The Ojai Post

green garages and white dirt

2011-04-13T05:45:30Z

F O R A G E R
green garages and white dirt

13 April 2011

In our last episode, Mr. Rodillas was fraught with an onset of busy brain brought on by too frequent perusals of the musings made by the National Weather Service’s senior forecaster in Nardtown. Rod didn’t write his newsletter, consequently.
Talking minus thirty four tops at 20,000 feet. “Might have to issue a frost warning,” The Swami said. So Mr. Rodillas filled the garage with all the transplants that Felipe brought him on the previous Friday. You remember what the temperature was like around then. 97.
That was then and this is Ojai. Box canyon. Cold as Truckee. Hot as Coachella.
Garage was so full of bell peppers and basil plants you couldn’t step inside. On the Thursday night Rod called Johnny Blythe, around 11:30.
“ Fumple?, Blythe says.
“ Are you up, Blythe? Did you put those Dixie Cups out yet?”
“ They said it was only going to get down to 40.”
“ Better check your mercury, Blythe. Its already 29 degrees in Rose Valley. You’re going down.”
“ Really?”
“ If you don’t have white dirt at dawn, I’ll buy you new boots.’
“ Damn.”
“ Get out there and pop those cups on those tomatoes. It will only take you 47 minutes. Go ahead and time it.”
In the morning, Mr. Rodillas didn’t have to buy Johnny Blythe new alligator Luccheses. Rod didn’t even bring his checkbook. The Swami said it got down to 31 at the county yard and Rose Valley hit 24. Blythe had saved his tomatoes.
Friday night was colder. On Saturday they were all calling Mr. Rodillas a genius.
“ How’d you know?”
“ Practice.”
See, Mr. Rodillas gets mistaken for some flawless savant just because he has chopped his thumb so often he has a pocket full of band aids.
He’ll go By Cracky on you in no time, regaling of the time when Blythe and Highlove hatched that damn Beltaine Circus project for May Day, 2003.
May Day! That was apt. SOS: Ice storm almost closed the Pine Mountain grade. The party in Lockwood Valley looked like sepia footage of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, with the smitten tribe wandering around on the frosty mud with blankets over their heads. All of Pappy Rodilla’s wonderful tomatoes back in Meiners went black. Zucchini seemed to have had a run-in with a blow torch.
Funny thing about this recent event was that all the volunteer potatoes breaking out from years past died, but the lines of intentionally planted spuds were fine. People ask me why I plant flowers.
“ They look nice," I answer.
“ And the angels and divas enjoy them,” I say to myself.

Bliss Yogurt or Bliss Coma???

2011-03-23T05:52:39Z

I love Frozen Yogurt and so do my kids. A friend told me there was a new Yogurt place in town, so I thought I'd walk over and check it out. I couldn't understand why they'd open a new yogurt place when AZU had natural Gelato right next door. But hey, the more the merrier I figured. A little competition can only bring more happiness.

When I walked in, the place was clean and inviting, with a nice variety of yogurt and toppings to put on top. A nice clean cut high school student welcomed me at the register, so I asked for a few different flavored samples. "Yum", I thought. "This stuff is great! Hey, young man can I see the ingredience?"

"Sure!" He said, as he handed me a book with all the ingredience. I eagerly flipped through the pages looking forward to making this one of my favorite frozen refreshing spots for the summer. Well, I was in for a SURPRISE!

I know many people probably don't care about the ingredience of what they eat, as long as it tastes good, but I'm just not one of those people. I do care about what I put in body and my children's, and I love healthy, clean, natural, unprocessed food, especially in my ice cream or frozen yogurt. And I guess I feel (living in Ojai, known for it's health & beauty) that isn't too much to ask.

This Yogurt place was another great opportunity to have some fresh, healthy natural frozen Yogurt but instead, we have PROCESSED, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORINGS AND COLORINGS WITH LOTS OF CORN SYRUP TO BOOT. Why? I just don't get it. Why can't you charge a little more and use some fresh ingredience?

Have you tasted Azu's Gelato? It's delicious and it's completely natural: Fresh fruit, fresh milk, eggs, natural flavorings. Why can't Bliss Yogurt do the same thing with their own "make your own twist"? Well, I guess it always boils down to money! More profit, less health for us.

It's unfortunate and, I think, disappointing for the entire community. Because we deserve healthy natural food, especially in Ojai: As we are known for living and offering visitors a healthy, conscious life style.

Well, I guess it's yummy, natural, healthy Azu Gelato for me! I'm grateful we have a frozen type dessert with some real ingredience: Like blueberry, cherry, vanilla, pistachio, lemon, chocolate flavors that aren't manufactured in a lab. And regardless of all the TV ad hype on the similarities of corn syrup and cane sugar; you'll find if you do the research, why most responsible health conscious companies have substituted corn syrup with simple cane sugar.

I am genuinely disappointed in having to write this negative review. I'm much happier saying Bon Appetit - encouraging residents & visitors to support and welcome a new business to Ojai.

$ecrets of the ?Antap, the California Codex ...

2010-08-27T00:28:20Z

'Alaliwaiya, the Axis Mundi, Hanging-Down-Ancestors Circle, aka California's 'StoneHenge' (British), 'StanHengues' (French) ...

]]> http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=1187826805#!/note.php?note_id=270722539524

Shambhalla Revealed: Spirit World of the Matilija, Chumash, and Our Ancient Alaliwaiya Aboriginal, returning ...

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=392291369524

Special Edition of The Ojai Bubble

2010-07-07T16:52:49Z

]]> A Note from Nancy Gross of The Ojai Bubble.

The Ojai Bubble July 2010 issue is at Ojai Printing and will be out and around in a few days. The issue is themed around French Connections to Ojai, in light of Bastille Day on July 14, and the French Festival in Santa Barbara on July 17 and 18. To view a small sampling of what is within, visit The Ojai Bubble’s Facebook page.
With 28 pages of articles, photographs and poems, it is not only thicker than Volume 1; it is more consistent visually, while still playful and colorful. Perhaps Steve Grumette enhancing my photos, and having three professional photographers contribute are the reasons the pages look so pretty. And, as I received a suggestion here, a suggestion there, from Anca Colbert, my daughter Ivy Anderson, P. lyn Middleton, Myrna Cambianica, and others, I grew in the graphics role.
I was so pleased with the contributions I received for the May / June issue, and once again I have great submissions. The writing of Amber Lennon, River Lisa Joy Sauvageau, Paul Fericano, Denise Picard, Jodi Womack and Jean-Paul de Dadelsen are this month’s treasures, along with the write-ups I offer on the people I had the pleasure of profiling. . .most, though not all, of them French. As promised, I wrote a poem in celebration of the wedding extravaganza of Deb Norton and Chris Nottoli of Theater 150.
I have to charge a cover price because, as primarily a one-woman enterprise, I haven’t been able to find time and energy to do the work of getting advertisers. A few people were interested in placing ads in this volume, but I was so busy working on interviewing, writing and layout, eventually 28 pages were full with no room to spare. I am trying to find ways to keep this monthly publication affordable and content-driven. Vol. 2 has a higher price than the first issue because it is almost twice as thick and printing costs were twice as much per booklet. For a “monthly,” $3-$5 (depending on page count) seems reasonable, in terms of how much so many of us spend daily on all our little comforts, snacks and coffees. People who read Volume 1 had very positive things to say about the articles, poems and narrative and I expect another round of contented readers.
Here is what the cover looks like. The Ojai Bubble, July, will be ready Wednesday or Thursday, July 7 or 8 (Friday July 9 at the latest). You can find it at the following locations, as well as a few I probably forgot! I also bring copies to sell outside the Ojai Certified Farmer’s Market most Sundays. Most of these stores have told me they will continue to sell The Ojai Bubble this month, but if any of them opt out as I go around distributing, I hope seekers will please try another location:
David Whipple Goldsmith
The Farmer and The Cook
Coffee Connection
Attitude Adjustment
Ojai Spring Car Wash
Fred’s Tire Man
Right Click Computer Repair
Ojai Village Pharmacy
Around the Corner and Around the Corner, Too
The Lennon Closet
Java – n – Joe
Studio Sauvageau
Made in Ojai
Ojai House
Verandah
Bonnie Lu’s
Bhavantu
Su Nido
The Ojai Retreat
Bart’s Books
Casa Ojai
Watkins Cattle Co. and Ojai Olive Oil, both at the Certified Farmer’s Market
McConnell’s Ice Cream in Ventura
Bank of Books in Ventura

I write this note with my daughter’s rat, Horatio, snuggled on my neck. I am caring for him while she works on an organic farm in Colorado. Did you ever see the animated Disney film “Ben and Me,” about Ben Franklin and a mouse? I feel like Ben Franklin with this fledgling publishing career, and having to keep inventing ways to market my Bubble while remaining true to the grass roots nature of this enterprise. Most of all I want to thank everyone who has been having fun right along with me as I go about this venture, and those who have donated some of their time and expertise. My contact is theojaibubble@yahoo.com or 798-5040.

Special Edition of The Ojai Bubble

2010-07-06T18:32:31Z

A Note from Nancy Gross of The Ojai Bubble.

]]> I was so pleased with the contributions I received for the May / June issue, and once again I have great submissions. The writing of Amber Lennon, River Lisa Joy Sauvageau, Paul Fericano, Denise Picard, Jodi Womack and Jean-Paul de Dadelsen are this month’s treasures, along with the write-ups I offer on the people I had the pleasure of profiling. . .most, though not all, of them French. As promised, I wrote a poem in celebration of the wedding extravaganza of Deb Norton and Chris Nottoli of Theater 150.
I have to charge a cover price because, as primarily a one-woman enterprise, I haven’t been able to find time and energy to do the work of getting advertisers. A few people were interested in placing ads in this volume, but I was so busy working on interviewing, writing and layout, eventually 28 pages were full with no room to spare. I am trying to find ways to keep this monthly publication affordable and content-driven. Vol. 2 has a higher price than the first issue because it is almost twice as thick and printing costs were twice as much per booklet. For a “monthly,” $3-$5 (depending on page count) seems reasonable, in terms of how much so many of us spend daily on all our little comforts, snacks and coffees. People who read Volume 1 had very positive things to say about the articles, poems and narrative and I expect another round of contented readers.
Here is what the cover looks like. The Ojai Bubble, July, will be ready Wednesday or Thursday, July 7 or 8 (Friday July 9 at the latest). You can find it at the following locations, and I also bring copies to sell outside the Ojai Certified Farmer’s Market most Sundays. Most of these stores have told me they will continue to sell The Ojai Bubble this month, but if any of them opt out as I go around distributing, I hope seekers will please try another location:
David Whipple Goldsmith
The Farmer and The Cook
Coffee Connection
Attitude Adjustment
Ojai Spring Car Wash
Fred’s Tire Man
Right Click Computer Repair
Ojai Village Pharmacy
Around the Corner and Around the Corner, Too
The Lennon Closet
Java – n – Joe
Studio Sauvageau
Made in Ojai
Ojai House
Verandah
Bhavantu
Su Nido
The Ojai Retreat
Bart’s Books
Casa Ojai
Watkins Cattle Co. and Ojai Olive Oil, both at the Certified Farmer’s Market
McConnell’s Ice Cream in Ventura
Bank of Books in Ventura

Michael Shapiro: Why I'm Endorsing Lenny Klaif for Ojai City Council

2010-05-28T19:14:50Z

Guest editorial by Michael Shapiro, Ojai activist and one of the leaders of Stop the Trucks

Why I'm Endorsing Lenny Klaif for Ojai City Council

While his opponent is a talented individual who brings professional expertise and experience, only Lenny Klaif adds to his own career as an attorney - years of regularly attending Ojai City Council meetings.

His constant vigilance and attendance at Ojai City Council meetings – frequently and actively engaging the Council on a wide variety of issues that are important to Ojai’s citizens – has truly demonstrated an unyielding interest in, and concern for, his beloved Ojai while also gaining invaluable experience and understanding of how to best govern if he were to be elected.

]]> For example, while Lenny Klaif appreciates that our Council must often interact with be advised by the City Manager and the City Attorney – he also understands that the City Council is independent of these two offices.

Lenny’s years of interacting as a “citizen activist” at City Council meetings, combined with his ability to more fully comprehend the numerous legal issues that often confront the City Council, has uniquely prepared and qualified him for taking a Council seat himself.

Indeed - Ojai would be well-served having Lenny Klaif elected to its City Council.

Michael Shapiro
Ojai, California

Note:
For video interviews with Ojai City Council Candidates Paul Blatz and Leaord Klaif visit http://ojaivalleynews.com/

New Post Coming Soon

2010-05-28T17:55:35Z

Hi all - if you've clicked around the site last night or this morning, you may have noticed some weirdness. While I've hoped to pull aside the curtain with a grand voila, I think it's better that I simply say we have a brand new Ojai Post coming very shortly, and that there are some tech steps we're working through.

For the technically inclined, we're currently testing the new platform on the same domain as the existing site, and redirection of the correct old page to the new one is a tricky thing to get just right 100%.

Thanks for your patience, and I think you'll really enjoy the new look and features of The Ojai Post.

OVGC: Watershed Talk and Movie TONIGHT at Chap

2010-05-27T01:42:31Z

Tonight at Chaparral Auditorium, 414 E Ojai Ave, 7pm, check out a presentation by Brock Dolman, Director of the WATER Institute and author of Basins of Relations: Think Like a Watershed. This will be preceded by a short film: The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water.

Friday: Matilija Junior High Talent Show

2010-05-26T05:08:24Z

from reader Kathy Couturie...

Matilija Junior High School students are competing in a talent show Friday, May 28 at 7:00PM in the school’s auditorium. “MATILIJA’S GOT TALENT” will feature 10 acts. Twenty students will perform in bands, plus singing, dancing, and more. The show is sponsored by the PTA and is an important fundraiser for the school. All are welcome to come out and support this unique display of highly talented students! Tickets are available in advance at the Matilija school office at 703 El Paseo Rd., or just prior to the event at the door. Doors open at 6:00PM; tickets cost $5. For more information contact Matilija Junior High at 805-640-4355 extension 1657

Obit: Capp Loughboro

2010-05-26T04:08:42Z

A note from reader Lion Everett Batey:

Capp Loughboro passed 2010 May 23. The funeral will be Friday, 5/28 - 10:00am at Ted Mayr Funeral Home (per Director Allison), 3150 Loma Vista Road Ventura, CA 93003-2979 - (805) 643-9977, The service will be officiated by the VFW. After the service he will be interred at the Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, CA 93003-7445 (805) 485-6085. He is survived by son, Glen and daughter. His obituary is in draft.

PSA: Residential/Vehicle Burglaries

2010-05-26T03:58:08Z

from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department / Ojai Valley Station Detectives...

In light of ongoing residential and vehicular burglary trends, investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff Department’s Ojai Valley Station would like to remind the public of some very important security tips.

]]> Investigators remind the public to keep their personal belongings and valuables out of view in their vehicles. It is also important to keep vehicle windows closed and doors locked. In the Ojai Valley area, there has been a recent increase in the number of vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles. Often, the stolen items have been left in plain sight within the vehicle making them a prime target for thieves. There have also been several other reports of unlocked vehicles being targeted, rummaged through and items stolen.

Another important reminder for citizens during the coming summer is to keep doors and windows secured when they are away from their residences. A recent trend of residential burglars is to target homes where it appears no one is home. If you intend on being out of town or on vacation, remember the following tips:

1. Secure your residence and make sure all doors and windows are locked.
2. Let a trustworthy neighbor(s) know to keep an eye on your house.
3. Stop mail / newspaper delivery or have a neighbor collect it.
4. Request a “house check” from the local law enforcement agency.
5. Talk to your neighbors and report any suspicious subjects or activity in the neighborhood.

Zeretzke Award At Libbey Bowl 7pm Tonight!

2010-05-25T17:11:58Z

The City of Ojai will present John Zeretzke with a Lifetime Achievement Award tonight to kick off the Nordhoff High School Jazz Band concert at 7pm. The Arts Commission decided to move the ceremony to the bowl because of all the students he has influenced will be there at the same time as the city council meeting. The council meeting will proceed as usual at 7:30. And thank you Bill Wagner for honoring our request. So, if you planned to go to the city council meeting, come over to the Libbey Bowl for the ceremony and honor John and the work he does in arts education and support the Nordhoff Jazz Band and Should be great fun!

Register To Vote! OVDC Meeting and Voter's Guide

2010-05-24T10:05:42Z

Today is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming June 8th Primary Election. If you are not yet registered you can still do so before this evening. Go to the post office and you can register there.

The next meeting of the Ojai Valley Democratic Club is today, Monday, May 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ojai Art Center, 113 South Montgomery St. At the beginning of this meeting we will be doing phone banking on behalf of Ojai City Council Candidate, Len Klaif. Those interested in helping in phone banking and discussing future planned precinct walks, please feel free to come to the Ojai Art Center Gallery early at 6:00 p.m. Bring a charged cell phone and a laptop computer if you have one. If you don't have a laptop, that's not a problem. The rest of the meeting after 8:00 p.m. will be given over to operations planning and a discussion of Get Out The Vote strategies for the June 8th Primary election.

If you're not sure about other people/things on the ballot, follow after the break to see the OVDC, County and State Democratic Voters Guide.

]]> Many of you may have received your ballots in the mail by now and here are the Ojai Valley Democratic Club (OVDC), Ventura County Democratic Party (VCDCC) and California Democratic Party (CDP) voting recommendations for the June 8th Primary election:

Endorsements of the Ventura County Democratic Party:

* Leonard Klaif - Ojai City Council
* Jim Dantona - Ventura County Clerk and Recorder
* Ed Summers - Ventura County Treasurer Tax Collector
* Bruce Thomas - Ventura County Supervisor, 4th District
* Ellen "Gay" Conroy - Ventura County Superior Court Judge, 10th District

Endorsements of the California Democratic Party:

* Barbara Boxer - U.S. Senate, incumbent
* Lois Capps - U.S. Congress 23rd District, incumbent
* Tim Allison - U.S. Congress 24th District
* Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown - Governor
* Debra Bowen - Secretary of State, incumbent
* John Chiang - Controller, incumbent
* Bill Lockyer - Treasurer, incumbent
* Dave Jones - Insurance Commissioner
* Chris Parker - Board of Equalization District 2
* Das Williams - 35th Assembly District
* Ferial Masry - 37th Assembly District
* Diana Shaw - 38th Assembly District
* Julia Brownley - 41st Assembly District

* YES - Proposition 13 - Limits on property tax assessment for seismic retrofitting of existing buildings. Legislative Constitutional Amendment. (Please note the VCDCC to "no position" on this proposition.)
* NO - Proposition 14 - Greater participation in elections and primaries.)
* YES - Proposition 15 - California Fair Elections Act
* NO - Proposition 16 - Imposes new 2/3 voter approval requirement for local public electricity providers. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
* NO - Proposition 17 - Allows auto insurance companies to base their prices in part on a driver's history of insurance coverage. Initiative Statute

If you are registered to vote as a Democrat, The OVDC endorses the following candidates for Ventura County Democratic Central Committee (VCDCC) in District 1 (Ventura, Ojai):

* David Atkins - DCV member, Young Dems President, small business owner 
* Helen Conly - OVDC member, DCV Vice President, VCDCC Endorsement Committee Chair, grant writer
* Chip Fraser - Educator, union representative 
* Sandra Kinsler - DCV President, VCDCC Communications Committee Vice Chair, small business owner
* Marie Lakin - DCV member, NWPC - Ventura Chapter, writer 
* Brian Leshon - DCV member, VCDCC Chairman, small business owner

I know most of these folks and it is critical that we vote for these candidates for the VCDCC. They are dedicated volunteers and activists. Half of the people who will vote in this election WILL NOT vote for the Central Committee candidates at all. Thus 400 votes can make the difference between winning and loosing. And great progress has been made with the Central Committee and it is moving toward being a fully-functional branch of the CDP. We would like to continue our good work. So, PLEASE vote for the endorsed Committee candidates of the OVDC.

For information on the propositions visit your OVDC website and the League of Women Voters .

Hope to see you at the OVDC meeting Tonight, Monday May 24th!

OBC Salutes Food Share with Craft Beer and Fine Food

2010-05-24T05:48:25Z

Here's a cool Father's Day Weekend event that's making me thirsty.
If you love to celebrate with finely crafted beers, delicious food and hang out at the beach, then the Ojai Beverage Company and 33 Productions, Inc. have put together just the event for you.
On June 19 The Salute Beer Festival will bring a variety of widely acclaimed breweries, restaurants and live musical entertainment to the Ventura State Beach. Net proceeds from the event are being donated to Food Share; Ventura County's regional food bank, which feeds more than 55,000 people through 150 plus partner agencies in Ventura County. That's a worthy cause to celebrate.
With dozens of American Craft Breweries and the regions finest restaurants signed on for the for the beer and food pairing event, the blessing of the California Small Brewers Association, music by Jack Maness of Sublime and Long Beach Dub All Stars the only real thing left to let you know is to buy your tickets at salutebeerfestival.com. General Admission $50, VIP $125 until June 1, then $60 and $135 respectively.
Props to Joby Yobe of OBC and Christine Hansen of 33 Productions for putting together such an impressive lineup. Full press release after the jump.

]]> ‘SALUTE! A FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE FINELY CRAFTED BEER & FOOD’ AND TO BENEFIT
FOOD SHARE ANNOUNCES HIGHLY RESPECTED PARTICIPANT LINEUP

Father’s Day Weekend, Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura, CA, Premier Beer and Food Pairing Festival Presents Widely Acclaimed Breweries and Restaurants alongside Renowned Musical Entertainment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

VENTURA, Calif., May 5, 2010 – Taking place at the beautiful San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura, Calif. on Saturday June 19, Salute! A Festival to Celebrate Finely Crafted Beer & Food, readies to present a Father’s Day weekend event that is sure to become a highly anticipated annual tradition for years to come. Presented by Ojai Beverage Company and Thirty-Three Productions, Inc., Salute! will raise funds for and awareness of FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank.

Salute! has earned the support and endorsement of the California Small Brewers Association. The unique craft beer and food pairing festival will feature locally and nationally celebrated craft breweries alongside renowned regional restaurants, for two sessions of beer & food pairing for the general public and VIPs between 11am – 5pm. The element of pairing food with beer provides a perfect synergy between the event and it’s sole beneficiary, FOOD Share of Ventura County, which will receive 100% of the net proceeds from all sales generated by this trend setting event.

Salute! is excited to announce its current food and beer slate, which is being added to daily. Current participants include, but aren’t limited to: Alaskan Brewing Co., Anacapa Brewing Co., Angel City Brewing, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Bootlegger’s Brewery, Brophy Brothers Restaurant & Clam Bar, Buckbean Brewing Company, Craftsman Brewing Company, Dogfish Head, Enzo’s Italian Restaurant, Fireman’s Brew, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Island Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Co., Ladyface Ale Companie, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Le Dolce Vita, Lindeman’s, Margarita Villa, Maui Brewing Co., McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, Mendocino Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing, Ojai Beverage Company, Pyramid Breweries, Red Hook Liquid Goodness, Robeks, Samuel Adams, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery, Santa Barbara Brewing Company, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Soup Kitchen Inc, Speakeasey Ales & Lagers, Stone Brewing Co., Strongbow Cider, Sudwerk Brewing Co., Telegraph Brewing Company, The Greek at the Harbor, Vesta, Westmalle Trappist, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, Woodchuck Draft Cider, Wyder’s Cider, Yolies Fresh Mexican Grill and Zaragosa.

Guests of Salute! will be in for a musical treat thanks to an all-star entertainment lineup featuring some of Southern California’s best singer-songwriter and rock & roll talent, many of whom have graced stages to global fanfare. Acclaimed singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist, Jack Maness who is most widely known for his work with Sublime (40 Oz of Freedom, “Rivers of Babylon”) and Long Beach Dub Allstars (keyboard and vocals) is a key featured performer who recently released his debut solo album “Simple Man.” Southern California Indie Rock Band, Vinyl Candy, will debut and release their third album entitled “The Dirty Third” during their performance at Salute! Australian born, San Diego-based acoustic singer-songwriter-guitarist, Lee Coulter, who has been compared to the likes of Jack Johnson, will also take the stage at Salute! alongside other exciting entertainment announcements coming soon.

Salute! would not be possible without the support of its sponsors, donors and event partners which include Classic Party Rentals, International Paper, The Marriott Hotel and Mutineer Magazine..

General Admission tickets are $50 in advance and $60 beginning June 1st, 2010. Each ticket includes a souvenir 4 oz. tasting glass, four hours of unlimited beer and food tasting, and live entertainment. For $125 in advance and $135 on June 1st and after, guests can purchase a VIP Tastemaker ticket, which also includes early entry for a two-hour private reserve beer tasting with invited brewers, special beer and food pairings and exclusive access to a private VIP lounge area before and during the general admission session. VIP Tastemaker access, which is limited to 500 people also provides exclusive access to Salute! breweries one hour prior to the festival gates opening. Tickets for Salute! are limited and only available at a reduced price until May 31st so the time to act is now while supplies last.

For more information on the breweries and restaurants being presented and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.salutebeerfestival.com.

# # #

Press Contact: Karen Marines / (818) 505-0876, karen@33productions.com

OVGC: Letter to Vons Corp re: Bike Racks

2010-05-23T21:48:53Z

Following is a letter to the Vons Corporation from the fine folk at the Ojai Valley Green Coalition. At issue is that Vadnais Investments, the owner of the Ojai Vons shopping center, has historically refused to allow or install bike racks, despite Vons' public commitment to sustainability initiatives.

My two cents: Vons corporate should strongly encourage Dean Vadnais to take the Green Coalition up on their offer, and then issue a press release on their commitment to sustainability with this Ojai project as an example. Don't do anything, and they risk getting pulled into the negative PR that could ramp up as a result of stonewalling. Do the right thing for the community and the environment, and reap the rewards - pretty simple.

]]> =====================================

May 14, 2010

Tom Keller
Vons Corporation
618 Michillinda Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007

Dear Mr. Keller:

We represent a nonprofit environmental group in Ojai, California, and we’re writing to ask you to promote alternative transportation by installing bike racks at your Ojai location: 1125 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023. Given the recent efforts by the City of Ojai to install bike racks around the city, plus the many citizen complaints regarding the lack of bike racks and scarcity of parking spaces for cars in the shopping center where Vons is located, the Ojai Valley Green Coalition is initiating a campaign to correct this situation.

It is unfortunate that Vadnais Investments, the owner of the shopping center, has historically refused to allow bike racks. As our organization continues to promote bicycling as a smart mode of transportation and the city improves its streets to accommodate cyclists, the demand for proper and safe locations to secure bikes will only increase.

Reviewing the Vons corporate sustainability statement, and seeing firsthand the recent remodel of the Ojai Vons store, we see that Vons is making an effort to decrease its ecological footprint. However, of the twenty-seven Vons stores in our immediate region that we recently polled, only eight were providing shoppers with bike racks.

In March 2010, the US Department of Transportation announced a new policy which states that the needs of pedestrians and cyclists must be placed alongside, not behind, those of motorists. Cities everywhere are under orders by various air-control agencies to reduce vehicular trips. There is a growing sense of urgency to encourage people to leave their car at home as much as possible and walk, bicycle, car-pool or ride the bus or trolley.

We suggest that factoring in how your customers arrive at your stores is as important as calculating the greenhouse gases prevented by energy-efficient lighting. Bicycles are a mode of transportation whose legitimacy increasingly warrants retailer accommodation. Our research finds that the average cost to install bike racks is $150 to $300, whereas the average cost to provide parking for one car is $2,200 to $4,000. And the City of Ojai is offering installed bike racks for free!

Though Vons, as lessee, may not have the authority to decide whether bike racks are installed at the Ojai location, it surely does have substantial influence. We believe that if Vons insists that its customers (and those of all the retailers at this Ojai shopping center) have access to convenient and safe bike parking, it will happen.

We urge Vons to continue its green efforts by taking the lead on ensuring that bike racks are installed at its Ojai location. This will promote further bicycle use and reduce traffic congestion, as well as air pollution.

To quote from your website: Safeway is fully engaged in making a measurable difference in this important “sustainability” journey. And, continuing on another page: Safeway has adopted a guiding principle that promotes growth through the thoughtful use of our natural resources. Our company is focused on a core set of initiatives that make sense for both the planet and our business.
We applaud both of these statements, and we hope that you will act quickly to clear the way for bike racks to be installed at all your locations, starting with Ojai.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

Deborah Pendrey
Executive Director

Suza Francina
Chair of the Transportation Committee

Cc:
Todd Baker, Store manager, Ojai Vons
Dean Vadnais, Principal, Vadnais Investments
Mike Culver, Director, Ojai Public Works
Ojai City Council Members
Ojai City Planning Commissioners
Steve Bennett, District 1 Supervisor, County of Ventura