Ojai Valley News Blog

Proposal to exchange naming rights for $1 million raises public concerns

By Sondra Murphy
Libbey or not Libbey? Could a Hagman, Paxton or Bruckheimer Bowl be in Ojai’s future? If fund raisers for the Libbey Bowl Reconstruction Project had their druthers, a hefty donation to the make-over could come with consideration to rename the venue.

In the ongoing efforts to raise $3 million for the project, a new idea has emerged to help generate donations. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Ojai City Council, staff brought a request to consider renaming the bowl in exchange for a $1 million donation to the effort.

Because the facility has been known by different titles over the decades, including Ojai Festival Bowl, Memorial Bowl and Civic Bowl, the Ojai Valley Service Foundation and the Ojai Music Festival came up with the idea to help garner donations. In his recommendation, city manager Jere Kersnar pointed out that it was not until the downtown park was renamed Libbey Park, after Edward Libbey, that the idyllic stage and shell came to be paired with the name of one of Ojai’s most generous benefactors. That was in the 1980s and 60 years after Libbey’s death.

Kersnar told the council that by approving the concept, it would not create an obligation to rename the facility. “The council would still retain the right to accept any proposed donation, or not, along with any conditions attached thereto,” said Kersnar. “The festival’s fund raisers would like to know if this arrow could be in their quiver while attempting to raise funds.”

“I don’t see it ending the community campaign,” said OMF executive director Jeff Haydon. He reminded the council that the bowl project committees are often asked about management, once the reconstruction is complete, and said additional money would help to run the bowl to its full potential. “Edward Drummond Libbey had no monetary association with the bowl in any way.”

Councilwoman Sue Horgan asked Haydon what the chances were of raising the last $1 million still needed for the project, regardless of renaming. “I think we’ll be able to raise the last million dollars, but at bare bones minimum,” he said.

“So basically, we’re looking at a fourth million dollars,” said Councilwoman Carol Smith. “I think it is a potential gold ring for a donor who wants to leave a legacy.” She added that she would like to get opinions from the Ojai Civic Association, Ojai Historic Preservation Commission and the public before deciding on the concept.

The other council members agreed with that sentiment. “I would also like to have it come before the Parks and Recreation Commission, too,” said Mayor Pro Tem Steve Olsen.

The majority of public speakers were against the idea. “I don’t think we honor Mr. Libbey as much as we should,” said David Mason, who added that, besides the park property, the Libbey Foundation was instrumental in helping establish museum and library sites, as well as in rebuilding the pergola. “We’re putting in more than 30 trees. There are a lot of naming opportunities there.” Mason suggested mimicking the pergola’s donor plaque placement at the bowl.

Claire Hill, Pat Hartmann and Larry Hartmann concurred during their addresses. “I would think anybody donating to the renovation is doing so because they love music and Ojai,” said Hill. Much of the speakers’ expressed concern was in naming the facility after someone not associated with Ojai.

“I think it’s clear that it wasn’t always named Libbey Bowl and it’s clear the Mr. Libbey wasn’t egotistical about his name being used and that he was very philanthropic,” said Councilwoman Betsy Clapp. “It would be rebuilding something very integral to this community, so I don’t want to get too affixed with what Mr. Libbey would have thought of it.” That said, Clapp supported getting more feedback from the community.

“My suggestion is to try everything else first,” Mason said. “If someone wants to donate $10 million, I’ll be back before you saying, ‘Go for it.’”

“I have received a lot of public reaction over the last several days and it has been overwhelmingly negative,” said Horgan. “But two others said ‘$1 million, I don’t know; $10 million and we’ll talk.’”

Kersnar pointed out that it could very well be an Ojai pioneer family that gives a donation warranting name-change consideration. He said the issue would return to the council Dec. 8, giving the city time to hear more from the community.

Mentor Madness Car Show partiicipants Pinky Salsedo and Larry Cobos share a moment with one of about 67 classic cars and trucks on display to benefit Segue Career Path Mentors Program at Nordhoff High School. Photo by Scott Wintermute.

Heal the Community organizes poker run, car show to bring in Segue speakers

By Sondra Murphy
Organizers of last weekend’s Mentor Madness Poker Run and Car and Motorcycle Show are happy that the event was a success. “Approximately $7,000 was raised and there were a little over 100 poker run participants,” said Heal the Community co-founder Dusty Fernandez. “We had five vendors who want to be mentors and 250 raffle items. The music was great, the food was great and we got nothing but compliments.” The raffle raised $760.

Proceeds will benefit bringing the Segue Career Path Mentors Program to Nordhoff High School. Nordhoff has begun scheduling community speakers who volunteer to serve as mentors. “How cool was it for Segue to put this program up before we had funding for it?” Fernandez said. “They had complete confidence in us. Between the first town hall meeting and the day of the event it was four-and-a-half months.”

Fernandez said 10 motorcycles and 67 cars were entered in the shows and three Best of Show awards were given, plus 13 surprise plaques sponsored by local community groups. “Both winners of the poker run donated their money back to the Segue Mentor program,” said Fernandez. “Our new motto is ‘go big or go home.’” The Optimist Club of Ojai helped sponsor the event held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Fernandez said Heal the Community plans to make Mentor Madness an annual event and intends to keep the poker run stops in the valley in the future for expediency.

The group will have little time to bask in the glory, as they are busy working with Segue for the next phase in the program.

For more information about becoming a mentor, call 640-0995 or 649-1466 or go to healthecommunityojai.com. There is a Segue link on the home page.