"Let's Walk" Community Walk in Ojai on Saturday, October 29, 2022

The Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation is hosting “Let’s Walk” community walk on Saturday, October 29th in an effort to promote a healthy lifestyle. Bring your family and walk the bike path from Ojai Valley Hospital to Downtown Ojai. Return to the hospital for snacks, prizes and socializing. Free of charge. Pets on leash are welcome. Registration open at 8 a.m. Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. More info at www.octoberclassic.org.

10th Annual Purrs & Paws Holiday Boutique and Marketplace in Ojai on Saturday, December 4, 2021

The 10th Annual Purrs & Paws Holiday Boutique and Marketplace is scheduled to return on Saturday, December 4th for a day filled with holiday spirit, shopping, and fun!

This event, organized by the Humane Society of Ventura County’s Animal Ambassadors, will be open from 9:00am until 4:00pm and will be held at 414 East Ojai Avenue at the Chaparral Auditorium and adjacent lawn. Admission and parking are free.

With more than 30 vendors, you will find fun, festive, and unique crafts, artistic creations, and vintage items. This is a perfect opportunity to find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts including fashion accessories, jewelry, gift baskets, fabric creations, pottery, baby items, bath and body products, plants, and an array of unique holiday decor.

www.hsvc.org/purrs_and_paws_2021

Humane Society of Ventura County Birthday Bash & Open House in Ojai on June 9th

Stop by the Humane Society of Ventura County between 10-3 on Saturday, June 9, 2018 to celebrate 86 years of service to Ventura County. Get a behind the scenes peek at the facility, interact with animals, tour the kennels and clinic, meet the staff, and learn about different volunteer opportunities. Bring the whole family to enjoy refreshments, participate in a treasure hunt and learn more about how YOU can make a difference in the lives of animals in need!

Humane Educator, Robin Satnick, will have a variety of activities for children along with information on responsible pet ownership. Our Humane Officers will be on hand to give you a look at the responsibilities and duties of protecting animals throughout the county. We are pleased to welcome back Firefly Ceramics and their Tiles for Tails program. For a $25 donation benefiting our new kennels, you can design your own tile that will be permanently displayed on site here at the Shelter. 

What would a visit to a shelter be without the main attraction—the animals! There will be a full house of critters available for adoption; you never know when you are going to meet your new best friend!

When: Saturday June 9th from 10-3

Where: Humane Society of Ventura County. 402 Bryant St. in Ojai. Call 805-646-6505 for more information or visit www.hsvc.org/86th_birthday_bash_open_house.

Humane Society of Ventura County Open House Birthday Bash in Ojai on June 10th

We invite you to come celebrate 85 years of service to Ventura County at our upcoming Open House on Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 10am to 3pm! Get a behind the scenes peek at the facility, interact with animals, tour the kennels and clinic, meet the staff,  and learn about our different volunteer opportunities. 

A variety of local artists and crafts people will have one of a kind items available for sale. Bring the whole family to enjoy refreshments, participate in our scavenger hunt and learn more about how YOU can make a difference in the lives of animals in need!

Humane Educator, Dawn Reily, will have her assortment of critters, and our Humane Officers will be on hand to give you a look at the responsibilities and duties of protecting animals throughout the county.   

Firefly Ceramics will have a booth and for or a $20 donation to benefit our new kennels, you can design your own tile to later become a permanent part of the structure. 

What would a visit to a shelter be without the main attraction—the animals! We have a full house of critters available for adoption; you never know when you are going to meet your new best friends! 

WHERE: Humane Society of Ventura County, 402 Bryant Street, Ojai

www.hsvc.org/85th_birthday_bash_open_house

Upcoming Programs at Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center in Ojai

Here's the lineup of summer programs planned at the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center in Ojai in 2017. $3 for adults; $2 for age 5-12. Under 5 are free.

May 20 – 11:00am  –  Luzonica Birds of the World - Join  Erin Koski, Director of Luzonica, as they share their love and conservation of all bird species.  Luzonica will bring a variety of birds to share and show outside of the Visitor Center.

May 27 – 11:00am – Nature Walk with Julie Tumamait - Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait will teach and show local plants around Wheeler Gorge Campground.  She will explain how to use native plants for food, medicine and with Chumash games.

June 10 – 11:00am – Hiking: Be Prepared - Dr. James Caballero will draw from over 20 years of local hiking to talk about practical hiking tips.  These tips will help to keep you safe while on the trails and what to look for on the trails.  Whether you are a seasoned hiker or new to the trails, you will benefit from the knowledge gained.

June 17 – 11:00am – Humane Society Surprise Program - Dawn Riley, Education Department of the Ventura County Human Society, will share her insight and experiences in this surprise presentation.  She talk could cover a pesky cat or dog or maybe even a cockroach.  Dawn is full of surprises and these programs are loved by all who attend.

June 24 – 11:00am – REI Takes the Mystery Out of…. - REI specialists will take the mystery out of backpacking in California’s Central Coast as we share our knowledge on how to enjoy this activity with your family.  REI will cover backpacking essentials, including choosing a pack or child carrier, selecting proper clothing and the right footwear and food solutions for different age groups.  No experience necessary.

July 1 – 11:00am – Reptiles with Southwestern Herpetological - Southwestern Herpetological Society will present live and impressive lizards and snakes and give advice on reptiles as pets along with being able to answer any questions you might have about reptiles.

July 8 – 11:00am – Saving the California Condor - What issues face this most endangered species and can they truly be returned to the wild to live on their own?  A presentation and items displayed by members of the Friends of the California Condor.

July 15 – 11:00am – Volcanoes in Story and Science - Learn from gifted storyteller Richard Wade, scientist, artist and educator, the science of how volcanoes erupt and grow. He will also entertain children and adults with legends and lore. Volunteers make a model volcano erupt! Get a free piece of lava.

July 22 – 10:30am – Trees Are Tremendous - Discover the native and non-native trees that live in Wheeler Gorge on this short and very educational walk led by Los Padres National Forest Botanist Lloyd Simpson.  The walk begins at the Visitor Center and continues into and around the campground before finished back at the Visitor Center.  This is a Cub Scout Required Program.

July 22 – 1:00pm – Into the Woods - Gordie Hemphill, LPFA Ojai Chapter President, leads a program that covers forest trees and plants and how mankind and animals use them. See how mankind and animals depend on them. Reservations required (Wheeler@LPForest.org) 

July 29 – 11:00am – Humane Society Surprise Program #2 - Dawn Riley, Education Department of the Ventura County Human Society, will share her second surprise presentation featuring our domesticated friends.

August 5 – 11:00am – Last Days of the Dinosaurs - Richard Wade, scientist, artist and educator will present a hands-on, fun-filled presentation about how dinosaurs lived and died, even the sounds they made. Hold a real meteorite and replicas of fossils. Appropriate for all ages.

August 12 – 11:00am – Earth Rocks! Geology - Discover from Jennifer Flittie how volcanoes, mountains, caves and geysers are formed. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in metal, glass, jewelry, and in building homes. Make a Moh’s scale of hardness kit. Start a rock and mineral kit. Reservations required (Wheeler@LPForest.org)

August 12 – 1:00pm  –  Into the Wild (Naturalists) - Join Alexa Hohensee as she covers in this program respecting and protecting wildlife in our local forest.  You will also learn about birds and their flyways, venomous snakes, poisonous plants and how to identify them.  You will learn about food chains and ecosystems and how humans have changed the balance of nature.   *Reservations required, $3.00 fee to cover material costs. Reservations required Wheeler@LPForest.org)

August 19 – 11:00am – Strange & Exotic Critters - This hands-on experience lets you meet some unusual animals up-close and personal.  Learn about the benefits of having pets, some special considerations for living with animals and meet some amazing ambassadors including the softest bunny ever, a hairless guinea pig, a boa constrictor, tarantula and a miniature chicken.

August 26 – 11:00am – Wonderful World of Bees - Scientists estimate that one-third of the world’s food crops and four-fifths of its flowering plants depend on some form of insect pollination, mainly by bees.  Yet honeybees are native bees around the globe are declining in numbers.  Discover the fascinating world of bees and its impact on the ecosystem.  Join University of California entomologist Anna D. Howell in a talk about the wonderful world of bees.

September 2 – 11:00am – Amazing World of Bears - Kelley Swedlow, Wheeler Gorge Docent, will present information about our brown and black bears, and    the many other types of bears found around the world.

September 9 – 11:00am – Rescuing Ocean Animals - Wildlife rescuer Ron Barrett, with the Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute, will present information and insights on sea lions, seals, otters and other animals found sick or injured. What you should do and not do when you find an animal stranded on the beach?

September 16 – 11:00am – Reptiles with Southwestern Herpetological - Southwestern Herpetological Society will present live and impressive lizards and snakes and give advice on reptiles as pets along with being able to answer any questions you might have about reptiles.

September 23 – 11:00am – Storytelling of the Chumash with Julie Tumamait - Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait will share stories of death and resurrection, stories still alive today with lessons reinforced by a look in the night skies or a walk in the wilderness.  Particular sharing will be The Story of Anucwa and  The Boys Who Turned to Geese.  Hear stories of woodpecker, blue jay, coyote and others.  Learn to look at plants and stones in different ways.  Julie is an amazing and engaging storyteller.

Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center is located at 17017 Maricopa Highway, Ojai. Call (805) 640-9060 or visit lpforest.org/wheeler for more information.

Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday Open Studios - Free Event on January 14, 2017

The Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday mini-tours begin on January 14 with four open studios in downtown Ojai. Featured this month are Andrea Haffner, Rex Kochel, Marta Nelson and Iris Williams. Studios will be open from 10am - 3pm. Admission is free, and the studios are all located within a few miles of each other.

With enthusiastic response from the community to the Second Saturday tours, OSA is scheduling mini-tours from January through July. "It gives people a chance to spend some in-depth time with each artist," Ms. Moran says. "With over 60 artists on the October Studio Tour, people really have to pick and choose who to see. This is a more leisurely tour."

A professional artist for the past 18 years, Andrea Haffner's resin cast pieces are unique and delicate. Inspired by the natural form - from yucca capsules to maple samaras, Haffner assembles and suspends bits of natural material in resin colored with transparent dyes. With a background in both photography and glass, light is a primary consideration in her work. Elegant yet abstract, she encases her assemblages within small sterling silver or larger steel frames. She creates jewelry pieces as well as large commissions. Haffner has exhibited extensively across the country and recently completed numerous large-scale commissions for hospitals, hotels and private residences.
After 34 years as an educator in the Ventura School District, Rex Kochel is now a full-time artist. His whimsical style evolved primarily from the use of blind continuous line drawings. He begins his watercolors on location, then continues to modify them in his studio before he begins to paint. His work reflects his travels to Mexico, Peru, Panama, Argentina, as well as time spent in San Francisco and Ventura County. He maintains a strong compositional focus in all of his artwork, frequently moving in the direction of abstract realism. His work can be seen at the new Remax Building in Ventura, for which he created 54 paintings which are part of their permanent collection.

Marta Nelson is a painter, printmaker and sculptor and a founding member of Ojai Studio Artists. A lifelong artist, she won her first art scholarship at 10 years old, and attended her first figure drawing classes at Chouinard Art Institute. She later taught at Bakersfield College, teaching painting and sculpture. Her art often reflects her interest in dance, her garden in Ojai as well as exotic scenes from her travels around the world. Her paintings and prints hang in private collections across the United State, Mexico and Japan. Marta is also deeply committed to the International Peace Movement. Incorporating peace doves in all her work, Marta was instrumental in establishing the first Peace Pole in Ojai.

Iris Williams sees art as a silent language. Her oil paintings are often mischievous and whimsical and also involve some aspect of storytelling. “Art was the agent that allowed me to speak,” she explains. She uses her art to explore her imagination and dreams. In all her work, whether still life, landscape or figurative work, she aims to elicit a feeling of wonder. As co-owner of Ojai Creates along with her husband Kirk Lowry, Williams sells art supplies to the community and has a longtime association with the Ojai Art Center.

A map for the January 14th event can be printed from the OSA website: ojaistudioartists.org. Any changes or additions to the list of artists will be posted there.

Ojai Earth Day Event Planned for Saturday, April 23, 2016

In celebration of sustainable living, global awareness, and the joy of nature Food for Thought, Oak Grove School, Ojai Valley Green Coalition, and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy are teaming up again to host this once-a-year community event – Earth Day 2016 – Trees for our Valley – 11:00AM – 4:00PM. Speaking at this year’s celebration is world-renowned eco-activist Vandana Shiva. The day will include local school involvement, environmental exhibits, arts and outdoor activities for all ages, live entertainment, world foods and more. Everything takes place under the trees on Oak Grove School’s 150-acre campus, 220 W. Lomita Avenue, Ojai. Admission is free. Visitors will also have ample opportunities to find ways to live greener and appreciate the natural wonders we all share. Earth Day 2016 will be filled with color and creativity. Exhibitors will share their earth-friendly products and services, provide hands-on activities, and present informational and interactive displays. Free rides available from Ojai Trolley to the event. See you there! www.ojaiearthday.org.

6th Annual Ojai Wordfest Coming April 29-May 1

www.ojaiwordfest.com

2015 Ojai Studio Artists Tour Planned for October 10-12

The 32nd annual self-guided Ojai Studio Artists Tour is Columbus Day weekend, October 10, 11 & 12. 

Fifty artist studios throughout the breathtaking Ojai Valley will be open each day from 10am to 5pm. Artist demonstrations proved so popular last year they'll be expanded in 2015 with the Demonstration Schedule distributed in advance.

Another highlight is the special Pre-Tour Program at 7pm on Friday, October 9th.
for locals and early arrivals. Led by an OSA artist, the program introduces the work of each Tour artist and is designed to help people plan their personal Tour schedules.

Also popular, Saturday's Dessert Reception and live music event, open (free) to all Tour artists and ticket-holders. The event features a raffle of beautiful baskets filled with original art and fine local products, such as Ojai honey, olive oil and lavender.

Proceeds from the Tour and Art Basket Raffle fund OSA's "Artreach Program" of youth art scholarships and funding for community arts needs.

Tour tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of event, $20/person for groups of 10 or more, $15 for students, 17 & under free, and cover studio visits all three days and admission to Saturday's Dessert Reception. Tickets and Tour brochures will be available starting in May at ojaistudioartists.org.

The Ojai Studio Artists Tour has a rich legacy , from early days that included the celebrated Beatrice Wood, Horace Bristol and Otto and Vivica Heino, to today's membership of distinguished, award-winning artists. Come see why leading critics and media describe the Ojai Studio Artists as "world-class," and the Tour, "a rare experience" - wihile the growing influx of stylish shops and trendy restaurants only adding to Ojai's unique "destination appeal."