Ojai preparaes for its day
By Lenny Roberts

Here's something you can only do in a small town: close down main street for a whole day and push people around on beds. Or go inside Ojai's newest historical landmark - a cement box, two-cell jail in the rear of Libbey Park and sense the feeling of what is was like when the jailer closed the door and went home for the night with you, the prisoner, inside.

With a main focus of featuring the work of local artists, Ojai Day, Saturday's annual street fair hosted by the Ojai Recreation Department of the City of Ojai, presents an opportunity for the community and visitors to come together and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ojai.

Organizers promise Ojai Day 2003 will truly have something for everyone, from the "Do Da" Parade to the seven stages featuring every type of live music imaginable, to the overwhelming number of art and food booths. And, entrance, parking and entertainment are all free.

Want to learn how to carve the perfect pumpkin? Bill Fox will be more than happy to show you how near the Libbey Park fountain. For the hungry, tri-tip sandwiches, fresh roasted corn, hot dogs, Kettle Korn, shaved ice and more will be offered at booths lining the Arcade area. Dwayne Bower will pile up the whole family for free hay rides originating near Ojai Chevron, while Ms. Maybel's Clip Clop Trolley provides free rides near Signal Street.

In the children's area, music, magic and animals will be on-stage with many free activities, including bounce, slides and other fun games, pony rides, face painting and hair braiding. Teens can participate in the dunk tank, rock climb, make-overs, or get a henna tattoo. Dance demonstrations, cheerleading and baton twirling, pingpong and D.J. Divas are just some of the other attractions.

For all car buffs, Bower has again organized the classic car show, featuring restored and original practical vehicles from the '30s through the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. Classic motorcycles will also be on display. In the Market Area, homemade soaps and perfumes, herb sachets, aromatherapy, vitamin and herb information and chair and table massages will be offered. Arts and crafts booths include handmade clothing, jewelry art and much more.

One of the more popular events is the bed race. Last year, teams raced questionable contraptions down South Signal Street in a series of challenging events. Nothing was apparently challenged so much as the rule book and the teams' liberal application of the regulations. Organizer Jody James said her Stir Crazy bed should have won last year, but, "they gave it to someone else."

This year, six teams have signed up for the 2 p.m. event, but James' team is not one of them.

"I cant even get anyone to build one," she laughed. "Wait; I have a bed at home. I hadn't even thought of that."
Along with Ojai Police Chief Gary Pentis, Sgt. Ken Edling supervised his department's entry last year. This year, they plan to win with returning participants, Deputies Andrea Regan, Tom Triplett and Joe Preciado.

"It'll be the same all-stars, only I'll be on-duty," Edling said. "I'll be out in a black-and-white just to make sure there's no one absconding with the rules. I have no idea who's in charge, but we're absolutely going to win."

Edling then became elusive, not revealing if they plan to race the same losing bed as last year, "It may be the same as last year; it may be a little different. I can't tell you because then it won't be a secret," he said.
Ojai Day begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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