ojai blog - news and events in the Ojai community

The Ojai Post

in case you haven't noticed... i'm doing all of my blogging over at The Ojai Post...

Meet The Champion Ojai Masters Swim Team

press release from a reader... congrats, team!

OJAI MASTERS SWIMMERS PLACE FIRST IN SO. CAL.

The Ojai Masters Swim Team, coached by Rick Goeden, came away with the first place trophy at the Southern California Regional Swimming Championships in Santa Clarita. Competing against 21 other teams, 42 Ojai swimmers from 25 through 89 years of age bested the field. Ojai’s final point total was 1897, almost twice that of second place Long Beach with 953.

For about 10 years, Ojai and Santa Barbara were a combined team and won many championships. This is the first time Ojai has won the championship as a single team. Ojai’s domination of the meet was attributed not only to the fast swims posted by many swimmers, but also to its depth. In relay competition, Ojai fielded teams in age groups all the way up to 80 and over.

Ojai’s Jennie Taylor, the most senior swimmer of the meet, won two events and received standing ovations after many of her swims. She competed on the 80-plus relay with Eleanor Brown, Boyd Ford and Bill Mors. The time posted would have placed them fifth in the nation in 2006. Many Ojai relay teams posted times that would have placed them in the 2006 National ‘Top Ten’. Results for the 2007 Top Ten relays will be announced later this year.

Three Ojai swimmers, Mitnee Duque, Rich Sojka and Eleanor Brown won the high-point award in their respective age groups.

Coach Rick Goeden contributed to the team effort by winning three events and swimming on several winning relays.  Goeden commented “For a small town such as ours to compete with 21 other teams that draw from a much bigger area is an amazing accomplishment.” He also noted “an incredible camaraderie that most coaches can only dream of.”

Swimmers who contributed to first place relay wins were Christel Rogero, Donna Whitman, Camilla Denton, Barbara Wood, Laurie Edgecomb, Tina Drennan, Sheri Ann Cate, Katherine Erickson, Nancy Voyer, Courtney Harris, Franco Campana, Bryan Tally, Kerry Ellison, Peter Christl, Beck Selzer, Grant Wilson, Richard La Plante, Harry Delatre, Peter Lawrence, Brock Bernstein, Jim Beckett, and Bill Wechter.

Ojai also has a junior swim team for children. For more information on Masters or Junior Swim Teams, call coach Rick Goeden at 646-6884.

Other Ojai swimmers who won individual events in their age group were:
Laura Schreiner, 50 free, 50 butterfly, 100 free.
Sara DelVecchio, 100 I.M., 200 breast, 50 breast
Kitty Johnston, 100 butterfly, 200 breast, 200 I.M.
Jermaine Britton, 50 free, 100 free
Carole Borland, 50 breast, 100 I.M.
Scott Wilson, 50 free, 100 back
Kelley Van Houten, 100 back
Sue McMahon 1000 free

Theater 150’s Multi-Household Sale

from a reader...

Saturday, April 14th at 8 AM

at the Ojai American Legion
843 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai CA

Vintage dresses, coats, shoes and lingerie! Theater 150 will host a giant multi-household sale at the American Legion in Ojai this Saturday.  Furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing and much, much more. Don't miss it!

If you're interested in renting a space to sell your own goods alongside us, we still have a couple of prime spots left for $25 a spot, but they're going fast!  Reply to this email or call the theater (805-646-4300) for more details.

Ojai Garden time!

The Ojai Garden Tour 2007 is approaching.  Saturday May 5th is the big day - Cinco de Mayo!  Plan on touring Ojai's lush private gardens followed by a pitcher of margaritas at your favorite Mexican establishment.

Get in touch with the Ojai Chamber if you want to buy tickets, sponsor the event or show off your garden.

Rolling Blockade Through Ojai

from the Ojai Chamber...

Your day and/or business may be temporarily affected by the Amgen “Tour of California” bike race on Saturday, February 24th.  Stage 6 of the race travels from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita.  The City of Ojai is preparing to close city roads from approximately 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. via a rolling blockade.  For additional information, visit www.AmgenTourOfCalifornia.com

The Reason For The Season

This holiday season celebrate in good fun and lively spirit with Ojai’s Merry Merchants   in Downtown Ojai. The Merchants Committee of the Ojai Valley Chamber Commerce is planning something special for you every Saturday in December before Christmas.  Many stores and restaurants will be open til 9 p.m.  The Poppy Fountain in the Arcade Plaza is the gathering spot for the following events -

At 4 p.m. Saturday, December 2nd multi-cultural seasonal tales will be told to delight and enthrall children of all ages.  Bring a blanket to sit on the lawn and listen to Julie Tumamait, Ron Rowe, Buddy Wilds, and Ricki Horne telling Native American, Christmas and Hannukah stories. At 5 p.m enjoy the official lighting up of the arcade plaza’s inner courtyard.

On Saturday, December 9th, the activities will feature our furry friends with a dog parade and contest sponsored by Noah's Apothecary at 3:00 p.m. Judges will award prizes for Best of Show, cutest, funniest, and most festive.  And at 4:00 p.m. you are invited to romp with your special Bowser on an agility course complete with professional instruction.

Don¹t miss a Community Sing-a-long on Saturday December 16th at 4 p.m. Bring your voice and the Ojai Valley News will provide the songbooks with familiar carols.  Sing with members of the Nordhoff High School Chorus, Youth Symphony, and Community Chorus.  Kids from Jewish Community of the Oaks will join in with Hanukkah songs and a menorah lighting to follow.

It¹s to be a party scene on the last Saturday before Christmas, December 23rd.  Cruise downtown to see and be seen, shop, snack, and schmooze with the Merry Merchants of Ojai.

Some of the December highlights among our participating merchants:

• Rains Department Store plans some great specials during December.

• The Lavender Inn on Matilija Street plans a cookie exchange party on Dec. 16th

- bring 4 dozen homemade cookies, and go home with a different selection

  after enjoying hors d’oevres, cranberry martinis and eggnog.

• At Around the Corner/Plush Surroundings on South Signal Street, a different artist will be featured at receptions each Saturday.

• Next door, Firehouse Pottery's Clay School will host a student pottery sale on Saturday, December 2.

• Donate money to buy a goat, cow, camel, or sheep for an African Nomad family

and receive a print of a Leslie Clark painting at Nomad Gallery.

• Visit Ojai House, and Soul Centered on North Montgomery for refreshments and in store specials.

• Stop in and see what¹s happening at Kava Gifts, Tottenham Court, and finish

with a nightcap and live music at Movino.

• Have a chair massage at Busy Babes, watch hair demos, and get into the act with real retro fun at the “Eyelash Party” on Saturday the 9th.

• Also on December 9^th, at Firehouse Pottery you can make pinch pots with Dusti Pelow and watercolor note cards with Patty Van Dyke in a Holiday Workshop from 3p.m. to 6p.m.

• The Feast Bistro will take 10% off your dinner check if you show them your

receipt from anything you¹ve purchased at Busy Babes.

• Get a free jewelers polishing cloth from Human Arts Gallery when you show a
  receipt from your purchase at Human Arts Home.

Stay in Ojai this holiday season, keep your sanity, and support all your favorite shops.  Remember the “Reason for the Season” - Enjoy the symbolism and meaning behind our traditions, create memories, celebrate the things we have in common as well as our differences; participate in our very special community.

For more details call the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce 646-8126 or contact individual shops and restaurants.

******

Visit Firehouse Pottery's Clay School first annual students' holiday sale on Dec. 2nd and make pinch pots with Dusti Pelow and watercolor note cards with Patty Van Dyke in a Holiday Workshop from 3p.m. to 6p.m. on Dec. 9th

What's Fun in Ojai this weekend?

Hey get out and do something fun! See you at Ojai Day - be sure to stop by the Ojai Peace Coalition/Veterans for Peace/Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions table and meet Ojai Post author evan austin.

Tonight, Friday, October 20
OJAI RISING - Our House performance at Libbey Bowl
Star Trek, Science, and Mysticism with Robert Ellwood at Krotona
The Ojai Day Mandala - 10pm at Signal and Grand - bring the kids!

Saturday October 21
Ojai Day!
Star Trek, Science, and Mysticism with Robert Ellwood at Krotona
Ojai Peddlers Fair at Chapparal Auditorium
Movie: "Conversations With God" at Plexus Studio

Ojai Fire Watch: Day Fire update

Updates on the Day Fire will continue to be posted on The Ojai Post.  The National Weather Service has issued an Urgent Weather Message warning that strong Santa Ana winds may be returning on Friday night through Saturday mid-day.  This has potential negative implications for Ojai.

Community Meeting Tonight, 9/21, 6:30pm
Chaparral School auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Avenue

Ojai Fire Watch: Day Wildland Fire

Full ongoing coverage of the Day Wildland Fire over at The Ojai Post...

Farewell, ye olde oak

So Bart's Books has lost its old oak tree, rotten from the inside.  Show Dave and Jason some love and enrich your own soul - stop by and pick up a couple books for the bedside or commode.  From the VC Star:

A branch from the huge oak that once covered the open-air store came crashing down into the street around 1 p.m. Sunday.

Consulting arborist Paul Rogers inspected the rotted cavity left by the branch and determined that the oak was decayed. Rogers said the intense heat of the past few days could have contributed to the branch breaking.

"I was on a ladder about 10 to 12 feet high and the trunk was hollow down to the ground," he said. Rogers recommended that the tree be removed because there was not enough support to hold up the rest of the branches and keep them from falling as well.

While the store believes the landmark tree to be about 400 years old, Rogers estimated it to be more like 250 to 300 years old.

"It's always painful for Ojai to lose an oak tree," Ojai Mayor David Bury said. "They are a valuable and appreciated aspect of our natural environment."