Spring 2000 (PDF)

OPEN SPACES The latest news from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Vol. 7 No.1 Working to Protect The Ojai Valley’s Future - Today Spring 2000 Thank You Ojai! Campaign To Preserve Ojai Meadows Is A Success n less than three months, local residents exceeded the $525,000 necessary to acquire, preserve and I protect, the 32-acre parcel located between Nordhoff High School and the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. “The overwhelming community support for this project was beyond our greatest expectations,” exclaimed John Broesamle, OVLC Board President. Local donors responded enthusiastically by helping the Conservancy beat both the campaign goal and the December 31st deadline. These additional funds will be used to help “The overwhelming community with the long support for this project was beyond term care for our greatest expectations!” Ojai Valley open spaces like the Ojai Meadows Preserve. photo courtesy of the Ojai Valley News The 32-acre Preserve is now open to the public and can be accessed from the Maricopa Highway. During the coming years, the Conservancy hopes to restore the wet- It’s Official! Supporters celebrate the lands and oak woodlands habitats to provide a site for out- acquisition of The Ojai Meadows. door education and better habitat for wildlife. See pages 5 and 6 for more information about the Ojai Meadows Preserve. Cluff’s Gift Helps Acquire Key Downtown Parcel he holiday season brought The former gas station property, on its own as a positive reflection another ‘open space present’ which has commanding views of of the Ojai Community spirit,” T for the Ojai Valley. A generous Topa Topa Mountain and the sur- says Jim Engel, OVLC Executive $200,000 gift from Sheila and Don rounding Los Padres National Director. Cluff enabled the Conservancy to Forest, will be developed into a The Redevelopment Agency lead the acquisition effort of a half- community park which reflects the has taken temporary ownership of acre site on the corner of Ojai character of Ojai. The design the property to enable final clean- Avenue, El Paseo and Rincon phase for the project will occur dur- up of the site from past contamina- Road. The Cluff donation is the ing the first six months of the year tion and the elimination of potential largest individual gift ever received with input from the community. liability. The past contamination by the Land Conservancy. The Once the plan is completed, OVLC which occurred in the ground water acquisition was finalized on will help raise the funds necessary table below the site is not expected December 28th, thanks to other out- to develop and maintain the park to have any impact on the develop- standing contributions by the Ojai site. “Years from now, when people ment of the site as a community Civic Association and the City of have forgotten the past history of park. Ojai Redevelopment Agency. this site, we want the park to stand Ojai Valley Land A Message From Our President Conservancy Post Office Box 1092 We Did It! Ojai, California 93024 Phone/Fax • (805) 646-7930 etween October 10 and December 20 the Conservancy raised E-mail Address • [email protected] B $535,000, including a lead gift of $200,000 to purchase the Palmer Street Address: Property just north of Nordhoff High School. On October 10, 130 people 206 N. Signal St. Suite ‘J’ gathered under a scorching sky and renamed the site, the Ojai Meadows Preserve. On December 11 volunteers began the process of returning the land to its natural state. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our success with the Meadows Preserve Campaign required years of preparation and the combined efforts of scores of Conservancy mem- Julie Bloomer bers. Our Board of Directors alone have contributed $70,000 towards the Caryn Bosson Campaign to Preserve Ojai’s Special Places Forever. John Broesamle That campaign continues. On the last day of 1999, thanks to a stun- Fred Bysshe ning $200,000 lead gift from Sheila and Don Cluff, the City of Ojai, the Alice Chesley Ojai Civic Association, and the Conservancy were able to close escrow Stacy Davis on the half-acre triangle at Ojai Avenue and El Paseo Road. Within the Roger Essick next twenty months, this will become a gem of a park for the entire com- David Garber munity to enjoy. Carl Huntsinger Meanwhile, our rehabilitation of the Meadows Preserve is gaining Thad Hyland momentum. Right now we need many volunteers with a variety of skills Jim Jackson who are willing to join our “open space team” that will educate the public Allan Jacobs about the property, oversee it, and keep it clean. With 786 members--over Joan Kemper 100 new ones since the capital campaign began last October--abundant Philip Moncharsh talent should be available. Please help, won’t you? Nancy Myers Philip G. Pierpont John Broesamle Mary Nye Pierpont Alan Rains Michael Shapiro Leave A Legacy Mansfield Sprague Carl Thelander Give A Gift For Future Generations of the Ojai Valley Pat Weinberger Please join the seven families and individuals who in 1999 Allan West included the Conservancy in their will or trust. Consider the last- Merrill Williams ing impact of an estate gift for the preservation of the natural and ADVISORY COUNCIL agricultural heritage of the Ojai Valley. Your contribution will be used for: David Bury Ellen Hall • Preserving critical open spaces like the Ojai Meadows Richard Handley David Lavender, Sr. • Restoring important natural habitats Vivienne Moody Steve Olsen • Educating our youth and community to be better stewards of Nina Shelley our open spaces Al Stroberg If you have already named us in your estate plans, let us thank you for your generous gift and welcome you to the Conservation STAFF Legacy Circle. For a confidential inquiry about helping to protect Jim Engel the future and beauty of this valley, please contact the Linda Solomon Conservancy office at 646-7930. 2 Conservancy News Briefs Ilvento Preserve Burns pproximately 80% of the Conservancy’s Ilvento Preserve was impacted by the Ranch Fire in late A December. The understory plants and shrubs were burned completely, while the Coast Live Oaks seemed to have survived with very little damage. “This is a good sign for this chaparral plant community which depends on fire for its long term health,” says Carl Thelander, wildlife biologist and OVLC Board Member. The preserve’s wildflowers, ferns and other plants were documented last year by local photographer Bob Rene. “These photographs will allow us a special opportunity to record the changes to the Preserve from year to year,” states Jim Engel OVLC Executive Director. “Everything looks pretty bleak at this point,” adds Engel, “but come spring we should have a spectacular display of wildflowers.” Walking with Fire, a tour of the Ilvento Preserve will occur on Saturday, April 15. See page 9 for Upcoming Events. Membership Tops 780 hanks to an amazing outpouring of community support during 1999, the Conservancy has expanded to 786 T members. More than doubling the organization’s list of supporters in the last year. Sue and Gary Horgan, who became the Conservancy’s 699th and 700th members, stated that they joined because, “You are accom- plishing what others simply dream of doing.” Clean Up Day everal dozen volunteers, young and old, turned out for the Community Open Space Day at the Ojai S Meadows Preserve on December 10. Participants had an opportunity to hear about the Conservancy’s future plans for the site and lend a helping hand. A truck load of trash and other debris was pulled from the property and old growth Valley Oak Trees were cared for with the hope that their health will be improved. See page 4 for more information on how to volunteer at the Ojai Meadows Preserve and for other projects. Broesamle Named Citizen Of The Year n early December, John Broesamle, OVLC President was named the Citizen Of The Year by the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce. Broesamle, a professor at I Cal State Northridge, took a year sabbatical from his teaching to focus on the OVLC’s efforts. “John has been a fearless supporter of open space in the Ojai Valley during the past five years,” commented Jim Engel. Congratulations John for this well deserved honor. photo courtesy of The Ojai Valley News Conservancy Video Receives National Recognition he OVLC’s 10-minute video about open space and the Conservancy’s role in protecting the Ojai Valley has T received national recognition at a land trust conference in Aspen, CO during October. The video was high- lighted as one of the best examples of what conservancies can do to promote their efforts. Produced and edit- ed by Jim Jackson, a film producer and Conservancy Board Member, the video has captured many beautiful scenes from around the Valley. It is available for $5 from the Conservancy office. 3 Ways To Help Volunteers Volunteer Needed For Opportunities New Preserve he acquisition of the 32-acre T Ojai Meadows Preserve brings new challenges and respon- sibilities. The Conservancy’s com- mitment to public access for this site will help to enrich the lives of Ojai Meadows And The Ilvento Preserve Valley residents by providing walking trails, educational opportuni- Preserve Coordinator Trail and Sign ties, and a place to relax and Help train, organize and motivate Maintenance Assistants reflect. As a result, trails will need our volunteers force. Help keep our trails in good shape to be maintained, trees planted and for the public’s enjoyment and cared for, questions answered for Preserve Hosts safety. visitors, and other tasks to keep the Preserve looking its best. We Walk trails and report on Preserve Tour Leaders need your help, so if you are look- conditions.

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