ojai blog - news and events in the Ojai community

Ojai weather or not?

This last Wednesday, it reached 86 degrees in Ojai, one degree short of the all-time record for February 8th, set in 1954.  Global warming isn't going way, it's accelerating.  We have a government that continues to roll back environmental legislation (see my story on logging in the sequoias) or not sign it in the first place (see my open letter to the Mayor of Ojai suggesting the mayor join over 200 other mayors across the United States in signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement).

Millenium sends me an article from the BBC on climate change.  It's rather alarming in an our-government-doesn't-give-a-crap sort of way:

"As we get more and more evidence in, it is looking as if the current period is the warmest for over 1,000 years."

In November, Science published a paper showing atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane are higher now than at any time in the past 650,000 years.

Visit Ojai: online Ojai visitors guide

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been putting together The Ojai Network, an online directory for Ojai, which now has about 300 entries, from touristy things to local services.  Following are some links that may help a visitor to Ojai find that perfect romantic hideaway, memorable little restaurant or peaceful hiking spot.

Where to stay in Ojai:
Ojai Hotels, Inns & Spas
Outdoor Ojai Destinations
Private Ojai Destinations

Where to eat in Ojai:
Ojai Restaurants

What to do in Ojai:
Events In Ojai
Ojai Galleries
Music in Ojai
Ojai Theater & Film

Get away from the office and the traffic in sloooojai:
Ojai Healing Destinations
Ojai Healers
Outdoor Recreation in Ojai
Sports & Exercise in Ojai

And certainly some of you will inevitably need these links, so keep this page bookmarked:
Ojai Real Estate Agencies
Ojai Realtors
Ojai Chamber of Commerce

Ojai Biodiesel Community Meeting

Ojai Biodiesel Community Meeting
Friday, January 27, 7:00pm, Ojai
Keynote Speaker: Kent Bullard

Kent is one of the major mover/shakers to bring the concept and reality of biodiesel to the central coast. He has personally used biodiesel for four years and was responsible for introducing it to the Channel Islands National Park. Recently he co-founded a biodiesel coop in west Los Angeles which opened on January 7th. This will be a resource and information gathering and networking meeting, filled with facts about what's possible above and below ground. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel for diesel engines which reduces criteria pollutants and our dependence on petroleum fuels, along with the associated geo-political issues. For more info, call Sunshine at 805-646-4428.

1273 S. Rice Rd, Community clubhouse.  Golden Oaks Mobile Home Park
Please park on the street and walk straight into Golden Oaks Mobile Home Park, past the 9th house on your right, the community clubhouse is through the pool gate.

Thanks to Steven from Farmer & The Cook for the heads-up.

The Ojai Network

A little something I've been working on - the Ojai Network.

Ojaiblog receives year end award

Totally cool - I am honored to have one of my blog posts on Logging in the Sequoias get the nod as one of five "Best California Posts of 2005" from Speak Out California, an organization that is looking to find solutions for the problems we face in our state: poverty, the economic squeeze on the middle class, a crumbling health care system and struggling public schools and universities.

Attuning To Nature

Thanks to Sasha for the heads-up:

Tune into KMUD-FM or www.kmud.org streaming over the web, and check out Talk Show Friday from 7-8pm.  "Attuning to Nature" by John Christianson, an activist/environmentalist formerly of Ojai Valley, will discuss "Sudden Oak Death". 

John is the same guy who climbed into one of three oaks in Libbey Park slated for removal by the city way back when.  A flashback (from 2001?  not sure...[ed]):

OJAI OAK FELLED AMID PROTESTS

Protesters in Ojai watched in dismay on Wednesday June 13th as the towering oak they fought to save was cut limb from limb and fed into the grinding maw of a woodchopper.  "Stop killing Ojai!" they screamed as a dozen Ventura County sheriff deputies kept them from approaching the 50-foot tree. One protester was arrested.

The move came a day after an emotional city council session ended with a 4-1 vote to allow the trees removal from a small courtyard in the downtown plaza. Mayor David Bury cast the dissenting vote during a meeting that attracted 125 people.

The property owner maintained the tree had become a hazard and was pressing into the building's foundation and one of its walls. Her efforts to remove it were met with protests from Ojai's vocal tree champions who maintained that other options were not tried.

About 40 demonstrators, some of whom camped out all night, greeted the cutters. The tree, which was 100 to 125 years old, fell in big chunks to the street. Each falling branch elicited a flurry of chants and insults from the protesters.

John Christianson, who last year tied himself to a 150 year-old oak in the city's Libbey Park in a futile effort to save it, stood across the street in tears.  "My heart is breaking," said Christianson, who founded the Ojai Oak Alliance. "This is a terrible defeat. I am determined to stop anything like this from happening again."

Images of Matilija Canyon

a few photos taken out in Matilija Canyon on Oct. 29.

and is this the pink moment people are talkin' about?  nah... :)

Solar Initiative Update

Michael Lind passed on this update on the California Million Solar Roofs Campaign from Vote Solar, an advocacy group, whose mission is "to promote a national transition to clean energy by empowering city governments to implement large-scale, cost-effective solar projects":

A short update on the campaign for the California Million Solar Roofs program: Vote Solar has been working with our partner organizations to launch a public outreach campaign to support the passage of the Million Solar Roofs program at the Public Utilities Commission. We’ve had an unprecedented number of groups turn their members loose on the PUC, and it’s making history. In the last two months, more than 43,000 people have now contacted the CPUC in support of passing the Million Solar Roofs program. This is the highest number of public comments that the CPUC has ever received on any issue they have considered, including the California energy crisis.

It's making a difference. On November 15, Administrative Law Judge Kim Malcolm issued an interim decision to increase solar funding to $300 million for next year, the largest it has ever been, and the rebate will be set at $2.80/watt. This is expected to be approved after the 30 day public comment period. On December 13, the PUC is expected to release its proposed decision to create the full ten year, $3 billion solar incentive program. If it is passed in January, this will be the second largest solar program in the world, after Germany's.

(sort of near) Ojai Fire

I've had a lot of Google traffic today from people searching for "Ojai fire" - more here on today's fire at the VC Star.

Strong Santa Ana winds are continuing to fuel a 2,000-acre wildfire that is raging out of control along on the Ventura hillside today, threatening dozens of homes.

A mandatory evacuation is in effect for residents living north of Lincoln Street at Barnard Way, city officials announced at 11:15 a.m.

The fire was threatening houses along the San Jon Barranca, including homes along Lincoln Drive, Lupine Way and Buena Vista Street. The flames were burning southeast toward the Hall Canyon area about noon.

Firefighters are trying to establish a border around the fire and keep the fire contained inside that area. They hope to keep the fire east of Ventura Avenue, north of Poli Street and north of homes that sit above Poli Street, south of Canada Larga and west of Sexton Canyon.

And here's a gallery of reader-submitted photos of the fire from the VC Star.

Pruning Demonstration at Ojai Demonstration Garden

This sounds fun...

On Saturday, Nov. 5th, the Ojai Community Demonstration Garden and the Ventura County Master Gardener program will be conducting a joint Pruning Workshop with Master Gardener Charles Duncan. The workshop, which will take place in the Ojai Community Demonstration Garden (behind CIty Hall on South Ventura Street) will begin at 10: 30 AM. It is free and the public is welcome to attend. Bring your shears and loppers if you want to practice pruning with some master guidance.