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Vet’s Here celebrating a decade of helping animals Founder hopes to make mobile vet clinics 'a thing' By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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anta Ynez native Autumn Fanning knew from the age of 11 that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She had always had a connection to animals and wanted to help them. She is now celebrating 10 years with her mobile veterinary practice Vet’s Here, and hoping to take her idea more nationally, advocating for more mobile vet clinics. “I grew up raising goats and riding horses and just had this love for animals. It made sense that I would do a job that would heal them,” Fanning said. Growing up in the Santa Ynez Valley, Fanning participated in Santa Ynez 4-H and in Future Farmers of America at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School before transferring to Dunn School and graduating in 1999. Fanning then went through an accelerated bachelor’s program at Oregon State University, got accepted to its veterinary school and graduated with a dual degree from Oregon and Washington State University in general veterinary practice. “I met my former husband, Josh, during that time and his career took him to the military, being stationed in Hawaii, so I got my first vet job in Hawaii. It was awful,” she laughed sarcastically.
Photos by Daniel Dreifuss Santa Ynez native Autumn Fanning knew from the age of 11 that she wanted to be a veterinarian and is now celebrating 10 years with her mobile vet clinic Vet's Here.
"I grew up raising goats and riding horses and just had this love for animals. It made sense that I would do a job that would heal them," said Vet's Here founder Autumn Fanning
Being a large animal veterinarian means making sure your horse clients are properly cared for with regular teeth examinations.
They had their first child in Hawaii and realized the importance of having family close so they decided to move back to the valley. It was then that Fanning got the idea for a mobile veterinary practice. “I kept seeing the stress levels of the animals and their owners go up when having to come into the office,” she said. “Try moving a cat around in a crate, it’s a traumatic experience for everyone involved.” Fanning and her parents invested together, getting a delivery truck outfitted for veterinary practice, and took her show on the road. “I realized early on this was really the new way to do veterinary work because going to the clients home really lowered the stress levels of the animal and the owner and getting to see the environment around them,” she said. As her family was growing within the first two years, Fanning took on another veterinarian and she got a second truck. In 2017 she secured a group of investors that helped her expand her mobile service to the Los Angeles area of Newbury Park and Woodland Hills with two additional trucks and veterinarians. “I have four vets with me now, and hopefully will get two more to handle the workload as there is a shortage in veterinarians,” Fanning said. She attributed the cause to the recession in 2008-09 when several veterinary schools closed and never catching back up. “The salary for vets then was also way lower VET'S HERE CONTINUED TO PAGE 26
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TSA recruiting security screening officers for SB Airport Staff Report
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he Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is hiring transportation security officers (TSOs) to work at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). There are 20 positions currently available at SBA, with pay starting at $18.85 per hour. As an incentive, TSA will pay new TSOs at SBA $500 upon starting with the agency and $500 after one year of service with TSA. To qualify for the recruitment incentive, the employee must start with TSA between now and Sept. 30. “TSA is actively looking to add to its team of security professionals to work at SBA,” said Anita Minaei, TSA federal security director. “In addition to a steady position with full benefits for all employees, new hires will receive the $1,000 incentive payment. Consider applying today to begin a fulfilling career with TSA.” Based on anticipated seasonal travel trends in the months ahead and the fact that the COVID-19 vaccination is now available to the general public, TSA has accelerated its hiring
efforts locally and nationally. TSOs working at SBA are federal employees. Benefits include paid training, annual and sick leave, health care plans for full- and part-time employees and a retirement plan. TSA does not prorate benefits for part-time workers, and veteran’s preference is not required to join the agency. After six months, TSOs are eligible for pay increases, and those who work early mornings, evenings and Sundays receive a shift differential. Overtime opportunities, which are paid at time and a half, are frequently available. TSA is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment, and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply. For more about the duties of a TSO and to learn a little more about TSA’s mission, a video titled “Day in the Life of a TSO” is available. To view open positions locally and to apply, visit https://jobs.tsa.gov. In the “Search TSA jobs” box, enter TSO in the search box to the left and “Santa Barbara, California” in the “location” search box to the right.
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NEWS STAFF Raiza Giorgi
REPORTERS Pamela Dozois
Publisher & Editor
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Youth Mental Health First Aid summer training open Staff Report
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arents, teachers and Santa Barbara County professionals who work with youth ages 12-18 are encouraged to participate in a free, upcoming Youth Mental Health First Aid training session, which teaches participants how to support youth struggling with a mental health or substance abuse problem. Free online training will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20; June 3 and 15; July 8 and 20; and Aug. 10 and 19. Just as CPR teaches community members to help when a person is having a heart attack, Youth Mental Health First Aid training gives people the tools to identify when a young person might be struggling with a mental health or substance use problem. Mental health first-aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of reaching out and offering appropri-
ate support. They also learn the impact of traumatic experiences on adolescent development. Participants receive a three-year certification from the National Council for Behavioral Health. “It’s been a traumatic year,” said Annmarie Cameron, CEO for the Mental Wellness Center. “Youth have been impacted by school closures and social distancing guidelines, and they may not be forthcoming about any difficulties they are experiencing. “Adults can make a huge difference by getting trained on how to respond to mental health concerns in a young person. Our goal is to train 500 additional community members this year.” The classes are provided by Family Service Agency, Mental Wellness Center, and the Youthwell Coalition. For more information, visit BetheDifferenceSB.org or call 805-884-8440.
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Memorial Day ceremonies to honor local fallen servicemen Tim Manchester's name to be added to Solvang Park plaque By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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he Memorial Day ceremonies will be slightly amended this year as the COVID-19 restrictions are still in place and large gatherings are not recommended. The VFW Post 7139 and American Legion Post 160 will still be honoring the valley servicemen and women who gave their lives for our country. American flags will be placed on more than 900 veterans’ graves at the Santa Ines Mission, Chalk Hill, Oak Hill and Saint Marks cemeteries on Saturday, May 29, with veterans invited to help place them, according to Alvin Salge, Commander of the VFW Post 7139. There will be no cemetery ceremonies on Memorial Day. The Solvang Park and Veterans Memorial Hall American flags will be lowered to half-staff. “We invite the public to our special Memorial Day program starting at 11 a.m. both in front and inside of the Solvang Memorial Veterans Hall to dedicate memorial plaques honoring the 19 Santa Ynez Valley residents who gave their lives in service to our nation,” Salge said. The program will start in the front of the Veterans Hall and will include a
Photos contributed American flags will be placed on veterans' graves at the Santa Ines Mission, Chalk Hill, Oak Hill and Saint Marks cemeteries on Saturday, May 29.
tour of the plaques inside of the Big Hall. A 19th name is being added this year to the memorial plaque in Solvang Park: Texas Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Timothy Luke Manchester, who died Jan. 20 in Kuwait. He was born Dec. 30, 1986, in Lompoc, and grew up in Buellton. Manchester, 34, died at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in a non-combat related incident that officials say remains under investigation. No details about his cause of death were released. Manchester went to Jonata Elementary School and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, where he played baseball and ran cross country. His father, Tim Manchester, was the former pastor of Crossroads Church in Buellton. Baseball was Manchester’s true love and
he dreamed of coaching one day, according to his family members. Manchester enlisted in the Marines immediately after graduating high school in 2005 and served for nearly a decade as a Middle East cryptologic linguist. Manchester attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey and became fluent in Arabic. He served on two deployments to Iraq, first in 2008 and again in 2009. He went on to serve in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, during the tumultuous revolution in 2011. He joined the Texas Army National Guard in April 2018 in the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 636th Military Intelligence Battalion as a cryptologic linguist and transferred to the 36th Infantry Division
Tim Manchester's name will be added to the memorial plaque in Solvang Park this Memorial Day. The Texas Army National Guard Staff Sergeant died Jan. 20 in Kuwait.
HHBN, which deployed him to Kuwait in October 2020 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Spartan Shield). You can read more about his many accomplishments and heroism at www. santaynezvalleystar.com/valley-residents-payrespects-to-local-serviceman-who-paid-theultimate-price/. The Memorial Day remembrance includes a 229-year span in some 60 military actions that claimed 1.4 million lives.
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County, SB Foundation launch Emergency Business Assistance Program Staff Report
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anta Barbara County, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation, have announced that formation of the Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program that consists of two components: microenterprise business assistance and small business assistance grants. The application period opened May 10 and lasts through June 30, or when all funds are granted, whichever comes sooner. Eligible microenterprise businesses may apply for up to $10,000 in funding, while eligible small businesses may apply for up to $25,000. “This opportunity is made possible through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),” said George Chapjian, director of the County Community Services Department. “The goal is to implement Community Development Block Grant programs that reduce the impacts of
the pandemic. We are grateful to partners like Santa Barbara Foundation to make this grant program accessible to our countywide community.” This funding, allocated by the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), comes to the County with specific intention for prevention of, preparation for, and response to COVID-19 impacts. In accordance with these and HUD requirements, Emergency Business Assistance Program funding will only be provided in cases that are reasonably determined and documented that the applicant’s business has been adversely impacted by COVID-19. All interested parties are encouraged to review the grant guidelines and eligibility requirements thoroughly at www. sbfoundation.org/covid-19-business-community-resources/emergency-business-assistance-program/. “This grant program is an added effort to provide support for our county’s economy
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through continued uncertain times,” said Jessica Sanchez, director of donor relations at the Santa Barbara Foundation. “This program is another COVID-19 relief partnership like, Santa Barbara Better Together Fund and Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation Restaurant Fund, that are providing extra relief to businesses challenged by the coronavirus pandemic. We are happy to work with the County of Santa Barbara to provide such important support to our local businesses that are at the center of our county’s economy.” Staff from the county and Santa Barbara Foundation will be hosting two workshops to discuss the Emergency Business Assistance Program with interested businesses. The first is set for 10 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, May 10; and repeated noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. Applications will not be accepted by email or fax. Applications will be time and date stamped and reviewed on a first-come,
first-serve basis. If interest persists and funds are still available, the application period may be extended. Applicants may be required to submit additional documentation or detail. Applicants will have two weeks to submit additional materials, as requested by the Santa Barbara Foundation. For questions or more information, please contact the Santa Barbara Foundation at 805-963-1873. Applications can be submitted electronically via the Santa Barbara Foundation’s grants portal after May 10 or printed and mailed in a sealed envelope to the Santa Barbara Foundation, 1111 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. To hand deliver, please bring the sealed application to the above address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 5
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort Inducted into Historic Hotels of America Staff Report
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he Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang is honored to announce it has joined Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The iconic luxury dude ranch — which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year — is one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the country that is recognized and credited for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. “It is a true honor for the resort to be recognized by the Historic Hotels of America,” said Kathleen Cochran, general manager of The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort. “The Alisal has a unique history here in the Santa Ynez Valley. Our resort sits on a 10,500-acre ranch that was once a California Ranchero and everything, including our décor, culinary programming and activities, all take inspiration from the rich history of the property and the region of California.” The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort’s origin dates to 1843, during which it was known as Rancho Nojoqui, and the property has been a working
Photo contributed The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is recognized by Historic Hotels of America for its notable past, longstanding tradition, and historical landmark status.
ranch ever since. It was renamed in 1868 as The Alisal, translating from the Chumash language to mean “Grove of the Sycamores.” The Alisal became the hotel is known as now in July 1946, when Charles Pete Jackson Jr. and his family opened the dude ranch for lodging. Since then, The Alisal has kept its Western-flair
hospitality, and has been home to everything from celebrity weddings, championship cycling training and even Flying Ebony, the 1925 Kentucky Derby winner. The cattlemen’s quarters that once fed grub to cowboys is now a restaurant; deer can still be seen grazing, though these days it is often on The Alisal’s 18-hole golf
courses; and horses and cattle roam grass-covered hills that have changed little since the days of the Spanish vaquero. To be selected for membership in Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; have been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance. “We are delighted to induct The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, a luxury working guest-ranch built in 1946 to Historic Hotels of America,” said Lawrence Horwitz, executive vice president of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “So many stories have come out of this notable property in California, ranging from celebrity stays and weddings to modern-day filming and its origin as cattleman’s quarters, that we had to honor its longstanding tradition that so many families have come to know and love.” More information on the hotel’s history can be read at www.alisal.com/explore/ history.
Celebrating EMS Professionals Cottage Health salutes all Emergency Medical Services professionals for the vital role they play in caring for our community. EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide lifesaving services on the frontlines every day. cottagehealth.org
6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
New PG&E webpage offers energy-saving tips for customers Working, learning at home contributed to 10% increase in usage last year From Pacific Gas and Electric
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he ongoing pandemic has us all spending more time at home, and according to our customer data, the ongoing pandemic could be adding as much as 10 percent to residential home energy usage. To help customers reduce energy usage during the pandemic, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has launched a new webpage focusing on energy-saving tips and recommendations for the three primary areas that drive higher energy use: electronics, heating and cooling, and lighting. Electronic devices, keeping our homes warm or cool and keeping lights on all have a direct impact on energy usage when spending more time at home, especially with both work from home and distance learning more prevalent. “We hope this new resource will help customers learn all about the small changes that can add up and reduce overall energy use at home,” said Aaron August, PG&E Vice President of Business Development & Customer Engagement. PG&E offers the following tips on the new webpage, pge.com/hometips:
Save Energy When at Home n Electronics: Turn off equipment when away for 20 minutes or longer. Sleep or standby modes still use energy. Plug equipment into a smart power strip to easily shut off power to
Santa Barbara County Jail now allowing visitation Staff Report
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he Sheriff’s Office has announced that it will resume in-person visitation on May 10. In-person visiting schedules have been created for the Main Jail (located at 4436 Calle Real, Santa Barbara), which allow for social distancing between visitors. Schedules can be found at SBSheriff.org under the “How Do I, Visit an Inmate” drop down menus. Visitors are required to wear a mask when entering the facility, follow social distancing markers in the seating areas and respect the social distance of other visitors. Visitors will be able to remove
their masks while using the visiting phone. Visitors will be allowed inside in hourly intervals with all visits lasting no longer than 30 minutes. This will allow time for sanitizing before the next group. Visitors are expected to check in at the lobby prior to the cut-off times, and should do so early, so that waiting lists can be fairly maintained. All efforts have been made to maximize visiting opportunities while also maintaining safety for visitors and inmates. Despite this, visiting demands may be high and some visitors may not be accommodated.
multiple devices when done for the day. n Heating and Cooling: Use a smart or programmable thermostat to control your home temperature. These devices can be programmed to run on your schedule, ensuring you don’t
waste money when you’re away. PG&E offers smart thermostat rebates up to $120 to help these efforts. If programming your thermostat, set it to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer, health permitting. n Lighting: Rely on natural light if available. Opening blinds or drapes on sunny days can supply light without using other light sources. Replace old lightbulbs with LED lighting. LEDs not only use less energy, but they also last longer. Additional Ways to Reduce Energy Usage When at Home: n Switch electric rate plan. Compare plans and choose the one that works best for you. n See if you are eligible for a PG&E Financial Assistance Program to help save you money on your bills. n PG&E’s Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) provides income-qualified households with no-cost improvements to make the home more energy efficient, safe and comfortable. n If you made energy improvement renovations to your home, check to see if they are eligible for the equipment tax credits for primary residences. n If you are a small business owner or self-employed, find out if you’re eligible for the home office tax deduction in 2020.
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8 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Mission Rowing has room for everyone to keep fit and enjoy outdoors Community program that began in Seattle reborn at Cachuma Lake By Serena Guentz Contributing Writer
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hile COVID-19 has forced many businesses and programs to close, a local community rowing program at Cachuma Lake started and has been operating entirely under the pandemic. Whether young or old, completely new to the sport or Olympic-hopeful, Mission Rowing has room for everyone. Mission Rowing’s staff originally worked together in Seattle as Seattle Rowing Center for nearly 10 years, but when their leased property was sold, they needed to find a new location. When they could not find anything affordable in Seattle, the team decided to start Mission Rowing at Cachuma Lake in September 2019, although programs and camps officially started in April 2020. Mission Rowing currently uses UCSB’s dock, but the program recently got permission to build their own dock on the lake. Mission Rowing’s staff consists of President and Executive Director Carol Nagy, head coach Conal Groom, who has been coaching for about 27 years, and headmaster’s coach Derek De Leuw, who has been coaching for about 10 years. “I love it at Cachuma,” Nagy said. “I feel like I landed in paradise.” Nagy said that part of what makes Cachuma Lake so nice compared to Seattle is that there is no water skiing and limited boat traffic. Mission Rowing offers youth summer camps, as well as Learn to Row sessions for adults, programs for middle school and high school students, and master’s and high-performance teams. With the high performance team, head coach Groom works with many young athletes training for national teams and competitions, such as the World Rowing Junior, Under 23 and Senior Championships, as well as the Olympics.
Photos by Daniel Dreifuss Whether young or old, completely new to the sport or Olympic-hopeful, Mission Rowing has room for everyone.
While the master's and high-performance teams mostly consist of high school, collegiate and adult athletes, Mission Rowing coaches and trains people of all ages.
James Nelson rows in a morning practice with Mission Rowing at Cachuma Lake.
Groom said multiple students he is currently working with will be trying for national teams this summer. “Conal [Groom] is the best coach,” said 16-year-old Kat Lord-Krause. “He really cares.” She is one of many of Groom’s high-performance students from Seattle that followed to continue training with him at Mission Rowing. Lord-Krause is in her sixth year rowing and she said that her high school in Seattle is still under remote distance learning, which has allowed her to continue practicing with Mission Rowing.
Another student who moved to Santa Barbara from Seattle to continue training with Groom is 25-year-old Sophia Denison-Johnston who has been rowing for 12 years. Groom said she recently returned from participating in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Sarasota, Fla., where she placed fourth with fellow Mission Rowing athlete Sophie Heywood. Nagy said that many of their students in Seattle have gone on to attend Ivy League schools with full-ride scholarships. “His passion is high performance, but he is
also really good with the middle schoolers,” Nagy said of Groom. While the master’s and high-performance teams mostly consist of high school, collegiate and adult athletes, Mission Rowing coaches and trains people of all ages. One student in the master’s class is 12 years old and the middle school program teaches kids in sixth through eighth grade, with another student in fifth grade. “As long as the kid can focus enough during the practice,” said master’s and middle school coach De Leuw. Nagy also said she’s noticed an increasing amount of older adults who rowed in college or before moving to the Santa Barbara area who are excited to start rowing again. Although Mission Rowing has been able to operate and continue programs during the pandemic, it has still had to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Since beginning, Mission Rowing was limited to singles in one-person boats only, but with Santa Barbara County’s advancement to the less-restrictive orange tier on April 20, the programs have been able to begin incorporating doubles in practices. Mission Rowing has also not been able to participate in many competitions yet, as the pandemic has caused most competitions to be cancelled. Nagy said that they are hoping to start competitions again this fall. Nagy also said that she believes Mission Rowing is great for kids during the pandemic, especially the high school and middle school students who have been in remote distance learning for over a year. Everyone in the Mission Rowing staff has expressed excitement for the future of the program and rowing in the Santa Barbara area, being the first community rowing program in the county. More information on Mission Rowing and its programs can be found on its website at missionrowing.org.
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9
Watch wild California condor chick live on Condor Cam By Jennifer Zacharias for Santa Barbara Zoo
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or the sixth year, people in Santa Barbara and around the globe can get up-closeand-personal with an endangered California condor chick in real time through live streaming video of a cliff-side nest in a canyon near the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County. California condor chick #1075 hatched on April 10. Its parents are 10-year-old female condor #594 and 15-year-old male condor #374. This is the pair’s first nesting attempt together, and they are occupying a nest cavity used in 2018 by #374 and his former mate. Female condor #594 previously paired with male condor #462 in 2018 and 2020, successfully fledging one chick each year. This year marks male condor #374’s sixth nesting attempt at
Photo contributed Condor Cam gives an inside view of an endangered California Condor nest.
raising a chick; he has successfully fledged four chicks in previous years. Followers of the California Condor Cam
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watched a chick hatch live in the wild for the first time in history from another cliff-side nest on Hopper Mountain NWR in 2016. Each year
live streaming video of California condor chicks gains worldwide attention, attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers from all over the world. “The condor cams do an incredible job of lowering the barriers to experiencing the beauty and challenges of being a condor,” said Charles Eldermire, Cornell Lab Bird Cams project leader. “Each of the adults has an incredible backstory that can stretch decades, and for viewers to witness the next generation of condors while watching from anywhere in the world is a testament to the continuing power of this successful conservation story. “That’s not just good for viewers, it’s good for the condors, too.” The 2020 nesting season resulted in just one successfully fledged chick, condor #1048, from parents #594 and #462, though the future is looking bright for 2021 with 11 active nests in the Southern California flock. CONDOR CONTINUED TO PAGE 26
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10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
What if I was happy? The year I decided to try By Leanne Elliott
Museonthemountain.com
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hen I first posed the question to myself last spring, I didn’t even know what the word “happiness” meant to me. We had been quarantined at home for nearly eight weeks, finding a rhythm in an isolation we had never known before. While I relished the lack of stress, and the abundant family time, those weeks also contained a certain level of anxiety for me. There was too much spaciousness in which my goal-oriented brain thrashed about looking for the next dopamine hit. For a time, there were very few commitments and I didn’t really know what to do with myself if I wasn’t achieving something. I had spent my whole adult life pushing and never letting up. Burned out and exhausted was a badge. I thought people who play and enjoy life can’t really be trusted. I’ll play when my achievements have been fully realized. I’ll sleep when I’m dead. The pact I made with my stress and anxiety required constant worry and control. I wrestled with the haunting impression of feeling left behind even before my feet hit the floor in the morning. I thought it was telling me to try harder and do more. Forget my already abundant life, it all meant nothing unless I forgot to breathe. So naturally, when one cannot fulfill a pact with achievement, one has no other choice but to numb. But at the beginning of June, when it became clear that this pandemic wasn’t going anywhere, my waistline was telling me maybe numbing on Netflix and candy and cocktails at 3 p.m. wasn’t the best game plan for the long haul.
So, what then? Maybe I needed more gratitude. To simply sit in my wealth and be glad for it. Thank you, thank you ... stop wanting more. One early morning, I stopped pushing into gratitude and asked instead: if more is what you want, then ... more of what? I didn’t really know. So, I turned to some of my favorite sages to fill my head with affirmations. I picked up Mary Oliver and Rumi, Brene Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert. I listened to interviews with poet laureates and Indian tribal leaders and Margaret Atwood, whose 80-year-old voice brought hope that someday we’ll look back on this like this was the most illuminated time of our lives. In that spirit, I don’t know if picking up “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle was the best or worst decision of my quarantine reading. It’s a book that makes you want to take a match to the inventory of your whole life. Not ideal when there’s a global pandemic. Stuck at home is what I was, forced to take a real and deep look inside myself, in the unending quiet of waiting. And in that quiet, I realized, I’ve volunteered for jobs and positions that kept me in leadership but never asked me to be authentic. I straightened my hair and ate salads. I leaned into control, feigning politeness and humility but not really showing a true version of me. It turns out I had forgotten altogether that I’m not blown-out and conforming, I’m actually wild and frizzy. That all these years it was my idea alone to give away my power, and then blame that on others. What I longed for in the deepest caverns of my soul wasn’t happiness, it was contentment. And the road to that, I learned, is paved in moments of joy, which is the thing that gets lost first and
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fastest in the pursuit of achievement. Stress was never going to be my partner. Anxiety was never going to hold up its end of the bargain. They were never my partners, they were my addiction. I knew I had to dismantle this addiction, and I couldn’t rely on any of my old vices. So instead of thinking big, I had to go small. Instead of doing something, maybe I had to do nothing. Or perhaps, just do less of anything that brought stress or low-grade panic attacks. What if I leaned into what filled me with warmth and ease? After all this needed to last past a lifted quarantine. This was the long-haul plan. This was about declaring for myself that we weren’t going back, anymore, to crushing things to death with determination. I started simple. Yoga every morning. Not sweaty, hour-long sessions, but like 20 minutes tops. I was doing yoga, I wasn’t achieving yoga. I looked up from the computer. I look up at the sky. I stopped wearing makeup and let my hair go curly again. I looked my kids in the face more. I wrote poetry no one would read. I listened to symphonies. I broke up with social media because I knew that my fragile psyche couldn’t handle the public outcry around our crumbling status quo. Because guess what? I was having my own public outcry. To turn down the volume on those internal voices, to ignore the thrashing ego …that took a massive effort. But I was trying. It wasn’t perfect. I added the good stuff more than I took away what was bringing me down. And when I strung enough of those joy-filled things together it was like a magnet for other good stuff like creativity and laughter, which always felt like they belonged to other people. So, when we arrived to December, I wasn’t surprised to see the explosion of
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“Stick It to 2020” merchandise. T-shirts, Christmas ornaments, travel mugs and bumper stickers. I couldn’t help but to feel sad around that sentiment. Maybe we shouldn’t place the year, as a whole, into the archives of WORLD’S WORST. Was there really nothing redeeming? Was a year that demanded we sit down and listen up, really a total loss? I thought about how we’re not promised a rose-colored life. I can hear the spirits laughing at the idea that we don’t deserve hardship and discomfort. Oh, how they delight to see us sweat, because from our discomfort comes change. From our unease comes compassion and introspection. From our tears and loss comes a clearer picture of our fragility and vulnerability. And in the face of that we can numb and turn away or look inward and let it rearrange us until we are unrecognizable to ourselves. Did you notice that this one is waiting us out? As we passed the one-year anniversary did you notice that it’s still not really going anywhere? Hope is on the horizon, but what is required of us in the new definition of normal? It feels like this catalyst will remain in place until we see more clearly that our wealth exists in the spaces in between. That abundance is in the breathing room. That joy lives in our ability to appreciate what already exists. Maybe then, will we stop seeing this as something that is happening to us, and allow it instead to come inside, rearrange the furniture, and find a comfy spot to stay awhile. It is already taking up space with an invitation. I’m figuring out what to do with mine. What will you do with yours?
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May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11
Changing your own motor oil is low-cost, easy, and can be done right at home.
RECYCLE YOUR USED OIL and FILTERS! remember, it’s illegal to dump motor oil in the trash or down the drain. Make sure to recycle oil and filters at a center near you. Photo contributed Sue Manning (pictured) and her husband Bob purchased Elna's Dress Shop in 2001. The business was started in 1942 by Elna Larson.
Elna’s Dress Shop celebrating 79 years in business By Sue Manning Elna’s Dress Shop
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ne of the oldest businesses in its present location, Elna’s Dress Shop, is celebrating its 79th birthday on May 19. Sue and Bob Manning purchased the business, which was stared in 1942 by Elna Larson, in 2001. After that, business owners included Trace and Susie Eubanks, Susie Halme, and Anne Trompeter, from whom the Manning’s purchased the business. The store is known for quality name-brand ladies apparel and accessories, as well as locally handmade Danish costumes using patterns handed down by Elna Larson. The store will celebrate with a special gift certificate of $50 to five lucky customers. The drawing will be June 5. No purchase is necessary and winners need not be present to win. With vacation in the immediate future for a lot of customers, here are some helpful hints to make your trip go smoothly: n Be creative whether packing for a summer getaway or a business trip. n Pack all shoes together, each one stuffed with tissue paper to maintain its form and
encased in a cloth bag. n Group heavier garments and tailored pieces on the bottom and the lighter on top so they don’t get crushed. Also, consider what you will wear on the plane or car to save space and avoid overpacking. There are few things worse on a trip than excess baggage. Take a few minutes to differentiate between pieces you know you will wear and those you hope to wear. The key is to stick to the things you would normally wear at home. Try to bring your all-time favorites, the things you know work with everything or with anything you may buy or wear during the trip. Finally, don’t overthink this. Pack what you feel most comfortable with and timeless in and enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Remember Elna’s Dress Shop for all vacation and business apparel. The sales staff is ready to assist you in wardrobe building or personalized service. Elna’s Dress Shop is located at 1675 Copenhagen Drive in Solvang, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
santa ynez valley residents, visit one of these free collection centers in your neighborhood
Jim Vreeland Ford at 340 E. Highway 246, (805) 688-7760 O’Reilly Auto Parts at 270 E. Highway 246, (805) 688-8239 Rio Vista Chevrolet at 390 E. Highway 246, (805) 688-3231 Santa Ynez Valley Recycling & Transfer Station at 4004 Foxen Canyon Road, (805) 686-5080 Waste Management/HSS at 97 Commerce Dr., (805) 688-7456
Please call ahead, wear a mask, and practice social distancing when turning in your used motor oil and filters. In pa par tnership wi with:
FOR
MORE
INFORMATION
(805) 882-3603 OR www.LessIsMore.org
PLEASE CALL: VISIT:
RECYCLING
12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Marian ranked top 5% in nation for clinical outcomes Santa Maria facility is named to Healthgrades 2021 America's 250 Best Hospitals list Staff Report
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arian Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce it has achieved the Healthgrades 2021 America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award. The distinction places Marian Regional Medical Center in the top five percent of nearly 4,500 hospitals assessed across the U.S. for its superior clinical performance according to Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. “We are especially proud of this incredible accomplishment, ranking us among an elite group of hospitals with exceptional clinical outcomes,” says Sue Andersen, president and CEO of Marian Regional Medical Center. “Our entire health care team share this achievement, which demonstrates our commitment to quality, safety, and patient care. “During a year that has been especially trying for our staff, this remarkable acknowledgment serves as a testament to our continued commitment to provide care for the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”
Photo contributed Marian Regional Medical Center
“Amidst the coronavirus crisis, it has never been more important to acknowledge the hospitals that remain committed to delivering the highest quality care,” said Brad Bowman, M.D., chief medical officer of Healthgrades. “Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals recognizes organizations across the U.S. for their ongoing pursuit of the highest healthcare standards and exceptional outcomes.”
From 2017 through 2019, patients treated in hospitals achieving the award had, on average, a 27.4 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive the award, as measured across 19 rated conditions and procedures for which mortality is the outcome.* During the same period, if all hospitals performed similarly to those achieving the
Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award, 167,235 lives could potentially have been saved. For example, patients treated for heart failure in hospitals achieving the award have, on average, a 34.7 percent lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals that did not receive the award.* Recipients of the Healthgrades America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award stand out among the rest for overall clinical excellence across a broad spectrum of care. During the 2021 study period (Medicare Fiscal Years 2017-2019), these hospitals showed superior performance in clinical outcomes for patients in the Medicare population across at least 21 of 32 most common inpatient conditions and procedures — as measured by objective performance data (risk-adjusted mortality and in-hospital complications). To learn more about how Healthgrades determines award recipients, and for more information on Healthgrades Quality Solutions, please visit www.healthgrades.com/quality. *Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2017 through 2019 and represent 3-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
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May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13
Arlington celebrates 90th year with three iconic films Three-day event includes 'E.T.,' 'Ghostbusters,''Blade Runner' and pipe organ performance Staff Report
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etropolitan Theatres’ Arlington Theatre is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, it will reopen with a three-day event May 21-23. Three classic films, “E.T.,” “Ghostbusters” and “Blade Runner: The Final Cut,” will be shown daily. All tickets are $5 and are on-sale at MetroTheatres.com and on the Metropolitan Theatres mobile app. Guests will receive a free popcorn with ticket purchase. Daily showtimes are 2:30, 5:15 and 8 p.m. Kicking off the day’s events at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 22 will be a free live performance featuring organ music provided by the Santa Barbara Theatre Organ Society with special guest organist Adam Aceto. Aceto will play on the Arlington’s Great Theatre Pipe Organ, a 1928 Robert-Morton “Wonder Morton,” of which only five were ever
Photo contributed For the Arlington Theatre's 90th anniversary, movie-goers can see "E.T.," "Ghostbusters" and "Blade Runner" on the big screen May 21-23.
made. Tickets are not needed but admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. “We are grateful for the Santa Barbara County community and its incredible support of the theater, the events and films we’re been so
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fortunate to host,” said David Corwin, president of Metropolitan Theatres. “This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for their loyalty over the past 90 years. “This will be a special year at The Arling-
ton Theatre as we look back and celebrate our history of providing entertainment to the greater Santa Barbara area.” The schedule for the celebration is as follows: Friday, May 21: “E.T.” - 2:30 p.m. “Ghostbusters” - 5:15 p.m. “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” - 8 p.m. Saturday, May 22: Organ Music Performance - 12:30 p.m. “E.T.” - 2:30 p.m. “Ghostbusters” - 5:15 p.m. “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” - 8 p.m. Sunday, May 23: “Ghostbusters” - 2:30 p.m. “E.T” - 5:15 p.m. “Blade Runner: The Final Cut”- 8 p.m. Metropolitan Theatres Corporation’s safety protocols are detailed on the Metropolitan Theatres website. Built in 1931, Arlington Theatre is home to cinema, live stage entertainment, and film festival events. With seating for some 2,000 patrons, the Arlington offers 3D digital presentation and live satellite broadcasts of concerts, operas and sporting events.
14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Reagan Bosshardt Goucher College
Bianca Castaneda Allan Hancock College
Dominic Castro University of San Francisco
Taj Day Chapman University
Collin Dion University of Miami
Cameron Hao Claire Geriak Santa Barbara City College Indiana University-Bloomington
Lara Herkenrath Lawrence University
Carely Hernandez Cal Poly SU San Luis Obispo
Christian Jimenez UC Riverside
Suheng (Sophie) Jin University of Toronto
Brima Kamara Cal State Bakersfield
Maksimilian (Max) Kroo Loyola Marymount University
Enyu (Preston) Lin Northeastern University
Katie Liu The New School
Qin (David) Liu Duke University
Jonah Marmorstein Hawaii Pacific University
Carlo Marshall Marist College
Lilly Masopust University of Wyoming
Dulce McRoberts Berea College
Henry Molina Santa Barbara City College
Minh Nguyen UC Irvine
Rene Pacheco UC Santa Barbara
Tara Peterkova
Rio Petersen Cal Lutheran University
Les Roches International School of Hotel Management - Marbella
Analea Pule William Petrusson Malia Pule Purdue University-Main Campus Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara City College
SCHOOL
Charlotte Robles Linfield University
Julius Sherman Hernan Sevilla Angela Santos-Arredondo Jaxon Schaffer Ulisses Sevilla University of Hawaii at Manoa Rochester Institute of Technology Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara City College
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15
Shashank Singh U C Riverside
Grant Solem Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Oliver Tensley Loyola Marymount University
Si Han (Jassmine) Tong Boston University
Ian Valdez Santa Barbara City College
Tanya Villalobos Santa Barbara City College
Thayli Villalobos Santa Barbara City College
Sydney Vogel Muhlenberg College
Stella Wang University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Brett Woodard Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Micah Worner Santa Barbara City College
Deacan Yu Undecided
Congratulations to the Dunn Middle School 8th Grade Graduates of 2021
Santino Alvaro
Theodore Anderson
Samantha Barboza
Declan Dubois
Kadence Freed
Luke Gianis
Jadyn Gooch
Kaia Liljeblad
Dani Losson
Griffin Markee
Lane Masopust
Rhys Mason
Arik Mendoza
Beck Mortensen
George Nygren
Claire Pata
Tanner Rhodes
Danica Rux
Hunter Starting
TJ Weir
Henry Woodruff
16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Young artist inspires others with A ‘ rt from the Heart’ By Pamela Dozois
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
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eventeen-year-old Miranda Johnson, a junior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, loves art and is endowed with a generous spirit. She wanted to do something for the community during the current challenge of distance learning. At first, she thought about helping out with food; then her mother suggested she do something special for youngsters instead. Due to her love of art, Miranda came up with the idea of distributing art supplies to kids who didn’t have access to such items. They thought about what to name the project and since Miranda is an avid artist with a big heart, her mother, Angie Johnson, suggested she call her project “Art from the Heart.” After some discussion, it was decided to organize a fundraiser to accomplish the goal. Miranda and her sister, Caileigh, got permission from their mother to canvass their neighborhood for donations, explaining what she wanted to do with the money she was
Photos contributed Miranda Johnson is ready to distribute her "Art from the Heart" bags of art supplies at Solvang School's food program.
collecting. “I wanted to raise funds to purchase art supplies for kids who had less access to art materials due to school closures. The first thing we did was to knock on doors in my
neighborhood, asking for donations. Everyone was very generous. We raised over $1,000 from my neighborhood alone,” Miranda explained. “Then we started a Go-Fund-Me page and let people, friends, and family know
Miranda Johnson displays all the art supplies she planned on distributing.
we had it set up and we raised over $1,500 more, all of which we used to buy art supplies. Greg and Teresa King, owners of Valley Fresh Market generously donated colored pencils and ART CONTINUED TO PAGE 31
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CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2021
Porter Barnes Colorado College
Lucas Brennan Whitman College
Tasman Burau Connecticut College
Raymond Carr Seattle University
Melia Collard Occidental College
Daniela Gelles Amherst College
William Goddard Bowdoin College
Zygmund Goddard Middlebury College
Nimco Jama Bates College
Nola Kemp Arizona State University
Heron Collins Anna Cook Santa Barbara City Sewanee: The University of the South College
Lorelei Lusby Bard College
Max Rasilla Alfred University
Macy D’Attile University of Utah
Mateo De Wilde Whitman College
Rodeley Reynolds Madison Thacher An Amazing Whitman College Ranching Adventure
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17
Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara names new board officers Staff Report
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he Cancer Foundation Board of Trustees announced the election of the new board officers at its annual meeting in
April. C. Michael Cooney will begin a one-year term as board chair after serving on the Cancer Foundation Board of Trustees for the past 10 years in various roles. He is currently a member of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission and serves on the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing as well as the Board of Trustees for the Outhwaite Foundation. In the role of vice chair, the Foundation welcomes Priscilla Higgins, Ph. D. A Santa Ynez Valley resident and philanthropist, Higgins has served on the Cancer Foundation Board of Trustees since 2016 and has chaired the Outreach and Stewardship and Nominating committees. Her dedication and leadership throughout the years has made a lasting impact on the direction of the Cancer Foundation and its work with cancer patients
C. Michael Cooney
Photos contributed
and their families. Kristen Blabey will begin her term as the secretary of the Board of Trustees. A partner at Price, Postel & Parma, she specializes in
Priscilla Higgins
estate planning, probate and trust administration. She is also the Chair of the Outreach and Stewardship Committee with the Cancer Foundation. As a mom of three young chil-
dren, Blabey has the desire to serve and push forward the mission of the Cancer Foundation. The role of treasurer will be held by Patricia MacFarlane. She joined the Cancer Foundation Board of Trustees in 2018 and has served as the finance chair since 2019. For the past 20 years, she has served as a community volunteer and is a former board president of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Cate School and the UCSB Arts & Lectures Council. “The Cancer Foundation looks forward to this new chapter of leadership,” Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara Executive Director Lori Willis said. “The Foundation’s mission of providing excellent cancer care to all members of the community regardless of means will continue to be at the forefront of the minds of the new officers, Trustees and staff.”
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18 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Wildling Museum reopens with two new exhibitions New displays to show the connection between art and nature Staff Report
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he Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its 2021 reopening, featuring two new exhibitions: “Bio/Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature,” on view through Sept. 5, and “Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County,” on view through Oct. 3. The public is invited to visit during walk-in hours, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Current museum members may also visit by appointment Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. by contacting Julie Mock at julie@wildlingmuseum.org or calling 805-688-1082. Museum hours will be expanded over time, check www.wildlingmuseum. org/visit prior to your visit for current hours and COVID-19 procedures. Visitors to the Wildling Museum will find a visual feast in the galleries with distinct work by contemporary artists utilizing a diverse range of media – including sculpture, found natural materials, ceramic, encaustic, mixed media and painting. On the first floor, “Bio/ Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature” invites viewers to engage with art through the eyes of the artists as observers and interpreters of the world around them. In this exhibition, co-curators Holli Harmon and Nicole Strasburg selected 11 contemporary artists who create work in series, exploring some element of nature. “This show speaks to a labor of love,” Harmon said. “These artists have invested countless hours and creative reflection from their explorations and recordings of nature, and in doing so, they help us stop time and look more closely and thoughtfully at our natural world.” “This collected group of artists are amassed to reveal a diverse commentary on nature through meditative repetition,” Strasburg said. “Despite the quarantine, creativity bubbles forth just as nature finds a way to survive and thrive.” Whether examining natural patterns, studying the same location over a long period of time, or combining and recombining singular elements that accumulate into a revealing larger work, these artists have translated their deep observation and fascination with
Photo contributed "Spring Splendor Midland School" by Chris Chapman is part of the "Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County" exhibit at Wildling Museum.
Photo by Lauren Sharp This is a detail view of artist Libby Smith's ceramic bird sculptures, on view in the "Bio/Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature" exhibit at Wildling Museum.
Photo contributed "Lake Los Carneros After the Rain," oil on linen on panel by Kevin Gleason, whose work is among 38 artworks on view in "Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County" at the Wildling Museum.
their individual environments into works that beckon viewers to find beauty in the details of our world, celebrating both quiet and dramatic moments in nature. “Bio/Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature” features artists Scott Chatenever, Lynn Hanson, Dorothy Churchill-Johnson, Karen Kitchel, Maria Rendón, John Robertson, Sommer Roman, Carol Saindon, Catherine Eaton Skinner, Libby Smith and Nicole Strasburg. Accompanying the new first floor exhibition is “Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County,” which
celebrates the outdoor treasures of the Central Coast with 38 artworks created by 27 local artists. Member artists of the Oak Group, SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment) and SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment) were invited by the Wildling to participate in this juried invitational exhibition showcasing the trail systems in Santa Barbara County. A key goal of the exhibition, in partnership with Healthy People Healthy Trails and the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, is to raise awareness
of the wealth of trails located in Santa Barbara County and to inspire visitors and community members to explore them, while encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Trails highlighted in the show range from the South Coast, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley regions, including trails located at Carpinteria Bluffs, Goleta’s Lake Los Carneros and Ellwood Mesa, to La Purisima State Historic Park, Cachuma Lake, and many more. “Igniting an interest in our environment through art is at the heart of the Wildling Museum’s mission,” says Stacey Otte-Demangate, executive director at the Wildling Museum. “We’re excited to be partnering with Healthy People Healthy Trails to energize our community to take advantage of the beautiful outdoor resources we have available to us here in Santa Barbara County.” “Through the pandemic, I think we’ve all begun to look for new ways to explore our own backyard,” says Lauren Sharp, assistant director at the Wildling Museum. “Seeing these trails through the eyes of our talented community of artists is an inspiring reminder to get outside and up close with the rich nature surrounding us.” “Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County” features artists Liz Alvarez, Anne Anderson, Neil W. Andersson, Rebecca Arguello, Susan Belloni, Deborah Breedon, Chris Chapman, Dennis Curry, Rick Drake, Karen Fedderson, Jan French, Britt Friedman, Kevin Gleason, Sandi Heller, Holly Hungett, Jane Hurd, John Iwerks, Daniel Jones, Bernie Kurtz, Anne Laddon, Manny Lopez, Jerry Martin, Ann Sanders, Rosanne Seitz, Laurel Sherrie, Libby Smith and Nina Warner
FYI
First Floor Exhibition: "Bio/Mass: Contemporary Meditations on Nature" On view: April 17 to Sept. 5 Valley Oak Gallery Exhibition: "Art from the Trail: Exploring the Natural Beauty of Santa Barbara County" On view: April 17 to Oct. 3 Location: Wildling Museum, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19
NOW PR OVIDING
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SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Camp Whittier reopened for UBGC Member’s Day Event ends 15-month period of inactivity for camp just north of Santa Barbara Staff Report
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nited Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County (UBGC) opened Camp Whittier for a Member’s Day on Saturday, April 24, thanks to the Audacious Foundation. It was the first time in 15 months that the camp was open for activities. Along with two camp days at Camp Whittier, the Audacious Foundation funded UBGC’s after-school program SMART Journeys from September 2020 to May 2021, All eight sites from Carpinteria to Lompoc have been open from 3 to 6 p.m. at no cost to children who qualify for free and reduced school lunch. For three hours every weekday, hundreds of kids have been able to take dance and yoga classes, learn organic gardening, participate in outdoor activities, and eat a healthy snack. UBGC opened Camp Whittier for 94 mem-
Photo by Tina Ballue Boys & Girls Club members hang out in front of a cabin at Camp Whittier during the club's Member's Day on April 24.
bers to enjoy the brand new zip line, high and low ropes course, a STEM activity from the Eling’s Math & Science curriculum, archery and hiking. “How do we push ourselves to overcome
our fears, especially after being in lockdowns from the pandemic?” said Laurie Leis, UBGC Executive Vice President of Advancement. “Well, our club kids showed us how on Saturday on the Ropes Challenge Course after
climbing a 30-foot rock wall and jumping off on the zip line. I think the youngest was 7. As she came up to me shaking, she said, ‘I did it!’ I get empowered every day I’m around our kids.”, UBGC followed health guidelines that limited the number of members and specific activities. The organization hopes that the next Member’s Day in June, they will be able to have more. Volunteers from FastSpring, a Santa Barbara software company, spent the day ensuring activities and rotation ran smoothly. Employees signed up to volunteer for the Member’s Day event and spent the day supporting the ropes course, cleaning and sanitizing equipment, and assisting with hikes and archery. “We love FastSpring. They have done several corporate playdates at our clubs, and they have expressed how eager they are to get involved again,” said UBGC CEO Michael Baker, UBGC CEO. “They were a large part of a successful day for our members. Thank you, FastSpring!” Camp Whittier is a year-round camp and CAMP WHITTIER CONTINUED TO PAGE 31
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Warm roasted fig & grape seasonal salad
By Maili Halme
Contributing Writer
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riginally, I sliced the figs in quarters but now I slice them in half because they are easier to sauté that way. There is something rare and precious about this salad. Rare because it can only be made during the short time when fresh figs are in season. The window closes so quickly. I tried making it once with dried figs and it wasn’t even close to the taste of warm fresh figs. You can make it with just the warm grapes if you are craving it during other seasons of the year. You can individually plate this salad or you can serve it on a giant platter. The key is to add the warm ingredients at the very last minute. You can sauté the grapes and figs slightly in advance and have them waiting in a warm pan. The caramelized onions can be made up to three days in advance and rewarmed just before service. The amounts for the main ingredients will vary depending on how many people you are serving. Accordingly, I have only listed the ingredients and not the amounts.
WARM ROASTED FIG & GRAPE SALAD
For the Caramelized Onions: n 2 Yellow Onions n 1/4 cup Olive Oil, plus more as needed n 1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt n 3 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar, reduced (optional) For the Salad: n Baby Arugula n Goat Cheese (I use the Silver Chèvre pictured above)
l Specia r o Gifts f eople P l Specia
Photo contributed Roasted grape and fig salad with arugula, silver chevre goat cheese, Marcona almonds and caramelized onions
n Fresh Figs n Red Grapes n Marcona Almonds n 2 tablespoons Olive Oil for sautéing n 1 Tablespoon of Sugar n Pinch of Kosher Salt
For the Balsamic Vinaigrette: n 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar n 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt n 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper n 3/4 cup Olive Oil Make the caramelized onions:
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The key to caramelized onions is having enough olive oil in the pan, letting them sit, and then occasionally stirring. Put a generous amount of olive oil in and sprinkle the onions with kosher salt. Add more oil halfway through the cooking process. Cook the onions until they are golden brown and sweet. Sometimes I add reduced Balsamic vinegar at the end of the caramelization process. Be sure the onions are fully caramelized before you add the vinegar since the acid will stop the caramelization process. The onions can be made three days in advance and stored in an airtight container
in the refrigerator. Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette: The most important part of making any salad dressing is adding the olive oil in SLOWLY. Always start by combining all of your other ingredients and then slowly adding the olive oil in a stream while you whisk away. Stop pouring to emulsify. Generally, the rule of proportions is 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 olive oil. (That will give you a cup of dressing.) Add the salt and pepper to taste. (Some people like a pinch of sugar as well.) I’ve also made this recipe without any vinaigrette at all because the balsamic onions make their own dressing. Thus, the dressing is optional! Sauté the fruit: Cut the grapes in half. Cut the figs in halves or quarters. Heat the largest sauté pan (frying pan, skillet) to medium high heat. If you have a small pan, sauté the fruit separately. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan, then add the fruit and sprinkle with sugar and a pinch of salt. Keep warm in the pan until you are ready to serve. Reheat the caramelized onions if you have made these in advance. Assemble the Arugula on a big platter or on individual plates. Break the goat cheese up into small chunks and evenly distribute over the salad. Place the warm caramelized onions around the salad. Pour the warm fruit over the salad. Sprinkle the Marcona almonds evenly on the salad. Drizzle with the Balsamic vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
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22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Creamy cucumber dill salad recipe dates back to 16th century
By Marais Vida
n 5-7 oz chopped dill n 1/2 tsp sugar
Contributing Writer
T
angy, refreshing and light, this preparation for cucumber salad is dated back as far as the 16th century. Commonly known as mizeria in the Polish community and gurkensalat in Germany, it’s a staple in many households in the summertime because it is such a great accompaniment to grilled meats or fish. I call it a preparation more than a recipe, because, while there are basics to follow, everyone (and their grandmothers) makes it a little differently. Here’s my version!
Method
Ingredients n 1 large English cucumber n 2 tsp salt n 2-3 tablespoons sour cream n 1-2 tsp lemon juice/vinegar n white pepper to taste
Photo by Vida Gustafson This cucumber dill salad is a great, tangy side dish to grilled meats and fish.
Slice your cucumber into very thin slices, using a mandolin, if you have one. Place sliced cucumber into a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Leave for 5-10 minutes while you prepare the dressing. Mix 2 tablespoons sour cream with lemon juice, 1/2 tsp white pepper, sugar and dill. Squeeze out the liquid from the cucumber by hand and place into a clean bowl. The slices should have a translucent look to them now. Dress the cucumber slices adding the last tablespoon of sour cream if necessary, and taste for seasoning. Make one day or at least 1 hour ahead.
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May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23
Alisyn Blanton named 2022 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year UCSB graduate teaches at Miguelito Elementary School in Lompoc Staff Report
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he Santa Barbara County Board of Education has named Alisyn Blanton, a fifth-grade teacher at Miguelito Elementary School in the Lompoc Unified School District, as the 2022 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. As the recipient of this prestigious award, Blanton represents the county’s exceptional educators. She is eligible for the state and national Teacher of the Year recognition programs. “Alisyn is a gifted educator who shares her love of learning throughout her classroom and school community,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Salcido. “She is committed to educational excellence and demonstrates her passion, skill, and dedication with energy and fervor. “Teachers like Alisyn inspire students to learn, grow, achieve, and succeed.” Blanton takes pride in how she, and her fellow educators in the county, have handled the challenges of teaching in the past year. “During the pandemic, we have been working to provide a high quality, rigorous and accountable education that simply looks and feels differ-
Photo contributed Alisyn Blanton, a fifth-grade teacher at Miguelito Elementary School in the Lompoc Unified School District, is the 2022 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
ent at home,” she said. “We have worked harder than we ever have in our entire careers. We reinvented our scripts and even threw them away for new ones. We are working to engage students in ways we never imagined. This is because teaching is a profession of pride, not payout. “I envy no committee that must work to select one teacher to represent this profession in the midst of a pandemic. We are EACH and ALL truly Teachers of the Year. I have never been
prouder to be a teacher in Santa Barbara County.” Choosing the Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year is no easy process. Each nominee completes an extensive application and submits letters of recommendation. A committee reviews the applications and selects finalists. During the interview process, these finalists share a unique instructional practice via Zoom and discuss their educational philosophy. “Alisyn’s dedication and grit is a rarity. Her
students are better for it,” Lompoc Unified School District Superintendent Trevor McDonald said. “Alisyn is able to bring out the best in others. Her zeal for teaching and learning is infectious. Alisyn is committed to student improvement, making school what we all dream of.” Becky Sauker, Blanton’s principal at Miguelito, agrees with that sentiment. “Alisyn creates an engaging classroom culture that not only accepts and celebrates differences but does so while holding high expectations for all of her students and honoring the ideal that ALL kids can learn,” Sausker said. “Her ingenuity and willingness to learn helped her adapt that same classroom culture to the remote universe.” Blanton is a graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. After working for the Community Action Commission, she returned to school, pursuing her Master of Arts in education from University of California Santa Cruz. She has been with the Lompoc Unified School District since 2004, teaching at Los Berros Elementary, Fillmore Elementary, and Miguelito Elementary, where she has taught since 2004. In 2001, Ms. Blanton received a $20,000 fellowship to support her studies at UC Santa Cruz after committing to teach at an underperforming school for four years. She has dedicated her career with the belief that all students can achieve.
Rennick selected as new Ballard School District superintendent/principal New hire had been the principal at Solvang School for four years Staff Report
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he Ballard School District Board of Trustees unanimously selected Pam Rennick as the district’s new superintendent/principal, effective July 1. Following a nationwide search and selection process lasting four months, the board unanimously voted for Rennick to succeed Superintendent/Principal
Allan Pelletier, who will retire on June 30. Rennick has been the principal at Solvang School for the past four years, and at Hollister School in Goleta prior to that. “I am looking forward to getting to know and learning more from the students, staff, parents and community,” Rennick said. “This is an incredible school district and I anticipate honoring the amazing established programs, accomplishments, and traditions while continuing to grow and improve.” “Pam Rennick is a strong, collaborative, and
proven leader with years of instructional and administrative experience. Her experience as an elementary teacher and principal, coupled with her exceptional interpersonal skills, are exactly what the board and our stakeholders are seeking in the next leader of the Ballard School District,” said Chris Kazali, president of the school board. “We are so grateful for Allan Pelletier’s leadership over the past 15 years and we are excited for the next chapter working with Ms. Rennick. She is very familiar with our school community and has already worked with many Ballard
families as their students have transitioned from Ballard to Solvang Middle School.” Rennick and her husband reside in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Rennicks have four children: Caden (third grade), Ryan (student at Cal Poly), Mae (Ph.D. grad student at UCSB) and Emma (fifth-grade teacher in the Wiseburn School District in El Segundo). The one-school district will schedule a meetand-greet opportunity for students, parents, staff and the school community before the start of the next school year as COVID-19 protocols permit.
24 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
Hancock College Board of Trustees president Larry Lahr announces resignation 2020 until his resignation. He also served as vice president in 1998-99, 2004-05, 201112, and 2018-19. He attended Hancock College before earning a bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in agricultural business management. “Larry Lahr epitomizes what it means to be a public servant,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “He is known for having a sharp eye for finances, but his focus has always been to ensure students come first in every decision we make.” Lahr represented Area 3, which includes southwestern Santa Maria and Guadalupe. The college’s Board of Trustees was to announce a process to fill the vacant seat at their next monthly meeting on May 11.
Staff Report
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ancock College Board of Trustees President Larry Lahr officially resigned from his position on the board, effective April 23, after more than 26 years of service to the college and its students. Lahr announced his intent to resign during the board’s April 20 regular meeting, explaining that he was moving outside the area he represented as a trustee. “The college is being left in good hands and in good shape,” Lahr said. “I have full confidence in my colleagues on the board and the college’s staff, faculty and administration. I know that Hancock will continue to prosper and improve in my absence.” Lahr was elected to his first four-year term as a Hancock trustee in 1994. During his tenure, Lahr served as president of the board in 2000-01, 2006-07, 2013-14, and from
Photo contributed Hancock College Board of Trustees President Larry Lahr announced his resignation last month.
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To learn more about the board, visit www. hancockcollege.edu/board
Congratulations to the 8th Graders
Mark Perez-Jimenez
Amaru Brown Also
Brycyn Owens
Leilani Barnes • Benjamin Flores Cyrus Formidoni • Matthew Holzer Bryce Wilczak
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 25
Back on Track Program retrains students whose learning has been derailed United Boys & Girls Clubs offer 3-pronged approach for those slowed by pandemic Staff Report
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hen United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County (UBGC) opened its doors as full-day Learning and Enrichment Centers in August, the organization soon realized many of the students were struggling and needed an extra layer of educational assistance. Staff recognized that students required more time with their schoolwork; students showed up with hundreds of missing assignments and had not been to Zoom classes in months. The UBGC team got together and designed a program with a three-pronged approach, the Back on Track program, to getting students back on track and perform-
Caden Bratt
Jordan Hudson
ing at grade level. “We want our kids to feel empowered in their journey through learning, and our clubs, along with staff, are here to be a guide, providing them with the tools they need while also making it fun,” said Laurie L. Leis, UBGC vice president of advancement. The three parts of the program offered throughout the year consist of Super Saturdays, Summer Spectacular Camp, and the after-school tutoring and enrichment program Power Hour. The Saturday program provides tutoring in math and ELA,
Elizabeth Salas
fun educational projects in social sciences, sports clinics and organized games. Students along their Saturday journey receive awards and incentives based on participation. After getting eight punches on their Saturday ticket, students qualify for a day at Camp Whittier. The 94-acre camp in the Santa Ynez Mountains offers a place for the kids to explore, participate in archery, zip line, swim and hike. Other components of the Back on Track program include Summer Spectacular, a 10-week summer camp; and Power Hour, an after-school tutoring program for grades
Shantasta Abbott
Danielle Alvarado
K-12. All three programs will have an educational component designed to improve literacy and math skills to get students moving forward in their education. “We are absolutely thrilled to be reopening our clubs on Saturdays again to help get our club members back on track academically,” said Michael Baker, CEO of UBGC. “Saturdays have always been my favorite day in club work, and now they are even more impactful.” “We believe that every child deserves an equitable journey in education and learning, and we hope to raise enough money by the end of May to provide a free summer camp at all seven locations,” Leis said. “Donate today, and together we can make that happen for the youth in Santa Barbara County.” To donate or learn more, visit www.unitedbg. org or call 805-681-1315.
Kaitlyn Kelleher
Congratulations to the Class of 2021
Allie Lewis
Also Graduating
Noah Hackett Charlotte Tobin Zoe Matsunaga
Evelin Reynoso
Ethan Verkler
Charles “Prewitt” Ward
Maria Gardner
Gisselle Vazquez
26 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
o CONDOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
o VET'S HERE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Photo contributed A California condor chick is shown in real time through live streaming video.
“We are thankful for our many partners in this effort and optimistic about the future of the California Condor Recovery Program, despite last year’s disappointing nesting season. We’re excited to see a bounce back from last year,” said Arianna Punzalan, supervisory wildlife biologist with the Service’s California Condor Recovery Program. The number of California condors dropped dramatically in the mid-20th century, leading Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. By 1982 there were only 22 of the iconic birds left in the wild. Today, due to intensive, ongoing captive breeding and recovery efforts led by the Fish and Wildlife Service in conjunction with multiple public and private partners, the California condor population has grown to just over 500 birds worldwide, with more than half of the population flying free. “The condor program is a clear example of the strength of public-private partnerships in achieving conservation objectives,” said Estelle Sandhaus, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s director of conservation and science. “We’re so excited to be streaming again in 2021 with a new condor pair. “What will the future hold for 594 and 374? Only time will tell, and through the support of our Condor Cam partners, we will learn together with viewers all around the world.” In California, wild condors nest, roost or fly in the mountains of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Ventura, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare and Fresno counties, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The wild population continues to grow, and will someday include condors from a newly designated release site in the Pacific Northwest. The number one killer of California condors is still lead poisoning, caused by condors feeding on carcasses containing lead bullet
fragments. Peer-reviewed research shows lead poisoning is a serious health problem for both wildlife and humans. The Fish & Wildlife Service is working with partner organizations and the hunting community as it transitions to the use of non-lead ammunition alternatives. Hunters strive to continue the tradition of wildlife conservation by using these non-lead alternatives. Another threat specific to condor chicks is “micro trash.” Micro trash refers to small coinsized trash items such as nuts, bolts, washers, copper wire, plastic, bottle caps, glass, and spent ammunition cartridges. Condor parents collect these items and feed them to their chick, which can cause serious problems with the chick’s development. While it is not completely understood why this occurs, many biologists believe the condor parents mistake these items for pieces of bone and shell, which provide a source of calcium if fed to the chick. Conservation efforts toward the recovery of the California condor are achieved only through partnerships among federal and state agencies, together with private landowners and organizations. The Huttons Bowl Condor Cam is made possible through access provided by private landowners, and through the financial and technical support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Barbara Zoo, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, and Friends of California Condors Wild and Free. To watch the Condor Cam, visit https://www. sbzoo.org/conservation/condor-cam/. For answers to frequently asked questions about the nest cam, the parents and the chick, visit https://www.fws.gov/cno/es/CalCondor/ CondorCam.html.
Photos by Daniel Dreifuss The most exotic animals Vet's Here! founder Autumn Fanning has cared for in the valley are zebras and buffalo.
than it is now,” Fanning said. Also, in the last several decades, animals have shifted from working animals and into pets, which are sometimes often treated as regularly as humans are. Pet ownership has increased over the last 30 years. One survey by the American Pet Products Association estimates the number of dogs kept as pets in the United States has increased 50 percent from 1988 to 2017. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of households own a pet in 2018, compared with half of households in the United States in 1988. Cats and dogs account for the largest share of household pets: two out of five households have a dog, while one in three have a cat. These pets account for the greatest share of veterinary service visits, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The costs for veterinary care have also risen because of the use of technology which is why I recommend people look into pet insurance,” Fanning said. “It’s a much different conversation with a client when they have pet insurance versus none.” Fanning said she is running more diagnostic tests and using equipment common for human health care, such as X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. According to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, average yearly U.S. household spending on pets has increased 35% from $431 in 2007 to $583 in 2016. “This is why I believe having a mobile practice comes in handy, especially during COVID,
"Especially during COVID, people are hesitant to bring animals in, but if you can go to them it's much easier to provide quality of care," said Vet's Here! founder Autumn Fanning.
Veterinarian Autumn Fanning loves all animals large and small.
because people are hesitant to bring animals in, but if you can go to them it’s much easier to provide quality of care,” Fanning said. Fanning is seeing 85-90% small animals from cats and dogs, and is looking for a large animal vet specifically for her valley clients. She loves helping animals of all kinds, including chickens, turtles, cats, dogs, horses and more. The most exotic she has cared for in the valley are zebras and buffalo. During her years in Hawaii, she treated sea turtles and dolphins. “I hope to expand even more in the next decade and working on this business model of having more mobile practices all over,” Fanning said. For more information on Vet’s Here visit www. vetshere.com or follow them on social media.
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 27
Angela Miller-Bevan named regional manager of Braille Institute Santa Barbara Staff Report
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raille Institute has named Angela Miller-Bevan the new regional manager of the Santa Barbara center. A Santa Barbara native, Miller-Bevan brings some 20 years of experience in man-
agement, volunteer leadership and community engagement with local organizations and nonprofits, including American Heart Association, Fairview Gardens, Old Spanish Days, Carriage and Western Museum and Kiwanis. She is currently an ambassador for the South Coast Chamber of Commerce. “I am thrilled to join the Santa Barbara Braille Institute team,” she said. “The work we do is so important to our community, and I’m proud to be part of an organization that is making a difference. “According to the 2017 census data, there are more than 73,400 people who are visually impaired living in Santa Barbara County. With age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts on the rise, we have the ability to help many people.” Braille Institute has been serving the
community of Santa Barbara for more than 35 years. Braille Institute is a nonprofit providing free programs and services to people with vision loss since 1919. “We are fortunate to have Angela join our leadership team and bring her passion for our mission,” said Peter Mindnich, president of Braille Institute. “It is important that we continue to reach out to those who need our support, especially during the pandemic when many are experiencing isolation and anxiety.” Although the Santa Barbara center is temporarily closed, there are classes and teleservices available online for anyone interested in participating from the safety of their homes. All programs and services are free of charge. For more information, go to brailleinstitute. org/Santabarbara.
Enroll at Hancock immediately after graduating from Santa Ynez Union Valley High School and get one year FREE at AHC! Apply today! The Hancock Promise will pay for tuition and fees for a student’s first year. After applying, download the PROMISE APP to check your application status and progress.
Learn more about the Hancock Promise at www.hancockcollege.edu/promise
28 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
CONGRATULATIONS SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 2021
Alan Gabriel Aguilar AVID Student Marine Corps
Amalia Villa AVID Student Designs School of Cosmetology
Andrea Hernandez AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Aiden Sim Cal Poly-SLO
Amaris Monica Cabrera
Angilena Miranda Santa Barbara City College
Ashley Figueroa AVID Student Cal Poly-SLO
Ava Carlsen-DeTrana University of San Diego
Blake Schryer United States Military Academy at West Point
Boe Caplan Santa Barbara City College
Brandon Pizano UC Berkeley
Briana Isabel Castro Lu Ross Academy
Brianna Ceballos AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Brock Hrehor UC Santa Cruz
Carson Donner San Jose State University
Catalina Kett High Point University
Charles Healey
Danai Alvarez AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Dayana Tellez AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Dominique Diaz AVID Student Allan Hancock College
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 29
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS 2021
Edith Villa AVID Student Occidental College
Elena Mota AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Ella Jane Hoose University of Arizona
Emily Ayala Allan Hancock College
Erik Guerrero AVID Student Cal State University Fullerton
Frank Ramirez AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Grace Morrell Montana State University
Hailey Ann Johnson Cal Poly-SLO
Holly Solomon Montana State University
Ian James Palmer Allan Hancock College
Isabel Mullen Santa Barbara City College
Isabela Antonia Soto de Leon Santa Barbara City College
Isaiah MacCuish Santa Barbara City College
Jack Foley UCLA
Jacob Robert Albrecht Cal State University San Bernardino
Jessica Jean Curtiss Santa Barbara City College
Jesus (Alberto) Luquin AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Julian (Santana) Rios AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Kayleen Agustin AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Kayleigh Elizabeth Hall University of Utah
Lauren Swing University of Washington
Lisset Diaz AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Logan Shay Ast Cal Poly-SLO
Lupita Bugarin AVID Student Allan Hancock College
30 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H May 18 - May 31, 2021
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS 2021
Madeline Davies Cal Poly-SLO
Mally Miller Santa Barbara City College
Marcus Joseph Mercado California State University Northridge
Marcy Velazquez AVID Student
Maricela Gomez AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Mario Samaan AVID Student UCSB
Mark Hendrickson Santa Barbara City College
Mason Hammill
Max Davis University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Mckinnzie Grossini Santa Barbara City College
Mercedes Diaz Allan Hancock College
Michael Illes Thiel College
Olivia Torres UC Davis Honors Program
Oscar James Branch Allan Hancock College
Patricia Lopez AVID Student UC Riverside
Peyton Pratt Allan Hancock College
Rafael Martinez AVID Student Allan Hancock College
Ricardo Romero AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Savannah Martinez - AVID Student San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology
Sydney Jo Hedrick Santa Barbara City College
Sylvia Kostrzewa AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
Tanner Mlodzik Santa Barbara City College
Vanessa Terrazas AVID Student
Wesley Carson AVID Student Santa Barbara City College
May 18 - May 31, 2021 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 31
o CAMP WHITTIER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
Photos by Tina Ballue A Boys & Girls Club member learns to fire an arrow at the archery range at Camp Whittier during the club's Member's Day on April 24.
o ART CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 pens to sketch with.” Using her artistic skills, Miranda created a logo for her project. Johnson Family Dental, her father Steve’s company, donated the cost of printing her logo on white-handled bags. She was then ready to fill them with a variety of art supplies. “I created a logo ‘Art from the Heart’ and my dad helped me to get the logo printed on white bags, which I used to distribute the drawing and painting materials,” she said. “I was able to donate 160 bags filled with sketching materials such as a sketch pad, a set of 36 triangle markers, 12 colored pencils, 12 pencils, a manual pencil sharpener, and a tie-dyed mask in one bag and painting supplies in the other, which included 2 canvases, a 12-color set of acrylic paints, 6 assorted brushes and a tie-dyed mask. “We gave 80 bags away at Solvang School when people came for the food program. It was well received along with a few tears. We then gave the other 80 bags to People Helping People and to the High School Art Department. Everyone was excited and grateful for the supplies.” Miranda really enjoyed her moments with the recipients.
“It was really fun seeing people’s genuine reactions because they don’t normally get this kind of stuff. They were very appreciative,” she said. “I would love to do it again. People said they would even be happy to help out in the future. I’m hoping to do another series for the kids in Lompoc.” Miranda appreciates the effect that art has on her life and well-being. “Art helps me express my emotions and calms me down, especially after a long day at school,” Miranda explained. “Drawing in class helps me to focus and center myself. Luckily my teachers understand how sketching helps me to concentrate on what is being taught.” “I love to do digital sketching because I want to go into animation and create storyboards and eventually make my own TV series,” she added. Miranda is currently enrolled in Advanced Placement 3D Studio Art. “This was a fun project and I hope it inspired other kids to love art as much as I do,” said Miranda. For more information, email angiemirandarory@gmail .com.
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Boys & Girls Club members enjoy rides on the new zip line at Camp Whittier
retreat center nestled among the hills of the Los Padres National Forest just north of Santa Barbara. The private 94-acre site within an oak woodland canyon hosts an abundance of wildlife and is located next to Cachuma Lake. The facilities are available from a single-day meeting space rental to week-long overnight lodging with staff-led nature programming. It can accommodate groups of up to 200 people meeting a variety of needs, including summer camps, school science camps, leadership and challenge course programs, community events,
corporate conferences and meetings, spiritual retreats, weddings and more. “After a 15-month hiatus seeing our club kids from all our clubs back up at Camp Whittier again was a sight I will not soon forget,” Baker said. “Camp Whittier is truly a special place, and we can’t wait to see it full every day.” To book your stay at Camp Whittier, please visit unitedbg.org/camp-whittier or call 805962-6776.
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