We’ve covered Ojai kids before. (“Kids” for the purpose of this issue, is anyone younger than me — the Ojai lady definition of youth). Diana and Jimena, children of the family that brings the best tamales ever to the entire region, were our first models. Em Stoltz of the new salon Little Koyote did their hair and make-up and seventeen-year-old Amelia of Enid and Edgar helped style wardrobe.

Ojai just has great kids.

At the Ojai Community Farmer’s Market, I recently heard the most soulful voice over the sweet and nimble strum of a ukelele. I turn to see an actual child — cannot be more than thirteen — sitting alone on a stool singing more vulnerably than Ani Di Franco herself (I am a child of the 90s 🌈🙂🐬🌻).

It was Sanctus Fairbanks, one of Daniel’s brood. Watch out, world.

For fall, we have artist Skye Gwilliam, another child of the 90s, who was born on Alvarado Street in Meiners Oaks to parents at the forefront of Ojai’s creative scene. Remember a few years ago, one could find neo-expressionist paintings just lying around town? That was Skye. In The Painted House, Ashley Hollister follows his family’s story and the forking paths into still older tales of Ojai’s cultural impact. These are the roots of what makes Ojai.

We go back to school with Cassandra C. Jones to explore young heartbreak, weird decisions, and accidental inspiration. What doesn't kill you makes you funnier.

Not mentioned is that Cassandra uses Nordhoff High School cheerleaders as models for her very famous Cheerleader series.

Our first actual child is Lucia Hetrick, a longtime member of Ventura Gem and Mineral Society’s Pebble Pups Club, a super cool STEM program that meets on Zoom or at the VGMS clubhouse.

Earl Marvin, one of Sanders’ eponymous Sons and senior at Oak Grove School in Meiners Oaks, shares his story of lessons learned at a USRowing training intensive; his college essay.

Earl began rowing with Casitas Rowing, a local non-profit with programs for both youth and adults. Free “learn to row” sessions are being held in early January, for those of you who are early-morning-cold-water types.

Cassandra C. Jones writes about Elizabeth Claire Herring, Ojai girl and CalArts MFA student.

Andra Belknap follows the latest local kerfuffle in RUMPUS AT THE BOYD CENTER. With our local district’s enrollment declining, the board has outsourced the development to its historic Chaparral campus to out-of-town developers. This property is the current home of the Ojai Community Farmer’s Market, smack in the middle of the busiest, most congested part of Ojai. What the heck were they thinking?

An hour and twenty-eight minutes into the November 17th meeting, I heard a voice I recognized. “Your aim for this was to make money. Starting from there, you will not have a good result,” it quivered with anger and nerves. Seventeen-year-old Amelia, VORTEX stylist, addressed the Planning Commission, developers, and absent OUSD School Board members (they had their own scheduled meeting that evening). That’s a damn good Ojai kid.

The editor’s letter is alive and evolves throughout the season — xo Jules

DEPARTMENTS

Culture

Gallery shows thru December:

PORCH GALLERY

THE BASIC PREMISE

OJAI VALLEY MUSEUM

OJAI ART CENTER

CANVAS AND PAPER

CAROLYN GLASOE BAILEY FOUNDATION

OPEN STUDIOS

VENTURA COLLEGE

FARMER & THE COOK

Stream This: Fall

Kicking off Scorpio Season early with Rachel Gagliardi’s Music to Get Dressed To, a very witchy Spotify playlist.

Also in Streaming:

• A video from SMILE MOUNTIAN about the JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

• A FASHION Video from my ADORABLE NEPHEW, who chain-smoked many cigarettes for the shoot. THIS IS WHY I’M NOT A PARENT

• HOW I BUILT THIS, a PODCAST from NPR about former Ojai residents Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin

• TOPA TALK, a PODCAST, about all things Ojai AND BRET BRADIGAN interview the TOPA TALK kids in a very META PODCAST MOMENT

• LIZARD MUSIC’s new album (Mikael Jorgensen gets the band back together)