.

Does Julie still own the Book? I thought she'd sold at least some of it to an out-of-town publisher. I've only heard one half of the story but my understanding is that this is a case of capitalism in action - an employee of (or perhaps contractor with) one business (The Ojai Directory) decided she could do it as well or better and opened a competing business.

My feeling is that we don't need two books/directories and it is a huge waste of resources - advertising dollars, business owner time to make decisions about where to advertise, trees, etc etc. I have chosen to advertise only in the Directory. I feel that Ren, Victoria and Teresa contribute a great deal to our community in many capacities and I prefer to support them.

Good dialog everyone. There's an argument about competition vs. monopoly - what about that?

I think you have to know the market - competition or adding services in a market that has room to grow is one thing. As we can see from the concerns raised here, competition in a small marketplace where the consumers have limited resources does nothing but stretch the resources of the consumer and exasperate the end user who doesn't know which way to turn.

Victoria, Teresa and I are glad this topic finally surfaced as a community-wide conversation, and provided us with the opportunity to clear up some misconceptions. I was the owner-publisher of the Ojai Valley News, Visitors Guide and Ojai Valley Directory from 1992 to 2000. The Ojai Valley News and the Visitors Guide were sold to Bill & Ava Buchanan of Tuscaloosa, AL, in 2000, and Bret Bradigan was hired as its publisher. Victoria and I retained ownership of the Ojai Valley Directory, and, as such, are willing to shed much-needed light on this controversy.

The so-called "Phone Book Wars" began when an employee of the Ojai Valley Directory, Ms. Julie Collins, resigned her position as director of publication of the Directory, waited the one year required by the non-compete clause of her independent contractor's agreement, and started The Ojai Phone Book, along with another former Ojai Valley News employee, Gretchen Schmidt.

Both had been employed in the sales department of the Ojai Valley News, and Collins was subsequently employed by the Ojai Valley Directory for five or six years, prior to departing her position with the Directory in July 2002. The Ojai Phone Book was published one year later.

Subsequently, according to the December 2006 edition of the Ojai Business Journal (the newsletter of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce) the Ojai Phone Book became a partnership between City Books Inc, of Grover Beach, CA, located in San Luis Obispo County, and Julie Collins.

Collins is currently living in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where the Arizona Corporation Commission states Julie Collins is president/ceo, and Virginia Pinelli is vice president, of Canyon Publishing Inc, dba Lake Havasu Phone Book.
We welcome any other questions.

Our valley is inundated with phone books - at every corner and grocery store you can find racks filled with one or the other. I remember a time when, if you needed a replacement phone book, you went to the Chamber of Commerce to get it, and maybe one or two other places. But there was also a time when you went to a phone booth to look up a number, if you were away from home. Now if I am in town and I need to look up a number I just find a rack at the nearest store.

The waste of resources bugs me more than the fact that I now have to look through an extra book to find what I need sometimes, and more than the fact that I have to store two fatter books, where before I had one thinner, though taller, book. And what's the deal with getting smaller and smaller...now I really do need glasses! The competition includes "Who gets to be the little book on top?"

On another note, though, the phone book has prompted some good things. I appreciate how much more information is available in the community section. Trolley schedules, Community events, area codes, time zones, and whatever else. When the new phone book started doing that, the old one caught on and added them too.

Isn't the phone book industry kind of a craven niche. Aren't they over, especially with the advent of the iphone. If they can make a living, good for them. Are the Ojai phone books made out of recycled paper at least?

If both sides of this "Phone Book War" were examined equally, I'm sure it would provide business owners with the clarity needed to make a confident advertising investment.

I recommend a clear presentation of the advantages and disadvantages of both books. But I request an investigation into the actions of the personalities behind each phone book, so that local business owners can make an investment decision that not only speaks to their financial situation, but to their moral principles as well.

If one chooses to write this story I am more then ready to contribute the perspective of a teenager growing up in a family severely affected by the disreputable actions carried out by my mother's competition.

There is an important story here. I think Lisa Snider is the perfect journalist for the occasion and The Ojai Post is the perfect place.

Aren't they over, especially with the advent of the iphone.

Anyone in Ojai can afford a phone book, but how many people can afford an iPhone?

Lisa: thanks for the answer to my question.

a paper phone book is one of the last vestiges of the "pre-internet" era.

spk- you might try shopping at the 99cent store.
prices have not changed there.
(food quality still sucks, however)

90% increase at TJs?
what are you buying?
lox?
tequila?

Isn't there something a little strange about this thread? All kinds of partial explanations and innuendo? Why doesn't somebody who knows just come right out and explain how we got in this strange situation and stop beating around the bush for day after day???

Also, given where we are at now, which is obviously wasteful and unsatisfactory, what is the intelligent resolution?

Isn't there something a little strange about this thread?

Isn't there something a little strange about your goading? If we were all together in the same room in realtime and you walked in and said what you said in the above comment, I'd be willing to wager that you were wearing a wire.

wow...... wearing a wire?????

what is that all about???????

obviously, this is a public forum, so no need for anybody to wear any wires if they want a record of what is said.......

but this kind of paranoia only reinforces my original point that there is something weird and unspoken about this whole conversation.....

Austen,
It looks like you have it backwards. Your Mom made herself The Directory's competition, which she had every right to do, but it is still a waste of resources and that is the point of this post. We needed duplicate phone books because.......?

Speaking of Mr. Collins' mention of disreputable actions, I seem to recall hearing of a lawsuit between the two phone book owners, his mother being one of the parties involved, and she lost.

wow...... wearing a wire?????

what is that all about???????

Nice try, but thanks for playing.

Next.

ah-ha.... so there was a lawsuit involved....

thanks to anonymous #24 (NOT #21 or 25), the truth begins to emerge....

again i say, why doesn't someone just come on out and tell the whole story plain and simple??

No wire would be necessary to know of the info divulged in comment #24. The suit is a matter of public record, and anyone with a computer is able to log on to the County of Ventura Superior Court Web site and obtain the particulars.

Hi anon #27,

The County of Ventura Superior Court Web site is connected to the link below. I clicked around but could not find the phone book case. Do we need a Case Number or can you give us more clues on how to obain the particulars ?

http://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/

I personally prefer to use the older of the two books, the Ojai Valley Directory for two reasons. The owners and staff live here in the valley and patronize the businesses that patronize them. Second, the new book has become too difficult to use. I detest the fact that they have separate white pages for business listings. Too many places to look. After all, is that not what yellow pages are for...businesses?

Nancy Drew is not much of a detective, is she?! Click on your little link there, Nancy Drew, and using the case # CIV223228 you will find the info. (If you look closely at the Ojai Valley Directory, you will notice they are published by Village Publishing)

hmm, yoni mouse, you wake up on the wrong side of the nest today?

Hey a nony mouse #30, Ned and I scrolled through all the stuff on the court site but we don't get what it means. Why were all the parties involved not able to work together to produce ONE great small-town phone book?

Case Number: CIV223228
Case Title: VILLAGE PUBLISHING, INC. VS JULIE COLLINS
Case Category: Civil - Unlimited Filing Date: 10/22/2003
Case Type: Business Tort Case Status: Dismissed

Dig deeper, Nancy Drew. You'll find more!

#32, thank you for doing some detective work and for correcting #24!

there's a phone book shredding event on sat. march 29th from 9-1 in the parking lot of the Ojai Community Bank! they'll shred old phone books and documents. no plastic or cardboard. saw the flyer today at oak tree bakery and thought of all you snarky bloggers :)

I guess that makes me snarky too.

As a first time reader of this blog, it makes Ojai people just sound crazy.

#37-
Thank you for the divine compliment.

Greatings from Austin, TX
The Live Music Capital of the World

www.sxsw.com

I asked the original question, “Honestly, does a town this size need two phone books?” thinking it was rhetorical and the answer would be, “Of course, competition keeps prices down and prevents a monopoly,” but I guess it’s not that simple! A good discussion ensued and I learned A LOT. I hope you did, too. Comments are now closed, but if you have more to add, please feel free to email me by clicking through to my Web site below.

Received this comment today via my Web site:

I wanted to give you my 2 cents about your question. The short answer is yes. As you stated Competition is good for business, it keeps prices in check and pushes quality to new heights, although with that competition there is a creation of some complexities, especially on the part of the business owner, he/she must choose. It would seem that in an area such as Ojai that ability to choose is one of our greatest assets. A consumer’s choice as to what book they want to use becomes our greatest advantage, an independent survey showed that our usage far surpasses that of our competitor. In addition the other phone book drastically down played the immense positive contribution that Julie Collins made to their phone book, I implore you to look at the early copies of that publication and compare it to the innovation that was applied to that book while Julie was at the helm, those and other similar improvements are what have made The Ojai Phone book such a huge success. Our intention has never and will never be to war with our competitor we would much rather compete in a positive productive and peaceful manner. Let the proof be in the publication.

Isaac Fachner
City Books

Woo, guess I shut 'er down too early, I take it back!

It would be interesting to hear from Austen Collins' mom directly. Mr. Adam told his side of the story, sort of. He kind of left out the WHY Julie left him after so many years. Must have been some sort of pissing contest going on there. And Isaac from the City Books pretty much said Julie is no longer at the helm of the OPB, contrary to the way Julie would like us to think. She still claims to be "local" even tho she seems to be living in AZ. And lawsuit that may have been lost by Julie may explain why she sold a large chunk of the OPB. Needed bling to pay off the award? All adds up. Step up and clear the air, Mr. Adam and Mrs. Collins

ok, here's the question. Isn't this America? Isn't there room for two phone books for God's sakes? Besides as an industry insider, gossip columns have it that Mr. Adams is actively trying to sell his (locally owned and operated) book to a national multi-billion dollar company. Can you say Yellowbook? Oh no, Ojai really doesn't need Yellowbook to get in the middle of this. At least Ms. Collins went with a another small local publisher who has brought the opportunity for Ojai businesses to advertise in Ventura and other surrounding communities. From my perspective you guys should advertiser in the one that makes your phone ring, and uses the least amount of paper and environmental products and as a member of the association of directory publishers I know that the smaller size phonebook, i.e. The Ojai Phonebook fits the bill. One size, one printing.

Hi "interested party,"

I posted the response below a few days ago under "Open Thread" when this Phone Book conversation was briefly closed.

From a customer point of view, two phone books are only as good as one if EVERYONE lists in both books OR if one phone book can assure customers that EVERYONE is listed in their edition.

Otherwise, for example, customers who want to check out every math tutoring service for their child feel compelled to look through the yellow pages of both books.

When I go to call my plumber or manicurist and don't find them listed in one directory, then I have to hunt for them in the other one. The books maybe designed to take up less space, but now we need two of them.

The main purpose of a local phone book is to find ALL the local piano tuners in one convenient place, right? The menus and trolley schedules and coupons are nice, but what I really want is to find the number for all the dog groomers in one spot.

So no matter the good reasons that may exist for having two local directories, the fact remains that unless every business takes out two listings or one of the books can claim their book has every listing that their competitor has, it means customers must now be prepared to browse through two books.

There. I said it as best as I can!

Interesting that Yellowbook is brought up….as I was researching law suits I found that Julie Collins is being sued by Yellow Book USA. There was a case filed on 5/9/2007 in the US District Court for the District of Arizona. Case #CV08004-FJM

Against Julie Ann Collins and Virginia Irene Pinelle, Canyon Publishing Inc. The Compaint was for a Violation of the Lanham Act; Unfair Competition; Tortious Interference with Contract; Tortious Interference with Business Expectancy; Conversion; Unjust Enrichment; Injurious Falsehood). Maybe these are the same things that her lawsuit with the Ojai Valley Directory were about. It seems as though Julie ought to get out of the phone book business.

Regarding the “rumor mill” I heard that next in line to buy the Directory was the the people who own the Ojai Valley News, where the Directory came from in the first place.

Ojai lived with one phone book until Julie started the other one. Now she is gone and so should her phone book be

Wow! Apparently that self-described “industry insider” and “gossip columnist” knows more about our business than we do! We had no idea we were “actively trying to sell” our locally owned and operated Directory to a multi-billion dollar company.

In actuality, Bill Buchanan, the owner and publisher of the Ojai Valley NEWS, which he bought in 2000, has the right of first refusal to buy the Directory in several years and that’s fact, not “gossip.”

And finally! -- the question of who actually owns the Ojai Phone Book has been answered: It’s City Books, a San Luis Obispo County-based operator of five or six other books. Not exactly local; not exactly small.

Locally owned and operated Ojai Valley Directory has been publishing in Ojai Valley since 1926, and provides the content our users want, in formats that are user-friendly, attractive, and which support our advertisers. The Directory was voted national Publisher of the Year in 2006 -- best, all-around independent directory, of any size, in the Association of Directory Publishers (representing more than 2,000 directories.). Two weeks ago, as a member of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Directory was honored as Small Business of the Year in the Ojai Valley.

Talking “green,” please support the free Shredder Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Ojai Community Bank’s parking lot. Bring any paper products you want out of your life, including old tax documents, bank or medical records, even old phone books. Please, no cardboard or plastic products. The event is sponsored by the Ojai Valley Directory and Ojai Community Bank.

To the anony-mice, please mind the comment policy, particularly with regards to gossip, rumor and hearsay, thanks.

Thank you to Mr Adam for setting the story straight. And thank you to the poster who reported on the facts of the current lawsuit Mrs. Collins is embroiled in over in Arizona. It sure did not take too long for her to get involved in another dust-up.

Interesting that comment # 45 & 46 are by.....whom? (The same individual?) Typical of this individual. Same vicious, slanderous campaign from Mr. Adam? In regard to the possible sale of the Directory? Stay tuned!

Comment #48 Sounds like anyone could tell you anything and you would believe it. Oh the tangled web we weave! Would love to see these 2 publishers in a room with no attorneys there. And $ was not a factor. The truth would prevail! The comment on Ms. Collins getting out of the phone book business....Please don't make us go back to that tired old 2002 Directory again.

Google will verify the lawsuit mentioned a few ago that is in the works in Arizona. One just needs to type in UD District Court of Arizona Canyon Publishing, and one can let their fingers do the walking.

This is beginning to read like somebody has a personal vendetta against Julie Collins. How weird that the court case and number are cited repeatedly. And always by anonymous. Glad "anonymous" doesn't have a grudge against me!
But just in case, I guess I'll stay "anonymous" too!

Funny you should say that #52 - I thought the same thing as I was reading through the blog.

Maybe it is not a vendetta, but an issue of pointing out a set of circumstances that involve Mrs. Collins that keeps repeating?

My name is Gretchen Schmidt. Many in the Ojai Valley know me from my days at the Ojai Valley News and then The Ojai Phone Book. I'm retired and on the road now, with my husband Bill, traveling this great land of ours in our RV.
I think it's time someone (in the know) clears up this mess.
I started working at the Ojai Valley News for then- publisher Fred Voltz and years later for Rennie Adam. I became Ren's ad manager and eventually hired Julie Collins for advertising sales. The opportunity arose for her to take over the Directory and she did a phenomenal job. As her immediate supervisor, we came up w/ many ways to improve the Directory including; restaurant menus, better paper, full-color, glossy pages, etc. When we approached Ren about upgrading/improving the Directory, his response was "There is no need as we have no competition". Basically he enjoyed a monopoly.
I left the newspaper and a few years later Julie resigned. One year after her resignation, Julie designed a new book, hired me and we hit the streets. The positive support and response from the business owners and general public was overwhelming. Ren, Victoria, and Teresa were outraged.
For the next 4 years our office and in particular Julie, were traumatized. We were sued, stalked and lied about. Sadly, anybody can sue anyone else for anything or nothing, as long as they have the money to hire a lawyer. I actually found a threatening note on my car windshield, complete w/ photos of our office.
After 4 years of being terrorized and watching the business owners being harrassed as well, Julie eventually did settle believing it would bring peace back to the valley and stop the nonsense. Well, I guess that didn't work! What a shame!
We won a great deal of national recognition and worked night and day to satisfy our customers and enhance the book. The Adams' have continued to attack our book, repeatedly telling customers we are going out of business and are not locally owned, among other things. Neither the Ojai Valley News, The Ojai Valley Visitor's Guide or the Ojai Vallley Inn and Spa are locally owned - so what? All of us provide jobs and opportunity for many local residents and Julie is an Ojai property owner and tax-payor. If you are a business owner, can you imagine what it would be like to be sued, stalked and lied about, for 4 long years, by your competitors?
Incidentally, Ren's friend, who owns the Ojai Valley News has, in the past, denied the Ojai Phone Book editorial coverage. We were even denied the opportunity to advertise during our first few weeks in business. I'd tell you to ask the publisher, editor and sales staff but they know who they are dealing with and are put in an impossible position. The phrase made famous by a disgraced former Vice-President, Spiro Agnew, is appropriate: "...we have more than our share of nattering nabobs of negativism." Take note Ren.
Happy to finally be able to tell the truth! Gretchen Schmidt

Thank you Gretchen. I happen to know that you personally went through a lot during those very stessfull times. (Gretchen had lung cancer and is a survivor of cancer and the Adams!) Enjoy your retirement! You are loved and missed a great deal here in Ojai.

M.C.

Yes, Gretchen, thank you. I hope you are enjoying your freedom!

I also want to clarify that at no point were any of my previous comments meant to take sides between any of the people involved. I have known them all for many years, and wish only the best for them. I was simply voicing my opinion that I wish Ojai had one comprehensive phone book. That is all.

Is the Ojai Valley News locally owned? I heard Mr. Buchannan lives back east. Who cares if he owns the local paper here and lives elsewhere.
Just for kicks and giggles I googled lawsuits phone company's we're and are involved in. Whew! Everyone is suing each other! I guess it's common place. Did Julie Collins go to trial on anything? Or did she just settle because she did not have the funds to fight. How frustrating for her.
Can't we just all get along?

Well isn't it clear that Julie and Gretchen went into business with the specific aim of putting their former boss out of business? Why would they do that - the motivation in that cannot be completely innocent. If what was said above is true, Mr. Adams did not act professionally (perhaps even criminally if threats were made), but what were they expecting? If you choose to enter this sort of business arena (on the attack), you can't cry foul if and when you lose. Nobody wins in business just because they want to or feel they deserve to or because they didn't feel appreciated (or whatever) by their former boss. If that were the case, we'd all be out there with new business ventures trying to put our own crappy bosses out of business.

As a business owner myself, and having lived in other communities that had several telephone books, I chose to advertise in the Ojai Phone book because when I shopped both books I realized the better deal was w/ the OPB. At that time, 6 years ago, the Directory was high priced and low quality - poor paper and no color. I complained all the time. (No competition)

What really pushed me over to the Ojai Phone Book was that I tried to get an additional copy of the directory the year before, at the Ojai Valley News office, and they charged me $5.00! Can you believe that? I thought all phone books were free. Then, when I told Mrs. Adam I was already advertising in the Ojai Phone Book, she proceeded to let loose a stream of invectives against Julie Collins personally, causing such a scene that I had to walk away. I am so over the intimidation tactics and viciousness of these people. I WILL advertise with whom I wish.

Isn't Mr. Adam in Rotary? How did he get in? Do they not have a code of ethics that prohibit the things that come out of this man's mouth? Public image is crucial to the success of business.

Having watched this "Phone Book War" since the beginning, I am happy to finally have a place to air MY OWN observations. I can honestly say, I admire Ms. Collins because she always seemed to take the high road in business and not slander her competition as was done to her, by The Ojai Valley Directory their advertising campaigns and their public.

The Directory seems to have given her a real compliment by copying her style in many ways. (Can't blame them.) You must admit, that publication has come a long way since the beginning of The Ojai Phone Book. And now they have used additional paper to come out with 10,000 duplicate "mini" books (Can’t read it without magnifier) AND the coupon book. Do we really need one of those mini books for our golf bags?

Ms. Collins has won many first place awards for The Ojai Phone Book. I called the Ojai Phone Book and they told me to go to the ADP publisher’s awards on the web and see for myself. The only time she did not win a first place award was the only year she did not enter! (2006). I believe that was the year The Ojai Valley Directory won. I called the Ojai Phone Book. They called Ms. Collins and she verified it, She did not enter her phone book that year. (She was extremely busy that year)

Regarding the law suit…It appears…It was the Big guns... Big money, publisher Mr. Adam and his wife against an unhappy former employee and her business associate Gretchen, who was recovering from cancer at the time. They were both sued. Why doesn't someone ask Julie why she really left?

Advertisers were repeatedly told by the competition that The Ojai Phone Book was going out of business (for several years) I should know, I was one of those business owners. You would think this would have hurt the Ojai Phone Book. Obviously, it did not.. Most of us knew it was just another rumor spread by the competition.

In conclusion..Is this really such a big deal? Do we not all have the right to compete in business? Is this not America?. Competition is good. It keeps prices down and quality up. Let us all understand there are more important things going on in the world today than getting worked up by the so called "Phone Book Wars" in Ojai, California

Mr. & Mrs. Adam, Did you ever offer selling the Ojai Valley Directory to Ms. Collins while she was employed with you?

Ms Collins, I know you are professional and like taking “The high road.”
Any comments? Or do you fear more retaliation?

Anon.

#60, and other anons, please see #47 and be mindful of vilifying others while under the cloak of anonymity. Signing your name gives you more credibility and ensures a healthy discussion.

I almost believed Mr. Adams until the "anonymous" post came up about the "phone book" shredding event. You just lost your credibility.

Lisa, the following might strike one as violating policy as even with a psuedonym, I remain anonymous. However, it is in the interest of separating truth from rumor and fact from fiction that I as well would like to know the answer to the following:

"Mr. & Mrs. Adam, Did you ever offer selling the Ojai Valley Directory to Ms. Collins while she was employed with you?"

I supported the original phone book because of the reasons I gave earlier in this thread. And because I was told by those involved with the Directory that Julie and Gretchen were out to destroy their business, were just disgruntled ex-employees, that they were acting ilegally and would be forced to cease and desist when the lawsuit was over, etc.

Then about a year later I heard that Julie was promised (after or before all her hard work and efforts?) that the book would eventually be sold to her and then was told that was not going to be the case.

Again I feel that we do not need two phone books (Suza's comment was dead on the money!!).

But now that we have both parties participating in this dialogue, perhaps these rumors and speculation can be verified or repudiated.

Thank you to Tylor & Lisa at The Ojai Post for bringing to us a FREE FORUM to voice our views and opinions and bringing up a very sensative issue as "The Phone Book Wars". Maybe we can finally get to the truth WITHOUT CENSORSHIP!

I could really care less about having 2 phone books here in the valley. We have and make choices every day, weather it be with The Reporter, The Visitor's Guide, Phone Books, Flyers, Direct Mailors, Whatever!

Negative and slanderous comments about ones competition only hurts your chances of obtaining and keeping advertisers. Maybe those that are guilty of these practices should learn from the comments of this post and consider getting into a business that does not involve "people skills" Note comment # 45! Wonder who that was from?

daretobme

Note to Anonymous # 21 and 25.....

I think the extensive exchange of comments here shows I was right when i said there is a lot more to this story than was visible at first glance.

I wonder if you think all the people who have pitched in since then are "wearing a wire."

Looks to me like you are the only one in this forum who is afraid to speak the truth. Maybe one day you will tell us exactly what it is you are afraid of.

Let's just chill for a while...