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Deployed troops receive some of their favorite things for Christmas
By Pamela Dozois
reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com
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olunteers for Support the Troops recently gathered in the Parish Hall at Bethania Lutheran Church to assemble boxes filled with necessities, along with some special requests, for deployed troops stationed around the world. This includes the K9 patrol who are trained to search out bombs and do guard duty. The group was also presented with two checks, one from the Santa Ynez Valley Opportunity Shop for $1,600 and one from the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge for $750 to help defray the cost of supplies and postage. Support the Troops was started in 2004 by Pat Sullivan, who had just retired from working at Vandenberg Air Force Base. She realized that the war in Iraq, at that time, was not going to be a quick one and as she had contacts at Vandenberg who let her know when a plane was departing, she put her plan into action, handing off “baggies of love” to each soldier or airman boarding the plane. “I would take baggies filled with a few essentials and cookies out to the troops, for both the men and the women who were leaving for missions abroad. I don’t think the cookies made it to Iraq though,” said Sullivan, smiling. “I’d also give them a slip of paper with my email address. Word got around and now I receive about 200 requests a month. But we only send them to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) or Combat Outposts (COPs). We also try to locate where any of our local military personnel are currently serving in order to send them a box from home as well. On average we send out between 120 and 150 boxes a month, but this Christmas we’re packing up 248 boxes which will be mailed out to the troops in time for Christmas.” Sullivan explained, as she deftly placed various articles in a number of different boxes, that each soldier gets one box of ne-
Photos Contributed We Support the Troops received a donation check in the amount of $750 from the Santa Ynez Valley Elks. Pictured from left are Caro Stinson, Pat Sullivan, Beth DuVall and Dr. Art Kaslow, both of whom are members of the Santa Ynez Valley Elks.
A group of young women from Vixens for Victory, a “vintage group,” help fill the boxes that will be sent to troops overseas. Pictured from left are Isabelle Clendenen, Tierney Burns and Addie Hallon.
cessities, which also includes their individual requests, primarily things they can put in their packs when they are on patrol or if they miss a meal, maybe something tasty they miss from home. Jerky is high on the list of favorite things. The weather varies from extra hot to extra cold so the troops also need things like moisturizers and heavy socks. Also included are hand-knitted helmet inserts and scarves of 100 percent wool, which were knitted by women here in the Santa Ynez Valley. Dentist offices send cases of toothpaste, hotels offer toiletries, and volunteers shop for the best deals on the hundreds of other items they pack each month. A “missing man table,” also known as a fallen comrade table, was set at the front door in honor of fallen, missing or imprisoned military service members. Each article on the table, a white cloth, a single red rose, a yellow ribbon, a slice of lemon, a pinch of salt, a lighted candle, the Bible, an inverted glass and an empty chair all have a specific meaning. “For many years the group has had transient ‘homes’ with various storage situations. Bethania has been such a blessing, offering the Parish Hall for two days a month, one day to make the boxes and one day to pack them and in addition allowing the group to have a storage container in the parking lot,” said Beth DuVall, volunteer and publicity chairperson. “The Santa Ynez Valley Elks have targeted Support the Troops for several years with grants obtained through the Elks National Foundation. They have underwritten postage costs, and negotiated discounts with Shalhoobs for a highly requested item —jerky. KONG offers a phenomenal discount on imperfect dog toys for nonprofits like Support the Troops, so we have lots of toys to send those units. We love the K9 troops too! Pat Sullivan as well as Caro Stinson have been TROOPS CONTINUED TO PAGE 20
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2 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
SY district’s manager 4 people seeking 3rd District elected to statewide post supervisor seat in primary Staff Report
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eneral Manager Jeff Hodge of the Santa Ynez Community Service District has been elected as the incoming board president of the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) for 2020. Hodge has more than 20 years of experience managing special districts, including districts that provide fire, police, water, sewer, trash, cemetery, roads, street lights, parks and recreation, and drainage. He has experience in writing, introducing, and shepherding legislation for special districts; permitting and constructing new water and wastewater facilities; and upgrading existing facilities. “Special districts fulfill a needed role in providing necessary services in our communities,” Hodge said. “I am excited about my upcoming year as the CSDA president and look forward to increasing the awareness of the important
and vital role that special districts play in our communities. I value the resources and support that CSDA provides to special districts to help them fulfill their mission.” Hodge has a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration. He received his special district administrator (SDA) certification in August 2018. The CSDA board of directors consists of 18 members elected from six statewide networks for three-year terms. Board officer positions are elected annually to serve on the CSDA executive committee. The California Special Districts Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit association that was formed in 1969 to promote good governance and improved core local services through professional development, advocacy, and other services for all types of independent special districts.
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western Goleta, Gaviota, the Santa Ynez Valley, Mission Hills, Vandenberg Village, ocal primary elections are coming earlier Casmalia, Tanglewood and Guadalupe. than normal this year, coinciding with the Some of the Santa Barbara County Superior California Court judges also are up presidential primary for re-election, but are all on Tuesday, March 3. unopposed. They are John Mail-in ballots McGregor and Jed Beebe will be mailed in Santa Maria and Thombeginning Monday, as Adams Jr., Brian Hill Feb. 3, and the close and Von Deroian in Santa of voter registration Barbara. will be Monday, The seat for 4th District Feb. 17, according Supervisor will also be on to the Santa Barbara the ballot, with incumbent County Registrar of Peter Adam not seeking Voters. For more information, watch our website at re-election. His chief of Four people are www.santaynezvalleystar.com or read our staff, Bob Nelson, said he seeking the 3rd January 21 issue. will seek the position,. He District county suis running against Diana Perez, a member pervisor seat, which represents the Santa Ynez of the Santa Maria Join Union High School Valley. Incumbent Joan Hartmann will contend District Board. against former challengers Bruce Porter, a First District Supervisor will be a race financial advisor and former Santa Ynez Valley between incumbent Das Williams and Laura Union High School board member; and Karen Capps, a member of the Santa Barbara Unified Jones, a member of the Santa Ynez CommuniSchool District board. ty Services District board. New to the field is Jessica Parfrey, a Goleta resident who works at For more information, visit www.sbcvote. Eco Vista. com and click on Elections. The 3rd District includes UCSB, Isla Vista, Staff Report
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FYI
The Santa Ynez Valley Star will be hosting a forum for 3rd District county supervisor candidates at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Hotel Corque in Solvang.
Cottage launches ‘virtual care’ online service Staff Report
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ottage CareNow is a new online service from Cottage Health that connects patients with Cottage professionals who can offer online diagnosis and treatment for common medical conditions such as colds, flu, skin rash and more. Users can access Cottage CareNow at any hour from their smartphone, tablet or computer by visiting cottagehealth.org/carenow. No insurance plan is required to access the service. The fee is $29 for an online interview or $39 for a video face-to-face visit, payable by credit, debit or health savings card. Anyone in California who is over 18 can create an account, and dependents can be included. Visits for children under 18 must be completed by a parent. The service is designed to be easy to use. After entering symptoms and health information, patients choose to have a Cottage Health provider review their results and respond with a treatment plan within an hour or request an immediate face-to-face video visit. CareNow is staffed by a Cottage Health nurse practitioner and other credentialed providers. When appropriate, prescriptions are
Photo Contributed Cottage Health recently launched a new online medical service.
submitted directly to the patient’s preferred pharmacy. If virtual care is not appropriate, the patient is not charged for the e-visit and will be referred for an in-person evaluation. Cottage CareNow also assists in connecting patients with a primary care physician if they do not currently have one.
January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 3
Officials hear safety concerns at Highway 154 meeting Residents say experience conflicts with official data By Raiza Giorgi publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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fficial information about traffic accidents along Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley indicate that most of the crashes involve people from Santa Barbara County, but local residents say that data doesn’t reflect all their concerns. More than 100 people attended a town hall meeting on Dec. 16 at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall to hear from members of a new Highway 154 Safety Committee: State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, Assemblymember Monique Limon, Santa Barbara County Supervisors Joan Hartmann and Gregg Hart, and three mayors, including Buellton’s Holly Sierra and Solvang’s Ryan Toussaint. Also in attendance were representatives from Caltrans, California Highway Patrol and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s department. The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the region’s transportation agency, appointed the special committee in November and set the inaugural gathering for Dec. 16 after more than 2,000 people signed a petition to express concerns about recent crashes, including one that claimed the lives of a Solvang mother and her two young children in October. SBCAG officials put out a document in response to many emails that flooded state and local officials after that tragic crash in October. The document says that 52 percent of the collisions that occurred in 2018 were caused by Santa Barbara County residents. In addition, 60 percent of the people arrested by the CHP for DUI were from Santa Barbara County.
Photo by Raiza Giorgi More than 100 people attended a town hall meeting on Dec. 16 at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall to hear from the Highway 154 Safety Committee.
“Our in-view patrol cars do change behavior, and our grant funding that increased enforcement was very successful that just ended in September,” said Cmdr. Jim Frost of the CHP. Frost added that officers are also undertaking preventive measures such as teen programs including Start Smart and Every 15 Minutes, radio shows, and campaigns of targeted enforcement.
Caltrans officials said it takes time to make changes along Highway 154, and in the past several years they have put a lot of improvements on the road, including rumble strips, with another five miles planned for the near future. Engineer Robert Barns said Caltrans has recently analyzed curves on Highway 154 to assess whether proper signs and speed limits were in place, and they are working on treat-
ing the roads with special surface treatments, similar to sandpaper, which helps reduce collisions. Barnes added Caltrans is planning on putting in another roundabout on Highway 154 at Baseline and Edison, and is starting efforts to get a stop sign installed on Highway 154 at Roblar Avenue. During the meeting’s public comment portion, a line of people questioned whether Caltrans was doing the right studies, asking for figures on where Highway 154 travelers were coming from and heading to, as a way to better learn about who is using the road. Several speakers said they “knew immediately when we are behind someone going to the casino,” according to Jim Marino, who questions whether the Chumash Casino Resort contributes enough financially to public safety, as he suspects a significant portion of the traffic is going to the casino. Hartmann answered that the tribe has made efforts in contributing, such as hosting the last workshop, but said she would look into Marino’s questions. Resident Karen Jones said it might be time to look into making Highway 154 a toll road, which got loud applause from the audience. She said she appreciated the efforts of local law enforcement and hopes they are funded continuously. Resident Stan Roberts said that there needs to be a survey for near-misses; he said he has survived many of them over the years. “Here’s a great idea: Put in a stop sign at Roblar and Grand Avenue and then study it,” Roberts said, to which the audience laughed and clapped.
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6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Solvang council continues to struggle with open meetings law
By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
T
he Solvang City Council continues to struggle with the provisions of the Brown Act, California’s law that governs public meetings, as two concerns were raised at its meeting on Dec. 9. During public comment, former Councilman Ed Skytt brought up the Nov. 25 meeting when Mayor Ryan Toussaint prevented Renaissance Antiques co-owner Julie Palladino from speaking, because her husband and business partner Ron Palladino had already spoken about the recent Solvang Fall Festival. Toussaint said since they represented the same business, she didn’t need to speak, although the California News Publishers Association said the action violated Julie Palladino’s First Amendment rights as well as the Brown Act. “Ms. Palladino should have had the right to speak at the meeting. Just because her husband and business partner spoke doesn’t mean she has the same opinion. The only way the council could have limited her from speaking is if she were to read the same exact statement as her husband or someone else in the crowd, but the council wouldn’t have known that until she started speaking,” said Jim Ewert, attorney for the CNPA. After Skytt spoke on Dec. 9, Toussaint asked City Attorney Chip Wullbrandt whether his prior act had been a Brown Act violation, and Wullbrandt said he didn’t believe so. The Star has asked Wullbrandt to clarify his reasoning but has received no response. Toussaint replied by email. “I’m really trying my best and am always trying to improve, but I’m not perfect so if I made a mistake then I wholeheartedly apologize to Julie,” Toussaint wrote. “She is also more than welcome to come speak at any council meeting or workshops
Photo by Raiza Giorgi Solvang hired the Cinderella Carriages of Riverside to give rides during Julefest, in what the city attorney noted was risking a violation of the Brown Act because it was not included on the council’s agenda.
as I highly encouraged that engagement several times that night and always encourage it. We want to make our events better for everyone and constantly improve,” he said. He did say he has reached out to Ms. Palladino to meet with her. Toussaint explained he had two speaker slips from Kenny “Esko” Lama and he pulled one of his as well. He also noted that Julie Palladino had written her opinions in a letter that had been published in several newspapers and received by the city.
The second issue of a potential Brown Act violation came during the City Manager’s report on Dec. 9, when acting City Manager Xenia Bradford sought the council’s direction on asking Cinderella Carriages of Riverside to come to Solvang for a trial run this weekend. Councilman Chris Djernaes said he had contacted the carriage company personally after Lama brought it to his attention. Djernaes said he wanted to use the company’s carriages during Julefest as a “cost-neutral” addition, with the carriage company returning ticket proceeds to the city as
reimbursement for up-front costs. “It wouldn’t cost the city a thing, but the risk to them is not free. Who would compensate them for this risk?” Djernaes said. As soon as Djernaes stated figures near $30,000 for the carriages for the month, Wullbrandt chimed in and said he was on the edge of violating the Brown Act. “In the low thousands, this is within the city manager’s authority to say yes or no, but approval of this item is not an agenda item,” Wullbrandt said. “I am a little worried when you start getting into great detail about cost, including numbers like $30,000. I hadn’t heard that number.” Djernaes again kept speaking, saying it was a “bizarre situation” that he was trying to get discussed as quickly as possible. “And I’m trying to keep you from violating the Brown Act,” Wullbrandt retorted. Toussaint said he was fine with looking into something new, and didn’t think anyone would be upset with Bradford later. This discussion came just two months after the council grilled the Orona family, owners of the Solvang Trolley, also known as The Honen, on their business model and whether it was the right fit for the city. The Honen has a special license to operate within city limits, and each year the council must hold a public hearing before renewing the license in June. This year, the hearing was delayed until Sept. 23, when the Honen owners were asked very detailed questions about their operations and Djernaes asked to see their books. “I am not fond of the Honen. It looks 1960-ish,” Djernaes said at that meeting. He said he was in favor of helping the Oronas expand their business if that meant updating city code to allow for a multiyear contract. He also asked Clau Orona if she had data on who rides the Honen and whether the company keeps of where they come COUNCIL CONTINUED TO PAGE 17
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Photo Contributed The Earl Warren Showgrounds board of directors approved an equestrian facilities renovation plan Dec. 11 that could bring world-class shows, competitions and events to Santa Barbara.
Showgrounds board Oks major equestrian renovations
Unanimous vote sets the stage for a redesign of Earl Warren horse facilities By Joshua Molina
Noozhawk Staff Writer
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iddy up. The Earl Warren Showgrounds board of directors has voted 8-0 to approve an equestrian facilities renovation plan that could bring world-class shows, competitions and events to Santa Barbara. “It will not only improve the equestrian facilities, but it is going to improve the showgrounds as a whole,” said Ben Sprague, CEO of the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Geophysicist and horse rider Karen Christensen led a group representing several hundred community members interested in bringing the equestrian facilities into the modern era. Christensen is also working with the Santa Barbara Equine Assistance & Evac Team, a nonprofit organization that assists with large animal rescues during emergencies and disasters. The group plans to raise between $600,000 and $750,000 to fund a variety of changes for the first phase. Sprague said the showgrounds has four arenas, but they are in a state of disrepair. The plan, he said, is to combine two arenas into a larger facility, improving the footings, repair three of the horse barns, remove three other barns and create a lunging area for events. A new sound system also would be installed. “It would begin the process of replacing the facility,” said Mike Medel, board president for the showgrounds. “It’s fixing up the basics so we can draw more of the horse shows. It also doesn’t jeopardize our vision of being a multiuse center.” The showgrounds have been struggling financially for several years, but the facility has been turning around financially since the hiring
of Sprague, who took over early last year. Sprague told Noozhawk that the projected endof-year budget is stronger than initially anticipated by 10 percent. Sprague recently secured $300,000 from the state of California in debt relief. In April, the facility had to take out a line of credit to cover payroll and operating costs. He said there’s been a “false narrative” in the community about the showgrounds. “We have made a lot of progress in a year,” Sprague said. “A lot of positive stuff has happened this year.” Sprague said the facility might still need to take out a loan in the new year. “We are not out of the woods, but we made a lot of progress in the last year,” Sprague said. Christensen said she is thrilled with what lies ahead. Madison Square Garden in New York, Devon, Penn., and the Earl Warren Showgrounds used to be the nation’s top three horse facility destinations. She said she is optimistic that those days will return, adding that everybody from various horse disciplines, such as English, rodeo, Western and driving, are part of this “collaborative effort.” “This is a fantastic turning point,” Christensen said. “Earl Warren has lost its glamour, but we think we will have a horse show circuit and it will bring a lot of income to Santa Barbara. We are trying to rebuild it so that it is more multiuse, so the arenas that we are building can be used for movieJose nights,Uriarte car shows, 4-H and ® Realtor car shows.” Ph. 805.602.6907 The work is expected to be completed by juriarte805@gmail.com April 15, Christensen said. CalDRE #01970869 “Earl Warren is run by a group of volunteers,” she said. “It is owned by the state, and it has no money. Asking them to go fix it was never going to be the answer. The real idea was, as a horse community, understand what their needs are, how to work with them and develop the funding they needed.” Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com.
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Swastikas: Not here, not now, not ever
n this season in which Judaism, Christianity, and many faiths celebrate light and love, we join to condemn an act of hate: the painting of a Nazi swastika on the campus of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School on the weekend of December 7 and 8. While any vandalism damages the fabric of our community, expressions of hate threaten to tear it apart. Anti-Semitic symbols have no place in Santa Barbara County or in the Santa Ynez Valley. Not here, not now, not ever. We condemn all acts of anti-Semitism, all forms of bigotry, bullying, and hate. It is incongruous that such a symbol would appear on the campus of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, which focuses on and promotes educating students to live in our multi-cultural region and world, with people from many racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The use of such a harmful symbol as the swastika, which represents a genocidal attack on the Jewish people, is an act of aggression and hate that has no place in our vibrant, diverse, and welcoming communi-
ty. Local teachers, parents, and community leaders need to build awareness of the oppression of and violence against Jewish people worldwide and ensure that acts like this never happen here again. This is an opportunity for us to affirm that our Santa Ynez Valley is a safe and
inclusive community, where all people are welcome and images and actions like this are not acceptable. We come together to say our community is better than this and to wish all of you a holiday season filled with love and joy. This Santa Ynez Valley Community state-
ment is signed by 3rd District county Supervisor Joan Hartmann, Buellton Mayor Holly Sierra, Solvang Mayor Ryan Toussaint, SYVUHS District Superintendent Scott Cory, Rabbi Dr. Oren Postrel of the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community, President Susie Margolis Pierson of the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community, Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Rev. Chris Brown of Bethania Lutheran Church, the Rev. Randall Day of St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, Father Bobby Barbato of Old Mission Santa InÊs, CEO Dean Palius of Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People, Director Mary Conway of the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition, Co-chairs Nancy Englander and Shawn Addison of Inclusion SYV, and Regional Director Daniel Meisel of the Tri-Counties Anti-Defamation League.
Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words in length. Send letters to: Raiza Giorgi, PO Box 1594, Solvang, CA 93464 or email to: news@santaynezvalleystar.com Please include your name and address and phone number.
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January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9
Solvang chamber to install board members Jan. 9 Staff Report
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welve board members of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce will be installed on Thursday, Jan. 9, in a searing-in ceremony led by Solvang Mayor Ryan Toussaint. “It is a real pleasure to have these outstanding leaders of Solvang’s business community serve as volunteer board members to boost future development business, educational programs, oversee our strategic marketing plan and advancement of Solvang’s economic business community,”
said Board President Charles Werner. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Wildling Museum for Werner, a local attorney; Vice President Ken Sorensen, Sorenson & Associates CPAs; Secretary Lisa Mesa, owner of The Good Life Cellars; and Past President John Martino. In addition to those officers, returning directors to be installed include Patty Dedominic of Dedominic and Associates; Scott Gold, General Manager of Hotel Corque; Michael Mendiz-
za, owner of Z. Folio, Taste of Solvang, and Olive Press Company; Dr. Kevin Walthers, president, of Allan Hancock College; Jack Williams of The Wandering Dog Wine Bar; and Honorary Board Member, economist Dr. Kenneth Harwood. New members are Dana Volk, owner of Dana V Wines; Diane Wittenbrock, owner of Solvang Knives Etc.; Jamie Baker, owner of Space VR; and Golzar Barrera, owner of All Purpose Flour Catering. For more information, call 805-688-0701.
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Photo by Raiza Giorgi The 2020 Board of Directors for the Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors includes President Rodney Smeester, Brenda Cloud, Gigi Hollister, Robin Flynn, Michelle Glaus, Jennie Bradley and Barbara Bierig.
SYV Realtors install 2020 directors Staff Report
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he Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors recently elected its 2020 Board of Directors, which features Rodney Smeester as its new president. The election took place at an annual instillation luncheon at K’Syrah in Solvang. Along with Smeester’s election the board will consist of President Elect Barbara Bierig, Treasurer Michelle Glaus, and directors Jennie Bradley, Gigi Hollister, Brenda Cloud and
Robin Flynn. Realtors and affiliates such as mortgage brokers, insurance agents and others attended the lunch. Bruce Wagner of Envoy Mortgage was honored as the Affiliate of the Year. The mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Association of Realtors is to promote excellence in real estate practice, contributing to the highest quality of life for all in the Santa Ynez Valley. For more information, visit http://www. syvaor.com.
10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Solvang School has a marching band after 17-year hiatus Director wants group to be ‘a central part of this town’ By Pamela Dozois
reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com
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olvang School has a marching band for the first time since 2002, and it is planning to perform in the many parades and events that Solvang holds each year. There may not be 76 trombones in this little marching band, but what they lack in brass they make up for with heart and soul and a passion for making music. “The band program had had a lot of turnover, and the school slowly stopped incorporating the class into its curriculum,” said Malia Maurer, who has been the music director at Solvang School for the past three years. “During that time there were probably eight different band directors that came and went. So it was impossible to have any continuity.” Maurer studied music at UCSB. Before she graduated she started a small business of private music instruction in Santa Barbara, which she says grew to over 100 students. She offered piano, guitar, voice, song writing courses, and ethnomusicology, which is music found around the world. “My vision is, I want this band to be a central part of this town, being our only school in Solvang. I would like the community to support these young musicians,” Maurer said. “Music was always my passion, but motherhood became my greater passion so I closed my business in order to raise my son and eventually my daughter,” she explained. “We moved from Santa Barbara to the valley and then an incredible opportunity came my way. I was asked to open Kindermusik in the valley. The company, which was located in Santa Barbara, wanted to expand its existing program. “Being a mother of two young children, I realized there were very few offerings for children under the age of 2 in the valley. I started Kindermusik because I saw
Photos contributed Decked out in their newly restored band outfits the students marched in the downtown Christmas parade followed by the school’s cheerleaders.
There may not be 76 trombones in this little marching band but what they lack in brass they make up for with heart and soul and a passion for making music.
the need. “I was working simultaneously at Kindermusik and Solvang School. I was still very much a mother, so I couldn’t give both programs the energy that they needed, so I knew I had to choose one and I chose Solvang School. Kindermusik
continues to be a successful program in the valley. “Being the musical director at Solvang School has offered me the opportunity to really challenge my skills and inspire new growth within me,” she continued. “When I started here there were two band classes
totaling 25 students. Now there are five band classes with over 100 students. One of those bands is our marching band. “I discovered that we already had all the equipment and uniforms necessary to have a marching band, so I brought everything out of storage and revived it. After 17 years in storage you can imagine what the uniforms looked like, but they look great after being bleached and dry cleaned. We even have red sparkly bow ties. “We had enough clothing to fit everyone, including the additional students who carry our Solvang shields. Approximately 25 students are involved in the marching band, and we have plans to participate in many of our local parades.” Maurer explained that what she likes most about band is that it is a group effort. No one is greater than the whole. The students have to open their ears and their minds and rely on each other for the success of the group. She feels that this is very important for youth, especially junior high students. “Other school subjects are more individual than the band class,” she continued. “We work with a common goal, which is the success of our performances. The school year runs from August to June, and we are asked to do one performance per semester. We will have done six performances this semester because the students want to share their music and their accomplishments with the public.” “This is my second year in band at Solvang School and I really like the band class. I play the French horn,” said student Ilan Torres. “I played the French horn at my old school in Chicago. I’m learning how to read music too. “I try to play from my heart. We play pop, blues, and classical music in the classes. I’m excited about performing and a little nervous about people watching us in the parade. The band tries to do as many gigs as possible. We just started in August and we’ll have played at four gigs before the end of the calendar year. Band is fun.”
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January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11
Local podcast spotlights residents and their ‘SYV Stories’
Staff Report
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YV Stories,” a new local podcast about community and purpose in the Santa Ynez Valley, quietly launched last month but is quickly gaining interest. Hosted and produced by Solvang resident Tamara Rowles, each episode features an in-depth interview with a member of the community who has contributed something significant to the valley or has an interesting story to share about its history. “When we moved to the valley a few years ago, for the first time I understood what it meant to be part of a close-knit community. The valley has a rich history and so many people have contributed to our way of life. Between the cowboys and ranchers, the Danish community, and the farmers and vintners, there is no shortage of interesting stories to tell,” Rowles said. The podcast’s first few episodes are available for listening now, with many more planned for future publication. In Episode 1, Rowles interviews distinguished resident Allan Jones, who has lived in the valley nearly all his life and volunteers with many local community service organizations. Episode 2 features the Santa Ynez
Photo contributed Tamara Rowles recently started the SYV Stories podcast, which highlights community members in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Valley Star’s publisher Raiza Giorgi, who shares how she started the Star and her passion for reporting local news. In Episode 3, Rowles interviews Pastor Chris Brown, who discusses his first call and his future plans for Bethania Lutheran Church. Rowles is a former attorney who now runs hospitality and membership programs at Dovecote Estate Winery, the Los Alamos vineyard and ranch formerly owned by the Thompson family. She started the podcast as a means of making her own small contribution to the community. “My family is not a part of the valley’s long and rich history, but I have a talent for asking questions and I can help record the stories of the people who are. I have always loved listening to podcasts because when I hear somebody tell their story in their own words, I am reminded how we are more alike than different and how we are all connected in some way. That connection is only amplified in a small community such as ours,” Rowles said. Rowles recently sat down with Claire Bettencourt to discuss her family’s nearSYV STORIES CONTINUED TO PAGE 20
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12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Twelfth Night is not just for Shakespeare
Celebrations of Epiphany have a long history By John Copeland
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he festivities of Christmas and the Winter Solstice were traditionally not just one-day events. They were celebrated for several days, coming to an end on January 6 with a final night of celebration called Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night used to be widely celebrated, but today not so much. Many of us are familiar with the term Twelfth Night because William Shakespeare used it as setting for one of his most famous plays, which helped to forever merge it into popular culture. The Twelve Days of Christmas are possibly the most misunderstood part of the church year for those not familiar with liturgical church traditions. The twelve days in the song are the twelve days starting with Christmas Day, or in some traditions the day after Christmas, and extending to the day before Epiphany, or the Feast of the Epiphany, on January 6. Very few Americans celebrate the twelve days of Christmas. Some of the earliest colonists, the Puritans, did not even celebrate Christmas. They considered Christmas to be pagan in origin and too closely associated with the Roman Catholic Church. For many years, during early colonial times, Christmas was banned in New England. January 6 is when Christmas celebrations finally wind down. Twelfth Night marks the end of Christmas merrymaking and, in pre-Christian Northern European traditions, marked the end of the twelve-day Winter Solstice celebrations. Food and drink are at the center of the festivities, and the traditions associated with the day go back many centuries. However, accounts of Twelfth Night reveal these celebrations were quieter and more subdued than those at Christmas. Twelfth Night, where it is still observed, is often accompanied by an exchange of gifts and takes on a similar significance to Christmas Eve. Epiphany is the celebration the arrival of the Magi (the wise men from the East) who traveled west, using a bright star in the heavens to guide their way, to honor the infant Jesus and to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In fact, in Spanish speaking countries, the day is called “Three Kings Day.” I am sorry, I just cannot help myself, I have a couple of quick tangents to share. Magi is the root of the word magician. In ancient Medea, now part of Iran, the Magi were the priests of the Zoroastrian religion. The best known Magi were the “Wise Men from the East” of the Bible. The Bible is silent on how many wise men visited Bethlehem, but most commonly it is asserted there were three of them.
Traditions aside, we do not know the names of these magi. However, in the Catholic church they were regarded as saints and are commonly known as Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. These names apparently derive from a Greek manuscript probably composed in Alexandria around 500, which was translated into Latin with the title Excerpta Latina Barbari. Marco Polo, the Italian merchant adventurer who journeyed to China and the court of Kubla Khan in the 1200s, claimed to have seen the graves of the three Magi in what is today the district of Saveh, near Tehran, Iran. My second tangent is about the given name Tiffany. Rather than being of contemporary origin, Tiffany is a certified medieval name, dating in England to the mid-14th century. It comes through a very roundabout route from the word Epiphany and appears to have been originally given to girls born on or around the date of the Epiphany. Back to Twelfth Night. Around the world, special pastries such as the Tortell and King Cake were baked on the eve of Twelfth Night and eaten the following day during the Feast of the Epiphany observance. In England and France, the Twelfth Night cake contained a bean and a pea. Whoever received the slice containing the bean or pea would be designated king and queen of the night’s revels. The drink at Twelfth Night was wassail, sometimes called Lamb’s Wool, made from roasted apples, sugar, nutmeg and ale, or sometimes wine, and served in a ceremonial wassail bowl. On Twelfth Night, it was customary for assembled friends and family to toast one another from the wassail bowl. In farming regions, two interrelated customs intersected on Twelfth Night: wassailing and the lighting of fires in wheat fields to ensure a good crop in the coming year. Farmers made twelve bundles of straw, placed them in a row and set them on fire. One bundle was larger, as was its fire. The farmer and the field hands would stand around this bonfire and drink a glass of cider to their master’s health and success for the next harvest. Returning home, the celebrants would enjoy caraway seed cakes and more cider. In times past, Twelfth Night or Epiphany morning was the time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. Traditionally, the twelfth day is the last day for decorations to be taken down. It was considered to be courting bad luck to take decorations down after this date. However, decorations could be kept up until the next Christmas to avoid bad luck. Take heart. The holiday season is at its end and the new calendar hanging on the wall beckons us with a new year yet to unfold. Also, keep in mind that January, the heart of winter, also carries the seeds of spring. During January, we will gain nearly an hour of daylight as we turn our faces to the future.
Photo contributed The Snow Leopard Festival brings awareness of snow leopard conservation while having fun.
Snow Leopard Festival rescheduled to Jan. 26 Staff Report
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he Santa Barbara Zoo’s annual Snow Leopard Festival, which includes “Sledding at the Zoo,” has been rescheduled to Sunday, Jan. 26, because of rain on the original date in December. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with zoo members admitted beginning at 9 a.m. Activities include sledding (six runs, including bunny slopes) and snow play for children, keeper talks about snow leopard conservation, crafts, face paint-
ing, climbing the 25-foot tall “Mount Everest” climbing wall, and the sale of snow leopard-related toys and books to benefit the Snow Leopard Trust’s conservation work in the wild. Tickets are $5 for sledding and bounce houses, and the rest of the activities are free with zoo admission. Sledding is for children age 4 to 12 only, and sleds are provided. For more information call (805) 962-5339 or visit www.sbzoo.org.
Free joint-pain seminar set for Jan. 9 Staff Report
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hen joint pain becomes unbearable it can interfere with daily activities and prevent people from doing the things they love. Dr. Christopher Birch, an expert affiliated with the Cottage Center for Orthopedics, will discuss treatment options for joint pain at a free event on Jan. 9 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. The doctor will discuss all phases of
joint health, from joint preservation to joint replacement. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Refreshments will be served. The free event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, 400 W. Pueblo St. Advance registration is required. Call 1-855-3-NO-PAIN (1-855-366-7246), or go to www.cottagehealth.org/orthomtd/ to register.
January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13
Chumash donate $25,000 to Toys for Tots
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nerships with local agencies, such as Unity Shoppe, People Helping People, the Salvation Army, Community Action Commission, Tribal TANF Program and the Boys & Girls Club. “We have been proud to partner with Toys for Tots throughout the years, and we support our local chapter’s efforts to help make the holiday season a little bit brighter for children in our county,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn. Kathy Marshall of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians presented the $25,000 donation check to retired 1st Sgt. Soledad Kennedy, the Marine Corps League 1340 Toys for Tots Coordinator for Santa Barbara County, and 1st Vice Commander Nathaniel Taylor. “Over the past 16 years, the support of the Santa Ynez Chumash has been very instrumental to the Toys for Tots program,” Kennedy said. “Their partnership with the Marine Corps League has continually provided monetary support to purchase toys and books for children in Santa Barbara County. Every child deserves a gift for Christmas, and because of the tribe’s annual donations, the Toys for Tots program in Santa Barbara County has flourished.”
Staff Report
he Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated $25,000 to the annual Toys for Tots campaign during a concert by the pop and R&B group 98 Degrees in December, tribal officials announced. This year’s donation brings the tribe’s total contributions to Toys for Tots, since its first benefit concert in 2004, to $400,000. Since 2004, the resort has designated a December concert to bring awareness to the Central Coast Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots campaign, which serves families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through part-
Photo contributed The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated $25,000 to the local Toys for Tots campaign in December.
For more information on how to donate a toy or make a monetary donation, visit www. toysfortots.org.
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14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Elverhoj to show ‘Solvang Movie Memories’ on Jan. 11 settlers who achieved the American Dream while honoring their Danish heritage and, in so doing, created the town we know today. Meticulously restored black and white photographs from the museum collection tell the story of Solvang from its founding as a Danish American colony through its transformation to a tourist destination. The history of Danish immigration to America is chronicled in displays that originated at the National Museum of Immigration in Ellis Island, N.Y., and incorporate biographies of several early Solvang residents. The “Spirit of Solvang” exhibit accompanies the highly anticipated January release of a new 220-page book, “The Spirit of Solvang: A History of the Danish Capital of America,” documenting the history of Solvang from its founding through present day. Exhibition programming includes “Kringle and Crown,” celebrating Solvang’s baking history, at 3 p.m. Jan. 25, and a smørrebrød class on Feb. 5 where participants will gain hands-on experience in making (and eating) Danish open-face sandwiches. Elverhøj Museum of History and Art at 1624 Elverhoy Way in Solvang is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but a $5 donation is requested.
Staff Report
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emories of five decades of Solvang events will be presented in film clips at Elverhøj Museum of History and Art at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. The excerpts are edited from the personal collection of local resident and documentarian Dean Klitgaard. There is no charge for admission. During the 1960s, Klitgaard was a reporter and director of the KCOY-TV evening news and often spent weekends shooting scenes of Solvang to be featured the following week. “The newscast would always end with a clip from Solvang to leave viewers with something happy,” he said. A brief history of television in the valley will be followed by a variety of clips narrated by Klitgaard. Scenes will range from special events including Danish Days and Christmas parades to small-town activities such as the inaugural voyage of the streetcar built by Axel Nielsen to transport residents of the Lutheran Home (now Atterdag Village) to Nielsen’s Market for their weekly grocery shopping. Light refreshments will be served and there will time for discussion and questions during the screening. “Movie Memories” will be presented in the museum gallery with the current exhibition, “The Spirit of Solvang: From Danish Roots to California Colony,” as a backdrop. The exhibit celebrates Solvang’s early
Photo Contributed A brief history of television in the valley will be followed by a variety of clips narrated by Solvang documentarian Dean Klitgaard.
For more information, phone the museum at (805) 686-1211 or visit www.elverhøj.org.
He has MS, but MS doesn’t have him Loren Ollenberger runs, raises money for those with multiple sclerosis more severe than his own By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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ne morning Loren Ollenberger got up and, like any other day, got ready for work and went into the office. However, he noticed when he got there that his vision wasn’t quite right, his right leg was dragging, and the right side of his body just wasn’t working quite so well. After going to the doctor and getting tested for various ailments, Ollenberger was diagnosed at age 27 with multiple sclerosis (MS). “I fortunately got the version where it comes in episodes and not the kind that gets progressively worse. I have worked with my doctors over the past years doing steroid treatments to help with the symptoms,” Ollenberger said. MS is a chronic, disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms can be mild, such as some numbness in the limbs, or severe, including paralysis or loss of vision. The degree of severity and symptoms vary from person to person. Ollenberger said that he was able to hide his diagnosis from most of the people he interacted with, except his wife and other close family
Photo Contributed Santa Ynez Valley resident Loren Ollenberger trains for his upcoming 220-mile run from Barstow to Las Vegas by running on local roads.
members. The diagnosis came right around the time their first child was born. “Reflecting on that chapter of my life, I regret not sharing that I was diagnosed with and living with MS. I look back now and realize the impact that I may have been able to have as a ‘successful corporate executive’ with MS. Instead of being afraid of how I would be judged, I could have really proven that those with MS are not always as we imagine,” he said.
In just a few months, Ollenberger will be running 220 miles in eight days for the MS Run the US, a nonprofit organization he is on the board of. This run begins each April in Santa Monica and finishes in New York City in August. It is a relay race where runners are selected to accomplish a set amount of miles in several days. Ollenberger’s portion this year is from Barstow to Las Vegas. Each runner also commits to raising at least $10,000 and training for months to complete
their segment of the relay. “It’s takes several months of running consistently, and as we get to just a month or two out I need to be able to complete two half-marathons in a day in order to be ready. The valley is the best place to train with all the beautiful scenery and rolling hills,” he said. Ollenberger completed his first segment in 2017 when he ran from Lincoln, Neb., to Des Moines, Iowa. That was 190 miles in seven days. Ollenberger said he raised $25,000 for that run, and he hopes to meet or exceed that amount this year. So far he’s raised $9,300. The money supports the organization’s mission to raise awareness of MS, fund research and support those living with disabilities from the disease. “Knowing a portion of this money goes to help those with more severe conditions than mine, building wheelchair ramps and accessible bathrooms and more, is wonderful,” he said. Ollenberger and his family moved to the Santa Ynez Valley several years ago, and he still recalls receiving a warm welcome. The Ollenbergers and another family own the God’s Country Provisions doughnut shop in Buellton. Ollenberger said he will be hosting a few events in the valley to raise the rest of his goal on his GoFundMe page. His motto, he says, is “I have MS, but MS doesn’t have me.”
January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15
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16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Cancer Center endowment fund surpasses $2 million Staff Report
Photo Contributed The concert includes a multimedia presentation, light show and live music performed by the philharmonic and guest artists.
Santa Maria Philharmonic to give free family concert Staff Report
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nder the direction of Michael Nowak, the Santa Maria Philharmonic will present a free concert, “Fly Me to the Moon: From JS Bach to Mr. Spock,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. The concert is presented as part of the Philharmonic Society’s educational programming for fourth-grade students in the Santa Maria Valley each year, but this is the first presentation for a wider audience. The concert includes a multimedia presentation, light show and live music performed by the philharmonic and guest artists. “We’re grateful to some very generous donors who’ve made the additional perfor-
mance possible,” said Executive Director Fran Saveriano. “We’re very happy to be able to present it free of charge to residents and visitors alike in the Northern Santa Barbara County community.” “This program is designed to captivate the imagination and creative spirit in all of us as we journey from our world out into the far regions of the universe,” said Nowak, co-creator of this project with his wife, Suzette Harbour. “By blending extraordinary visuals with the world’s greatest music, we guarantee an experience that is truly ‘out of this world’.” For more information, visit www.smphilharmonic.org.
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ince 1949, Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara has been committed to providing the finest cancer care through the recruitment of highly trained oncology physicians, the acquisition of new technology and active participation in clinical research. Along with Sansum Clinic, the foundation’s key role in development of the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center was one of the most significant achievements in the organization’s 70-year history. An additional core aspect of the foundation’s mission is to ensure access to today’s best cancer care for everyone in our community regardless of their ability to pay. Ridley-Tree Cancer Center’s capacity to deliver on this commitment was strengthened in 2011 with the establishment of the AJM Endowment Fund for Patient Assistance, created in honor of Art Merovick for his many years of service to the foundation.
Through the generosity of his family, friends and other members of the community, the AJM Fund recently surpassed $2 million. Cancer care is often expensive and leaves many Santa Barbara residents unable to afford potentially life-saving treatments. Support of the AJM Fund means that world-class care offered by the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center’s medical team will continue to be available to everyone in the community who faces a cancer diagnosis, allowing them to focus on their recovery without the burden of the inevitable accompanying financial challenges. In 2018, the Cancer Foundation provided $150,000 from the AJM Fund for financial support of more than 970 patients.
Now Enrolling! Call Today For a Tour. art music garden STEAM field trips outdoor learning fostering creativity developing life long learners (805) 686-7360 www.syvcs.org info@syvcs.org 1224 Tyndall Street, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Santa Ynez Valley Charter School Come visit our creative and innovative community of learners! Discover our dynamic, collaborative ethos where students thrive in a challenging and supportive environment. Now celebrating our 20th year as an exemplary public school of choice serving students in Kindergarten through 8th grade from across Santa Barbara County. Join us for our Open House February 12 at 5:30 PM.
Celebrating 20 years of academic excellence.
January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17
Buellton Thrift Store has bargains galore Sales support the senior center, but the deals are for everyone By Pamela Dozois
reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com
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he Buellton Thrift Store is a god-send to many residents of the Santa Ynez Valley and surrounding areas. It has been in existence for 30 years, in a number of different location throughout the valley, and Rosemary Hrehor has been the store manager for the past 10 or 12 years. “I can’t exactly remember how long I’ve been running the store, but let’s say I have outlasted a number of directors,” said Hrehor. “But I have to say Pam Gnekow (director of the Buellton Senior Center, which operates the store) is a gem. She has an infinitely generous and kind heart.” Hrehor tends to the store’s patrons and volunteers with humor, grit, and grace, keeping things rolling along successfully amidst a variety of unexpected incidents and unsolicited late-night donations. “This is a team effort,” said Hrehor. “Our success is not because of the strength of one individual but how we function together as a team. All our volunteers work together to sort the piles of donations we receive daily. This job takes a lot of strength and time, with lots of back pain and achy bones to follow. While at times we are overwhelmed with the quantity of donations, at the same time we are blessed with all the wonderful things we receive every day. That’s why I always say, ‘Why do people buy retail? They should come to us and if we don’t have it, we’ll find it for you.’”
Photo Contributed Pictured are some of the volunteers who keep the Buellton Thrift Store up and running, in a photo taken at a recent “thank you” pizza party by the Buellton Senior Center.
Hrehor says that working at the Thrift Store is very rewarding. There are 37 volunteers who help out, none of whom draws a salary. Most people are not aware that the Thrift Store not only helps seniors, but those in need as well, such as fire and flood victims. “We change people’s lives. And the feeling you get from being of service to others – well, it’s gratifying to say the least – there’s nothing quite like it,” she said. Two tents stand next to the Thrift Store on West Highway 246 One is full of furniture, which is a big part of the store’s success. The volunteers work diligently to make sure all items are cleaned, prices are listed and then posted on Facebook and other online sites. The other tent is for storage. Hrehor explained that years ago, when the concrete floors were being poured, she thought they were building a garage for the Thrift Store. Instead of a garage, they got tents.
o COUNCIL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 from. Orona said she has 12 years of logs on the number of riders each day, the daily temperatures and anything that happened of note. Djernaes said he wanted to take a look on a spreadsheet. He was repeatedly rebuked by Councilwoman Karen Waite, who said it was not appropriate to ask for a private business entity’s books. She also scolded him for presuming that he knew how to run someone else’s business. The Honen’s license was renewed until June 30, 2020. On the SYV Chat room on Facebook, Orona posted a Santa Ynez Valley News story about the council’s discussion of the Cinderella Carriages, and people chimed in about the council not supporting local business or following their own ordinances. The current ordinance (Ord. 85-23, 11-71985) states, ”It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any type of conveyance for hire for which any animal or animals is or are the primary motive power, on any streets or roads owned and/or maintained by the city, without first obtaining, and thereafter maintaining in good standing, a license permitting such activities.” “Cinderella Carriages have been contracted specifically for the Julefest event by the City directly” Bradford noted in an email to the Star. “Such service performed on behalf of the City is not subject to the
license you are referring to.” In the same email, Bradford wrote, “Solvang Trolley is required to annually apply for a license to operate their business on the streets of Solvang subject to Council approval. Any such business would be required to apply for the license to independently operate their business.” “We operate at a loss most of the year and count on events like Julefest and the summer season to make up for that revenue. If the city is just going to hire out of towners every high season to compete with us without even giving a chance to the public to comment on the issue, what is preventing them from taking similar measures to push their own agendas?” Orona said. She stated in the Facebook discussion that the company was never asked whether they had other carriages available, even though they have several options. “We have horse and carriage rigs/drivers here in the valley plus our long time LOCAL horse trolley people! With a little thought and carefully supervised local resources this could be turned into a nifty fundraiser, no need to import out-of-towners,” wrote Nancy Hunsicker. Orona said she has been trying to contact the city to see if they can provide an option and they have yet to hear back. To see the entire council meeting and past meetings, visit www.YouTube.com and search City of Solvang.
“The tents are getting old and everything inside is a little dusty with all the wind, so if anyone feels moved to build us a garage, please come forward. The foundation is already there – we just need the building,” said Hrehor. The Buellton Thrift Store is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “We can always use more volunteers,” she stated. “Even though we seem to have a lot of volunteer help, we are still lacking, especially on Saturdays. A lot of us may be getting up there in age but we still have a lot of wisdom, heart, strength, and courage to offer. The people who are scheduled to work always show up promptly, raring to go. “We are so fortunate to have this group of dedicated volunteers. We are more like a family than anything. A lot of the senior customers come into the shop for daily hugs or to have someone to talk to. They are welcomed by our
wonderful staff of cashiers. We may be the only people they see in a day. My goal is to get all seniors out of the house.” People often ask Hrehor why she continues to do this work and she says her reply is always the same. “I do it because I believe in it. My mother was an exceptional woman, always giving. She didn’t have much, but she would give you the shirt off her back. So I promised her that I would help others too,” Hrehor recollected. “It makes me feel great to know that my time is spent helping seniors in need. But I couldn’t do it without the help of all my volunteers. They are the backbone of this operation.” Volunteers who have worked at the Thrift Store for 19 years or more are Rosemary and Chuck Hrehor, and Connie and Vince Liquori; for 10-14 years, Patricia Roather, Jan Myers, Dianne Day and Rita Gonzalez; for two to five years, Norma Steele, Mable Shatavsky, Ling Wheatly, Judy McDonald, Pat Fleming, Hanne Lawrence, Celia Alvarado, Steve (who likes to stay anonymous), Alan Andberg, Inger Hunger Hughs, Brigida Ortiz, Normajean Hubbard, Gary Whitehair, Roger and Sheila Junk, Julie Pattee, and Jan Skaling; and for two years or less, Glenn Windh, Charli Ricci and Finn Runge, Carolyn Russell, Judi Smith, Patti Kern, Norma Peterson, Jackie Peterson, Leclaire and Danny Belcher, and Erlinda Delgado. Art Nelson is the newest volunteer to join the team. All of the funds raised by the Buellton Thrift Store go to the upkeep of the Buellton Senior Center and the many programs they provide the seniors in the area. Buellton Thrift Store is at 56 West Highway 246 in Buellton. For more information, call 805-688-5073.
18 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Gingernuts are crunchy outside, chewy inside By Vida Gustafson Contributing Writer
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’ve carried this recipe around with me for decades and only started making this dish recently, partly because I didn’t think I could make it live up to my memories and partly because I couldn’t find Golden Syrup, the secret ingredient. This is a cookie my neighbor’s mom used to make every year when I was little. As it’s an old-school South African recipe that makes a ton of cookies (this is probably why we were always lucky enough to get a plateful). Nothing beats ginger in the winter months. It transforms an uncomfortably cold day into a snug, cozy one as if by magic. These are ideally crunchy outside and chewy inside, but you can bake them to whatever texture you like. Also, no nuts were harmed (or even used at all) in the baking of these cookies!
Ingredients
200 ml butter 1 C Golden Syrup * 5 C flour 20 ml baking soda 20 ml cream of tartar 1 tsp salt 50 ml dried ginger 625 gr brown sugar
Photos contributed This is a cookie my neighbor’s mom used to make every year when I was little.
3 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract *Many grocers now carry Lyle’s Golden Syrup in the international aisle. If all else fails, you can use honey. Maple syrup will not yield the
same results and is not recommended. That’s for another cookie on another day. Method In a small saucepan, melt together the syrup and butter. Set it aside to cool. Sift together
the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, ginger and salt. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and syrup with the brown sugar, then the eggs and vanilla. When the mixture is uniform, add the sifted dry ingredients and work into a smooth dough. Set the dough aside covered with a towel to rest for at least 2 hours in a cool spot or overnight in the fridge. When you are ready to get baking, set the oven for 350 degrees convection and roll the dough into ½-inch to ¾-inch balls. Set them on your baking sheet spaced about 2 inches apart, in alternating rows of 4 and 5. This size cookie will be crunchy outside and soft inside at 8-10 minutes. All batches are different and sometimes it takes a tray or two to find just how you want them to come out. If this freewheeling baking spirit is anathema to you, bake a single tester and time it! My 10-year-old son likes them barely cooked and I like them crunchy enough to withstand a good dunk in my coffee. For a slightly larger cookie, roll into 1- or 1 1/2-inch balls and bake for 10-12 minutes. If you’d like them an even brown, rotate your baking sheet halfway through.
January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19
Hate speech has no place on campus, superintendent says By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
S
anta Ynez Valley Union High School officials spoke adamantly against hate speech after a swastika and other symbols were spray-painted on one of school’s buildings on Friday, Dec. 13. “We had a crew of people show up early Saturday morning after someone reported it to us and the Sheriff’s Department, and it was removed immediately. We do not condone such behavior and are actively trying to find out who it was,” said Superintendent Scott Cory. Cory said the high school was very busy the night before with several winter sports games, auto shop activities and robotics activities, and there was a tour bus on campus. “Since I started at the school we have installed many more cameras. We total 53 as of now, and unfortunately this incident took place in a blind spot,” Cory said. The high school’s IT department spent hours scouring footage from the other cameras in hopes they might see something, but nothing out of the ordinary was observed, according to Cory. The Sheriff’s Department is also reviewing the footage and asking for any witnesses to come forward. Cory said that four of the seven markings
made reference to song titles of various punk rock and rap artists. The swastika was spray-painted to a punk rock title and Cory assumes it was there for shock value. “We had punk rockers back in my day at the high school that wore swastikas for the shock value. While I do not condone the drawing of that symbol, I am not sure it was necessarily hate speech. We haven’t had one instance of discipline on campus this year related to that,” Cory said. Local religious and community leaders
have taken note of the offense and have condemned it. “The members of the Jewish community spiritually and personally enrich the life of St. Mark’s and the life of the Santa Ynez Valley region. It grieves me and the St. Mark’s faith community to witness the insensitive and reprehensible expressions of hate and intimidation that threaten not just one segment of our diverse community but all of us. Together we care that our hometowns and neighborhoods are safe and sound and as vibrant and
beautiful as our natural surroundings,” said Rev. Randall Day of St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church. The group of political and religious leaders sent a statement that said, in part, “Anti-Semitic symbols have no place in Santa Barbara County or in the Santa Ynez Valley. Not here, not now, not ever. We condemn all acts of anti-Semitism, all forms of bigotry, bullying, and hate … The use of such a harmful symbol as the swastika, which represents a genocidal attack on the Jewish people, is an act of aggression and hate that has no place in our vibrant, diverse, and welcoming community” Read the full statement on Page 8 Cory said he communicated with his staff and students that such behavior will not be tolerated, and he hopes this incident will never be repeated. The immediate solution is to identify all the blind spots on campus and get additional cameras installed or position existing ones to cover them, he added. “I joined in the statement as I too believe swastikas have no place in our community, and we support the Jewish community completely. I just hope this wasn’t one of our students who did this,” Cory said.
Solvang, College schools named Distinguished Schools By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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ive elementary schools in Santa Barbara County, including Solvang and College schools, have been named 2020 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education (CDE). “When a school creates opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, just as is expected of engineers, artists, scientists, and architects each day, in their fields, learning soars. The award affirms our decision to create those opportunities,” said Dr. Steve Seaford, superintendent of Solvang School District. The other three honorees are Aliso Elementary School in the Carpinteria Unified School District, Kellogg Elementary in the Goleta Union School District, and Franklin Elementary School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. “We are proud of the exceptional education programs and practices at these school sites. This award highlights their outstanding work,
and we are thrilled their work resulted in this recognition,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido. The Distinguished Schools program recognizes schools based on performance and progress on state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and conditions and climate. Elementary schools and secondary schools are recognized in alternate years, so recipients hold the title for two years. Every year, two of California’s Distinguished Schools winners are also eligible to be recognized as a National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Schools. The 2020 California School Recognition Program awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 10 at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. A list of past California Distinguished Schools in Santa Barbara County can be found at http://teacherprograms.sbceo. org/distinguished-school-awards/.
File photo Dunn Middle School will host a session for parents of prospective middle school students.
Dunn School to host open house Jan. 11 Staff Report
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unn School in Los Olivos is hosting open houses for families with students who are considering applying to Dunn Middle School. Each program lasts approximately two hours and includes information on admissions and financial aid, a conversation with teachers, and a tour of the campus. This year’s open houses are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Jan. 11 for the Middle School, with the Diagnostic Test and Interview day for Middle School applicants at 9 a.m. March 7.
For nearly 60 years, Dunn has stayed true to its mission to educate the whole student. To accomplish this, the entire school community is committed to understanding and living by several core values: Emotional Wellness, Physical Readiness, Intellectual Growth, Social Responsibility, and Moral Courage. Academics are carefully balanced with a focus on emotional development, physical activity, social responsibility, and moral courage. For more information or to RSVP, email admissions@dunnschool.org or call 805-686-0650.
20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
o TROOPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
new year new home
Volunteers who helped with the packing of the Christmas packages are, from left, Dianna Dlaket, Pat Sullivan and Beth DuValle.
honored as the Elks Lodge’s ‘Citizens of the Year’ primarily for their work with this organization,” said DuVall, who is also a member of the Santa Ynez Valley Elks. “We are a group of volunteers, none of us gets paid,” said Sullivan. “All the money raised goes to cover the supplies and postage. Our USPS postal fee alone for this year’s Christmas packages is $4,712. Each box costs $19 to ship. We rely totally on grants from The Wood- Claeyssens Foundation, and
donations from the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Club, the Santa Ynez Valley Opportunity Shop and from generous individuals throughout the valley. Anyone wishing to contribute to Support the Troops can send checks made out to: We Support the Troops, PO Box 915, Santa Ynez, CA 93460. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, call 805-688-8404.
o SYV STORIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
ly 100-year history on the Old College Ranch and the valley’s first commercial vineyard, which she and her husband Boyd planted in the 1960s. “Mrs. Bettencourt showed me pictures of her family standing in front of an old adobe home over 90 years ago and her husband planting their very first vine. Her fascinating story is part of the valley’s history.” As listenership grows, Rowles intends to interview more guests who have ties to the valley going back generations as well
as passionate community leaders, volunteers, and elected officials. Each episode is between 30 and 45 minutes long. New episodes are released approximately every two weeks. To listen to SYV Stories, search “SYV Stories” on your phone’s podcast app (Apple, Spotify, Google, or your favorite podcast app) or go to www.syvstories.com. Rowles welcomes comments or recommendations for future guests and may be contacted at syvstories@ gmail.com.
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January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 21
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22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
Beach Boys, comedian Brennan added to 2020 schedule Staff Report
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he Chumash Casino Resort has added shows featuring The Beach Boys and comedian Neal Brennan to its 2020 concert schedule. The Beach Boys, the American rock/pop band of the 1960s that grew into one of the most commercially successful groups of all time, will perform on Friday, March 6,. Tickets are $69, $74, $79, $89 and $99. The band is led by Mike Love and includes longtime member Bruce Johnston ad well as musical director Scott Totten, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher and Randy Leago. Brennan, a three-time Emmy-nominated writer, director, producer and comedian who’s known for co-creating and co-writing the Comedy Central series “Chappelle’s Show” with Dave Chappelle, will perform his latest material on Saturday, Jan. 25. Tickets are $39, $44, $49, $54 and $59. Brennan is now a writer, creative consul-
Photo contributed Neal Brennan
tant and on-air correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.” He served as executive producer on Chris Rock’s 2018 standup special “Chris Rock: Tamborine” and as director on fellow Daily Show correspondent Michelle Wolf’s 2017 HBO special “Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady.” Tickets are available at the casino or at www. chumashcasino.com.
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Ashley Carroll travels news@santaynezvalleystar.com een Star Santa Barbara judge Catherine Remak thought there the world to compete was a typo next to Elizabeth Padfield’s name because her maturity and depth of range were astounding during the competition in trap shooting on Feb. 25 at the Arlington Theatre.
Sunrise Armour Ranch Road photo by George Rose, photo graphic by Aimée Reinhart Avery
Local photojournalist has a A prolific, award-winning career
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ore than 100 people turned out for a recent community meeting organized by a group opposed to the “Camp 4” property in Santa Ynez becoming part of the Chumash reservation. Members of the Santa Ynez Valley Coalition, which was created to defeat legislation that would take the rural land “into trust” for the tribe, focused on land use and preserving the valley’s rural character. At the meeting on April 27 at the Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall, coalition members recounted the history of land-use master plans called the Valley Blueprint and the Valley Plan and said they would release more information in the coming weeks, organizers said. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians announced in January that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had placed the tribe’s 1,390 acres known as “Camp 4” into federal trust. “Camp 4 is officially part of our reservation so we can begin the process of building homes on the property for tribal members and their families and revitalizing our tribal community,” Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn said in a prepared statement that was part of that announcement. The tribe bought the Camp 4 property in 2010 from late actor, vintner and hotelier Fess Parker, and they soon began the process of placing the land into federal trust, which makes it part of the tribe’s sovereign nation. Those efforts have been loudly opposed
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El Rancho Market The Heart of the Santa Ynez Valley elranchomarket.com
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news@santaynezvalleystar.com
“Your voice is the instrument and I felt like we were in the 1930s,” by Raiza Giorgi Remak said. news@santaynezvalleystar.com Elizabeth, 12, a seventh-grader at Solvang Elementary School, ultimately didn’t win the competition but she definitely left an impression on the hundreds of people who came to see the performances. Nolan shley Carroll does everything she Montgomery can keep her concentration betweenof Dos Pueblos High School was crowned the winner. “Being and on stage was mind blowing and I had such a great time. rounds by wearing dark glasses Performing is about bringing a smile to people’s faces, and that’s what I listening to music as she pushes through each strive for when I perform,” Elizabeth said. trap-shooting match. She’s no stranger to the stage as she has performed in the valley for His career includes images of naturalHer disasprocess is definitely working, because Story by Raiza Giorgi various functions-singing the national anthem at Fourth of July and porters, Super Bowls and Hollywood’s the biggest 22-year-old from Solvang won her first Photos by George Rose traying Poppins in last year’s production with the Arts Outreach celebrities. World Cup gold medal in Acapulco onMary March Summer Theater. Rose started his professional journey 19. more This popular eorge Rose loves to post pictures of the than 40 years ago when he was in college, “I keep my pre-shooting routine going and event along with Teen Dance Star are now in their seventh to season of crowning hardworking students, and creator and executive Santa Ynez Valley landscape, especially studying art history. He fell into photography I’ve met with sports psychologists help me Photo contributed producer Lambert, a former valley resident, talks about his efforts. along Armour Ranch Road where new while he was a copy messenger for the withProgmy mental focus and staying calm.Joe It can Solvang native Ashley Carroll father, Charlie “I am to really and humbled bycredits their her hard work andCarroll, what’swith instilling in her the love of shooting clays and a blacktop paving contrasts starkly with the epic ress Bulletin, a small newspaper in Pomona. be hard when you have people talking you impressed sense of responsibility and safety around firearms. really amazing landscape of meadows and mountains beyond it. “I used to hang out with the sportsbetween editors,matches, and I really try to pick a is they set their goals to get into the show, or into the top 10 and they keep pursuing their dreams,” Lambert However, his stunning landscapes are just and they helped me with my interestsong in phoand focus on it,” Carroll said. or participating in league events.said. My friends Union High School Carroll has been attending Star drew all around Santa “retirement photos” for Rose, who made an tography. I would make the plates on plastic, Carroll has been trap shooting This sinceyear’s she Teenwould wantcontestants me to go tofrom a party with them andBarbara the University of Colorado and working on at the Arlington Theatre. The finalists award-winning career in photojournalism that which would get transferred onto thewas printing in second grade. It was anCounty activityperforming that I their knewhearts if I didout I wouldn’t get enough rest or her general education. She believes this will weredid Jillian GarnettgetofinSan Marcos School (12th Grade), Elizabeth spanned from the days of spending hours with equipment, and back then it was theshe cusp of her father, Charlie Carroll, and togethtrouble andHigh not be allowed to shoot,” be a big year for her shooting. She moved to of SolvangCarroll Schoolsaid. (7th Grade), James McKernan of BishopColorado Springs to be close to the Olympic film in the darkroom to the more immediate the turning point of technology,” Rose said.is now the coach for thePadfield er. He Santa Ynez High School (12th Trujillo of Dos Pueblos High gratification of making and manipulating digital In the late 1970s and early 1980s Valley Rose Sportsman Association’sDiego Scholastic Trap Grade), shootingNicole has also allowed her to Training Center, which is also the headquarPhoto Daniel Dreifuss (11th Grade), Daniel Geiger of Pioneer Valley High School images. spent six years as a staff photographer forTarget the byProgram, Clay in whichSchool hundreds participate in a sport and travel all around the (11th ters for USA Shooting. She placed second Seventh-grader Padfield of Solvangtwice wowedfor theacrowd with her rendition of “Summertime” by Georgeprimarily Gershwin. The judges were stunned to HeElizabeth has been nominated Pulitzer Los Angeles Times, focused in the of kids from all around the Central Coast world for competitions. TEEN Recently went toON PAGE for the learn her age and said her vocal talents were astounding. STAR she CONTINUED 11 2016 Olympic team trials and is still Prize. entertainment industry. He has photographed participate. Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic east of deciding if she wants to go for the next Olym“Photojournalism is such an admirable profes- figures from Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa“He and wouldn’t let me shoot until I could Turkey. pic tryouts. sion because it can really capture the story for Eva Gabor to Meryl Streep, Sidney hold Poitier, the gun up on my own for a good “It was a beautiful country and one of the “A highlight for me was meeting Kim the reader. I was really lucky to have my career amount of time. We would set up boxes in the cleanest places I’ve been to. The streets were Rhode, who has been an inspiration to women GEORGE ROSE CONTINUEDliving ON PAGE 20 and I would practice for hours in the heyday of print journalism,” Rose said. room impeccable and the people were beyond hos- in shooting. After talking to her it became until I was ready,” Carroll said. pitable,” she said. really clear to me that I can achieve this as She she believes that more kids should take Carroll also won bronze in the HH Sheikha well,” Carroll said. lessons and learn their way around a gun. Fatia Bint Mubarak Women’s International Rhode became the first athlete to win an “Guns actually kept me out of trouble, beShooting Championship in the United Arab individual medal during six consecutive sumcause every Friday night and most weekends Emirates on April 13. SHOOTING CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 my dad and I were at the trap range practicing Since graduating from Santa Ynez Valley
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George Rose loves taking photos of Santa Ynez Valley landscapes like this Happy Canyon rainbow shot.
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by Raiza Giorgi
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SYV coalition says Camp 4 impacts larger than they seem
by Raiza Giorgi
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
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o THANKFUL
— Jose — Coli n — Jaxs on D ON PAGE 28
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January 7 - January 20, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23
To submit an event for publication, email the information to news@santaynezvalley star.com. To see more information online, go to www.santaynezvalleystar.com.
January 15
January 10
SYV Cottage Hospital Nutrition Class - 11 a.m. Noon - at the Cottage Admin Building 2050 Viborg Rd. Join Nutritionist Stacey Bailey as she gives free nutrition and diabetes education classes. This discussion is on Your Healthy New Years Tips. Call 805-694-2351 for more details.
January 19
Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks - runs
35th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival - Runs through Jan. 24 with lectures, workshops, film screenings, celebrity panels and industry discussions. For details of times and locations log onto www.sbiff.org.
January 16-18
WFC 120 World Fighting Championships - 6 p.m. at the Chumash Casino - Experience live boxing ringside, and watch the ultimate athletes go blow for blow in hopes of the championship title. Tickets range from $35 - $95, visit www.chumashcasino. com for details.
Dunn Middle School Open House - 2 - 3:30 p.m. Dunn School Library - Learn about the benefits of studying at Dunn Middle School which includes information on admissions and financial aid, a conversation with teachers, and a tour of the campus. RSVP to admissions@dunnschool.org. Investor’s Roundtable - 3 - 4:30 p.m. at Solvang Library - Helping individual investors since 1995, the Investors’ Roundtable welcomes both novice and veteran investors to informal presentations and discussions. January’s theme is “Investing in 2020.” Solvang Movie Memories - 4:30 p.m. at Elverhoj Museum of History and Art - A brief history of television in the valley will be followed by a variety of clips narrated by Dean Klitgaard. Scenes will range from special events including Danish Days and Christmas parades through the years, to small town activities such as the inaugural voyage of the streetcar built by Axel Nielsen and more. There is no charge for admission. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, phone the Museum at (805) 686-1211 or www.elverhoj.org.
January 13
SYV Cottage Hospital Nutrition Class - 11 a.m. Noon - at the Cottage Admin Building 2050 Viborg Rd. Join Nutritionist Stacey Bailey as she gives free nutrition and diabetes education classes. This discussion is on Conquering Diabetes Complications. Call 805-694-2351 for more details.
from Jan. 19 - 31 - where participating restaurants offer three-course tasting menus for $20.19. (Not including tax or gratuity) Log onto www.dinesyv. com for the list of restaurants, wineries and hoteliers offers.
January 20
Family Movie: Aladdin - 1 - 3 p.m. at the Solvang Library. December’s film is the 2019 release of Disney’s “Aladdin” with Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, and Billy Magnussen. Run time is 128, rated PG.
January 11
SYHS Baseball Camp - 8:30 a.m. registration 9 a.m. start at SYHS Baseball Field - Kids ages 6 - 13 are invited to attend the annual Baseball Camp which teaches the basic fundamentals from hitting, fielding, base running and more. Fee is $50/player contact Coach Warren Dickey at wdickey@syvuhsd.org for info. Karlin’s Soccer Academy - Saturdays, Jan 11-Feb 8, Buellton Rec Center Ages 3-5: 9-9:45am, $70; Ages 6-12: 10-11am, $80; Futsal/Indoor Soccer. Karlin Ladera, former college player and coach, teaches coordination, passing, trapping, ball control and footwork. Tennis shoes and shin guards required. www.BuelltonRec.com. Writer’s Workshop - 12:30 - 2 p.m. - at Buellton Library - This month’s theme is “Core of Characters”.
sharks burp and what a Garibaldi’s favorite hobby is. You’ll even practice eating food the way a sea star does. Free admission. For more information, contact Sea Center Programs Coordinator Tristin Mentry at 805-962-2526 ext. 103 or tmentry@sbnature2.org.
Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience - 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino - Theresa Caputo’s popular reality TV series, “The Long Island Medium,” premiered in September 2011. and she will be conducting readings with believers and sometimes even skeptics in a live show at the Casino. Tickets range from $69 - $99, visit www.chumashcasino. com for details.
January 17
Continuing Events Every Monday
Yoga, 9 a.m.; Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; Arts and Crafts every third Monday; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Divorce Care Recovery Seminar and Support Group – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy Library, 891 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; Louise Kolbert at 805-688-5171.
Every Tuesday
SYV Cottage Hospital Nutrition Class - 11 a.m. - Noon - at the Cottage Admin Building 2050 Viborg Rd. Join Nutritionist Stacey Bailey as she gives free nutrition and diabetes education classes. This discussion is on Exercise and Your Health. Call 805-694-2351 for more details.
January 18
Computer class, 9 a.m., Knitting, 9:30 a.m.; Tai Chi, 11 a.m.; bridge and poker, 12:45 p.m.; Mah Jongg 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Toddler Tuesdays at the MOXI - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. www.moxi.org. Preschool Story Time - 10:30 a.m. at Solvang Library. Two-Step Dance Lessons – 6:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. - Industry Night and Karaoke Party. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www. themavsaloon.com.
Every Wednesday
SYV We Support the Troops – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteer to pack care packages on the 4th Wednes-
day of each month. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. 805-245-4951. Art Class, 9 a.m.; Book Club, 10 a.m. (call first); Bingo, 1 p.m.: Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Knit and Crochet - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571. Healing Hearts Support Group – 2-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1825 Alamo Pintado Road. Free. To R.S.V.P. call 805-693-0244. Solvang Farmers Market - 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Street between Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. Crafternoons – 3:45-5:45 p.m. Arts Outreach, 2948 Nojoqui Ave. Suite 9, Los Olivos. $10/child; 805-688-9533.
Every Thursday
Sideways Inn Local’s Night Specials 5 p.m.- 8 p.m., 114 East Highway 246, Buellton; 805-691-8088. Chair Exercises - 10 a.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571. Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; Mah Jongg, Noon; Basic Cartooning, 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley - Noon-2 p.m., Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center offers a support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers; www.jodihouse.org.
Every Friday
Nutrition Classes - 11 a.m. - SYV Cottage Hospital Conference Room - Instruction Stacey Bailey is a dietician and offers weekly courses in various topics. For more information call 805-694-2351. Bring your lunch and talk nutrition. Tai Chi, 9:15 a.m.; Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.; Pilates – 10:15 a.m.; Ukulele 11:15 a.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Bingo - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.
Every Saturday
Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; 805688-4515 or www.sbparks.org. Junior Rangers Program – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Highway 154. Children 3 and up; under 10 years must be accompanied by an adult. $3/person. Nature Center admission is free. Visit www.clnaturecenter.org.
Coming up
Log onto www.cityofsolvang.com, www.buelltonrec.com or www.visitsyv.com to see a full schedule of programs and events that range from adult and youth sports to teen dances, field trips, excursions and more.
WE TREAT YOUR PROPERTIES AS OUR OWN!
OFFICE FAX Underwater Parks day - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at SB Museum of Natural History Sea Center - Find out why underwater parks matter as you participate in ocean-themed activities and meet local experts in ocean conservation. Go on a scavenger hunt around the Sea Center and discover animals with unthinkable hidden talents. Learn why some
(805) 686-9120 (805) 686-5402 BRE #01777954
1 7 5 M C M U R R AY R D. S T E E . BU E L LTO N, C A 9 3 4 2 7 R P L M A N AG E M E N T. C O M
24 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H January 7 - January 20, 2020
$5,495,000 | 2551 Highway 101, Buellton | 779.9± acs Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929 Lic # 00887277
$2,995,000 | 3169 Montecielo Dr, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3½BA Brett Ellingsberg | 805.729.4334 Lic # 01029715
$2,595,000 | 2075 Still Meadow Rd, Solvang | 5 ± acs Carole Colone | 805.708.2580 Lic # 01223216
$1,795,000 | 3030 Baseline Ave, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3½BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580
$1,450,000 | Upper Los Berros Rd, Nipomo | 454.2 ± acs Jody Neal | 805.252.9267 Lic # 01995725
$1,295,000 | 2425 Cebada Canyon Rd, Lompoc | 3BD/2½BA; 20± acs Brad Berch | 805.680.9415
$1,295,000 | 987 Fredensborg Canyon Rd, Solvang | 3BD/2BA
Lic # 01244576
Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580
$1,250,000 | 1799 Cougar Ridge Rd, Buellton | 4BD/2½BA; 20±acs Chris Jones | 805.708.7041
$1,195,000 | 1135 Edison St, Santa Ynez | 3BD/3BA Glynnis Mullenary | 805.705.5206 Lic # 01748187
$899,000 | 1226 Hans Park Trl, Solvang | 3BD/2½BA Cammy Godeck | 805.452.9725 Lic # 02074002
$895,000 | 2770 Canada Este Rd, Santa Ynez | 20.03±acs Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929 Lic # 00887277
Claire Hanssen / Brett Ellingsberg | 805.680.0929 / 805.729.4334
$723,000 | 653 Hillside Dr, Solvang | 3BD/3BA Brenda E Cloud | 805.901.1156 Lic # 01772551
$595,000 | 2213 Keenan Dr, Los Olivos | 1.28±acs David & Marlene Macbeth | 805.689.2738 Lic # 01132872 / 00689627
$430,000 | 644 Floral Dr, Solvang | 2BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496
$415,000 | 136 Sierra Vista, Solvang | 2BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496
MONTECITO | SANTA BARBARA | LOS OLIVOS
Lic # 01383462
$795,000 | 3155 Long Canyon Rd, Santa Ynez | 13.79± acs
Lic # 00887277 / 01029715
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©2018 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Info. is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Sellers will entertain and respond to all offers within this range. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. Lic# 01317331