Obituary for John Broesamle

Please click here to read the obituary for OVDF founder, John Broesamle, in PDF format.     A man of integrity and dignity, John embodied a vanishing American ideal; a committed, inquisitive, and passionate man of letters. He was an intellectual who possessed a rare kindness and wisdom  that only come to those who never…

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Ojai Valley defender John Broesamle moved mountains

Thank you to writer Perry Van Houten and the Ojai Valley News for this stellar story on OVDF founder, John Broesamle, published Friday, June 23, 2023. Click here to read in PDF format.   Ojai Valley defender John Broesamle moved mountains  By Perry Van Houten Friends and colleagues are remembering John Broesamle as a man…

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Fire Capt. Norris shows audience the ropes of wilderness rescues

Thank you to writer Perry Van Houten and the Ojai Valley News for covering the OVDF’s event with Santa Monica Fire Department Captain Matt Norris on Dec. 4, 2002. Capt. Norris led a lesson in rock climbing and rescue techniques for local high school students at The Thacher School’s rock climbing wall, then shared stories…

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Ojai Valley News: OVDF hosts field trip

Thank you to the Ojai Valley News for featuring OVDF’s “A Day in the Country” special event on April 3. The article ran in the Friday, April 15, 2022 edition: Ojai Valley Defense Fund hosts field trip, OVN 4-15-22     Click here for more photos of the event. Special thanks to photographer Stephen Adams!…

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‘Our Ojai’ photo book launch celebrated

Thank you to the Ojai Valley News for covering the launch party for OUR OJAI on Oct. 16, at the Porch Gallery in Ojai! The article ran in the Friday, October 22, 2021 edition.   More photos from the event:    

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Johnny Johnston and Steve Bennett receive James D. Loebl Award

  On February 27, the Fund conferred its prestigious James D. Loebl Award on former Ojai Mayor Johnny Johnston and former Ventura County District 1 Supervisor Steve Bennett. The award is conferred from time to time to a person who has played a leading role in protecting and sustaining the environmental quality of the Ojai…

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Shangri-La is No Accident – by John Broesamle

OVDF founder John Broesamle speaks on the various threats the Ojai Valley has faced over the decades in his talk, “Shangri-La is No Accident: How Ojai Protects Itself from Environmental Threats and Unwelcome Development.” John outlines the numerous threats the Ojai Valley has faced over the last few decades — which, he points out, always…

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