The Ojai Post

green garages and white dirt

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:45:30 -0800

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???

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:52:39 -0800

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 ...

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:28:20 -0800

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

Special Edition of The Ojai Bubble

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:52:49 -0800

Special Edition of The Ojai Bubble

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 10:32:31 -0800

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.

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

Fri, 28 May 2010 11:14:50 -0800

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.

New Post Coming Soon

Fri, 28 May 2010 09:55:35 -0800

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

Wed, 26 May 2010 17:42:31 -0800

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

Tue, 25 May 2010 21:08:24 -0800

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

Tue, 25 May 2010 20:08:42 -0800

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

Tue, 25 May 2010 19:58:08 -0800

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.

Zeretzke Award At Libbey Bowl 7pm Tonight!

Tue, 25 May 2010 09:11:58 -0800

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

Mon, 24 May 2010 02:05:42 -0800

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.

OBC Salutes Food Share with Craft Beer and Fine Food

Sun, 23 May 2010 21:48:25 -0800

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.

OVGC: Letter to Vons Corp re: Bike Racks

Sun, 23 May 2010 13:48:53 -0800

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.