Lisa Snider

Lisa

Profile

Freelance Writer
findingojai@aol.com

Lisa has been an Ojai Post author since its inception.

Lisa was brought to Ojai by the Ojai Valley Inn in early summer 1999. She was recruited from the Four Seasons San Diego for a junior executive position at the Inn where she served until early 2003. After a total of 15 years in hotel management, she intrepidly jumped off the glamorous roller coaster of celebrity, champagne, and Egyptian cotton linens to learn something new, do something more meaningful, and work less than 70 hours a week. She now works in the government sector (but that's another story).

Lisa grew up in the rural backcountry of San Diego County where her keen appreciation for small town life and a passion for writing were first nurtured. So it was only natural that it was love at first sight when she came to Ojai. The quirkiness of the town and the eccentricities of the hotel business have given her much fodder for writing. Lisa has a passion for writing, particularly in a local format, and has found her voice in self-deprecating humor. Her publishing successes include several local print media, a national writing award, regular assignments with Santa Barbara Wine and Dine magazine, the Sierra Club’s local paper, the VC Reporter, the Ojai Valley News Blog and a quarterly column in the Ojai Visitors Guide. Her latest project, writing, producing and directing the documentary, The Price of Paradise, yielded her first foray into filmmaking, and two of her plays have been read at Theater 150.

Lisa is host of Radio Ojai, which features music and talk of the Central Coast.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science from Cal Poly University, Pomona. She volunteers from time to time for local non-profit special events. She and her husband, Bill, enjoy vacations abroad, dinner with friends and playing fetch with their teenage Labradork, Toby.  A Web site featuring her writing is at www.FindingOjai.com.

Posts

Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival: Ingredients

by Lisa Snider November 6, 2009

I went to the first screening at the Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival of the documentary film “Ingredients,” and bumped into local food activist, Marty Fujita of Food for Thought, who participated in the post-screening panel discussion. Following the two-minute interview with Marty, I offer my brief review of the film.…

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Ojai Valley Defense Fund on Radio Ojai

by Lisa Snider October 16, 2009

ovdf.bmpI just sat down with John Broesamle, President of the newly formed Ojai Valley Defense Fund, a 501c3 with a mission to “provide financial support to groups undertaking legal action to protect and sustain the environmental quality of the Ojai Valley for the public benefit.” The OVDF will officially begin…

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Dishing Ojai: Osteria Monte Grappa

by Lisa Snider October 15, 2009

An email from Susan Kapadia, former chef and owner of World Flavor Café, revealed that she sold her business to Stefano and Tammi Bernardi, who have served as long-time co-owners of Via Vai and Pane E Vino in Montecito. Stefano and Tammi have made some changes to the layout of…

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Ojai Home Fire Benefit

by Lisa Snider October 6, 2009

This special press release was submitted by Smitty West:
ojai_home_fire_poster_benefit_JPG.jpg“As you may have seen, I’m turning the Smitty and Julija show this week into a fund-raiser for the Ojai home fire victims…the Erickson Family.”
Ojai Home Fire Benefit
For Tom and Judith’s Family
Date: Friday, October 9, 2009
Time: 7:30pm – 10:00pm
Location: Il Giardino Restaurant…

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Fundraiser for Acupuncturist Kathleen MacGregor

by Lisa Snider September 20, 2009

AN AFTERNOON OF LAUGHTER & MUSIC
KMacGregor picture.jpgThe Friends of Shabad Kathleen MacGregor are proud to host an eclectic Sunday afternoon of comedy and music on September 27, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Ojai Community Church, 907 El Centro Street, Ojai, CA 93023. Proceeds from the event will…

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Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival Announces Historic Partnership with Brooks Institute

by Lisa Snider July 23, 2009

Submitted Press Release:
Brooks Institute to Serve as Festival’s First-Ever Ventura Venue; Hosting Screenings, Workshops, Panels and Special Events on Nov. 5 – 8, 2009
OJAI, CALIF. (July 21, 2009) ? The Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival, formerly Ojai Film Festival, and Brooks Institute are proud to announce that the Institute will…

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New Content on Radio Ojai: Jesse Lucas and OBC!

by Lisa Snider July 18, 2009

There are two new shows on Radio Ojai!

One is with 17-year-old singer/songwriter and Nordhoff High coed Jesse Lucas, who talks about her new demo CD and how she draws from personal experience (and sometimes dabbles in fiction) to create her signature acoustic-pop style. Jesse plays her guitar and sings her…

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OJAI-VENTURA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 10th ANNIVERSARY

by Lisa Snider June 28, 2009

OFF Meegan headshot.JPGPress Release:
Meegan Huff Expected to Expand Existing and Forge New Community Partnerships as Visibility of Regional Festival Rises
OJAI, CALIF. (June 25, 2009) – Formerly the Ojai Film Festival, the Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival is proud to announce that Meegan Huff has been named the organization’s new executive director as the…

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10th ANNUAL OJAI-VENTURA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

by Lisa Snider June 24, 2009

OFF LOGODRAFT.jpg
Press Release:
the biggest, little FILM festival you’ve never heard about:
10th ANNUAL OJAI-VENTURA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
NOV. 5 – 8, 2009
Newly-Expanded Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years of ‘Enriching the Human Spirit Through Film’ with a Celebrity Golf Classic, World Premieres, Nonstop Indie and Classic Film Screenings and More
WHAT: The Ojai-Ventura International Film…

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Watershed Revolution Documentary

by Lisa Snider June 19, 2009

watershed small.jpgPress Release:
New Film Answers the Question “What Is a Watershed?”
(Ojai, Calif. – May 18, 2009) Stunning high–definition cinematography will be featured in the film premiere of Watershed Revolution on June 24 at Ojai’s Chaparral High School Auditorium.
The 30-minute documentary film, which is being shown by the Ojai Valley Green Coalition,…

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