Ojai Monthly - April 2026

GIFT GUIDE

Curated with Love from Ojai’s Makers & Merchants

LARK ELLEN FARMS

ORGANIC GRANOLA

Sprouted nuts and seeds in Snack Lovers

Gift Box, $34.99 www.purelysprouted.com

MUD LOTUS

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

805- 252-5882

Handmade embroidered silk crepe kimono, under $175

FRIENDS RANCH

15150 MARICOPA HWY • 805-646-2871

Mail order is available online; fruit ships in the New Year. FriendsRanches.com. Local citrus sells at $5+ per 2 pound bag

PURELY SPROUTED SPROUTED SNACKS

212-A E. OJAI AVE • 805-798-0177

The Gift Variety Pack for $47 - Sprouted With Love in Ojai www.larkellenfarm.com

MUD LOTUS

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

805- 252-5882

Travel toiletry pouch under $25. Hand-block-printed cotton

SUNDAY’S

307 E. OJAI AVE • 805- 766-1366

Sustainable Gift Boxes. Our approach is to create high-quality, unique gifts that support the community. Thoughtfully curated & free local delivery

REVEL KOMBUCHA

307 E. MATILIJA ST. STE C • 805-272-0028

Bring locally crafted Revel to your holiday gatherings — delicious, festive, and enjoyable for all ages!

MUD LOTUS

305 E. MATILIJA ST. SUITE G

805- 252-5882

Cashmere shawls under $150, made in Nepal with a fair trade designation.

HEY BINGO!

PET FOOD & ACCESSORIES

305 E. OJAI AVE • 805-798-1355

Give your fur babies a little holiday magic! Whether it’s a cuddly plush toy or a delicious treat, stop by and spoil them this holiday season

This Season, Skip the Click. Stroll, Browse & Discover the Spirit of Ojai

DISCOVER OJAI MONTHLY

BRET BRADIGAN

OJAI’S SEASON OF SEEING

"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are." — Anaís Nin

There is a particular kind of light that arrives in Ojai in April — not the soft hush of winter nor the blazing authority of summer, but something in between. It is a light that reveals. It lingers just long enough to show us who we are, and perhaps, who we might yet become.

Spring, here, is less a season than a reintroduction.

You feel it first in the groves — the Pixie tangerines coming into their own, small suns hanging low in the branches, sweet and just a little tart, like the valley itself. You see it in Libbey Park, where families gather, music drifts through the oaks, and children move instinctively toward rhythm, toward joy, toward one another. It is no accident that we celebrate our harvest this month. In Ojai, what we grow is never just agricultural. It is cultural. It is communal — an expression of shared life.

And that idea — of shared life — runs quietly through this issue.

Our Featured Professional, Isha Ferraz, embodies it with uncommon clarity. What she has built with the Ojai World Dance Festival is more than an event. It is a proposition: that movement can be language, that culture can be invitation rather than boundary. In a time of division, the simple act of stepping into another rhythm might expand not just our perspective, but our capacity for inspiration. There is something deeply Ojai about that.

This is a town that has always attracted those looking just beyond the visible spectrum — artists, seekers, builders of quiet worlds. And yet, as Therese Hartmann reminds us in her thoughtful departure from her usual column, perspective is not something we arrive at once and for all. It is practiced. It is earned. It is, like that woman crossing Ojai Avenue with her white cane, a kind of navigation — one that requires attention to signals most of us overlook.

What strikes me is not simply the courage of that walk, but the humility it demands from the observer. What we perceive as precarious may, in fact, be mastery. What we assume to be incomplete may be, in another frame, entirely whole.

If there is a quiet thesis to April in Ojai, that may be it: we are always seeing only part of the picture.

AJ Davis brings this into focus in a different register, writing about the homes that define our valley — imperfect, idiosyncratic structures that resist the flattening hand of trend and time. Her advice is deceptively simple: don’t erase the story. Honor it. Let the worn floorboards, the strange angles, the handmade details speak. In a world obsessed with the new, there is something almost radical about preserving character.

The same could be said of a place. As runners stream out of downtown toward the coast, as gardeners open their gates, as tennis players gather for a tournament older than most of our institutions, we are reminded that Ojai is not defined by any single moment, but by continuity — by the layering of effort and care over time.

Sixteen years into this magazine, I find myself thinking less about novelty and more about stewardship.

What does it mean to tend a place? To contribute, however modestly, to its ongoing story? To resist the easy impulse to overwrite (who me?), and instead, to listen more closely?

Maybe it looks like planting something native and letting it take hold. Maybe it looks like showing up — to a park, to a performance, to a conversation — with a little more openness than we brought the day before. A widening of the lens. A softening of certainty. A reminder that beneath the noise of the moment, there is still something steady and worth tending.

FOUNDING FATHERS & MOTHERS

While Edward Drummond Libbey is rightfully regarded among Ojai’s chief benefactors — having been behind the building of such Ojai landmarks as the Ojai Valley Inn, St. Thomas Aquinas Church (now the Museum), Post Office Tower and the Arcade — others have been very influential in shaping Ojai’s identity. Here’s a few:

Annie Besant. Free-thinker, feminist and noted Theosophist. Though she only spent a few days in Ojai, she brought Krishnamurti to Ojai, and helped buy hundreds of acres of property in Ojai, (now the sites of Besant Hill School and, along with A.P. Warrington, the Krotona Center) which she called “the smiling vale.” She is considered one of the pioneers of introducing Eastern mystical thought to the West, and was an early advocate of India’s independence. and the labor movement.

Jiddhu Krishnamurti. The spiritual teacher and writer, came to Ojai in 1922, sponsored by the Theosophical Society, though he later broke with that group (“The Leaderless Path.”) He gave talks to many thousands of people each year, in the Star Camps in the oak groves west of Ojai (now the site of Oak Grove School. He once held the Guinness Book of World Records for having spoken to the greatest number of people.

Weather in Ojai

Beatrice Wood. The famed ceramicist’s (“The Mama of Dada”) greatest work of art may well have been her life. The irreverent, avant-garde Wood lived and worked in Ojai for decades until her death in 1998 at age 105. She inspired two classic movies, Francois Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim,” and James Cameron’s “Titanic.” She attributed her longevity to “chocolate and young men.” Her autobiography was appropriately titled, “I Shock Myself.” Many of her distinctive, whimsical, luminous luster-glazed pieces are on display at her former home, now the Beatrice Wood Center, in upper Ojai.

Sherman Day Thacher. After coming West to farm and care for an ailing brother, the Yale-educated Thacher realized that he was going to need another source of income. So he founded The Thacher School in 1887. Now one of the most prestigious preparatory academies in the country, its founding creed was “teach a boy to ride, shoot and tell the truth.” Also, in 1896, his brother William founded “The Ojai,” the country’s oldest amateur tennis tournament. Among Thacher’s more illustrious students were industrialist, aviator and film producer Howard Hughes and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist Thornton Wilder, who wrote his first play while a Thacher student.

OJAI QUICK FACTS:

The name “Ojai” is believed to be derived from the Ventureño Chumash word ‘awhaý, meaning “moon.” In 1837, Fernando Tico received a land grant and established a cattle ranch. Thomas A. Scott, who had financial success with oil and railroads, bought the Ojai Valley in 1864 for oil exploration. By 1868, Scott, through his agent Thomas Bard, began selling properties to homesteaders. By 1874, R.G. Surdam plotted out the town he would call Nordhoff, renamed Ojai in 1917.

Ojai is about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 30 miles east of Santa Barbara. The valley is about 10 miles long by 3 miles wide, surrounded by hills and mountains; the rare east-west orientation with a slight southward tilt gives the valley an extraordinary sun exposure; Ojai’s citrus and avocado crops are highly prized. This orientation also gives rise to Ojai as a spiritual destination.

It was due to the resources and organizing energy of Ohio glass manufacturer Edward Drummond Libbey that Nordhoff was rebuilt and renamed Ojai, inspired by the City Beautiful Movement. By 1917, with the construction of the Arcade and Post Office Tower, the town took its present shape.

The city’s self-styled nickname is “Shangri-La,” based on the story that Ojai was the backdrop (later left on the editing room floor) from the 1937 movie as the mystical sanctuary of James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.”

is your all-in-one calendar for what’s happening in town — from concerts and shows to fundraisers and festivals. You can search by date or category, map venues and directions, and even buy tickets — all in one seamless experience.

APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

OJAI PODCAST | EVERY THURSDAY | OJAIQUARTERLY.COM PIXIE

APRIL12

Pixie Tangerine Celebration

Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Libbey Park

Contact: Ojai Chamber of Commerce

805-646-8126

OjaiChamber.org, WhenInOjai.org

Ojai’s signature citrus gets its day in the sun. This annual celebration of the Pixie Tangerine harvest features tastings, live music, local vendors and family-friendly activities centered around one of the valley’s most iconic farm products.

APRIL 18

Rewild Ojai Native Garden Tour

Location: Various locations throughout Ojai Valley

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Info: OVLC.org

Explore more than a dozen thoughtfully designed native plant gardens across the valley. This self-guided tour showcases sustainable landscaping, habitat restoration, and waterwise practices rooted in Ojai’s ecological ethos.

APRIL 18–19

Mountains 2 Beach Marathon & Half Marathon

Location: Starts in Downtown Ojai

Times: Various start times

Info: Mountains2BeachMarathon.com

One of the region’s premier endurance events begins in Ojai and winds its way to the

Ventura coastline. A fast, scenic course draws runners from across the country for a Bostonqualifying race weekend.

APRIL 24-28 2026

The 123rd “The Ojai” Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament Times: Varied

Location: Libbey Park & Elsewhere Contact: 805-646-7421 theojai.net

The country’s oldest amateur tournament, dating back to 1896, returns with Division 1 matchups for men and women, championships for California high schools, prizes for professionals and special events. This Ojai tradition involves 600 volunteers, 1,250 players and 112 tennis courts in and around Ojai.

MAY 9

Ojai World Dance Festival

Location: Libbey Park and Bowl Times: Day Program 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Free Evening Production: 7:30-9 p.m., Ticketed

The Ojai World Dance Festival, hosted by Dance Ojai, is a vibrant showcase of multicultural dance, world music, and community connection. Audiences will be taken on a mesmerizing journey through movement and rhythm. Info and tickets at danceojai.org/ojaidancefestival

— RECURRING EVENTS—

Historical Walking Tours of Ojai

Date: Every Saturday

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Location: Ojai Valley Museum 130 West Ojai Avenue

Contact: 640-1390

Come see why there’s so much historical hullabaloo about this “smiling vale.” The tour, led by long-time locals, takes about an hour, and brings you into a deeper understanding of Ojai’s rich roots and heritage.

APRIL12

Coffee & Cars

Dates: Second Sundays of the month Times: 8 to 10 a.m.

Location: Westridge Market parking lot

Come check out classic and luxury cars from the area’s proudest collectors. Have a chance to learn from the owners about the history and importance of some of the world’s most incredible automobiles.

THURSDAYS

Ojai Podcast: Talk of the Town

New episodes come out Thursday evenings through the OjaiHub.com newsletter. Guests have included Malcolm McDowell on the 50th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange,” and Sergio Aragonés on his 60 years as a cartoonist at Mad Magazine. More than 280 episodes and counting. Sign up at OjaiVortex.com for a free weekly newsletter of Ojai events, news, arts, entertainment, history and culture. And podcasts.

BY TAMARA DAVIS

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH DANCE ISHA FERRAZ

'Dance as Declaration:' Isha Ferraz' Vision for Community and Culture in Ojai

Picture this: a spring Saturday in Libbey Park, an energizing array of sounds and sights — drums, footwork, colorful costumes catching the morning light as dancers take the stage and showcase traditions from around the world. Families gather under the oaks, surrounded by interesting handicrafts and inviting cuisine. Children drift toward the music, and by evening, the energy carries people into Libbey Bowl, where hundreds settle in for a night of movement, song, and story.

What began as an ambitious idea has quickly become one of Ojai’s most vibrant cultural events.

At the center of it is Isha Ferraz — founder of the nonprofit Dance Ojai — whose work has helped transform the town’s

artistic landscape into something more expansive, inclusive, and unmistakably alive.

Isha moves gracefully between roles. With a background in business development, management, and graphic design, she teaches classes, directs programs, sings with ParaNadam, and serves as Dance Branch Chair at the Ojai Art Center. Last year, Isha and her husband published Mantra , and this spring, the creative couple is preparing to welcome their first child. At the same time, Isha is producing the third annual Ojai World Dance Festival — an undertaking that now draws thousands of attendees, hundreds of dancers, and dozens of companies to the valley.

That scale didn’t happen by accident. It grew out of years of building a community and following — first through Hamsa Studio in Meiners Oaks, where Isha gathered a wide-ranging network of artists and taught everything from Bollywood, Zumba, and Indian classical to jazz, salsa, and yoga. She also brought in Bellydance, Flamenco, Bhangra, Hip Hop, Irish, West African, and even Aerial Arts.

The studio, opened in 2016, became a rare kind of space: one where cultural traditions weren’t simply presented, but lived and shared through movement, music, and practice. For friends and founding members, it was a wonderful experience to witness! Ultimately, Isha believes dance and music can expand the heart. She voiced, “When we step into another culture’s rhythm, we develop a greater capacity for admiration and appreciation.” During these years, the first seeds were planted for the future Ojai World Dance Festival.

In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Isha felt other shifts. After four years of running Hamsa Studio, she sensed it was time to transition from being a business owner back to focusing on her own artistic development and extending the spiritual programs she was building with her husband, Brian Nager.

Selling the studio was not an easy decision for Isha, but

she says it felt aligned. After all, spiritual pursuits are what brought Isha and Brian to Ojai in 2014.

Before that, Isha’s childhood was shaped by music, maternal energy, and constant motion. Born in Brooklyn and raised in a close-knit Puerto Rican family, she grew up in a world where dance wasn’t just extracurricular — it was essential!

When Isha’s grandmother received an opportunity to work as a beauty school instructor in Houston, her mother and aunts saw it as a chance to build a different life. So they moved as a family unit, carrying their culture along with them. She remembers those years with gratitude: “We all lived together, and though we did not have much materially, there was always laughter, music, merengue, salsa dancing, and shared meals. In many ways, that foundation of intergenerational living shaped my understanding of community before I ever had the words for it.”

Isha emphasizes that even though the transition from New York to Texas was not without challenges, “Dance and music were constant companions and helped me feel at home.” Isha’s mother enrolled her in ballet and tap classes when she turned four, and she bought a small microphone and speaker to nurture Isha’s love of singing. Her mom also took little Isha to various performances. That early exposure and encouragement blossomed into years of study in dance,

voice, and instruments throughout grade school. Movement and music brought ongoing meaning and purpose to her life.

Isha relays further details about her upbringing and motivations in an interview with Bret Bradigan on the Ojai Podcast (April 2025).

In college, Isha went on to study Classical Vocal Performance at Belmont University in Nashville while minoring in Business Management. During this time, she began teaching dance. “By stepping into the role of instructor, I found that not only did I love performing, but I had a natural gift for guiding others!” Teaching awakened a new dimension.

In her college era, Isha first encountered the world of yogic practice and philosophy. She was immediately inspired by the depth and clarity within the yogic tradition — the sense that there were profound truths about life, consciousness, and human potential waiting to be discovered. That pull took her back to Texas, this time to Austin.

NEXT PAGE TOP LEFT: ISHA IN INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE REGALIA

TOP RIGHT: AT A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLIDAY EVENT

For a while, Isha stepped away from dance and music. She devoted herself to healing practices, massage, and meditation. It became a season that reshaped her in lasting ways. Also, during this chapter, she met her husband, Brian, and they were drawn to a Himalayan Master & Spiritual Teacher. Isha pays homage, “In a pivotal moment, it was my Teacher Svamiji who encouraged me to return to dance and music — not as something separate from my spiritual life, but as an expression of it!” Svamiji also steered the couple toward Ojai, where a spiritual center was to be established. So Brian and Isha moved north, trusting the unfolding path.

Within just a few months, Isha approached the Ojai Art Center about teaching a Bollywood class. She said, “It seemed like a long shot. I truly had no expectation anyone would come.” But to her surprise, the very first class was full! That evening marked the beginning. From there, a spirited community began to grow.

After Hamsa closed in 2020, Isha felt grateful to return to the Ojai Art

Center, imagining the next chapter might be more focused and slower paced. She did not anticipate the great transformation that was about to unfold!

Around the same time, Isha began to feel a rising tension in the broader social and political climate. She recalls, “Immigrants and people of color were increasingly being targeted in public discourse, and the sense of division felt palpable.” Looking back, she recognizes that as the beginning of a turbulent season in our country. At that time, Isha felt compelled to respond — to offer some form of counterbalance.

“The yogic teachings remind me that the most powerful response is not opposition at the same level, but elevation. We are called to invoke a higher frequency — to uplift and embody love in action.”

With this, Isha thinks of Bomba, one of Puerto Rico’s oldest dance traditions, started during an era of enslavement, as an act of resistance in the face of oppression. Through rhythm and movement, Puerto Rican

people reclaimed their voice, identity, and strength. Isha affirms, “I feel that lineage lives in me. Dance, at its core, is a declaration. It is a way of saying, we are here, we matter, and our stories deserve to be seen and celebrated.”

Surrounded by a team of passionate, dedicated, and capable women who shared a similar and vibrant vision, the Dance Ojai board began to imagine something bold and unifying. From that collective intention, the Ojai World Dance Festival was born.

Isha summarizes, “The festival is also our response to the negative and divisive political climate against immigrants. Sometimes, the greatest and most powerful protest is celebrating the opposite.”

In 2024, the evening showcase brought 1000 attendees, 165 dancers, and 14 dance companies. In 2025, the event expanded to include a day stage, emerging talent, local artisans, and ethnic foods, resulting in 2,500 attendees, 300 dancers, 47 troupes, and 50 vendors! With such big numbers, putting together every festival takes a massive team effort.

Isha explains, “This festival is profoundly personal to me. There is nothing quite like witnessing artists fully embodied in their craft — sharing

their heritage, discipline, and joy — and seeing them admired and embraced by the broader community.”

Additionally, Dance Ojai troupes participate in Ojai Day, Art in the Park, flashmobs, Chamber of Commerce mixers, and the annual holiday lighting ceremony at Libbey fountain. The active group also fundraises for 1 Billion Rising, a global campaign to end violence against women.

Civil rights activist and musician Nina Simone once said an artist’s duty is to “reflect the times.” Isha is certainly rising to that occasion.

Dance Ojai, established in 2023, brings people together through movement and music, where culture becomes a bridge rather than a boundary. With that, in September of 2024, the Ojai Interfaith Council recognized Isha as a Community Bridge Builder.

Dance Ojai aims to honor both distinctive traditions and shared humanity through the universal language of dance. The board is dedicated to facilitating inclusive and inspirational opportunities for artistic and cultural exchange. Isha sees this as an investment in the future of our community and creative economy.

Ultimately, Isha strives to open doors

that are affordable and accessible for almost all ages. Thanks to a partnership with VibeWell Ventura County and Ventura Behavioral Health, Isha and other talented teachers are able to provide a variety of discounted classes at the Ojai Recreation Center and Ojai Art Center.

On a personal level, Isha recognizes that her work also honors a younger version of herself. Now, as she prepares to welcome her own daughter into the world, while again living in a multigenerational household with her mom, aunt and grandmother, that meaning deepens even further.

The festival has become part of the legacy Isha hopes to pass on to her baby girl. She wants her to understand that heritage is something to celebrate, voice matters, and identity is a source of strength. This year’s event fortuitously falls on Mother’s Day weekend.

The Ojai World Dance Festival on Saturday, May 9th will offer a free day program in Libbey Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a ticketed evening production at Libbey Bowl from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. All ages are welcome, and tickets ($35 in advance, $45 in person, $15 for lawn seating) can be purchased through OjaiWorldDanceFestival.org.

There's no place like home. Let me find yours.

ROOM

TO BUILD DREAM HOME

Hidden behind the gates of Rancho Matilija sits a stunning 3-acre lot with magnificent 360 degree mountain views. Surrounded by mature trees and wildlife, this lot offers a beautiful connection to nature while still being conveniently located near all the amenities, recreational parks, hiking trails, Lake Casitas, fishing and all the outdoor adventures you may be looking for as well as easy access to Ventura, LA and Santa Barbara. Don’t miss this opportunity to build your dream home with endless possibilities in this serene and picturesque setting. This gated, private community offers beauty, peace and vision to the person looking for a one-of-akind property.

PROPERTY DETAIL

MOUNTAIN VIEWS

TIMELESS OASIS

Discover a quiet East End compound offering nearly 5,000 square feet across three private homes. Originally crafted by Mr. Shippee for his family, the main house welcomes you with a walled courtyard, covered veranda, sparkling pool, and lush landscaping. Inside, acacia wood floors, an open cook’s kitchen, and a dramatic double-sided fireplace anchor the living spaces. Three bedrooms with French doors open to the gardens. A 1,400-square-foot guest house adds two bedrooms, a bath, a private courtyard, and a two-car garage — ideal for visitors or extended family. The third home features modern concrete floors, a spacious living room, kitchenette, bedroom, bath, and two secluded patios. The landscaped grounds mix drought-tolerant plantings with fruit trees — apple, citrus, fig, pomegranate — and olive trees lining the drive. A fenced paddock and turnout area make the property horse-friendly. Altogether, this rare compound blends versa-

Whitman Architectural Design

1 SHELF ROAD 3.5mi

EASY | Elev. Gain: 200 ft | Overlooks downtown Ojai.

2

RIVER PRESERVE 0-7mi

VARIES | Elev. Gain: ≤ 520 ft Wills-Rice Loop is the longest trail.

5

HORN CANYON 5.5mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 1600 ft | Goes to the Pines.

8

ROSE VALLEY 1mi

EASY | Elev. Gain: 100 ft Rose Valley Falls.

3

PRATT TRAIL 8.8mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 3300 ft | Goes to Nordhoff Peak.

6

COZY DELL 2.2mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 740 ft | Cozy Dell Creek & Ridge.

9

SISAR CANYON 22mi

STRENUOUS | Elev. Gain: 4800 ft |Topa Topa Bluffs.

4

GRIDLEY TRAIL 6-12mi

MODERATE | 3 mi to Gridley Springs (Elev. Gain: 1200 ft) 6 mi to Nordhoff Peak.

7

MATILIJA CANYON 12mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 1200ft | North Fork.

10

SULPHUR MTN. 22mi

MODERATE | Elev. Gain: 2300 ft | Sulphur Mountain Road.

A beautifully finished three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome in the heart of downtown Ojai, offering the perfect blend of comfort, style, and versatility. This thoughtfully designed residence features quality finishes throughout and includes a separate spacious studio and bathroom — ideal for a guest suite, creative space, or private office. Located just steps from Ojai’s charming downtown, El Roblar Hotel, restaurants and cafes, the home offers true walk — to — everything convenience. Three-car garage with more guest parking too. A rare find in the center of town. Special live/work zoning provides unique flexibility for personal use, business, or investment opportunities, make this an exceptional property in an unbeatable location. Don’t miss out, this one-of-a kind property will not last long.

How to Make an Older Ojai Home Feel Updated

— By Aimee Jo Davis-Varela —

Living in an older home in Ojai is often the very thing that draws many people to our valley. They love the history, craftsmanship, and sense of place that you often don’t find in homes build after the 1970s (with the exception of some custom builds).

And for many buyers coming from Los Angeles and Orange County, that authenticity is exactly the appeal. These buyers are most often looking for a slower pace, a simpler life, and a place that can really feel like home.

•

If you are preparing to sell (or simply want to refresh your space), focus on highlighting your home’s character and charm, making it feel clean and functional, and adding or emphasizing modern comforts and conveniences – without erasing its age.

Honor the Details That Tell the Story:

Older Ojai homes often have elements that create coziness, warmth, and charm that are difficult to replicate:

• Hand-finished wood floors

• Exposed beams or unique ceiling lines

• Original windows or doors

Plaster walls with subtle texture

• Built-ins or architectural niches

• Features that are custom and maybe a

These are not flaws — they are assets that tell your home’s story and can increase its appeal to buyers.

Whenever possible, retain these features that make your home unique. Sometimes, these features just need a good cleaning, refinishing, repairs, or good lighting. Touches like original hardware (or era-appropriate replacements if originals are not available) are seen as soulful, not outdated.

Refresh With Light, Not Trends:

One of the easiest ways to make an older home feel fresh is to focus on light and simplicity rather than following fast-moving design trends that may feel out of place in Ojai.

Simple updates that work beautifully here:

• Warm, neutral interior paint colors

• Updated lighting that feels clean and understated

• Removing heavy drapery to let natural light in

• Streamlining furnishings so the architecture can stand out

In Ojai, buyers tend to respond more to warmth, space, and a peaceful feel than bold design statements.

Modernize Function Where It Matters:

Unless your home has significant structural concerns or floor plan issues, you probably do not need a full remodel. If your home feels dated, has deferred maintenance, or is lacking in expected, modern features — like air conditioning, updated appliances, or energy- and water-efficient elements — then this is where you will want to focus.

Projects that often help older Ojai homes with these concerns:

• Updating kitchen appliances

• Updating bathroom fixtures to water-efficient options

• Installing one or more new HVAC systems

• Updating countertops with natural materials that lean into your home’s character

• Updating faucets and lighting fixtures

• Improving natural light (and views, if you have them)

• Refreshing doors, drawers, and windows with new hardware for smooth operation

• Improving flow both with the interior floor plan and between indoor and outdoor spaces

Let the Setting Do the Work: Ojai homes are deeply connected to their surroundings, and that connection is part of the value.

Many buyers coming from other areas are drawn here for the mountain views, community feel, quiet mornings, slower rhythm, natural surroundings, and year-round outdoor living. It’s also why many of us who grew up here — or chose to move here years ago — continue to call this valley home.

To emphasize these at your home, make sure to:

• Clear pathways to patios or gardens

• Keep landscaping natural and low maintenance

• Clean outdoor living areas and update with new textiles

• Trim trees and bushes to accentuate views

If you are doing your own staging, remember that you are staging for a lifestyle — not a showroom. Create moments that invite pause — a chair under a tree, a small table outside for morning coffee, a bench on the front porch to enhance the community feel.

How to Determine What Your House Needs:

This is where it can get challenging, right? Knowing how best to update your home and where to draw the line can be difficult. This is partly going to depend on your budget, your needs, and what you are hoping to achieve.

Avoid overly modern finishes that clash with the architecture, removing charm in favor of uniformity, and renovations that aren’t going to return their cost or make your home significantly more comfortable and functional.

So, when you are considering home improvement projects, think: If it improves livability, it is probably worth doing; if it removes personality, it probably is not.

Every older home is different, so what makes sense for one property may not make sense for another. If you are wondering which updates will truly add value to your Ojai home without taking away its character, a local real estate agent can offer perspective rooted in this market and the buyers drawn to it.

Ross Falvo

Keller Williams Realty “The Ojai Real Estate Guy” RossFalvo.com 805-207-5094

Dennis Guernsey LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

805-798-1998

Nora Davis LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

OjaiValleyEstates. com

805-207-6177

Jessica McRae Ojai Valley Real Estate

221 E. Matilija St., Ste J (805) 699-8645 jessica@ojaivalleyrealestate. com

Patty Waltcher LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Call me for your Real Estate needs. 805-340-3774

Therese A. Hartmann is a local loan consultant affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation, and is a Licensed Broker, California BRE #01048403. NMLS # 298291. Call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

Donna Sallen Remax Gold Coast Realtors

Donna4Remax@aol.com

DonnaSallen.com 805-798-0516

Logan Hall Logan Hall Photography 805-798-0337 loganhallphotos. com

Vivienne Moody LIV Sotheby’s International Realty 805-798-1099 vmoody10@ sbcglobal.net OjaiLifestyle.net

Amy Hall | Realtor® LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Amy.Hall@SothebysRealty.com direct+1

805.444.7874

554 E Main Street | Ventura, California 93001 Cal DRE 01957427

Bob Kemper Broker, MBA Kemper Realty of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty

Bob.Kemper@ sothebysrealty.com DRE# 01356802 (805) 551-5121

Larry Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde. com 805-640-5734

Erik Wilde LIV Sotheby’s International Realty Wilde-Wilde.com 805-830-3254

Team Deckert

Keller Williams Realty

Ray Deckert, Broker Associate ContactUs@ TeamDeckert. com

805-272-5218

Dale Hanson Ojai Valley Real Estate 211 E. Matilija Street, Ste. J, 206 E. Ojai Ave. 805-646-7229 dale@ovhl.com

Anne Williamson LIV Sotheby’s Anneshomesinojai.com

805-320-3314

a n y m o r e . B u t n o w w e d i s c o v e r e d t h e m a g i c a l t o w n o f O j a i

a n d t h o u g h t t h a t t h i s w o u l d b e t h e p e r f e c t p l a c e f o r T h e

I v y t o r e - o p e n . O u r w i d e r a n g e o f i t e m s i n c l u d e s a n t i q u e s ,

n e e s t a t e j e w e l r y, s t e r l i n g s i l v e r, E u r o p e a n p o r c e l a i n s a n d

p o t t e r y, l i n e n s , a n d e x c e p t i o n a l a n t i q u e f u r n i t u r e f r o m

a r o u n d t h e w o r l d . A s a l w a y s a t T h e I v y, t a b l e t o p

a c c e s s o r i e s a b o u n d i n n e d i s h w a r e , c r y s t a l , a n d s i l v e r t o

n i s h o ff y o u r t a b l e i n s t y l e . C o m e s e e o u r n e w l y

e x p a n d e d s h o w r o o m f e a t u r i n g e x c l u s i v e , v e r y m o d e r n ,

a n d u n u s u a l f u r n i t u r e , a r t , r u g s , a n d a c c e s s o r i e s . I f y o u

n e e d t o n d t h e e l u s i v e " p e r f e c t " g i f t , T h e I v y i n O j a i i s t h e

o n e - s t o p - s h o p f o r a l l y o u r n e e d s

C o m e j o i n u s , a f t e r a l l : ' E v e r y o n e s h o p s a t T h e I v y.' t h e i v y i n c . c o m 8 0 5 . 2 7 2 . 8 9 1 2

Thank You Ojai For Voting Us Best of Ojai Four Years in a Row, Gold for Property Management in 2025 & Bronze for Best Real Estate Office!

AGAVE MARIA

Fresh, wholesome Mexican food & drink 106 South Montgomery Street (805) 646-6353 agavemarias.com

AJ’S EXPRESS CHINESE EXPRESS

Gourmet Chinese food to eat in or to go 11566 North Ventura Avenue (805) 646-1177 ajchinesecuisine.com

BOCCALI’S

Pizza & Pasta, from our farm to our tables

3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road (805) 646-6116 boccalis.com

BONNIE LU’S COUNTRY CAFE

Traditional American breakfast & brunch 328 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-0207

THE DEER LODGE

An Ojai legend since 1932 2261 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-4256 deerlodgeojai.com

THE DUTCHESS

457 East Matilija Street (805) 640-7987 thedutchessojai.com

FARMER & THE COOK

The best of organic Ojai 339 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-9608 farmerandcook.com

YUME JAPANESE BURGER

254 East Ojai Avenue (Arcade) (805) 646-1700

JIM & ROB’S FRESH GRILL

Mexican-American & regional favorites 214 West Ojai Avenue #100

(805) 640-1301

jimandrobsojai.com

HIP VGN

Vegan sandwiches, salads & bowls

201 North Montgomery Street

hipvegancafe.com (805) 669-6363

HOME KITCHEN OF OJAI

Breakfast and lunch in a warm space 1103 Maricopa Highway (805) 646-5346

HomeKitchenofOjai.com

JOPLIN’S

Classic Barbecue with Sides 715 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9053 JoplinsOjai.com

MANDALA

Pan-Asian Cuisine 11400 North Ventura Road (805) 613-3048

THE NEST

401 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9035 thenestojai.com

OAK GRILL @ THE INN

Al fresco dining under vine-covered pergola 905 Country Club Road (805) 646-1111 ojairesort.com

OJAI COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY

Salads, sandwiches & superb service 337 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-4478

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY

331 Ojai Avenue (Downtown Ojai) 545-7878

TheOnlyGoodPizza.com

OJAI PIZZA COMPANY (Oak View)

The go-to place for food & sports 820 North Ventura Avenue

OJAI ROTIE

Rotisserie, sourdough, winebox 469 East Ojai Avenue (805) 798-9227 ojairotie.com

PAPA LENNON’S

Family owned, original & traditional Italian cuisine 515 West El Roblar Drive (805) 640-7388 papalennons.com

RAINBOW BRIDGE

A community gathering place 211 East Matilija Street (805) 646-6623 rainbowbridgeojai.com

THE RANCH HOUSE

An Ojai culinary destination for more than 60 years 102 Besant Road (805) 646-2360 theranchhouse.com

SAKURA OJAI

A locals’ favorite for Japanese food 219 East Matilija Street (805) 646-8777 sakuraojai.wix.com

SEA FRESH

Serving Ojai for 30 years

533 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-7747 seafreshseafood.com

ZAIDEE’S BAR & GRILL

Patio & indoor dining with Ojai’s most tranquil views 1033 East Ojai Avenue (805) 646-5685 soulepark.com

NAVIGATING PAST PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS

DOES YOUR POINT OF VIEW SERVE YOU?

The other day, when I was walking over to a downtown market, I noticed a local blind woman who can normally be seen with her guide dog traversing her way from across town.

I think this is remarkable.

But on this day, I noticed she was sans dog and had only a white cane. I followed her tap-tap-tapping across a busy Ojai Avenue while she navigated a curb, bushes, a street sign and a parking lot exit and entrance.

To an outside observer, her journey might appear precarious. It did to me! Cars humming past, sidewalks buckling from roots and tourists wandering unpredictably. But she moved with a quiet confidence, listening to subtle cues the rest of us rarely notice — the echo of her cane, the shift in air pressure as a cyclist rides by and the warmth of sunlight followed by a coolness that might tell her a building or tree is nearby.

Or so I imagine.

Watching her, I realized what seemed a little scary to me was routine to her. In that moment, it struck me how differently people interpret the same moment and that our perspective really does sit at the heart of how we understand and form a point of view.

Growing up, my father seemed to realize that if he wanted to nurture his kiddos to be

By Therese A. Hartmann

Therese A. Hartmann has more than 25 years’ lending experience. She is a Licensed Broker, California Dept. of Real Estate #01048403, NMLS # 298291, affiliated with C2 Financial Corporation. For a free consultation, call Therese today at (805) 798-2158.

well-rounded and fair-minded, it would be important to get us to see many sides to a situation.

At the dinner table, he would create a made-up (or current) situation and then ask us to tell him what we thought. Then he would feed in more information and ask us to reconsider using the new data. It mattered less to prove who was right and far more to just look at multiple angles.

Maybe he ran us through this exercise to stretch our locus of identity to include how someone else might feel while sharpening our critical thinking, I’m not sure.

Whether he meant to or not, this training of sorts fostered our ability to let loose preconceived notions in favor of seeing

more than the face-value picture of a situation and maybe move a little closer to the heart of the matter.

My mother, for her part, has always seemed to be able to intuitively “get” what people need most. Just straight to it … no mental gymnastics required. This week, for example, as the gas lines in front of her home were being replaced, I noticed that four workers were sitting in front of her house having lunch. I had a little laugh because, knowing how sweet and welcoming she is, they chose her place as somewhere that felt good.

She’d brought water out to them, and they were very grateful as it was a brutally hot day and they were exhausted.

In contrast, a neighbor had been yelling at these same men, chiding them for some inefficiency or other. After talking to them and seeing the sweat rolling off their brows, it was clear that they were doing their best, but this neighbor could only think of herself.

And then, at a lab appointment, the other day, as we were leaving, my mother reached out to a Hispanic woman in the waiting room who was holding her head in her hands. My mother reached over to her, placing her hand on her shoulder telling her everything was going to be okay.

I don’t know if the woman understood English, but she certainly understood the gesture and mustered up a smile.

Kindness offered, kindness accepted and loving connection made.

I offer these examples because it often feels to me like we are living in a day and age where we need to be reminded how much we miss when we assume our own viewpoint is the only one. In a time when political conversations often feel like battles, perhaps the most radical act is to listen — to tap our metaphorical canes along the edges of someone else’s experience and discover that the path is wider than we thought.

Ojai’s streets are full of people moving through the world in different ways. With this in mind, I would challenge everyone reading this to do something simple, that could end up having a profound impact. Today or tomorrow, find someone — even a stranger — and ask them about their life, ask what is important to them, ask them what it is they are most proud of. Find a way to let go of your idea of who they might be and just listen.

My guess is that you will not only get a great story and a heartwarming connection to that person, but your arc of belief might also bend toward a more interesting world. The more perspectives we’re willing to consider, the more clearly we all see. And that can only be a good thing.

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Rose Valley Land - Create an off-grid, country retreat on 40 acres with mountain views, trails, and a natural spring in Rose Valley in the Los Padres National Forest

Set along Ojai’s coveted Foothill Road, this restored 1929 Tudor Revival estate blends historic charm with modern elegance. A designated Historic Landmark, the property features a 4-bed main house, barn, yoga studio, and enchanting gardens with mountain views. Moments from hiking trails, farmers markets, and the Ojai Valley Inn, its a rare chance to own a piece of Ojai history.