The following article first appeared in the Sunday, May 21, 1967 edition of “The Ojai Valley News and Oaks Gazette” on Page A-4. That newspaper in now the “Ojai Valley News”. The article is reprinted here with their permission. The author is unknown.
Realtors: time is right to by home
“The Time is Right to Buy a Home” is the theme of the 1967 Realtor Week celebration this week by the 75 members of the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors, Effie Skelton, board president, announced today.
In honor of Realtor Week, a number of observances have been scheduled as Realtors in this area join with their more than 85,000 colleagues across the nation directing public attention to their calling and special character of the services they render.
“A Realtor,” said Mrs. Skelton , “is a profession in real estate who subscribes to a strict code of ethics as a member of the local and state boards and the National Associations of Real Estate Boards.”
The term Realtor, which is a coined term and trademark, can be used only by members of the National Association and its local boards.
In discussing the Code of Ethics, it was one of the first such codes adopted in the history of American business. Under it 30 articles which cover all aspects of real estate transaction, Realtors pledge fair treatment and their total real estate knowledge to both parties of a contract — the buyer and seller.
Realtor week will continue through Saturday, May 27. The slogan this year underscores the resourcefulness of Realtors throughout the nation. For the prospective buyer who is experiencing a little difficulty in securing financing for property, the Realtor can suggest new money sources. For the family which needs more space for growth, the Realtor can fill their needs, both as to size and cost.
The local board was founded in 1962. The parent group, the National Association or Real Estate Boards, was founded in 1908, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
1967 will continue to be a busy year for the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors. Last year some members assisted in the Heart Fund Drive, others with the Ojai Valley Museum, one on the Architectural Board, also, a committee working with the high school, in which the board is sponsoring an essay contest for a Calif. Real Estate Assn. scholarship. The board will enter a float in the 4th of July parade in Ojai.
They received a plaque for first award in 1966. They have committees covering local and civic affairs, as well as legislation.
Preditors take over Pony league lead
The following article first appeared in the Sunday, May 21, 1967 edition of “The Ojai Valley and Oaks Gazette” on Page A-4. This newspaper is now the “Ojai Valley News”. The article is reprinted here with their permission. The author is unknown.
Preditors take over Pony league lead
Righthander Dennis Taylor hurled the defending champion Preditors into first place May 16 when he fired a one-hit 9-2 win, defeating the Lions.
The only Lions hit in the abbreviated five inning game was a single by Jim Conrad in the second inning. The Preditors broke open a 1-1 tie in the third when they scored four runs on two hits, two walks and two hit batsmen. In the fourth the Preditors padded their margin with four more. Preditors batters collecting hits were Glen Schrader with a single and a double; Ken Marsh with a single and a double; and Dennis Taylor, Tony Edwards, Jim Strasser and Randy Dill all singled.. The victory gives the Preditors a 2-0 record while the Lions have a 2-1 mark.
C & C, behind the two hit pitching of Gary Gartrell in a five inning contest, won their first game of the season with a 3-2 victory over I.T.I. Monday, May 15.
C & C scored three runs in the bottom of the initial frame and then held on to win. Gartrell got the rally going when he spanked a double to left-center and came home on Kent Sandefur’s triple. Mike Hardy raced home on Rick Larson’s run-scoring single. Gartrell led the winners with a 3-3 performance, including two doubles while Mike Martin had a single. For I.T.I. Drew Robertson went 2-2 with a pair of RBI’s.
YES, the job presents myriad of challenges
The following article first appeared in the Wednesday, November 25, 1987 edition of the “Ojai Valley News” on Page A-6 under “Another Voice“. The newspaper called this a “Silver Pen” article. It is rewritten here with the newspaper’s permission.
YES, the job presents myriad of challenges
By Arlou Mashburn
Special to The News
When invited by Duke Tully and Verne Peyser to “share thoughts on the problems of today,” my first thought was to interpret the word, problems, into the word, challenges . . . a technique I often use to put myself into a more positive attitude.
New challenges challenge me daily; especially in the Ojai Valley Youth Employment Service where I am the executive director, so I will address these issues.
The ever present challenge, and the No. 1 on YES’s list of concerns is: THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH QUALITY JOBS WITHIN THE OJAI VALLEY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO APPLY FOR THEM. Because Ojai is family oriented, it has more youth among its citizenry than many communities, and because the valley’s growth is limited, there are fewer jobs. Isn’t that what is referred to as a “Catch 22”?
Impacting the above is YES’s second accelerating challenge: THERE IS INADEQUATE FUNDING TO CONTINUE YES’S METHOD OF OPERATION. A non-profit organization, run by volunteers, YES must create it own funding.
A common misconception I hear is that a “mysterious” source backs YES. That is not the case. YES has received a portion of its budget from the United Way of Ventura County, however, that allocation was trimmed due to the increased number of human services agencies applying for financial assistance from the United Way for 1988 . . . an annual appeal.
In the past when federal revenue sharing was available, the city, recognizing what a viable service YES was to its citizens, designated a portion of the monies allocated to it to YES. This source of revenue is no longer available.
Because YES is located in the Ojai Unified School District Building (formerly the Ojai Elementary School) at 414 E. Ojai Ave., many people assume it to be part of the school district. Again, this is not the situation. In fact, YES pays rent to the district for use of the office space plus the use of a copying machine.
Since job opportunities are scarce in the area, our young people gain less work experience than they might if the reverse were true. Ojai businesses are struggling to keep their heads above water in a period of economic stress which prevents them from hiring part-time help. And as we all know, the state is distributing less and less funding to educational programs, so the almost-non-existent career education department and vocational classes in our high school are affected.
One of the ways YES would like to compensate for this lack is to provide workshops emphasizing jobseeking skills, resume writing, job interview techniques, communication skills and other self-improvement classes.
Apprenticeship programs, with volunteers from the community sharing their expertise in exchange for assistance from the young person(s) is a goal YES is reaching for.
These dreams can only become realities if YES receives more financial assistance, moral support, job offerings and volunteers.
Current members of the board of directors include Bill Shouse, president; Jack McClenahan, secretary; and Alice Chesley, treasurer. Others are Bette Bluhm, Pat Gates, Janis Long Nicholas, Jenny Phelps and Kathy Rice-Leary. Allan Jacobs, Joe Matacia and Roy Rodriguez also served this year.
Assisting in the office (which is open from noon until 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays is Elizabeth “Betsy” Gates, formerly a job counselor with Ventura County.
YES was previously open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., but in an attempt to cut back operating expenses, shortened its hours. A telephone answering machine was installed to accommodate those needing to contact YES at other times. The number is 646-4397.
Open 12 months a year, including many holidays due to the availability of jobs and job seekers, the only dates of inoperation are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
YES serves those 13- through 20-years-old. There is not charge for employee or employer for the placement, however, due to the immediate concern for funding to keep the doors open, registration fees are being considered.
Young job aspirants are encouraged to get on file at YES, regardless of the financial status of their families. Most of the employment opportunities are in the residential area.
In its 20th year, YES, despite the previously mentioned problems . . . oop! challenges . . . must be doing something right, as the saying goes. Only by saying “yes” to YES will Ojai continue to count among its assests the Ojai Valley Youth Employment Services.*
*Ojai Valley YES is one of eight YESes in Ventura County, six of which are operated independent of city assistance. This is the only county in the United States whose major towns/cities provide this service free of government help.
ONE RANGER’S SUMMER
The following article first appeared in the November 13, 1980 edition of “Paydirt”. “Paydirt” was the newsletter for the now defunct Property Administration Agency. It was a “County of Ventura” agency.
ONE RANGER’S SUMMER
By
T. Drew Mashburn
YEAH! October is here! Summer is over!!! It’s time for a breather. This isn’t suppose to be any fancy written expose’. I just thought I’d share my summer experience with you. Ever wonder what a Park Ranger really does? I figure summer runs from Memorial Day weekend through September in our parks.
— I put out a trashbin fire on the Rincon Parkway.
— I extinguished a vehicle fire on the Rincon Parkway. — I saw several foxes, many owls, quite a few red tree squirrels, and opossum and a doe in Soule Park. (Did you know that we’ve even had bears and a mountain lion in Soule?) — I had at least two camping trailers and one car towed away for non- payment of fees.
— I replaced at least two dozen wooden toll gate arms at Soule and Foster Parks. A large percentage of the public still doesn’t understand that taxes no longer support their parks. We’ll get them educated though! Our county fair booth did a good job of that. (Good job, Doyle!)
— I out maneuvered at least 693 biting dogs. You ought to see this chubby boy cook when he sees fangs!
— I explored recently discovered Chumash Indian rockart in one of our parks. (Sorry, the location is still a secret until we have a means of protection.)
— I celebrated my 6th anniversary with the Parks Department.
— I was in charge of operations for the Rincon Parkway during the first summer of existence. (Phewie!!!)
— I supervised many fine seasonal Rangers on our newly instituted Reserve Ranger Program. Man, were they ever a big help! Thanks, gang!
— I personally collected around $19,060 in various types of fees, but it seems more like a million!
— I got beat out my “Yosemite” John for the new Senior Ranger position. That’s all right though. I’ve go him trained the way I want him. (Heh, heh. Just kiddin’ buddy. Welcome aboard!)
— I issued approximately 60 citations for various violations. Hook ’em and book ’em!
— I issued around 200 written warnings.
— I issued at least 100, 932 verbal warnings. (That’s got to be close!)
— I probably racked up about 5,000 miles on my pickup. That’s a lot of windshield time.
— Had one death. Unfortunately a young boy ran out in front of a vehicle on the Rincon Parkway.
— Had several injuries in the parks: A little boy pulled a motorcycle over on top of himself at Hobson and broke his leg. A young woman broke her ankle at Faria tripping over a rock on the beach. Another lady at Faria tripped over a rock and put her upper teeth through her lower lip. And a middle-aged gal slipped coming down her motorhome steps at Faria which resulted in one sprained ankle and a broken ankle. I patched up a skin abrasion on a young lad who flopped his bicycle on the asphalt. (Yep, it happened at Faria too!)
— I had the pleasure (?) of dealing with several “outlaw” bikers most of the summer. Some were Hell’s Angels. They took a liking to a couple of our parks.
— I saw numerous seals, sharks, brown pelicans, bikinis, and various other sea life in the Rincon area.
— I took my first summer vacation since I’ve been with this department. I hit a quarter slot machine at Tahoe for 125 bucks!
— I assisted the C.H.P. and Sheriff’s on a couple of automobile accidents by flagging traffic.
— I answered more visitor complaints than one can comprehend. We get some of the same complaints over and over. By the end of the summer I thought I was a tape recorder.
— I saw thousands and thousands of smiling faces on our park visitors. I take each one of these smiles as a compliment to our department and they heavily out weigh the complaints I have to answer. The smiles make it all worth while.
All in all, it was a good summer. It was pretty busy, but pretty mild as far as problems go.
OJAI SHOPS SHOW NEW FALL STYLES AT FASHION SHOW
The following article first appeared in “THE OJAI” newspaper on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1955. “THE OJAI” is now the “Ojai Valley News”. The article is reprinted here with their permission. The author is unknown.
OJAI SHOPS SHOW NEW FALL STYLES AT FASHION SHOW
A “Sunday in the park” atmosphere combined with perfect weather and the attractive surroundings of Orchidtown to make the Junior Women’s Club fashion show a delightful occasion Sunday afternoon
A concert by the Ojai Valley Civic Orchestra with Alan Rains conducting was the first attraction on the program, playing a medley of musical comedy favorites.
Commentator for the fashion show was Mrs. Peg Wells of Hickey Brothers, who introduced the models and described their ensembles as the latest styles were paraded beside the Orchidtown swimming pool.
Clothes for all occasions — sports, shopping, evening and even night wear — from the Little Acorn, Hickey Brothers, Fitzgerald’s, and the soon-to-be opened Campus Shop — proved that the woman shopping for her wardrobe in Ojai can be very well turned out indeed.
The large audience applauded the models, as well as their frocks, as they demonstrated professional grace and charm, from the youngsters who modeled sub-teen outfits, to the Junior Women’s Club members, to Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor, who wore the latest designs in half-sizes.
Outstanding trend was the hip-length, boxy jacket, with definite lack of emphasis on the normal waistline in suit jackets. Heather tones and purple were much in evidence, as were iridescent fabrics. Short dance dresses were excitingly designed; from handwoven ones to a dramatic white fitted gown with net ruffle coming into being just at the knee line.
Men’s fashions, too, came in for their share of attention, with dark-on-dark tones causing a good deal of interest.
At the conclusion of the fashion show, refreshments were served at tables on the lawn.
— The Ojai Staff Photo
Name most valuable of Ranger gridders
This article first appeared in the Sunday, December 18, 1966 edition of “The Ojai Valley News and Oaks Gazette” on Page A-5. That newspaper is now the “Ojai Valley News”. The article is reprinted here with their permission.
Name most valuable of Ranger gridders
by
Tim Tuttle
All Tri-Valley League tackle Jim Sandefur was honored along with the Nordhoff football squads and cross-country team in their annual banquet last Tuesday night. He won the Rangers most valuable player and best lineman award of the Tri-Valley league champions. The voting was done by his teammates.
Sandefur actually took home three awards, as he was also voted team captain along with all-league center Steve Olsen. Other special awards went to senior halfback John Hodge and junior tackle Bill Shields. They won the most valuable back and most improved awards this year.
The Mainstay
Tackle Sandefur was the mainstay of the Ranger line this year at 6′ 1″, 200 pounds and named all-Tri-Valley league honorable mention last year as center. He was one of three Tri-Valley leaguers who made both offensive and defensive first teams. Besides playing basketball, Jim lettered in varsity baseball last year when he won most inspirational player and was a starting catcher on the Ranger baseball team. One of the highlights of the season, in which Nordhoff compiled a 6-0 league record, was when he drove all-league tackle Chuck Herman all over the field in the game with Bishop Diego.
Hodge didn’t start playing regularly until the fourth game of the season against Carpinteria, but once he started rolling there was no stopping him. He ran 21 yards for a score against Carpinteria, plunged for one against Santa Ynez while he rushed for 92 yards in both of the games, averaging 9.2 against Santa Ynez. He scored three touchdowns against Channel Islands and ended the season with 10 scores. One of the more crucial scores came in the Bishop Diego game on a short run on the third down.
Shields played guard last year on the junior varsity, but when it looked that Nordhoff didn’t have many tackles, Bill shifted over to there. 6′ and 170 pounds Bill has another year at Nordhoff and many people are looking for him to fill Sandefur’s vacated spot.
Sophs
Winning their first varsity letters in football were sophomores Larry Reynosa and Mike Vail, juniors Steve Holley, Craig King, Marty Jensen, Bobby Hill, Ron Brandolino, Gerry Waddell, David Cain, Gary Morrow, Rick Kambestad, Clem Kenriksen, Bob Hardy. Srs. winning their first letter were Jan Colenbrander, Lee Mason, John Brown, John Higby, Terry Anderson and Richard Colman. Seniors winning their second varsity letter were Mike Cook, John Hodge, Clark Reams, Steve Olsen, Randy Moore, Charles Miller, Ray Bunch, Jim Sandefur and Mike Terry.
Coach Del Garst’s junior varsity took third place once again with a 5-4 record. Selected as best back was Tim Krout, best lineman Ken Hook, most improved player Larry Thomas and Dale Jenkins and Leroy Perry, captains. Coaches Lasley and Garst presented J. V. letters to Richard Price, John Sheltren, Jeff Norcott, Carl Silkett, Larry Thomas, Dale Jenkins, Dan Anderson, Kent Campbell, Steve Schaaf, Tim Krout, Bob Braner, Ken Hook, George Conrad, Casey Lasley, David Smith, Steve Gibson, Casey Mansfield, Drew Mashburn, Steve Milroy, Larry Sisk, Bruce Wolsey, Brett Cuthbert, Rick Love, Leroy Perry, Charles Howard, Randy Magner, Curt Fischer and David Rice.
Coached by Bob Heller, Nordhoff Thinclads took second place behind a strong Channel Islands squad. The special awards were presented to Mike Chambliss for most valuable player; Pat Harwell for varsity most improved; and Jerry Lindquist for most team spirit. Dan McKinney was awarded junior varsity most improved. Earning varsity letters were Mike Chambliss, Bill Borgeson, Scott Maggard, Dennis Clegg, Pat Harwell, Dan McKinney, Randy Isham, Greg Stafford and manager Luke Hall.
LOOK BACK IN OJAI with Drew Mashburn
The following article first appeared in the Spring 2019 (VOLUME 37 NUMBER 1) issue of the “Ojai Valley Guide” magazine on pages 154 and 155. The magazine is published by the “Ojai Valley News”. The article is reprinted here with their permission.
LOOK BACK IN OJAI
Want to know what it smells like under the Jack Boyd Center?
Drew Mashburn knows!
by
Drew Mashburn
I admit it! I’m addicted to coffee. I mean real coffee. Strong and black!
Several years ago, my dear wife bought my favorite coffee mug at Rains Department Store. On it there is a black-and-white photo of downtown Ojai, looking west, when Ojai was called Nordhoff. The photo is mainly of the then-new Arcade. How do I know this? Because at the far left edge of the photo is the post office bell tower as it’s being built. It has scaffolding all around it and the domed top has yet to be added. So, the photo was most likely taken in late 1916 or early 1917 because construction was completed prior to the first Ojai Day that was held April 7, 1917.
Read the rest of the article in Ojai Magazine.
Beautification Month
The following article was first published in the Winter 2018 (VOLUME 36 NUMBER 4) issue of the “Ojai Valley Guide” magazine that is published by the “Ojai Valley News”. With their permission, the article is reprinted here. It ran on pages 154 and 155 in the magazine.
LOOK BACK IN OJAI 1969
Beautification Month
By
Drew Mashburn
Contributed on behalf of the Ojai Valley Museum
In October 1969, the Ojai Chamber of Commerce spearheaded a “Beautification for Better Business Campaign.” I had graduated from Nordhoff High School only a few months before and must tell you, at the time, my business was chasing after beautiful women and cars. I could not have cared less about sprucing up things around the valley, except for a good wash and waxing of my 1961 Austin Healy “Bug Eye” Sprite to, hopefully, impress beautiful young ladies.
So, moving on, I was ignorant of this cleanup drive.
Read the rest of the article in the Ojai Magazine.
How Nordhoff deals with truancy problem
The following article first appeared in the Wednesday, January 21, 1970 edition of “The Ojai Valley News”. It is reprinted here with their permission. The photo has been added by the “Ojai Valley Museum”.
How Nordhoff deals with truancy problem
by
Randy Russell
(Photo Courtesy of Debby Russell-Swetek)
Truancy is a problem that exists on all school campuses. The Nordhoff High School attendance office reports that the problem is no greater here than at other schools in the county. According to the Education Code passed by the State Legislature “a child is deemed an habitual truant when he has been reported absent or tardy without a valid excuse for three or more times.”
Mr. Paul LaBute has recently been named Attendance Officer to combat the truancy problem on the Nordhoff campus. Specific procedures are followed each day in attendance procedures. Each day attendance is taken in homeroom. Those absent are listed for the day on a Master Absence List. Then each teacher takes roll in each class. Any student absent from class and not on the Master Absence List is reported to the Attendance office.
Step 1 — If it is determined the student is cutting class, a Student Referral Form is made out by the attendance clerks.
Step 2 — If a student receives three of these referral forms (that is, he was caught cutting classes three times) a School Conduct Report is sent by the attendance office to the parents.
Step 3 — If the truancy problem still exists, the student is suspended for five days. He must report to the continuation school to keep up with his class work.
Step 4 — Should a student still be truant, a Notice for Child to Discontinue Violating School Law is sent to the parents from the County of Ventura Superintendent of Schools office. This is sent by Mr. F. J. Holyoak, Child Welfare and Attendance Coordinator and it says:
“This letter is sent to notify you that this office has received a complaint that (your child) is violating the school laws of the State of California by being truant.
In accordance with the Education Code, Section 12408, the County Superintendent of Schools may request a Juvenile Court Petition in behalf of any child who is habitually truant, irregular in attendance, habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school.
The Juvenile Court, after hearing such a petition, may render judgement that the Juvenile be detained or his parents required to deliver him to the school each day or execute a $200.00 bond which is forfeit if there is further nonattendance or misconduct.
You are hereby directed to do whatever you can to prevent further noncompliance with school law. After 10 days, if matters have not improved or if there are further violations a request for a juvenile court petition will be made.”
Step 5 — The final step is a 10-day suspension, after which the student would be referred to the Placement Committee of the District. The Placement Committee may refer the student to the School Board which could result in expulsion, or the Placement Committee could place the child in a continuation high school or in an adult evening program. After hard work, the student can still graduate and then go into the service, on to college or trade schools or begin a job.
The counseling office reports that a student’s attendance record is a very important factor in job placement. Employers usually ask two questions, “Is this person reliable? Was his school attendance regular.” If the student has been truant the counseling office must report that fact. Work habits are established in school, the counselors concluded, but often the truant student cannot easily be convinced of the seriousness of establishing a truancy record.
THE TRANSFORMATION HAS BEGUN
The following article first appeared on the front page of the Friday, August 18, 1916 edition of “THE OJAI.” The author is unknown. Note: Reference is made several times to the town of “Nordhoff.” This was what the town’s name was before it was changed to “Ojai”. All photos were added to this article by the Ojai Valley Museum.
THE TRANSFORMATION HAS BEGUN
Just now things are doing in Nordhoff of such unusual character that the oldest inhabitant is constrained to sit up, or stand up, and take notice. In fact, the activity is being led by one of the oldest inhabitants — Thomas Clark, who, indeed, throughout all the past in Nordhoff’s history, has lived an active life, contributing his full share of the warp and woof woven into history’s fabric, which has grown threadbare in spots by the constant wear of time, and which he has started in to rehabilitate with new industrial threads and some patches.
No doubt the inspiration for greater and better things first surged in on the crest of the wave of sentiment for good roads, becoming a fixed purpose when Mr. E. D. Libbey arose to the occasion and gave added impetus to the vehicle of progress not alone in words, but in action. As a captain of industry and commercial achievement few men are better equipped than Mr. Libbey. With the wealth to humor any reasonable ambition, coupled with an inclination favorable to this locality. Nordhoff is indeed fortunate to have the right to lay partial claim to the citizenship of such a magnanimous benefactor and admirer of nature’s gifts so lavishly, of which Nordhoff is the commercial center.
Mr. Clark’s labors for betterments are closely linked with Mr. Libbey’s plans for civic or community improvements, the work of the former aiding the purposes of the latter, which are known to and being carried out by Mr. H. T. Sinclair. Mr. Libbey’s confidential agent in the matter of improvements contemplated or in progress on the beautiful park tract and the old Ojai Inn square, which is the expansive front yard or plaza of the business center of Nordhoff, to be transformed into a place of greater beauty by the hand of artifice, and to harmonize the scene, without a blemish, the property owners will obscure unsightly fronts behind an ornamental arcade of concrete and tile, the material for which already lines either side of the street, awaiting the labors of the architect and the builders.
After some parleying, and a small amount of worry as to the fate of the postoffice, Tom Clark cleared the way for a place for the old postoffice building to light, and Escovedo, the housemover, accomplished the rest, and the old Smith building has been transplanted — in two sections — across the street, and now rests intact on the east side of the Clark lot, with post office, plumbing shop, barber shop and Brady’s kitchen safely housed as of yore.
To do this Mr. Clark wisely revised his plans and demolished his entire barn structure, to be replaced with a modern garage and auto and horse livery annex. The west wall of the garage, under the skilled hand of Philip Scheidecker, of Los Angeles, is rapidly going up, entirely constructed of rock, mostly moss-covered, above the rougher foundation.
The removal of the old building is the signal for activity on the Libbey side, but just what transformation is to take place is a matter of rumor or conjecture. A fine building, without doubt, is to replace the old, combining post office and public library — perhaps. Many other things are likely to happen that will add to the greater and more beautiful Nordhoff.
