Santa Ynez Valley Star June B 2020 by Santa Ynez Valley Star

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June 16 - July 6, 2020

SYHS Class of 2020 ends the school year with parade In time of pandemic, this year’s graduates take ride through valley By Raiza Giorgi

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he Class of 2020 made lemons into lemonade as they were not allowed to have the typical graduation experience due to COVID-19, however there was still a big amount of pomp and circumstance as they took their celebration to the road with a parade around the Santa Ynez Valley. “Getting this all done I am relieved and excited to move on,” said Lauren Thorburn, of Solvang. “I have spent four years on this campus and it’s a weird way to end it, but I am ready for the next chapter.” In the fall, Thorburn will be attending Chapman University in Orange in the fall, majoring in film and media studies. Thorburn wrote a piece for the Graduation issue of the Star, recalling her experiences and feeling getting through this final year of school with COVID-19 canceling most of their senior celebrations. Bystanders from local business owners to friends and families of graduates stood on the streets and waved or held signs as the horns were honking through all the towns. Even the Solvang Stormtrooper came out to celebrate the occasion. The parade started in Buellton and worked its way through Solvang to Santa Ynez, then to Ballard and Los Olivos, and tracked back to end at the football field at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. The graduates were able to take a few moments to see their teachers and get a photo op on stage. The senior class picked up their diplomas the day before the parade and were handed a gift certificate and goodie bag from El Rancho Market. “I am feeling good and proud of what I accomplished,” said Mark Solozano, of Santa

Photo by Raiza Giorgi Mark Solozano, 18, of Santa Ynez is proud to be graduating high school and will be entering the construction trade

Photos by Daniel Dreifuss The SYHS Class of 2020 made lemons into lemonade after not being allowed to have the typical graduation experience due to COVID-19.

Twins Angelina and Vincent Becerra ride in the graduation parade through the Santa Ynez Valley.

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School senior class of 2020 was celebrated with a parade through the valley.

Just before SYHS’s football field was scheduled to be replaced, the senior class got to drive on it to get a photo op.

Ynez. Solozano said he is entering the construction trade now that high school is over and is happy to be working with his hands and earning a living. He said he hopes to celebrate in Mexico at the end of the year with his family there. “I am sad to not have my last days at the school, but excited to go to college and start the next phase,” said Jaime Gonzalez, who will be attending Cal State Northridge in the fall. The original plan for a full ceremony on June 5 just wasn’t feasible with the social distancing guidelines, according to school officials. The football field is also being redone starting June 8 and that hopefully gives sufficient time to work out details for a possible ceremony on July 24, although that hasn’t been confirmed. “We have been helping the students as much as we can through all this. We are so proud of how they got through this difficult time in their lives, and did the best we could celebrating their accomplishments,” said Alfonso Gonzalez, campus counselor and former teacher. Other ways of celebrating seniors recently included parents putting up yard signs, and several online slideshows and media, including a senior slideshow of the graduates on the SYHS website. The Star also created a fun slideshow of the graduation parade; visit https://www.santaynezvalleystar.com/ class-of-2020-ends-the-school-year-with -parade-through-syv/?fbclid=IwAR1l3IieDojmU6eUhos1kCJUPQwePLG-TeQTaD3YxFAmk_DgUapUgmrlaLc to see the photo gallery and video. There was also a Facebook group, Adopt a Senior SYV, for the community to celebrate seniors with gift certificates and other unique ideas.

Congratulations to the senior class! We are proud of all your accomplishments!

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2 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Fourth of July fireworks canceled due to COVID-19 Fate of Solvang parade still up in the air By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

fter careful deliberation, the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary announced the 2020 Fourth of July Fireworks Festival has been canceled. The decision was made due to concerns about public safety, social distancing, crowd management and uncertainty as to when large public gathering restrictions will be removed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers of the 4th of July Parade that is coordinated by the Solvang Rotary Club said they haven’t yet made a definitive decision as to whether they will cancel. Guidelines and restrictions are being lifted by the day from the state and local level, and they hope to have a decision soon. Once the decision is made, it will be posted it to the Star website. The SYV Rotary club will focus on making next year’s celebration even grander and continue to aid the community through donations and volunteer help to those in need during this critical time. “We look forward to the time we can all get together again and celebrate all the things that make the Santa Ynez Valley such a special community,” said Tammy Westwood, SYV Rotary member in a statement to the Star. The four valley rotary groups have been working together recently to donate to several local nonprofits aiding with COVID-19 impacts. They have joined together, contributing $33,500 to local nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits selected are doing outreach in our commu-

nity feeding hundreds of people daily with prepared meals and produce bags. These include homebound seniors and children out of school. Not only prepared meals are being provided, but help getting medications delivered, sewn masks and other needs. Our nonprofits are doing an incredible job by collaborating to be sure there is no gap in service to our community. The 10 nonprofits received funding was the Atterdag at Home, Bethania Lutheran Church, Buellton Senior Center, Los Alamos Senior Center, Ranch Church, Recovery Outreach, Solvang School PTO, Solvang Senior Center, SYV People Helping People and United Boys & Girls Club. Rotary believes in the adage of “Service Above Self.” Every Rotary Club has 5 Avenues of Service where they are tasked with serving their community as well as helping with international projects. The power of Rotary is profound with its commitment to eradicating polio around the world. Rotary International has grown to 1.2 million members comprised of professional and business leaders in over 35,000 clubs in 200 countries. In the Santa Ynez Valley, there are 100 Rotary Club members in four clubs; Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang. These clubs are part of Rotary District 5240. For more information or to learn how to get involved, go to the district website: www.rotarydistrict5240.org

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Buellton man now accused of sexual contact with 12 boys Three more charges filed against Gregory Scott Ray, 34 in total By Janene Scully

Noozhawk North County Editor

hree more charges have been filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court against a Buellton yearbook salesman in a case now alleging inappropriate sexual contact with 12 teen boys. File Photo Gregory Scott Gregory Scott Ray Ray, 53, of Buellton now faces 34 charges, all of them felonies, after the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a third amended criminal complaint in the case on Thursday. Ray, who was described as a yearbook consultant and salesman based in Central California, was taken into custody in April 2019 after detectives served a search warrant. As part of his job, he traveled to many other counties within California while employed as an independent contractor and sales consultant for Friesens LLC, a yearbook publishing company. He also assisted with yearbook consulting at many school campuses in the state, from San Jose to Los Angeles County, and

may have attended yearbook camps and conferences. That led Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department investigators to suspect there were victims beyond the Santa Ynez Valley. The investigation into Ray began March 18, 2019, when Santa Ynez Valley Union High School representatives contacted sheriff’s deputies after a teacher overheard a conversation involving Ray and reported it to school administrators. Detectives learned that Ray allegedly was using a social media app to meet and have sexual contact with young males ranging from 13 to 17 years old. The charges include various sexual crimes involving the underage victims — called John Does 1 to 12 — including forcible oral copulation of a minor, sodomy of a minor, lewd or lascivious acts, sexual battery and sending child pornography. In addition to the charges, Ray faces a number special allegations or sentencing enhancements. The criminal complaint alleges that the crimes occurred in Orange and Fresno counties in addition to Santa Barbara County. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 29 before Judge John McGregor. Ray remains in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $500,000. Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 3

County planners to deny permit for raided cannabis farm Officials: Proposed project near Lompoc considered too large, traffic volume unsafe By Melinda Burns

Noozhawk Contributing Writer

he Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted 5-0 this past week to lay the groundwork for denying a zoning permit to Herbal Angels, a cannabis operation near Lompoc that was raided and shut down last year by law enforcement. The operators proposed to grow 17 acres of cannabis, mostly under hoop houses, and erect two large processing buildings next to a rural neighborhood in Cebada Canyon, off Highway 246. The unanimous vote sends a strong signal that the commission does not view industrial-scale cannabis operations as a good fit for residential neighborhoods, even rural ranchette neighborhoods such as the one on Cebada Canyon Road, where, before the Sheriff’s Department Cannabis Compliance Team raid in mid-December, Herbal Angels had been growing cannabis for three years. On Wednesday, the commission directed county planners to draw up the findings for denial. The final vote was scheduled for June 10. Steve Junak, a Cebada Canyon resident, said he and his neighbors were “very happy” with the commission’s vote but should not have had to suffer so long with the offensive stench of marijuana, big commercial truck traffic, loud generator noise, ugly hoop houses, disruptive nighttime lights and mysterious traffic at 3 a.m. in and out of Herbal Angels. “Santa Barbara County has just rushed into this without carefully thinking about the impacts on residents,” Junak said. “That’s not good planning. If you’re a neighbor of one of these grows and you’re upset at what’s happening there, you’re not getting any relief for years. The county doesn’t do anything about it. That’s not fair.” The voters of California legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2016, and the industry has spread rapidly in the county from the Carpinteria Valley to the Santa Ynez and Lompoc valleys. County records show that there are six other cannabis operations in Cebada Canyon besides Herbal Angels, all of them lessees operating without zoning permits. Alone in California, Santa Barbara County allowed self-identified medical marijuana growers to continue operating after Jan. 9, 2016, under temporary state business licenses, so long as they applied for county zoning permits and county business licenses. Today, most of those projects have expanded — illegally, critics say — and their zoning permits are still pending “awaiting applicant action.” The commission’s vote comes on the eve

Photo contributed The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission plans to deny a permit to the now-defunct Herbal Angels cannabis operation on Cebada Canyon Road off Highway 246, shown here in 2019 with 4 acres of cannabis grown under hoop houses.

of next week’s Board of Supervisors hearing on whether to demand conditional use permits for all cannabis cultivation and processing — stricter zoning permits that require compatibility with the surrounding area. Under the county’s current cannabis ordinance, only those projects located within or next to “existing developed rural neighborhoods,” or EDRNs, need conditional use permits. In the North County, there are 54 such rural neighborhoods, places that were zoned for low-density agricultural and residential uses. Cebada Canyon is one of them, with 110 residents living in 50 homes, each on about 20 acres. A number of the residents board horses, raise a few goats, or grow hay and wine grapes. It’s a box canyon, and the two-lane road in and out is narrow and winding. The residents of Cebada Canyon and Tepusquet Canyon north of Sisquoc want the county to ban cannabis cultivation outright in or around rural communities such as theirs. At the end of Cebada Canyon Road, just outside the boundary of the residential neighborhood, the Herbal Angels operators, Eli Sheiman and Mariette Wingard, proposed to grow 16 acres of cannabis in hoop houses and 1 acre in greenhouses. In addition, they proposed to construct two two-story buildings for storing, drying and processing cannabis, 12,000 square feet and 40,000 square feet in size; and four water tanks, two of them large enough to hold 200,000 gallons each. The operation would need 20 full-time workers, plus 36 more during

four yearly harvests. The property covers 102 acres and includes a large avocado orchard. It is owned by Avo Vista Farms LLC, a shell company with opaque ownership, registered with the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office. Some Cebada Canyon residents have called Avo Vista a “zombie” firm. On Wednesday, Zoe Carlson, an agent for Herbal Angels, told the Planning Commission via Zoom, “This is the third hearing on the project.” The hearing included two dozen call-ins from the public and emailed letters that were read into the record, none in support of Herbal Angels. “It’s been over a year since staff has had our information, and the application has been deemed complete for eight months,” Carlson said. In a letter to the commission, she concluded: “The applicant has been proactive, responsive and provided all relevant material …” In a May 21 letter to the commission, Bradley Johnson of the Sacramento law firm of Harrison, Temblador, Hungerford & Johnson, representing Herbal Angels and Avo Vista, said the commission had “no legal basis” to reopen the public hearing on Wednesday because “no new information has been submitted by the applicant and no substantial changes have been made to the project since the April 8 hearing that would warrant additional public comment. “Reopening the public hearing on the project for a full project presentation on May 27 will result in substantial costs to the applicant and

further infringement of the applicant’s rights to due process and a fair hearing,” Johnson wrote. But the commissioners said the Herbal Angels application merited all the time they were spending on it. “My main problem with the project is the size, bulk and scale of these buildings and their proximity to the EDRN,” said Commissioner Larry Ferini, whose district includes Cebada Canyon. “It’s not compatible with that neighborhood. We’ve had every resident around telling us that. I think there are better sites throughout the county for this project.” In addition, Ferini noted that the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District had submitted a letter to commission, requesting that the permit be denied. The district said that Avo Vista Farms LLC, the property owner, with Sheiman as CEO and “point of contact,” had failed to submit groundwater pumping reports or pay pumping fees since June 2018 — reports and fees that the district requires as part of an ongoing effort to bring the groundwater basin into balance. “It’s not helpful to their cause,” Ferini said. The commissioners also noted that they had tried without success to elicit the real name of the property owner from Herbal Angels’ agents. “I don’t want to contract with an entity that doesn’t exist,” said Commissioner Daniel Blough, who represents the Santa Maria Valley. But mainly, Blough said, he was not conCEBADA CONTINUED TO PAGE 13

4 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Paul Hood, Santa Barbara LAFCO leader, remembered

Seven-year commission head died May 11 at age 71 By Janene Scully

Noozhawk North County Editor

aul Hood, who led the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission for seven years, is remembered as a decent guy with decades of knowledge about the state-created process to prevent urban sprawl and encourage orderly growth. Hood, 71, died May 11, just weeks after the non-smoker had been diagnosed with lung cancer, his family said. He joined the Santa Barbara County agency in 2013 after retiring five years earlier from leading the San Luis Obispo County LAFCO. Photo contributed LAFCO, made up of local elected Paul Hood, who led the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation officials and appointees, works to ensure Commission for seven years, passed from lung cancer recently. orderly creation and development of local agencies such as cities and special just always went above and beyond. I districts. think we all have terribly heavy hearts.” “He was well respected around the A native of England, Hood immigrated state and all 57 other counties looked to to the United States in the mid-1960s with him for guidance and direction,” LAFCO his parents and two younger sisters. Commissioner Roger Welt said. “He was The family settled in Sacramento, and knowledgeable. He was a friend. He loved Hood later earned a bachelor’s degree his children. He loved his family. He was from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a always taking about his children. master of business administration degree “I’m just overwhelmed with this loss,” from Cal State Hayward (now Cal State Welt added. East Bay). “He’s such a decent, good person,” said Hood worked in public administration 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, in Sacramento and then the Local Agenwho serves on LAFCO. “This job can cy Formation Commission in San Mateo sometimes be very controversial and he County before settling in Atascadero for was such a cool head that never got riled. I never saw him upset, no matter if he was the past 40 years. He continued his lifelong career with challenged. He was just such a calm perLAFCO until his retirement as executive sonality and he will be greatly missed.” officer with San Luis Obispo County in Third District Supervisor Joan Hart2009 after nearly three decades on the job. mann, another LAFCO commissioner, said He was recruited from retirement to lead Hood had worked closely with Los Olivos Santa Barbara LAFCO. residents during the formation of a comGoleta Councilmember Roger Aceves munity services district, showing up early and staying late at many intense meetings. recalled being on the commission when Hood was hired. Likewise, he helped other agencies such “The guy came with such incredible as Vandenberg Village and Mission Hills credentials...,” Aceves said, adding it was community service districts with their obvious commissioners needed to hire concerns. him. “It wasn’t just a brief phone call. He “I think the commission should also was there. He was giving of himself,” stop and realize he left our organization in Hartmann said. “He spent the time. He a very strong financial condition,” Aceves was just tireless. He was so decent and

added. “He created some big shoes to fill.” Santa Maria Councilmember Etta Waterfield spoke about Hood’s gentle soul who made sure others understood any question about LAFCO matters. “He was a walking encyclopedia when it came to LAFCO,” Waterfield added. Hood received at least two awards from the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions, including the Outstanding LAFCO Professional Award in 2002 and seven years later, the Mike Gotch Courage and Innovation in Local Government Award. The award, recognizing someone who has taken extraordinary steps to improve and innovate local government, is named for Mike Gotch, a former state Assembly member, LAFCO executive officer and CALAFCO executive director responsible for much of the foundations of LAFCO law and the state association. “Paul was and will continue to be a source of great inspiration for LAFCO staff and commissioners statewide, just as Mike Gotch continues to be,” said Pamela Miller, executive director of CALAFCO. Hood also served as CALAFCO deputy executive officer in 2006 and 2007, and the state association’s executive officer in 2008 and 2009. Hood belonged to the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club, served as chairman of the Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission and was president of the Atascadero Zoological Society. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Terri; their three children, Joanna, Jeffrey and Julia; two sisters, Carole and Susan; and several nieces and nephews. The family plans to schedule a memorial service once COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. Arrangements are under the care of Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels in Santa Barbara. Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

Photo contributed Santa Barbara County Fire recently contained a vegetation fire at Hollister Ranch. The county announced on May 18 that the High Fire Season period has begun.

SBC Fire preparing for high fire season Staff Report

he Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD), in conjunction with all other local fire jurisdictions, will declare the beginning of the 2020 High Fire Season period for all areas of Santa Barbara County as of May 18. Because of this declaration, all burn permits issued for residential burning and hazard reduction will be suspended. In addition, the SBCFD will be increasing the number of resources (e.g., engines, dozers, crews, helicopters, etc.) responding to reported vegetation fires during the High Fire Season. The SBCFD would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who lives, works and plays in Santa Barbara County to be extra vigilant about fire safety this fire season. Remember to maintain vegetation clearance around structures, review and be familiar with your “Ready! Set! Go!” wildfire action plan, and be extra cautious and aware when traveling or staying in the wildland areas of the county. For more information about Ready! Set! Go! Please visit www.sbcfire.com.

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 5

Protesters gather peacefully in Buellton, Solvang Hundreds young and old call for end to systemic racism By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

undreds of people from young to old gathered in Buellton and Solvang over several days to talk about systemic racism. The first event was held in Buellton on June 4, and two events were held on June 5 and 6 in Solvang. There were moving speeches calling for more accountability and ways to get involved to end systemic racism. Protesters also knelt for eight minutes in silence to represent the amount of time a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd. Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minn., after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street. He had been arrested on suspicion of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby market, according to an article in the New York Times. “Don’t hate, it is not the way to go,” said one protester in Buellton who called for action to end racism. Others said they need to get involved with local city government and ask local leaders what they stand for. The leaders of the protest in Buellton were Roberto Genovese and Aleiza Rogers, who were glad people came to hear what they had to say. “As a black woman living in Buellton I felt uncomfortable by the silence,” Rogers said in a Facebook live video. “Black lives matter, the people who died are what matter, and choosing love, not hate, is what matters. I am proud of

Photo by Raiza Giorgi A group of more than 100 protesters gathered in Buellton to talk about racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Photo by George Rose Protesters in Solvang held a vigil with speeches and songs, calling to end systemic racism.

all the people out here today and thank you to all those who came here today. Change is possible.” Several other protesters spoke about their

encounters with racism as immigrants to this country, and one protester saying that she came from a family of police officers and was

dismayed about police brutality. They chanted as they marched back to the Albertson’s parking lot and many held up signs saying “Black Lives Matter,” “No Justice, No Peace,” and “Justice for George Floyd.” All four Minneapolis police officers at the scene were fired the day after the George Floyd incident. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on May 29. Then on June 3, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison amended Chauvin’s charges to include second-degree murder, and the other three officers were charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder. The FBI and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are both investigating the incident, according to national news outlets. In a statement released Wednesday by Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, he said he was disgusted and horrified by what he witnessed in Floyd’s death. “Witnessing Mr. George Floyd’s inhumane, painful and unnecessary death was horrifying and gut-wrenching for me,” he said. “I also immediately realized that even though this reprehensible act occurred 2,000 miles away from us, it would inflict damage on the relationships between many California law enforcement agencies and communities of color. I recognize the anger that our African American brothers and sisters across the nation feel as a result of this terrible and unjustified killing of a man arrested for a low-level crime. It’s okay to be angry.” Brown said he welcomed protests and he will always support and defend the rights of people to express themselves. The sheriff’s deputies at Thursday’s protests kept their distance, just providing protection as they crossed busy intersections.

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6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

In loving Memory Robert Petersen

Solvang allows outdoor seating for service industry By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

Robert George “Bob” Petersen, 91, a lifelong resident of Solvang, passed away peacefully at his home on April 30, 2020, with his family by his side

ob was born on Pine Street in Solvang to Clara and H. G.“George” Petersen, on September 15th, 1928. His grandparents were from Jutland, Denmark, though both parents were born in the U.S. His father came to Solvang from Selma, California in 1923, and his mother came from Danevang, a Danish settlement in Texas in 1911. Bobs’ family moved to Rancho Llano Grande, across from Buellflat Rock Co, in 1937. Bob attended Solvang Elementary and upon graduation from Santa Ynez High School attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In high school, Bob was active in FFA and 4-H. In 1939 he showed a steer in the World’s Expo in San Francisco. After graduation he was drafted in 1950 and sent to Nuremberg, Germany working in the Army Military Police during the occupation. Spending two years in Europe gave him the opportunity to visit relatives in Denmark, during leaves. Returning to Solvang in 1952 he resumed farming again, and managed the cattle and hog operations on the family farm located on the flats between Buellton and Solvang, a labor he dearly loved. In 1954, Bob married Helen Holman, a childhood sweetheart, who became his helpmate on the farm.To this union were born Robert, Jr., who lives today with his wife, Janet, in the ranch house of Bobs’ parents, and Debbie (Laroche) who lives with her husband, Andrew, on Chalk Hill Road. After selling the farming operation in 1967, Bob worked alongside his brother Bill at the family’s rock, sand and gravel enterprise, Buellflat Rock Company. Bob ran the heavy equipment, working on developments in Woodstock, Oak Trails, and several roadways and house pads in the valley. Bob donated many hours of labor excavating the area for the Solvang Theaterfest. Bob was an active member of the community, serving as a board member for Jonata School, the Danish Brotherhood, the American Legion, Santa Barbara Cattleman’s Association, the Farm Bureau, and the Los Alamos Society as well as serving on Bethania’s church council and raising money for the parish hall.

Although a knee operation in his 80’s slowed him down a bit, Bob loved dancing to swing bands, and seldom sat out a song. He enjoyed spending time with his extended family, especially during the holidays and special occasions. Bob famously and proudly drove his iconic 1972 International Scout to the post office for his daily 11:00 a.m. mail run. He could regularly be seen in town enjoying lunches at his favorite local restaurants- so often that many servers would greet him by his family nickname- “Far”, and would know his order before he was even seated. Bobs’ love of family and community showed in his charitable giving to many local causes. Bob loved his heritage, and was considered a local historian by many. He shared often his recollection of names, dates and events. In a video interview on display at the Elverhoj Museum he recounts many items of local interest. So many of his stories ended with his infectious laugh. Bob worshiped regularly at Bethania Lutheran Church in his reserved seat; third pew from the back on the left, window seat. He was the second child ever to be baptized at Bethania, and has the certificate, written in Danish, to show the date (1928). Bob is survived by his son, Robert Petersen and his wife Janet, and a daughter Debbie Laroche and her husband Andy, as well as grandchildren Robbie Petersen (Kristina)Their children Robbie and Katelyn, Bryan Petersen (Jenn) and son Jayce, Jenna Gonsalves (Cody) children Michael, Nathen and Mason, Robin Sheehan (Finbarr) and son Emmet, Danny Laroche (Alexandra) children Alaina and Rory. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, who he had missed dearly for 36 years. A private military graveside service for family was held at Oak Hill Cemetery on May 6, 2020. A celebration of Bobs’ life is being planned for a date near his 92nd birthday, September 15, 2020. The family would like to thank everyone for all the love and support these last few weeks. Remembrances in Bobs’ name can be made to the Elverhøj Museum or Bethania Lutheran Church.

We will miss you Far.

he Solvang City Council unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance to allow restaurants, bars and wine tasting rooms in the TRC zone to expand outdoors in response to COVID-19 restrictions. According to the staff report, the business community has suffered economic shutdown and this would provide additional space for businesses to serve food and beverages and keep social distancing guidelines. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent ‘guidance,’ is allowing businesses to re-open and focus on outdoor space. “I wholeheartedly support using outdoor spaces to accommodate more shoppers,” Solvang City Councilman Robert Clarke said. “We won’t get back to 100 percent for a long time, and this will allow restaurants to serve and expand.” City Attorney Chip Wullbrandt stated it would be in several steps as this allows waivers of current rules related to outdoor expansions, and all the business owners need to do is come in and ask. The proposed ordinance makes minor revisions to the city’s existing code provisions, which as outlined are: n to clarify that the 300-square-foot exception is for discretionary waiver of the Development Plan by the Planning Director rather than an additional right; n that consistent with Section 11-16-4B the 300-square-foot exception is for addition, alteration or replacement to an existing structure; n adds provisions for the Planning Director to waive the Development Plan process for outdoor space for a restaurant, bar, cocktail lounge or wine tasting, including elimination up to two (2) parking spaces; and n confirms that the business may request waiver of additional parking spaces by the City

Council pursuant to the In Lieu Parking Fee provisions. The ordinance will then go to the Planning Commission for its input and revisions before making a permanent ordinance, Wullbrandt added. Councilman Chris Djernaes said he thanked the staff and Wullbrandt for their hard work on this, and the motion passed unanimously. The council also extended the moratorium for evictions of residential and commercial tenants through July 31, 2020. The moratorium also uses a six-month payback period following the emergency for tenants who invoke the protections of the moratorium. The council also got an update on the County of Santa Barbara’s RISE Guide, which details the reopening of businesses per the governor’s orders. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a new health order stating that places of worship can provide in person services with 25 percent attendance or 100 attendees, whichever lower. Hair salons and barbershops also may provide in-person services both the worker and customer wear face coverings for the entirety of the service. Services that cannot be performed with a face covering on both the worker and customer or that require touching of the customer’s face are not allowed. Graduation may be provided by streaming or in person if it’s conducted outdoors. All inside ceremonies are prohibited. All outdoor activities must be conducted in vehicles unless the total number of all attendees is less than 100 people. Otherwise, diplomas and certificates can be distributed to the graduates in a car. More guidance and the full Health Officer Order can be viewed here: https://publichealthsbc.org/health-officer-orders/

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 7

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8 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

MLK Santa Barbara welcomes community support preservation of local historical African American landmarks, and institutional support for the Juneteenth (June 19) Celebration. We feel these demands are reasonable and attainable. Our city must recognize the role and contributions made by African Americans, many of whom have lived in this community for generations and have contributed to its development and growth. We are genuinely concerned about the current coronavirus pandemic and how it continues to highlight challenges in the healthcare system. To address these concerns MLKSB is planning a virtual town hall meeting that will address healthcare disparities and the devastating impact the pandemic has had on people of color. We are also preparing for the MLK holiday on Jan. 18, 2021, and the preceding series of events.

By the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara

he Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara is appalled and saddened by the deaths of George Floyd, Armaud Arbery, Breona Taylor and so many others who have met an untimely death. Unfortunately, deaths of this nature have occurred routinely in African American communities across the country. Many have met death at the hands of inhumane police officers who are often not held accountable. Our justice system needs to be committed to change enforcing fairness and equality for everyone. More people are joining the demand for equal rights and taking a firm stand against such injustices. We sincerely hope this will be the turning point for real change in our communities. We may then see the fruition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Standing in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Santa Barbara, we support the list of demands presented to local government regarding transparency and accountability of policing policies,

Photo by Mo McFadden E. Onja Brown Lawson speaks at the Eternal Flame on the UCSB campus in January during the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend of celebrations.

We welcome your support towards our work. For more information, go to www.mlksb.org.

Joyce Dudley: The pain of looking away

can’t count the number of crime scenes I’ve walked around over the past 30 years, or the autopsies I’ve observed, or the innumerable pages of gruesome crime photos I’ve File Photo reviewed. Joyce Dudley But I can count the number of times I quickly looked away because I was so sickened by what I saw. That number is one. That one time was when I re-watched the video of the death of George Floyd. It wasn’t just the horror of it all. It also was the image of both the alleged murderer, Derek Chauvin, and the apparent cowardice of the officers who surrounded him. To survive as a prosecutor for as long as I

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have, I’ve had to let go of all of the dreadful images that came with each case as soon as it was resolved, or I couldn’t go on to the next one. I know this is one image that I will never forget and one I should never forget, not just because of how gruesome and horrible it is, but because it depicts the antithesis of justice, and justice is the paramount goal of our law enforcement profession. The law enforcement officers I’ve come to know would wholeheartedly risk their lives to save George Floyd. I am not naive; I know, there are “bad cops,” just as there are “the bad” in every profession. And as in every profession, I also know there are people who are racist, or at least engage in racial profiling. Still, it’s one thing to know it, and another thing to see the men who circled Mr. Floyd. That image is grotesque, and their apparent

actions and inactions are despicable. Still, I’ve seen grotesque and despicable images over and over again. What makes this so unforgettable is how inconsistent it is with the profession I have grown to admire. There isn’t an officer I’ve spoken to in the past several days who isn’t devastated by this same image. The officers I’ve come to know are warriors who seek evil, and now they are cut to their very core to see it in their own uniform. Many have observed this video and said they were not the least bit surprised. Those same people would say that this is how people of color have always been treated, and that now the only difference is that there are cellphones capable of recording these horrific images. In the past, we have all seen similar images, but to some they were always blurry, taken from a distance or an obscure angle, and there were always multiple possible

explanations. Here there appears to be only one. I am only speaking about what I have seen, as a prosecutor, over the past three decades, and that is first responders seeking to save lives and avoid death, at all personal cost. The fact that most of us who have seen this video are shocked by it is appropriate, because it should shock us. But we can’t stop there. We must do more. At a very minimum, we must support our public safety officers who are seeking justice for all, and hold all criminals, regardless of their affiliations or professions, including officers, accountable for their criminal acts. Joyce E. Dudley is the district attorney for Santa Barbara County and chair of the state Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST).

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9

Tracy Roberts: Face masks hinder ability to teach

hen I see, hear and read about plans to reopen our schools across the country, I am often left dumbfounded. As a teacher of preschool and elementary-age children for almost 25 years, I cannot fathom teaching children in a mask, much less teaching a child who is wearing a mask. When social distancing is discussed and plans are shared for how to achieve it, my stomach turns, just as I know it does for many other parents and teachers in this world right now. How do I know? Because my phone is ringing off the hook with those seeking alternative education models to what they fear will be the “new normal” when their child returns to the classroom. I have been a teacher for nearly three decades and own a school in the Santa Ynez Valley. I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible responsibilities that come with educating children. School, at any age, is not only about learning the classroom work at hand. A teacher’s relationship with children cannot happen at a 6-foot distance. Students cannot read a teacher’s non-verbal cues when his/her face is covered by a mask. A face shield is another barrier to educating. The teacher/child relationship in the best scenario cannot be exclusively about academics. Children only learn when they feel safe. And they learn best when they feel loved. All of us, but especially children, need human touch and contact to thrive in the classroom and in life My classroom experiences affirm a very simple fact: Children, especially those at a

younger, developmental age, cannot and will not social distance. As soon as an adult’s back is turned, they’ll jump all over each other and want to play. The only way to prevent that very basic human instinct from happening is to use fear. And that fear will only work with the already anxious ones. What happens to the mental health of children when we use fear as a motivator? The answer is played out daily on the social media posts and pages of adults. We all are familiar with the concept of fight, flight, or freeze. Children, our greatest responsibilities and our future, never will succeed in that kind of atmosphere.

I can’t breathe well when wearing a mask and cannot easily recognize my friends. I have felt isolated and dehumanized by the mask mandates. Now, we want to demand the same of young children whose lung capacity is much smaller and who depend on facial cues for information about safety and sanity? From the time they are born, children read social cues to learn about the world around them. They immediately can surmise, Is this situation safe? What is sadness? The teacher gets angry when I do that. It all comes from facial expressions. We are asking our teachers -- whose job is already incredibly hard in

good times -- to add another barrier to achieve the same standards. Entire days will be spent enforcing social distancing mandates and using fear and punishments to keep students in compliance. Learning will be jeopardized. Relationships cannot be built. Mental health matters — I would say even more than physical health at this young, formative age. As a society, we consistently make mental health a secondary priority. We are talking about the next generation of children whose childhood could be potentially built around this “new normal.” The masks may begin to fade away in the coming months to years, but the fear we instilled in them about germs and touch today will quite possibly last a lifetime. This is a recipe for children hating school and feeling as if the basic human need to touch on both a mental and physical level is potentially hazardous. How will they even build their immune systems with a no-touch, sanitized world? As a trained educator incredibly lucky enough to be in the lives of these little humans, I object! Reading public health documents on reopening schools makes me ponder this important question: Have they ever met children?

Tracy Roberts has a master’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies as well as two other post-graduate trainings in education. She is the Founder/Director/Teacher of Acorn Village Forest School in the Santa Ynez Valley. You can reach her at www.acornvillage.org Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words in length. Send letters to: Raiza Giorgi, PO Box 1594, Solvang, CA 93464 or email to: news@santaynezvalleystar.com Please include your name and address and phone number.

Open and ready to provide safe care. We are prepared to protect your health. If you need medical care, don’t delay.

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Linda Rodriquez, Sonographer, Radiologic Technologist, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital

10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Sheriff Bill Brown: When the badge gets tarnished

s new sheriff’s deputies or custody deputies begin their careers with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, they must solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California. During the swear-in ceremony, we incorporate a badge pinning File Photo that is usually Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown done by a loved one. I always give a speech about the badge that each of us wears or carries as a law enforcement officer. Many of my executive, command and support staff have heard that speech dozens, if not hundreds, of times, but I believe it is a message that bears repeating. I advise the newly minted deputies that the badge is the most important accoutrement they’ll have as a peace officer. The symbolism of the badge, whether it’s a star-shape or an oval, is always the same. It represents an ancient warrior’s shield — a shield of protection. The symbolism is two-fold, representing the protection we provide to the community, and the protection that the community provides to us, such as in enhanced penalties for those who would do us harm. The seven-pointed star shape of our badge is an ancient symbol that some say represents good over evil. Each of the seven points on the star

corresponds to the letters in the word “sheriff” and stands for a value we should strive for in our daily work: Service, Honor, Ethics, Respect, Integrity, Fairness, and Fidelity or Faithfulness. The finish of the badge is gold, representing something precious. Most importantly, I tell these new cops that the badges they are receiving are new, shiny and untarnished. I always admonish them that the badge must be carried and worn with honor. It is a symbol of the public’s faith in us, faith that we will carry out our great responsibilities honorably. I also tell them that the badge will not be theirs forever. There will come a time when they are going to have to pass that badge over to someone else who will take their place. When they do, it is imperative that the badge remains shiny, for if they do anything to tarnish it — either while on or off-duty — they don’t just tarnish their own badge, but also the badges of all of us in the Sheriff’s Office, and of every member of the law enforcement profession. Sadly, what we saw happen in Minneapolis on Memorial Day tarnished all of our badges. I don’t usually weigh in with an opinion in the immediate aftermath of a use of force by members of the Sheriff’s Office or another law enforcement agency because, inevitably, all the facts and circumstances of the event are not known at first. Any use of force, no matter how justified it may be, is ugly to watch. Threats, perspective and vantage points may not be apparent on first glance, and information is often discovered or developed during a subsequent investigation that can be mitigating or justifies the type and amount of force that was used. In the case that is the focus of our current national conversation, however, there is NO justification for an officer kneeling on a non-resistive

person’s neck for more than 8½ minutes. Witnessing Mr. George Floyd’s inhumane, painful and unnecessary death was horrifying and gut-wrenching for me. I also immediately realized that even though this reprehensible act occurred 2,000 miles away from us, it would inflict damage on the relationships between many California law enforcement agencies and communities of color. I recognize the anger that our African American brothers and sisters across the nation feel as a result of this terrible and unjustified killing of a man arrested for a low-level crime. It’s OK to be angry. I myself am disgusted, deeply saddened and angry about what I saw. Frankly, I’d be concerned about anyone who isn’t angry about what happened. The large numbers of peaceful protests across our nation are welcomed. Freedom of speech, the right to petition government for redress of grievances and freedom of assembly are all guaranteed under the federal and state constitutions that we in law enforcement are sworn to support and defend. I don’t agree with some of the inflammatory rhetoric I’ve heard at some of those protests. I don’t condone some of the visuals I’ve seen, like signs bearing profane slogans against the police, or a severed and bloody pig’s head being carried by a protester. I think those types of actions hurt the protesters’ cause, and I wish I heard more community leaders and organizers speak out to condemn them. But no matter how much I may disagree with certain aspects of the protests, I will always support and defend the rights of people to express themselves in those and other ways. What is not OK is the widespread lawlessness that is being blamed on the aforementioned anger. Acts of arson, vandalism, looting, and beatings of store owners. Shootings, fire bombing and aggravated assaults against peace officers.

Those activities can never be justified or excused; they endanger our communities, they undermine our fragile economy already heavily damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they shatter the hopes and lives of small business owners. The people who commit these crimes attack our American way of life, and they profoundly dishonor the memory of George Floyd. As a nation and as a people, we must not conflate these two groups of individuals. We must recognize the distinct difference between peaceful protesters and those so-called “protesters” who loot, deface and burn neighborhoods across America. It is equally important that we recognize the difference between the vast majority of good cops — who are brave and decent people willing to put themselves in harm’s way to protect others no matter their race, creed or color — and the very, very small percentage of bad police officers who abuse their authority and engage in brutal or otherwise unlawful behavior. It is also important for everyone to understand how infrequent fatal confrontations between the police and members of the public actually are. Consider this: While deaths at the hands of the police are uncommon, deaths of unarmed people are rare. According to the FBI and the Washington Post, 1,004 people were killed by law enforcement officers in the United States last year. The overwhelming majority of those deaths were justifiable homicides committed by officers defending their lives or the lives of other people. Of those 1,004 killed, 41 (4%) were unarmed. Of those 41, 19 were white and 9 were black. (The remaining 13 were either Hispanic or “othSHERIFF CONTINUES TO PAGE 23

INCLUSION SYV calls on community to take action, eliminate racism By INCLUSION SYV

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The brutal killing of George Floyd, at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, has catalyzed peaceful and violent protests throughout the country. Black lives have been and continue to be threatened by police forces nationally, thanks to a society characterized by systemic racism that allows and even condones such behavior. Being black should not mean being subject to the pervasive violence of racism from which our country was born. No longer can we dismiss or minimize the experiences of interpersonal and pervasive discrimination or ignore our individual biases. INCLUSION SYV stands with and is in solidarity with the black community, whose pain and anguish has led to mobilization and action to demand change and a just and anti-racist future. INCLUSION SYV’s beginnings in 2017 were a response to the increase in hate crimes, racial slurs and discrimination of all forms. This was occurring around the nation and locally in schools, the workplace, the supermarket and on the street, where racial epithets were directed towards people of color. Our purpose was and is to address racism in our schools and in our community. This is in-

separable from the oppression and malignancy that killed George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and so many others. We can no longer sit idle and continue to benefit from the oppression of black people. We must reckon with our country’s history and look within ourselves, our workspaces, classrooms, businesses and families to dismantle anti-blackness, anti-people of color, and anti-immigrant attitudes. Not only is unpacking racism in our educational, legal and social institutions a collective, ongoing necessity, it is a matter of life or death. Now is the time to hold decision-makers and individuals in position of power accountable to change discriminatory practices and behaviors. People in the Santa Ynez Valley and greater Santa Barbara County cannot remain silent! INCLUSION SYV operates under the administrative umbrella of People Helping People, an IRS certified 501 (c) (3) public benefit corporation. The vision of INCLUSION is to build a safe, respectful, equitable and inclusive community. To receive more information about INCLUSION, visit https://www.inclusionsyv.org or email us at inclusionsyv@gmail.com.

June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

USDA delivers relief to farmers, ranchers impacted by COVID-19

personal management for the farming operation. Producers will also have to certify they meet the Adjusted Gross Income limitation of $900,000 unless at least 75 percent or more of their income is derived from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. Producers must also be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to provide up to $16B in payments

Staff Report

.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently announced details of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “We want to thank Secretary Perdue for his hard work, and his staff has done an excellent job putting this program together,” said Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau president. “And we want to thank Congress for thinking about agriculture too and delivering it to your desk for you to sign. So, many thanks for helping the people that feed the American people, and we look forward to continuing to work with you, Mr. Trump. We appreciate.” Beginning May 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), started accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses. CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a 5-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. Farmers and ranchers will receive direct support, drawn from two possible funding sources. The first source of funding is $9.5 billion in appropriated funding provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability (CARES) Act to compensate farmers for losses due to price declines that occurred between mid-January 2020 and mid-April 2020, and provides support for specialty

Applying for Assistance

File photo Livestock eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) include cattle, lambs, yearlings and hogs.

crops for product that had been shipped from the farm between the same time period but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channels. The second funding source uses the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act to compensate producers for $6.5 billion in losses due to on-going market disruptions.

Non-Specialty Crops and Wool

Non-specialty crops eligible for CFAP payments include malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat and hard red spring wheat. Wool is also eligible. Producers will be paid based on inventory subject to price risk held as of Jan. 15. A payment will be made based on 50 percent of a producer’s 2019 total production or the 2019 inventory as of Jan. 15, whichever is smaller, multiplied by the commodity’s applicable payment rates. Livestock Livestock eligible for CFAP include cattle, lambs, yearlings and hogs. The total payment will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between Jan. 15 and April 15, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, multiplied by the payment rate per head.

Dairy

For dairy, the total payment will be calculated based on a producer’s certification of milk production for the first quarter of calendar year 2020 multiplied by a national price decline during the same quarter. The second part of the payment is based a national adjustment to each producer’s production in the first quarter.

Specialty Crops

For eligible specialty crops, the total payment will be based on the volume of production sold between Jan. 15 and April 15; the volume of production shipped, but unpaid; and the number of acres for which harvested production did not leave the farm or mature product destroyed or not harvested during that same time period, and which have not and will not be sold. Specialty crops include, but are not limited to, almonds, beans, broccoli, sweet corn, lemons, iceberg lettuce, spinach, squash, strawberries and tomatoes. A full list of eligible crops can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Additional crops may be deemed eligible at a later date.

Eligibility

There is a payment limitation of $250,000 per person or entity for all commodities combined. Applicants who are corporations, limited liability companies or limited partnerships may qualify for additional payment limits where members actively provide personal labor or

Producers can apply for assistance beginning on May 26, 2020. Additional information and application forms can be found at farmers.gov/ cfap. Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested. FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed. Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020.

Payment Structure

To ensure the availability of funding throughout the application period, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date as funds remain available. USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/ coronavirus.

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SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Citizen’s Oversight Committee Member Needed The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is currently seeking to fill one positions on our Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure K. We have one vacancy in the "at-large community member" category. For more information please contact the Assistant to the Superintendent, Terry Westfall, at 686-3570 or visit the District website at

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CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Boys & Girls Clubs surpasses $250K fundraising goal Money raised for food distribution centers, online programming Staff Report

t has been two months since the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County (UBGC) launched its Whatever It Takes challenge of raising $250,000 to help underwrite the costs of its food distributions and online programming for April, May and June. UBGC has announced it surpassed its goal for a total of $266,298.50. UBGC thanks Jeff and Judy Henley and The Gerald W. Fackler Charitable Remainder Trust for kicking off a challenge grant with an initial $250,000. Two months ago, just like schools in the communities, UBGC closed for normal operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but didn’t close its doors to help find ways to help serve the community. UBGC collaborated with The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County to turn its clubs into distribution centers. The clubs went from rooms filled with kids to rooms of volunteers packaging food for those who needed it the most. “The obvious path for us to take would have been to close our clubs completely and offer programming again when the schools reopened,” said CEO Michael Baker. After two months, UBGC has distributed food that impacted 75,603 individuals between the six communities UBGC serves: Lompoc, Buellton/Solvang, Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Over the past two months, UBGC also launched virtual programming for club members. “The goal is that our members can stay en-

gaged socially, as well as get the help they need with their homework,” Baker said. “This is also an opportunity for our members to re-connect with their club director for some much-needed mentoring time.” UBGC has been able to reach more than 300 members who participate in their virtual programming. On another front, the Lend a Socially-Distant Hand campaign UBGC launched has also garnered them great success. “We have reached out to incredibly skilled contractors to see if they would ‘lend a socially-distant hand’ to make our clubs even better when we re-open for our members,” Baker said. To date, UBGC has had work done by locksmiths, roofers, artists and handymen, which has saved the organization thousands of dollars. These companies lent their time and talent in building a new check-in counter, add incredible murals as well as replace the roofs on the older cabins at Camp Whittier. “I always say, when you do the right thing, people will step up and help you out,” Baker said. “This is another example of that. Santa Barbara County is a special place, and they love the United Boys & Girls Clubs. With their ongoing support, we will be able to continue the critical work we are doing and help those that need our services the most.” United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is still looking for an electrician to lend a socially distant hand for club repairs. UBGC also seeks retired or current teachers to help with virtual homework help. To learn more about UBGC campaigns and projects or to donate, visit www.unitedbg.org or call 805-681-1315.

First 5 Santa Barbara seeks ELP grants Group budgets $150K for early education Staff Report

irst 5 Santa Barbara Commission issued a request for application (RFA) on May 21 for Early Learning Planning (ELP) grants to Local Education Agencies in Priority 1 regions of the county. Priority 1 areas include: Cuyama, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara school district areas. First 5 Santa Barbara has budgeted $150,000 for these grants that are meant to help local education agencies strengthen their efforts to serve children prenatal through age 5 and their families in alignment with their TK-12 efforts. Two grants, not exceeding $75,000 each, will be awarded for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The Early Learning Planning Grants are meant to work towards a collective impact model supporting school readiness and early

elementary school proficiency. The assumptions and guiding principles that shape the ELP grants reflect what research tells us about young children’s development and learning and address the factors within a unique community. The program of work undertaken through the ELP revolves around six evidence-based ideas: n Birth through 3rd grade efforts n Schools as hubs n Vertical articulation and alignment n Parent and family support n Professional development and support n Persistence and planning For information and the application, go to http://first5santabarbaracounty.org/our-funding. First 5 Santa Barbara Commission, funded by Proposition 10 works in partnership with individuals and organizations throughout the county, to support the health, early learning and well-being of children prenatal to age 5 and their families. For information, call (805) 884-8085 or go to www.First5SBC.org.

June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Cottage Health hospitals safe for care Staff Report

ottage Health is committed to the safety of patients and staff. Many who are in need of medical attention may have postponed treatment since quarantine orders began two months ago. It is important not to ignore symptoms or wait for care when delaying treatment could cause adverse long-term health outcomes. Most patients at the hospitals are receiving treatment for conditions unrelated to COVID-19. “Your health is essential. Cottage continues to be ready 24/7 to provide safe care for all of our patients,” said Dr. Brett Wilson, Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. “Medical conditions happen despite a pandemic. Please know that the same high level of care is still happening at Cottage, for every patient.” Cottage Health has many precautions in place to protect patients and staff: n Pre-screening all patients entering the Emergency Department and using isolation precautions if symptoms are consistent with COVID-19. n Screening with temperature checks of physicians, staff, and anyone who enters the hospitals. n COVID-19 testing for every patient admitted to the hospital.

n COVID-19 testing for patients prior to a scheduled surgery or procedure. n Requiring face masks for staff and visitors upon entry, to be worn at all times in clinical areas and public areas. n Limiting visitors to help prevent exposure and maintain social distancing. n Using protective equipment based on infection control best practices. n Providing staff training and education on COVID-19 care and infection prevention. n Using specialized care units for patients with COVID-19, separate from those admitted for other conditions, with specific precautions and negative pressure airflow for infection prevention. n Designating and training staff to be dedicated specifically for COVID-19 care on the isolation units. n Using state-of-the-art disinfectant protocols including ultraviolet light filtration on air handlers, Xenex UV light robots for room cleaning, and routine monitoring of hand washing. Visit cottagehealth.org to learn more about COVID-19 precautions and ongoing care at Cottage Health. Cottage hospitals remain safe places for the community to seek care when needed.

o CEBADA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 vinced that a proposed vapor-control system of pipes around the greenhouses and along two corners of the property would work to reduce the smell of marijuana plants. “If you can’t suppress odor at the property line, I’m not interested in approving the project,” he said. Commissioner John Parke, who represents the Santa Ynez Valley and portions of the Lompoc Valley, said that a video submitted Wednesday by John Stevens of Cebada Canyon was persuasive: It followed a truck as it repeatedly swerved across the yellow line on the narrow canyon road. Parke also praised a letter from Ramona Thomas, a U.S. Postal Service driver who delivers for rural routes, including Cebada Canyon. “The growing cannabis traffic is worrisome because they don’t typically follow the speed limit and don’t yield,” Thomas wrote. “If the Herbal Angels project gets approved and large numbers of employees will be rushing to get to and from work, I fear for the safety of all delivery drivers, whether it’s USPS or competitors.” Finally, Parke had a warning for cannabis critics: “We should not take a ‘no’ vote on this project as a condemnation of this industry or an indication that we’re going to take the CUP (conditional use permit) as a ‘no’ vote. I think the industry has a place here in the county. I like the young people who are in it. But I don’t like the location on this project. This is a major industrial project … and these cannabis permits last forever. We gotta think about that.”

Sheiman and Wingard had 10 days from May 27 to appeal the commission’s vote to the Board of Supervisors. Their lawyer, Rebecca Mendribil of Santa Rosa, did not respond to a request for comment as of June 5. During the December raid on Herbal Angels, sheriff’s deputies seized $1 million in alleged contraband. Court documents show that Sheiman has been charged with two felony counts of perjury and falsification of public records for allegedly lying on an affidavit in which he claimed that Herbal Angels was a legal, nonconforming operation — that is, that he was growing medical marijuana there before 2016. Sheiman and Wingard were each charged with two misdemeanors for alleged cultivation of more than six cannabis plants and possession of marijuana for sale in violation of the state Health and Safety Code. Herbal Angels has been suspended by the California Secretary of State’s Office for failure to pay Franchise Tax Board charges. In a claim filed on Jan. 15 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, the state is seeking the forfeiture of $202,873 from Herbal Angels — cash that may have been found on site during the raid. Both the criminal and civil cases have been put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, and there are no dates for rescheduling, according to the county District Attorney’s Office. Melinda Burns is a freelance journalist in Santa Barbara.

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14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

SCI Research Advancements study could earn publication

“Our intention is to add complementary medical procedures along with novel physical therapy to restore function that is lost after being paralyzed with spinal cord damage,” he explained. “Once our project is completed, we will then have a formal and medically legitimate procedure that can be expanded and later apply for FDA approval. This is a first but very important step in obtaining medical approval.” The research team for the Phase One and Two of the clinical trial are Dr. Wendy Strouse-Watt, the principal investigator for the non-invasive electrical stimulation (NI-ES), and Dr. George O’Clock Ph.D., a researcher and published expert in low level electrical stimulation, who will supervise and advise the research project. Ambler will be contributor as well as first patient to provide feedback and evaluate efficacy of treatments. “To begin the Second Phase of our study we are currently raising funds to purchase an exoskeleton,” Ambler said. “An exoskeleton will be a necessary and very important portion of the overall treatment.”

Work on spinal cord injury approved for National Clinical Trials registry By Pamela Dozois

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

CI Research Advancement continues to make important progress towards reaching the goal of finding a cure for paralysis. In yet another milestone for the local nonprofit, SCI Research Advancement was asked by the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Institutional Review Board to submit a request to be published in the National Clinical Trials. gov registry. Last week, the ongoing Phase One study for spinal cord injury was approved for publication on the registry. The official case study can be seen on the ClinicalTrials.gov web site, Identifier Number is NCT04097015. Phase Two will be the combination of low-level electrical stimulation along with an exoskeleton for local motor training and therapeutic walking to stimulate dormant nerves and restore function. “This is a significant achievement that will allow our medical data to be scrutinized, analyzed, and reviewed by anyone with an interest in medical research,” said Will Ambler, founder of SCI Research Advancement.

Photo contributed Will Ambler, founder of SCI Research Advance, traveled to Northridge Rehabilitation Hospital to be trained on using an exoskeleton, which he is currently fundraising to purchase.

For more information, call 805-688-7755 or to make a donation via the Go Fund Me page, visit www.gofundme.com/stand-to-end-paralysis or a direct donation at the home page at www.scicure.org

Come join our Dancekids fun mini camps and classes. Weekly sessions and classes to choose from. Camps and classes start the week of June 22nd and run throughout the summer. Ages 3-10 years old. Ballet, Jazz dance, Hiphop, Creative Movement, Fitness, and Drama all included in our mini camps and classes. State of the Art Dance Studio located in Santa Barbara. Reasonable class/camp fees included when you sign up your child gets a Free Dancekids T-Shirt and Water bottle. Classes and camps will be small groups of 4-6 children with respect to the guidelines of social distancing in a clean and safe environment. All About Leslie Sokol: Leslie has been teaching dance and fitness to children for over 30 years. She is certified through Dance Masters of America and is a member of the International Dance and Exercise Association. Her mission is to motivate children to believe in themselves and to have fun with dance and exercise.

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15

GENEALOGY TIPS

Religion records represent vital source in research By Sheila Benedict

his month’s column will discuss one of the necessary groups of sources: religion records. Immigrants came to this country for hundreds of years from everywhere and brought their religious beliefs with them. Over time, religions may have changed. For example, my husband’s ancestry is mostly English Quakers and later his direct line became Methodists. That means records in two different faiths. There are people who emigrated because their religious belief did not conform to their home country’s religion. Those people, as you would suspect, were “non-conformists” or “dissenters” and in most cases, they continued their religious beliefs in this and other countries. Religions generate paperwork! Historically, if someone wanted to marry a Catholic, they had to convert first. That is no longer the case. Interfaith marriages are common now. To be married in a church, however, one party must be a baptized Catholic. The good news is that within the pre-marriage paperwork, the non-Catholic person probably would have brought evidence of their prior religion and other paperwork that for genealogists is important. Italy’s major religion is Catholic, Ireland is divided Catholic and Church of Ireland (Anglican). However, there are Presbyterians mostly in what is now Northern Ireland due to the Scots-Irish

(Ulster-Scots) who brought their religion there from Scotland and later many emigrated to places like South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, among others. France, like Italy, is Catholic. However, there were Huguenots, French Protestants, who left France and made their way to England and other places, especially here. Germany has two main religions: Lutheran and Catholic. Our valley has the Spanish Mission, established in 1804, which is Catholic. When the Danish immigrants came from Denmark, about 1911, they brought their religion which, for the

most part, is Lutheran. The late 1800s and early 1900s brought many immigrants from what is now the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and all parts of Eastern Europe. The people came with their social and religious beliefs including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Eastern Orthodox, and others. A genealogist always hopes all have some organizational methodology. It is not hard to understand why America is called a “melting pot.” Finding the records is very important and can be challenging because each religion has their own record keeping and restrictions

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to access. However, establishing ancestral roots but understanding changes may have occurred should not deflect from the search. In our valley, there are many Christian churches, a Jewish community, and others. Because of their work gathering millions of records from all over the world, one excellent resource is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Those records are made available, where there are no privacy restrictions, at the main library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and small centers at their churches. In some cases, libraries and genealogy societies act as auxiliary places to view the records and much is available from your home computer. Next month, the column will discuss various repositories and online resources where some of the church records could be located. Be safe… Sheila Benedict is a professional forensic and family genealogist. She is the author of Research in California, which she wrote in 2015 for the National Genealogical Societies Research in the States Series and writes articles in a variety of genealogical society newsletters and magazines.

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16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Gallery Los Olivos offers free online coloring book

Retired Jonata Teacher dies at 87 IN LOVING

Staff Report

he artists of Gallery Los Olivos have found a way to use their unique skills to help home-bound people cope with the emotional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various creative approaches have surfaced to fill the time as people advance their culinary skills, study new subjects, watch YouTube on endless demos, exercise, pick up an old hobby, finish a long forgotten craft project, or practice creative writing. Interestingly, one of the things that has trended during this time are coloring books — not just for children, but for adults who are also finding them comforting. AdAge has called Photo contributed them “one of the key creative trends to The artists of Gallery Los Olivos have found a way to use emerge from the pandemic.” their unique skills to offer a free online GLO Coloring Book, Gallery Los Olivos is offering a free with works created by local artists, on their website. online GLO Coloring Book on its website, to share. There are images for all ages and with works created by its artists. Website skill levels, covering a wide variety of subvisitors can print out and color the images. ject matter. Anyone can enjoy creating their The coloring book is available at www. personal versions with crayons, or colored GalleryLosOlivos.com/coloringbook. Since its introduction on May 15, response pens or pencils. Those who get the GLO Coloring Book to the GLO Coloring Book has been very are invited to share their colored images with enthusiastic – as an activity both for adults, on the Coloring Book webpage. To do so, go as well as children. Gallery Los Olivos has over 50 artists who work in all mediums and to “Please click here” on the webpage and styles, and many have posted sample images email the image on a jpeg file.

Mary Patricia “Pat” Luch Stensland James (1932-2020)

Mary Patricia “Pat” Luch Stensland James, Nov. 7, 1932-April 9, 2020, died at home in Milwaukie, OR with two of her three daughters and her husband William H.” Bill” James at her bedside. Pat lived in the Santa Ynez Valley for over 30 years and taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade Social Studies at Jonata Elementary School in Buellton from 1972 to 1991. She received her B.A. degree from UCSB in 1971, the same year she and her first husband, Wilfred T. Stensland , a SYV High School coach, divorced. Will preceded her in death in 2016. Pat and Bill moved from Ballard to Estacada, OR in 1991 where they owned and operated the weekly Estacada News newspaper for nine years. They retired and moved to the Portland suburb of Milwaukie when they sold the newspaper, in 2000. Pat wrote an award winning column for the

newspaper and was a CASA volunteer and staff member and trainer for 20 years in Clackamas County, OR. She also served seven years on the board of directors for the town’s food bank. A 1950 graduate of Monterey High School, Pat stayed in touch with many class mates, teaching associates and friends and former students to the time of her death. In addition to her husband,who was publisher of the SYV News 1976-1981 Pat is survived by her daughters, Jan Stensland (Dan Hill), Eugene, OR; Karen Drake (Roger), Oregon City, OR; Susan Boettner (Jay), Marina, CA; two step sons, W. Randy James, Golden, CO; and Ronald L. James, Navato, CA. Three grand childen also survive her: Regan Drake, Boise, ID; Raina Drake, Oregon City OR; and Cameron James., Navato, CA. A celebration of life will be held following the Covid 19 pandemic. Pat requested a New Orleans themed “wake” which her family is planning along with a number of friends. Donations may be made in Pat’s memory to any CASA organization and/or a community food bank. The family can be reached through Pat’s husband at billjay222@comcast.net. For additional information: Bill James, 1400 SE Lava Dr. #1, Milwaukie, OR 97222 503-654-6244 • billjay222@comcast.net

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17

Fairpark Board cancels 2020 SB County Fair Virtual livestock auction to be announced, Santa Maria Fall Fest still set for October Staff Report

aying it “deeply regrets” the move, the board of directors of the Santa Maria Fairpark has made the decision to cancel the 2020 Santa Barbara County Fair for the first time since World War II. The Fairpark board and staff said it has been monitoring state and local health directives and making adjustments to event programming in hopes that the event would occur, but the health and safety of patrons, staff, and volunteers must be the first priority. In acknowledging the fair’s impact on the community, Santa Maria Fairpark CEO Richard Persons said the board weighed the decision carefully. “The board of directors and staff recognize the significance of the economic impact this cancelation has on the community at large and on sponsors, industry partners, exhibitors, patrons and the Fairpark itself, and waited as long as possible to make this devastating decision,” Persons said.

Photo contributed The board of directors of the Santa Maria Fairpark has announced it has canceled the 2020 Santa Barbara County Fair.

Persons said that the board noted that nearly 60 percent of the Fairpark’s annual budget is derived from the fair, and the cancelation of the event jeopardizes the ongoing viability of the Fairpark operation. The decision to cancel the event was made during a regularly scheduled board meeting on June 2 in accordance with the state-of-emergency Executive Order N-33-20 issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom, as well as the follow-up directives from the State’s Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell. The Fairpark board has formulated a refund policy for vendors, exhibitors and sponsors of the fair, and staff will begin implementing that policy. Additionally, the Fairpark will soon announce plans for a virtual livestock auction to support exhibitors who have animal husbandry projects based on the fair. The Fairpark board and staff remain hopeful that large gatherings will be permitted later this year and continue planning for events to occur in the fall, including the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin’ Nationals, currently scheduled for Oct. 2-4, the Santa Maria Fall Fest scheduled for October 23-26, as well as dozens of smaller gatherings scheduled in the fall.

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18 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Century Farms & Ranches deadline extended have been in the same family for 125 or 150 years. To qualify for Quasquicentennial Farm, or 125-year, recognition, the following criteria must be met: n Ownership within the same family for 125 years or more by Dec. 31, 2020, with at least 10 acres of the original Santa Barbara County farmland. n Present owner must be related to original owner. n Application must be submitted to the SBCFB office by deadline date, July 1, 2020. To qualify for Sesquicentennial Farm, or 150-year, recognition, the following criteria must be met: n Ownership within the same family for 150 years or more by Dec. 31, 2020, with at least 10 acres of the original Santa Barbara County farmland. n Present owner must be related to original owner. n Application must be submitted to the SBCFB office by deadline date, July 1, 2020. Qualifying applicants will receive a certificate, a decorative farm sign designating farm status and will be recognized during their Celebrate Harvest event.

Farm Bureau recognizing families who’ve spent 100 years in ag business Staff Report

radition and heritage play a big part in making agriculture such an attractive way of life for so many Californians. The lifeblood of the existence of farms and ranches in California, provide food, fuel and fiber for the world. The history of these farms and ranches is rich, with many stories to tell. In that spirit, Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau is launching the 2020 program to honor those family farms that have passed down this heritage for more than a century. The Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau will be recognizing families whose farms have been in the same family for 100 years. To qualify for Century Farm recognition, the following criteria must be met: n Ownership within the same family for 100 years or more by Dec. 31, 2020, with at least 10 acres of the original Santa Barbara County farmland. n Present owner must be related to original owner. n Application must be submitted to the SBCFB office by deadline date, July 1, 2020. Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau will The Giorgi family has been farming and ranching Nojoqui Falls Ranch since 1896. also be recognizing families whose farms

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For more information call the SBC Farm Bureau at 805-688-7479 or email farmsbc@hwy246.net.

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June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19

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20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Bell’s owner chosen one of the 10 best new chefs in the country Daisy Ryan opened Los Alamos restaurant in March 2018 By Pamela Dozois

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

aisy Ryan, Chef/owner of Bell’s in Los Alamos was recently chosen as one of the 10 best new chefs in the country by Food & Wine magazine. Bell’s opened in March 2018 and serves traditional French Bistro food highlighted by California cuisine. This honor came as a complete surprise to Ryan who, in the fall of 2019, had served dinner to the restaurant editor of Food and Wine magazine, Khushbu Shah, along with Farley Elliott, editor of Eater Los Angeles, an online service informing the public of the best places to eat in Los Angeles. “Farley Elliott had made reservations at Bell’s and he said that he would be bringing Khushbu Shah along with him,” said Ryan. “I really didn’t think anything of it at the time.” Shah had been traveling the country, visiting 25 different states, dining at a variety of different restaurants that were recommended to her by different people throughout the industry. “A few months later, in February of 2020, Shah emailed me saying that she wanted me to call her on an urgent matter,” said Ryan. “I did, and she said she was writing an article for the magazine and that I had been chosen as one of the 10 best new chefs in the country.” “I was surprised and delighted,” said Ryan. “Pretty much every well-known chef in the country has won this award, so I was honored. In choosing the winners, they are not only looking at the cuisine but who you are as an employer and member of your community.” “We were supposed to be going to New York in April for a meet and greet with the other chosen chefs, which was cancelled due to COVID-19,” she said. To support the new class of Best New Chefs, Food & Wine editors and restaurant industry leaders instead hosted a virtual Best New Chefs Mentorship Program. The program focused on leading in crisis, with panelists sharing legal resources and stories about pivoting their business

Photo contributed Daisy Ryan, one of the country’s 10 best new chefs, is pictured in her kitchen at Bell’s in Los Alamos.

models, along with sessions about prioritizing mental health and relationships. Members of the 2020 class will also be paired with Best New Chef alums and other veteran chefs to form yearlong mentorships. “We did a lot of videos, webinars and mentoring sessions with best new chefs from past years,” said Ryan. “I will be paired with a mentor in the near future. We were supposed to cook at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic which unfortunately has also been cancelled.” “We’re honored to celebrate these amazing people and their singular talents and accomplishments with our readers,” said Hunter Lewis, editor in chief of Food & Wine magazine. “With the world in crisis and the food and beverage industry especially hard hit right now, this class of Best New Chefs inspires optimism and hope for the future of restaurants. I can’t wait to dine

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at their tables again and toast all 10 of them in person,” Ryan says she is happy that she chose the profession of chef as it suits her personality. She went on to say that she formed an interest in cooking because her parents have always been very food-focused. Ryan grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley and attended Ballard and Dunn schools. “I went to culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. I graduated from a four-year program,” she said. “I then went to work in Manhattan, working the dining room, not in the kitchen, for Thomas Keller at Per Se, which is where I met my husband, Greg, who was also working there. “I was trained as a chef but when I was offered a job in the dining room at Per Se, which was an offer I couldn’t refuse at the time,

I thought I would be there for about a year and return to cooking but that didn’t happen. I worked at Per Se for three years then at Gramercy Tavern and Brooklyn Fare. Greg worked at Per Se for five years. We were in New York for 10 years and we were married in our last year in New York.” The couple decided to move to Los Angeles to be closer to family. Greg worked at the Beverly Hills Polo Lounge and she worked as a beverage director with Roy Choi. At that time they received an offer to move to Austin, Texas, to work for a restaurant group where they remained for three years. “We had our son, Henry, the last year we were in Texas,” Ryan said. “We always wanted to have our own restaurant and wanted to raise Henry in the Santa Ynez Valley. That’s how it all happened. “I stepped into the role as chef at Bell’s as a necessity but quickly realized that was always what I should have been doing. I like to think of myself as a very creative person, and very athletic, so it made sense for who I am. I have come to really enjoy cooking and it is gratifying to know that people are responding well to all of the hard work Greg, myself and the staff have put in over the past 2 years.” During this time, Bell’s is open to the public for take-out until the middle of June, according to Ryan. “Then we will have to pivot our business a little and modify best practices for ourselves, our staff and our patrons,” said Ryan. “We are also working on setting up a nonprofit called ‘Feed the Valley’ to partner with other local restaurants to feed low income families and individuals in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria.” The 32nd annual list of new best chefs is available at https://www.foodandwine.com/ chefs/food-wine-best-new-chefs-2020 and will be featured in the July issue of Food & Wine on newsstands June 19.

Bell’s does not have a telephone, so reservations are made online through its website bellsrestaurant.com.

June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 21

Here’s an easy way to make meatballs By Vida Gustafson Contributing Writer

File photo Owners of the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez Jimmy and Karen Loizides.

Maverick Saloon now hosting all ages By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

he change to allow families to come to the Maverick Saloon couldn’t have come at a better time, said owner Jimmy Loizides. As of June 15, the Maverick Saloon will no longer just serve the 21-and-older crowd, but allow for people of all ages to come in and enjoy food, live music and age appropriate beverages. “I know this might upset some people, but with this health crisis, if we hadn’t gotten the change to allow all ages we would have been forced to close,” Loizides said. This process has been over a year in the making, as he and his wife Karen who own the Maverick together, have been wanting to do this since taking over the famed cowboy bar. They applied for the license change last year and were just recently approved, Loizides said. “There will still be times for adults only of course, that will not change, but this allows us to operate all day and have even more fun with families, provide a full menu

of tasty food and more opportunities for local bands to perform and events,” he said. Loizides is no stranger to owning and operating bars and restaurants. Growing up in Zimbabwe after his parents took the family from Cypress to a British colony there, Loizides learned what it was like to live off the land and cook with what their farm produced. He also would collect eggs from their chickens and sell them from his farm stand. By the time his family relocated to Long Beach when he was 14, it became very clear to him that he wanted to own his own restaurants and bar. The Loizides decided to embark on new adventures by moving to the Santa Ynez Valley. They started K’Syrah Catering and Events in Solvang in 2016, with a focus on a farm-to-table menu and family-style service. They took over the Maverick in October of 2017. “The Maverick needed to evolve and this will allow us to stay in business which is our main goal,” Loizides said. “The Maverick is a great place and we want it to continue.”

’d like to share this shortcut to delicious, simple meatballs with you. When I first heard about it, I wasn’t sure if it would work, but after I tried it, I couldn’t imagine why I hadn’t done it sooner. While there is still a place in my heart for classic, bread-soaked-in-milk, fresh herbed, onion and garlic meatballs like my mother used to make, these are a great time-saver. You can have textbook-perfect meatballs ready in half an hour, ready for a sandwich or spaghetti (with a jar of sauce). Customize these meatballs with whatever pesto you happen to have in the pantry!

Ingredients

n 1 lbs. ground beef n 3-4 tbsp pesto (traditional basil or sundried tomato) n ½ tsp salt n Ground black pepper n 1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional) n ½ cup bread crumbs (optional)

Method

Preheat oven to 425 ° F. Mix the ground beef with your pesto, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using). Use a teaspoon to evenly portion out meatballs of about 1

Photo by Vida Gustafson You can have textbook-perfect meatballs ready in half an hour, ready for a sandwich or spaghetti (with a jar of sauce).

inch and roll to smooth. Dip your hands in water before rolling to keep the meat from sticking to your fingers. Drop them into the breadcrumbs to coat and lay them on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Alternately you can brown these in a saucepan or poach in a tomato sauce for 10-15 minutes over a low heat.

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22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

Retiring Ballard teacher rides off in style

Linda Carlson taught Kindergarten at school for 28 years By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

inda Carlson has been coined “The Tooth Fairy” of Ballard School because as the Kindergarten teacher for the past 28 years, she has pulled out so many teeth and she wears her Tooth Fairy costume each Halloween for the school’s parade. Many parents have thought she is more than a fairy, rather an angel, as they wanted to do something magical for her as she retired this year from more than 40 years total of teaching. The parents got together and created a GoFundMe to raise money for purchasing a Vespa for Carlson’s retirement. “After giving so much to so many children and families in this valley, we want to show our profound appreciation and to send her off in style,” said Karen Loizides, organizer of the fundraiser. Loizides and fellow parent Tamara Rowles were able to get more than $5,700, purchased a teal Vespa and presented it to Carlson at the end of the school year. Carlson came to the Santa Ynez Valley 28 years ago when her husband was transferred and got hired at Ballard School.

Photo contributed Longtime Ballard Kindergarten teacher Linda Carlson retired after teaching for 40 years, 28 of them at Ballard. She was gifted with a Vespa by parents of current and past students.

She taught in the historic Little Red Schoolhouse, the first public school in the valley, which was built in 1882 and has been in continuous operation since, according to the school history. It was dedicated as a historic landmark June 2, 1968, by Santa Barbara County. “Kids are so capable, I don’t treat them like

babies and we are a team together,” Carlson said in her interview with Rowles for the SYV Stories podcast. When Carlson was little, she had a bad experience and was a late reader. She wanted to be a teacher to ‘be nice’ to all the kids. When she became a teacher the younger kids were her

favorite. She taught in Long Beach for a year as a combination teacher, and then went to Kindergarten her second year of teaching. “We had a lot of refugees from Cambodia, I had 46 kids with no aide and these kids just had the clothes on their back,” Carlson said. “My greatest education was that year.” Teaching has always been Carlson’s passion and she loves shaping the kids into good role models, she added. “Little towns like Ballard have legends and Linda (Carlson) is definitely one of ours,” said Ballard Superintendent Allan Pelletier. “She is what every child should have for a Kindergarten teacher. She just has a fantastic learning environment. She has giant shoes to fill.” Through the years, she created time capsules, doing interviews with her kids and sealing them until the kids graduate high school, where they all come back to hear what they said so many years ago. “We have cake to celebrate and those seniors sit on the floor and talk to each other and about their plans. It’s safe for them to come back,” Carlson said. Along with teaching her children she had always dreamed of being on a Vespa to cruise around Catalina Island with her husband, and now she will. To hear the entire interview with Carlson visit www.syvstories.com or search SYV Stories on your podcast app.

June 16 - July 6, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23

UCSB pitcher Zach Torra named to All-American team Former SYHS star posted a 3-0 record for Gauchos in shortened season By Barry Punzal

Noozhawk Sports Editor

CSB junior left-handed pitcher Zach Torra has been named an All-American by the publication Collegiate Baseball. Torra, a former Santa Ynez High star, was selected to the third team after posting a 3-0 record with a 0.36 earned run average in four starts during the shortened college baseball season. The Gauchos were 13-2 when all collegiate sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the seventh All-American during Andrew Checketts’ nine years as coach of the Gauchos. After transferring from Cuesta College, Torra was impressive in his first season at the NCAA Division 1 level. He held opponents scoreless in three of his four appearances and limited them to a lowly .133 batting average. He surrendered only one earned run while er,” including Asians and Native Americans.) Please don’t get me wrong. Just because cases like the unjustified killing of George Floyd are rare doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about them, or shouldn’t work to prevent them. Quite the contrary, we must do everything we reasonably can do to stop anyone from dying so senselessly and unnecessarily in the future. Steps that can be taken towards that goal include enhanced law enforcement training in a variety of areas, especially in an officer’s duty to intervene if another officer is using excessive and/or unnecessary force. Police and members of all communities should seek to better understand and know each other. Certain communities need to achieve positive changes in both police and community culture, as well as improvements in police-community relations. Such changes need to be driven by both law enforcement officers and members of the community. At this point in our nation’s history, there should also be a universal call for justice. Justice for what happened to George Floyd, and for anyone else who has been the victim of unlawful police misconduct, but also justice for the federal officer who was slain in Oakland and his family, for the five cops in Las Vegas and St. Louis who were shot while trying to restore order, for the hundreds of cops across our nation who have been injured as a result of recent civil disturbances, and justice for the countless shopkeepers and small business owners whose life savings and dreams have now been burned, stolen or destroyed. They, too, deserve justice. At the beginning of those swear-in ceremonies I mentioned earlier, I advise our new deputies to always practice the Golden Rule of Good Law Enforcement. That is, after each and every encounter they have with another person, whether a colleague, a member of the public, a criminal suspect or a jail inmate, they need to ask themselves this important question: If I was that person, would I honestly feel as though I had been treated fairly, courteously and professionally? I tell them that if the answer to that question

Photo contributed Zach Torra of UCSB received All-American honors from the publication Collegiate Baseball. Torra is a former Santa Ynez High star.

striking out 39 of 83 batters. Torra had a stellar outing against Abilene Christian on Feb. 21, striking out 13 strikeouts in six innings of a 6-1 victory at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. He came three strikeouts short of a UCSB record. Torra won a CIF-Southern Section baseball title at Santa Ynez High in 2014 and led

o SHERIFF CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 is yes, then they’re doing a good job. If the answer to that question is no, then they need to recognize what was missing, and make it right the next time. We value professionalism in the Sheriff’s Office, and we are committed to having the best in our agency: The best training, the best equipment, the best policies, and, most importantly, the best people. We’re certainly not perfect, because we’re human, but we strive for excellence as we work to achieve our five core values: Service, Integrity, Caring, Courage and Fairness. The way Mr. Floyd was treated is the antithesis of good police work. I would never stand for that as your sheriff, but more importantly, none of the members of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office would ever stand for it either. To move past this tragic moment in our history, we must come together with our community partners, especially those in our minority communities. We must communicate with each other, learn from one another, and build or mend bridges of trust between each other. Prior to being elected sheriff, I had the privilege of being Lompoc’s police chief. During my first week on the job, I had a visit from Rev. Dan Tullis, the African American pastor of the Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church. Dan told me he wanted to welcome me to the community, to get to know me, and to be a resource for me. At the conclusion of our brief meeting he gave me his card and said, “Call me if you need me.” That encounter began a friendship that lasted for the next 13 years. Dan and I soon began to meet for lunch regularly. I discovered that his heart was even bigger than he was. He told me of his upbringing as the son of a poor sharecropper, and how he picked cotton as a child in the humid Alabama heat. He shared personal stories of the racism and intolerance he experienced growing up in the deep south, and during the beginning of his 20-year Air Force career. He also taught me how through God’s grace he was able to put those inequities behind him, move forward and become a successful minister

the Pirates to a 29-1 record. He pitched a three-hit shutout in the Division 5 final, a 2-0 win over Village Christian. At Cuesta College, he had 84 strikeouts over 80.2 innings before transferring to UCSB. Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. who led the same church for 22 years. We found we both wanted our people — his congregation and my officers — to do what was right. He taught me the importance of trying to see things from the viewpoint of people who didn’t grow up like I did, and I think I taught him the exact same thing. Dan and I became friends, and from our friendship we developed a deep and abiding trust for one another. We talked about things people are afraid to talk about: politics, religion, race relations, death, and how lonely it can be at the top. Although we often disagreed and argued, we never got mad at one other. We respected each other and we were resources for each other. When he died in 2009, his family asked me to eulogize him at his memorial service, something I will always consider to be one of the great honors of my career. Not all cops and persons of color are going to be able to develop the type of relationship that Dan and I had, but I sure hope they try. Our badges were tarnished by what happened in Minneapolis, but we will continue to work in ways that will restore their luster. We’ll do so by continuing to practice good community policing, partnering with those we serve to identify and solve problems relating to crime, fear of crime, neighborhood decay and quality of life issues. We’ll build on old relationships and develop new ones. We’ll continue to seek alternatives to incarceration for those who suffer from substance abuse and mental illness, and we’ll continue to give inmates in our jail the tools they need to be successful when they are released. We’ll listen more, talk less, and hold each other accountable. Above all, we’ll strive to treat people fairly, courteously and professionally. We’ll do all that because as peace officers we are a part of, not apart from, our community. It is an honor to serve and protect all the people of Santa Barbara County. We stand with you, and we are here for you during this painful and difficult time. Bill Brown is the sheriff of Santa Barbara County.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE Santa Ynez Valley Union High SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVING TO INCREASE STATUTORY SCHOOL FACILITY FEES IMPOSED ON NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION PURSUANT TO EDUCATION CODE SECTION 17620 AND GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65995 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education ("Board") of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District ("School District") will hold a Public Hearing at its Regular Meeting to be held on 6/23/2020 to allow for public comment prior to consideration of its report titled "Residential and Commercial/Industrial Development School Fee Justification Study for Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District" ("Fee Studies"), and consider adopting a resolution of the Board of the School District to increase Statutory School Facility Fees Imposed on New Residential and Commercial/Industrial Construction Pursuant to Education Code Section 17620 and Government Code Section 65995. The Fee Studies justifying such increases, which are incorporated herein by this reference, are on file at the School District’s offices, located at 2975 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 and are available for public review from 6/12/2020 through 6/23/2020 on the school district’s website at www.syvuhsd.org. The Public Hearing of the School District, to be held 6/23/2020 will begin at 5:30pm or as soon thereafter as practicable, digitally via zoom with a live feed link located on our website at www.syvuhsd.org. These matters will be considered at such time as this agenda item is considered by the Board of the School District. Any questions regarding the Fee Studies or the public hearing should be directed to Elysia Lewis at elewis@syvuhsd.org.

24 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H June 16 - July 6, 2020

TA K E A V I R T U A L T O U R T O D AY

©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Info is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Sellers will entertain and respond to all offers within this range. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

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