August 4 - August 17, 2020
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Youth Empowered hitting back with creative solutions to workouts Owner of sports-training facility glad to be back in operation By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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ne… slide your feet back and then come right back in and do another quick one, two, three….That gets you a quick jab, with no time for your opponent to react and then you get right back in and hit hard,” instructed Coach Raul-Omar Sandoval of Youth Empowered. This was the first boxing class instruction for a group of young kids since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Youth Empowered owners Sandoval and his wife Chantalle Castellanos were so thrilled to be back giving instruction. The group of five kids whose ages ranged from 8 to 13, were all distanced apart on a mat with a boxing bag. “I am so happy to be back working out and getting back in shape,” said Dallana Margarita, 10, of Solvang. “I love boxing and want to be a professional boxer one day.” The tall fifth-grader is one of Youth Empowered’s strongest athletes as she has been training with them for three years and Castellanos is proud of her accomplishments and excited to get her into competitions someday. “Dallana will be leading the other kids in group sessions; she has such a natural athletic ability,” Castellanos said. “I am excited to see where this can take her.” Youth Empowered has built a reputation as a family-friendly facility that welcomes all ages to train in sports such as wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, self-defense, power lifting and mixed martial arts. As students grow in their skills, they have the chance to compete. The gym also is home to Central Coast Wrestling Academy. Many wrestlers from Santa Ynez Union High School’s wrestling team are a part of the competitive wrestling
Photos by Raiza Giorgi Youth Empowered owner and boxing coach Raul-Omar Sandoval gives his students instructions on proper stance and techniques.
Youth Empowered restructured its boxing classes outdoors so operations can continue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
club. Youth Empowered has had had to get extremely creative in reopening and moving their instruction outdoors, which they are so grateful they have the opportunity to do it under shade trees and in the big breezeway at the old outlet mall in Solvang. The buildings are owned by Virgil Elings, and he has been a supporter of Youth Empowered and the other fitness groups, like the Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu studio, who have also moved their operations outside. “I have been coming here for two years and love how everyone can participate and they just make everyone feel so included,” said Kira Scheck, 13, of Solvang. “I love boxing because of the mental aspect and learning the combinations.” She has been working out at home during the pandemic, but is happy to be back as she missed her friends and coaches. She also said she loves doing the workouts outside. The gym typically offers a variety of fitness classes throughout the week for ages 3 to adult. Its youth program offers both recreational and competitive classes in boxing and wrestling. Castellanos’ mother Lynne Castellanos runs the Little Superheroes class for ages 3 to 6, where kids focus on learning teamwork and physical fitness at an age-appropriate level. At age 7, kids can participate in the Youth Fitness Boxing class, where skills for boxing and life are blended, often impacting even the most difficult children. “We stopped doing classes two days before the ‘official’ lockdown and luckily we had just finished wrestling season the week before,” Castellanos said. “We have been constantly checking in with our kids to make sure they are OK, and I am so glad to reopen and see them in person and help them get through this.” Sandoval added that he was so happy to be YOUTH CONTINUED TO PAGE 3
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Campaign season gets going for November election
Candidate filing deadline is Aug. 7 for county By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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andidates have until early August to put their name into the hat for the various races in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara County. The filing period has been set to end on Aug. 7, unless the incumbent doesn’t file; in that case the deadline is extended to Aug. 12, according to Santa Barbara County Elections Office. The Primary Election, held early in March this year, already determined that Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann will stay in her position as she won more than 50 percent plus one vote required to automatically be re-elected. The Third District represents the Santa Ynez Valley as well as other areas from Isla Vista to Guadalupe. The November General Election will determine the President of the United States, and federal and state officials such as the local 24th Congressional District position, where incumbent Salud Carbajal will face Andy Caldwell as they were the two top vote getters in March. Caldwell is a well-known conservative watchdog, and is the founder of the Coalition
of Agriculture, Business and Labor (COLAB) organization that represents most of the local agricultural community. For the State Senate 19th District seat, incumbent Monique Limon will face Gary Michaels (R) as he earned the number two spot in March voting. For local city races there are two Solvang council seats up from Daniel Johnson and Karen Waite. The Solvang mayoral seat, currently held by Ryan Toussaint, is also up. Voters will also be considering recalling Councilman Chris Djernaes who still has two years left on his term. The Buellton mayoral position is also available as well as two council seats held by John Sanchez and Art Mercado. Santa Barbara County debuted a new online candidate filing application and portal to accommodate limited contact because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The special district and school district candidates can also apply to file online, and be issued their filing forms electronically from home, according to the Elections Office. There are also many positions open on local school district boards. For more information on voting visit www. sbcvote.com.
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Photo by Daniel Dreifuss The Buellton Blessing Box coordinators were recently presented a check for $2,000 from the SYV Elks.
Buellton Blessing box blessed with donation from SYV Elks By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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or more than 20 weeks now, members of the Buellton community have rallied to help feed their neighbors struggling from the effects of COVID-19. When the pandemic first began, a few ladies started volunteering to pick up donations for the weekly food distribution site at Bethania Lutheran Church, but the need was quickly growing in Buellton as well. The Buellton Blessing Box was placed outside of the Buellton Garage by the Hurnblad family, and after several weeks a local contractor volunteered to build a permanent one at Crossroads Church. “I come by this box at least four to six times a day and fill it with essential items and nonperishable food,” said volunteer Candice Signa. “There is such a great need for diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products as those aren’t available with some food assistance programs.” Signa applied for a grant from the Santa Ynez Valley Elks and was recently given a check for
$2,000 to keep supplies stocked. “It was so amazing and thank you so much to the Elks for their generous gift, we need all the support we can get for the Buellton Blessing Box,” Signa said. The people in charge of checking supplies at both locations are Signa, Jeni Hurnblad, Elizabeth Breen and Jen Klamm. Every few days these ladies collect items from people around the valley and either take them to the Tuesday giving event at Bethania and/or stock the blessing boxes. Signa has been one of the local go-to resources for helping people find assistance along with trying to keep people’s spirits up by printing yard signs for people to put up to show solidarity. Along with several other realtors and construction companies, they have given away gift cards to local grocery stores to help combat food insecurity. If people wish to donate they can send checks made to the Love Local fund at Crossroads Church or contact Signa on Facebook to give non-perishable products.
August 4 - August 17, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 3
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Photo contributed Composite trail suitability model.
Interactive map for trail system suggested between Buellton, Solvang Civic partnership seeking public comment by Aug. 14 By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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new study of a trail system linking Buellton and Solvang has been released by a partnership of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), the cities of Buellton and Solvang, and the County of Santa Barbara. The group is asking for public comment by Aug. 14, on the different plans to get a consensus of what the public wants before local officials end up making any further decisions. The project kicked off in September 2019 and has been going through many stages from Technical Analysis (TAC) to environmental reports and now into public comment before the final report is given to the partnership in August. “I’m a big supporter of programs designed to get people outdoors, in as safe a capacity as possible,� said Solvang Mayor Ryan Toussaint. “I believe that the best outcome of this project will be one which minimally impacts residents along the ultimately determined trails, but also provides both locals and visitors with safe methods of traveling throughout the Santa Ynez Valley in an open-air environment. The creative manner in which this team has created an alternate method for public input on this process, is certainly of benefit to our communities.�
The trail system was proposed because the only main access road between Buellton and Solvang is Highway 246, which has a speed limit of 55 mph. This trail system would be a multi-modal connection between the two cities, with it most recently being the highest priority project in the 2019 Santa Ynez Valley Bicycle Master Plan, according to the study website. The proposed trail systems and links were identified as already frequented routes, and other factors identified by the TAC, as well as city easements and city-owned land, safety issues, and desired connectivity to residential areas and other points of interest. The trail connection would be for bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians, and there is a study is underway to look for alignment opportunities, including along the north and south sides of the Santa Ynez River, along Highway 246, or a variety of hybrid options. A public workshop was tentatively scheduled to occur in early April, but when the COVID-19 crisis hit the partnership developed an alternative way to gather public input with putting it online. Comments may be emailed to Jared Carvalho at jcarvalho@sbcag.org, mailed to SBCAG at 260 N. San Antonio Road, Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93110. The project team is also available to connect via telephone to discuss this project.
Please call SBCAG at 805-961-8900, leave a message and your call will be returned in a timely manner.
teaching again and giving his kids confidence and courage to help them get through as well. “I am a pretty short guy and it took me years to get the courage to speak up for myself. That is what boxing has done for me, and I hope will do for my students,� he said. “Boxing isn’t about size, it’s about conviction and anyone can do this.� Their son, Richie Sandoval, just graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High Schoolwith the CIF Southern Section 120-pound wrestling championship and a scholarship to attend Cal State Bakersfield. “My son is the tallest man in the room, even though he’s only 5’2�,� Raul-Omar Sandoval said. “He has learned from a young age about confidence and how to speak up for himself that it took me years to learn and he will go far because of it.� Besides athletic coaching, Youth Empowered also offers tutoring for students, selfcare practices and community involvement. “We need to get back the unity in commu-
nity and that is where we help,� Castellanos said. “We want people of any background to be welcome here and learn how they can turn around and help others. Finding commonality, not furthering divisiveness is how that happens. “Before COVID we had kids in here all afternoon not only working out but doing their homework,� she added. “The older kids would come and help the younger kids with various problems and even our adult weightlifters will routinely ask the kids how their projects are going or if they’ve finished their essays. This is about building strong bodies and minds.� As they are continuing to reopen their operations and finding creative ways to offer services outside in small groups Sandoval and Castellanos will announce what they can do on their Facebook page, or you can reach Youth Empowered directly by email at YouthEmpoweredSY@gmail.com. They are located at 320 Alisal Road, Suite 106.
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Photo contributed The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department received top honors in the 2020 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards.
Photos by Derek Glas Examples of initial wheel cover designs that will be incorporated into a new Wildling Museum and City of Buellton public art project.
SB County gets top honors Wildling Museum and City in road project awards of Buellton launch public art Tire-derived aggregate wall project with upcycled hubcaps lauded by state agencies Staff Report
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he Santa Barbara County Public Works Department received top honors in the 2020 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards. The awards program — sponsored by The League of California Cities, the County Engineers Association of California, and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) — recognizes cities and counties in California for creative and cost-effective projects that improve local streets, roads and bridges. The Public Works Department received the award for using a tire-derived aggregate (TDA) wall to reconstruct a section of Ortega Ridge Road. Storm season weather cycles caused the material beneath the road to expand and shrink, which led to cracks, slip outs and, constant maintenance. This problem was solved by partnering with CalRecycle to use 80,000 tires as lightweight fill material to prevent the ground under the road from slipping. The pilot project was the first in the State to combine the use of TDA and a mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall. The lightweight and permeable nature of the TDA reduces loading of underlying soils subject to seasonal expansion and contraction to reduce settlement, and the MSE wall and the reinforcement grid textile supports the road. CSAC praised the project for its streamlined design and construction, reduced environmental impacts, smaller construction footprint and realized cost savings. Public Works engineering geologist Chris Doolittle and team members worked on a solution to the problem starting in 2014, after first being involved in investigating settlement at the site over
20 years ago. “Every few years, the road would settle to the point that it required our maintenance crews to install a pavement overlay to maintain the profile,” Doolittle said. “In 2015, the extent of road settlement forced us to realign the road and close down to one lane of alternating traffic. After the Thomas Fire Debris Flow in 2018, this was the sole access point to Toro Canyon until bridges on State Route 192 were repaired or replaced, and only after their completion were we able to close the road and construct the project. “It was through coordination with CalRecycle that this pilot project was funded and we received the technical know-how to develop and construct the project.” Funding for the $665,000 construction project was provided by CalRecycle TDA Grant Funding ($110,000), TDA Pilot Project Funding ($330,000), the Santa Barbara County General Fund ($43,000), and the State Transportation SB1 Fund ($182,000). Additional construction engineering costs were reimbursed by CalRecycle’s TDA Grant Funding ($36,000). The project was constructed by Raminha Construction and completed in August 2019. “I like this project because we got the departmental support to venture out away from past tried and true techniques to go for something different,” Doolittle said. “This program’s success means we can solve more problems with these new techniques for future projects.” For details regarding Senate Bill 1 Transportation Funding Projects in Santa Barbara County, visit http://rebuildingca.ca.gov/. For a list of scheduled road projects and road closures, visit PWSB.net, or contact the Transportation Division of County Public Works at (805) 7398750. Click here to watch a short video on this innovative project.
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“We love the concept of upcycling rather than recycling because we are turning it into art. The art then helps bring awareness to the problem of he Wildling Museum announces the mutoo much trash in our world as well as being a seum’s first public art initiative, “Nature fun and beautiful thing to look at and enjoy,” said Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project Otte-Demangate. with Upcycled Hubcaps”. Besides finding and The project is preparing the hubcaps, funded by a $3,000 the finished works of art grant from the newly formed City of Buellare then installed in varton Arts and Culture ious locations, primarily Committee and headin Buellton. There are ed by art therapist already 9 installations at Stacey Thompson. the Santa Ynez Valley Artists Kiana BeckBotanic Garden. There man and Carolyn will also be some at the Dorwin are part of the team collecting museum when they can The Wildling Museum announces the museum's first public art the hubcaps, priming initiative, "Nature Takes the Wheel: A Public Art Project with reopen and they will be them, then making asking if any businesses Upcycled Hubcaps". them available at the would be interested in Wildling to those interested in participating in the hosting an art piece. project. The public installations will run through the “We are grateful to the City of Buellton for end of October. The museum will also be posting funding our first public art project that will encourage community members to upcycle used hubcaps images of each of the hubcaps on their website into fun, nature inspired works of art for the whole so people can enjoy it virtually and while there, community to enjoy,” said Stacey Otte-Demanvisitors can check out their many other virtual gate, Wildling Museum executive director. “The offerings. project is a great expression of our mission to “The Wildling’s mission marries art and nature celebrate nature through art and encourage susand feels this project is a blend of both that the tainable practices such as recycling and upcycling. whole family can enjoy,” said Otte-Demangate. We encourage all ages to participate and we look “There are a couple of dozen hubcaps available forward to seeing what folks create.” ”During this pandemic we all need more oppor- with more to come. The Wildling will need them tunities to be creative and forget the other stresses finished and back by 5 p.m. Thursday, August 20, in our lives, and since people still can’t come to but we install them as we go along. We are so the museum, we were excited about a public art grateful to the city of Buellton for their support opportunity where anyone in the community can and we hope the community enjoys our first public get involved,” she continued. art installation.” “I got the idea from an arts group in Ventura Visit the Wildling website at www.wildlingmuwho turned hubcaps into flowers for an installaseum.org/news/hubcaps to learn more about the tion. I thought I wanted to do that someday,” said Otte-Demangate. “Stacey and I thought of doing it project and to download a participant form. last year but the timing wasn’t right.” Last year Thompson had created an art piece Email the Wildling Museum staff at info@ consisting of bullet casings and rifle shells that wildlingmuseum.org to arrange pick-up of a were cleaned up from an unofficial firing range. primed hubcap ready to paint. Art supplies They brain stormed and came up with the idea will be provided if needed. Call (805) 686of creating a Condor art installation consisting of over 3,500 shells. 8315 with any questions. Contributing Writer
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6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
Solvang Chamber Director named Woman of the Year
Tracy Beard one of six honored by Rep. Salud Carbajal By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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ep. Salud Carbajal announced the winners of the third annual Congressional Women of the Year Award, which included Solvang Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Beard. The other five winners of this year’s award are: Kathleen Baushke from Santa Barbara, Noha Kolkailah from Arroyo Grande, Pandora Nash-Karner from Los Osos, Dr. Anne Rodriguez from Santa Barbara, and Biz Steinberg from San Luis Obispo. “I am grateful to Congressman Carbajal and the staff leaders of the congressman. I am humbled and honored by your recognition for my work of women in business and the women’s commissions around California,” Beard said. “I appreciate the unwavering support for the Women of Santa Barbara County and Solvang Business community that nominated me for the work. “I would accept this award to all the women of Santa Barbara County who fight for social justice, equality, gender oppression. This is the year of the women for 100th anniversary for the right to vote. We would like all our rights for all women in social justice. I am honored to be one of the six women of the year you’ve selected for our 24th congressional district in 2020. The resolution was passed on election day Nov 6, 2018,” The Congressional Women of the Year Award honors exceptional women across the 24th Congressional District who have left a positive impact on their communities. Winners are nominated by their peers and span a variety of backgrounds and professions. The winners represent the thousands of women working tirelessly to improve quality of life on the Central Coast. “The recipients of this year’s Women of the
Photo contributed Tracy Beard, left, is shown with Margs Fitzwilliam at a recent Women's Summit representing the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women. Beard was just named one of six "Women of the Year" by Congressman Salud Carbajal.
Year Award are all doing incredible work to make the Central Coast an even better place to live, often without the recognition or compensation they deserve,” Carbajal said. “I am honored to recognize these remarkable, trailblazing women for their indelible contributions and leadership in our community.” Carbajal will recognize the winners by entering a special written tribute for each woman into the official Congressional Record, preserving their stories and their impact on the community. An award ceremony will be held at a later date and each recipient will also receive a special congressional pin. Below are the biographies for this year’s honorees: Kathleen Baushke, Santa Barbara Kathleen Baushke has had an immeasurable impact on the community. She is the longtime executive director of Transition House, the multi-faceted shelter, housing, and education
nonprofit based in Santa Barbara working to solve the community’s ongoing problem of family homelessness. Baushke also helped create the Landlord Liaison Program, within Transition House, that works with local landlords to house mainly homeless veterans and children. Beyond her work with Transition House, she is also a founding member of the advocacy group National Coalition for Homelessness Solutions. Baushke has served on the boards of other related nonprofits in Santa Barbara, including the St. Francis Foundation, Second Story, and the Storyteller Children’s Center. Tracy Beard, Solvang Tracy Beard currently serves as executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW), and as commissioner for Santa Barbara County. She is a champion for education and works to empower women to be entrepreneurs and create sustain-
able businesses. As a board member of TV Santa Barbara since 2014, Beard is working to increase media literacy for youth at TVSB. She is co-founder and executive producer for the International Women’s Festivals, which began in Santa Barbara in 2008 and are now celebrated in cities across the country and around the world, including in China and Ireland. In March, she was named one of the most influential people in California by the International Women’s Festivals executive committee. Noha Kolkailah, Arroyo Grande A compassionate advocate leading with her heart, courage, and kindness, Noha Kolkailah currently serves as the assistant principal of academics at the Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School in San Luis Obispo. As a fierce champion for education and social justice, Kolkailah founded the Peace Academy of the Sciences and Arts, which offers an enriching summer program for children ages 6 to 11, with a focus on self-awareness, global citizenship, social justice and environmental awareness. She also helped start the Muslim Student Association at Cal Poly. In 2017, she organized a “Get to Know Your Muslim Neighbors” event attended by over 800 people, advocating for compassion, kindness, commitment to diversity and unity, global awareness and responsibility. Pandora Nash-Karner, Los Osos A motivated community member, Pandora Nash-Karner, has been a consistent positive force in Los Osos and San Luis Obispo. Her interest and work to preserve multi-use trails into Montaña de Oro led to her appointment to the San Luis Obispo County Park Commission in January 1991. Nash-Karner was elected to serve on the Los Osos Community Service District Board when it was formed in 1998. She has been instrumental in many successes, including Celebrate Los Osos, a 501c3 that utilizes volunteers to plant, paint, beautify, build, repair, refurbish and mainWOMAN OF THE YEAR CONTINUED TO PAGE 8
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SANTA YNEZ VALLEY BROKERAGE | 2900 NOJOQUI AVENUE | LOS OLIVOS, CA 93441 | SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. DRE License Numbers for All Featured Agents: Bertrand de Gabriac: 1925983 | Mike Brady: 899496 | Jennifer Nation: 1217818 | Jason Siemens: 1886104 | Lauren Daniels: 2015901 | Meagan Tambini: 1348412 | Frank Abatemarco: 1320375 | Jessica Schley: 2011010 | Linda T. Williams: 1301191 | Patty Murphy: 766586
8 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
Santa Barbara Airport service rebounding Air travel slowly returning amid pandemic Staff Report
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he arrivals and departures displays at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) are beginning to look a tad more normal. The SBA airlines are adding service back in as demand for air travel slowly returns. Nearly 400 daily passengers traveled through Santa Barbara over the Fourth of July weekend, which is the largest number of daily passengers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport, as well as the airlines, are maintaining strict cleanliness protocols, physical distancing, and mandatory face coverings. In another of many firsts since March, a new destination is now on the SBA schedule: Alaska Airlines resumed daily service to Portland, Ore., (PDX) on July 1 with a stop in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County (STS).
Santa Barbara area residents can book flights from SBA to STS on Alaska Airlines’ website for $164 each way. This service will be available in July and August. In September, Alaska anticipates restoring daily direct service to Portland. In August, available seat capacity will increase by 10 percent to 13 percent over July, but still will be 50 percent to 60 percent less capacity than in August 2019. The current August schedule is as follows: Alaska: One daily flight to Seattle (SEA) and Portland (PDX) via Santa Rosa (STS) American: Two daily flights to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Phoenix (PHX) Delta: Service to Salt Lake City (SLC) suspended through Sept. 30 United: Three daily flights to San Francisco (SFO) and one daily flight to Denver (DEN). Service to LAX still suspended.
Visit www.flysba.com for up-to-date flight information.
o WOMAN OF THE YEAR CONTINUES FROM PAGE 6 tain projects. She has also been involved in the Morros Specific Plan Advisory Committee, Capps Memorial Grove, Los Osos Skatepark and many more in order to stimulate community pride and leave a legacy for all to enjoy. Dr. Anne Rodriguez, Santa Barbara As one of only two gynecologic oncology surgeons that serve Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities, Dr. Anne Rodriguez has dedicated her entire professional life to surgery and care of women with gynecologic and breast cancer. For the last four years, she has served as the chair of the Department of Surgery at Cottage Hospital and sits on the board of the Santa Barbara Breast Care Alliance. Aside from her professional life, Rodriguez is a founding board member of the local chapter of Boys Team Charity, a philanthropic organization that teaches young men from seventh to 12th grade about the importance of giving back to the community through volunteering. She has also volunteered with the Goleta Public Library, Teen Court, Art from
Scrap, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Santa Barbara Bike Coalition, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, Montessori Center School and the MAD Academy at Santa Barbara High School. Biz Steinberg, San Luis Obispo Biz Steinberg currently serves as CEO of Community Action Partnership (CAPSLO); a position she has held since 1984. She is an outstanding activist who is working to establish sustainable community centers with a special focus on youth and women. In her quest to better our community, Steinberg helped develop the Adult Day Centers, Health Services, Homeless Services, and Energy Conservation branches of CAPSLO. She has been involved with several boards throughout the years, including the National Head Start Association, National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association, SLO Workforce Investment Board, SLO Housing Authority, The Children’s Services Network, the Mission Community Services Corporation, and the Child Development Policy Institute Education Board.
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August 4 - August 17, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9
SDRI research shown to be beneficial during pandemic Institute to co-host International COVID-19 and Diabetes Summit Staff Report
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ansum Diabetes Research Institute (SDRI) is poised to expand proven research programs that not only benefit people living with diabetes, but also reduce the impact of COVID-19 in the midst of this deadly global pandemic. SDRI is also at the center of the COVID-19 conversation: how the virus affects the diabetes community and ways to protect people at risk. Evidence from around the world shows that people with diabetes, high blood pressure, and those who are overweight are at much greater risk of serious complications and death from COVID-19. Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control shows that COVID-19 disproportionally affects minorities, notably the Hispanic-Latino community, here in California, and across the United States. For example, CDC statistics show that Black and Latino people have been nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as white people.
Latino people between the ages of 40 and 59 have been infected at five times the rate of white people in the same age group. “At SDRI, we have been using a program — Farming for Life — where we provide better access to better food, using fresh vegetables for people with or at risk of type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. David Kerr, SDRI’s director of research and innovation. “Our published research has shown improvements in blood pressure, waist circumference, and diabetes control, which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and appear to also be important risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19. Therefore, it would make total sense to quickly scale our Farming for Life program for communities who are
disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as shown by recent data from the CDC and in The New York Times.” Sansum Diabetes Research Institute hopes to combine our established research with greater use of at-home diabetes prevention care using technology, including continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and home blood pressure measurements, so that we may reduce the rate of infection and support people in their own home to reduce their personal risk to avoid poor outcomes from COVID-19. “We can do this at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute,” Kerr said. “We already have a track record. With more resources we can really become a global leader in this area.” “Time is of the essence; we already have a first wave that is refusing to go away and
a likelihood of a second wave is imminent,” Kerr said. To address this urgent health issue, SDRI is co-hosting the first ever Virtual International COVID-19 and Diabetes Summit, with the Diabetes Technology Society, on Aug. 26 and 27. Leaders from many government agencies, universities, medical institutions and corporations will unite virtually in hopes of developing an international consensus to identify strategies to protect diabetes patients from COVID-19. Frontline clinicians, scientists, engineers and social scientists from the CDC, NIH, FDA, ADA, Mayo Clinic, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, Google, and many more experts from around the world, will discuss risk reduction by harnessing the potential of digital health, telemedicine, sensors and pharmacology. Visit diabetestechnology. org to view the summit’s agenda and for free registration. Foundations, corporations, or individuals with an interest in supporting research at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute may contact Sheba Laser Lux, SDRI Grants Director: (805) 4523159 or slux@sansum.org.
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10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
Flu season, COVID-19 August story: Of Sextillis, an extra day and your immune system and ‘Cat Nights’ By Dr. Hyun K. Lee Contributing Writer
By John Copeland Contributing Writer
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ugust, like July, is named for a person, Augustus Caesar, Julius Caesar’s grandnephew Gaius Octavius Thurinus. When he became the first emperor of the Roman Empire, Octavius changed his name to Augustus. The Roman Senate decided that he too should honored by having a month named after him. The month Sextillis (Sixth) was chosen for Augustus, and the senate passed the following resolution: “Whereas the Emperor Augustus Caesar, in the month of Sextillis . . . thrice entered the city in triumph . . . and in the same month Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and in the same month an end was put to the civil wars; and whereas for these reasons the said month is, and has been, most fortunate to this empire, it is hereby decreed by the senate that the said month shall be called Augustus.” Not only did the Senate name a month after Augustus, but they decided that since Julius’s month, July, had 31 days, Augustus’s month should equal it: Under Rome’s Julian calendar, the months alternated evenly between 30 and 31 days (with the exception of February), which made August 30 days long. So, instead of August having a mere 30 days, it was lengthened to 31, preventing anyone from claiming that Emperor Augustus was saddled with an inferior month. To accommodate this change two calendrical adjustments were necessary: 1. The extra day needed to inflate the importance of August was taken from February, which originally had 29 days (30 in a leap year), and was now reduced to 28 days (29 in a leap year). 2. Since the months evenly alternated between 30 and 31 days, adding the extra day to August meant that July, August, and September would all have 31 days. So to avoid three long months in a row, the lengths of the last four months were switched around, giving us 30 days in September, April, June, and November. August is, also, the only month without a “real” holiday. That doesn’t mean nothing has ever happened in August. World War I started in August 1914. Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. It is also the month that atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the month Anne Frank was arrested, the month the first income tax was collected and the month Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe died. In August, the Dog Star Sirius is no longer visible in the predawn sky, bringing to an end
the Dog Days of Summer and then Cat Nights begin mid-month. Today, not many people are familiar with “Cat Nights.” It is pretty old, going back to the days when most people believed in witches. Cat Nights are also tied to pre-Christian harvest rites. Like many ancient festivals, the church adopted the earlier harvest festival and, in many parts of Europe, it is still known as the Feast of Our Lady of the Harvest. The origin of Cat Nights is thought to spring from a little know Irish legend. The Celtic people created a lot of intriguing folklore. In trying to track down the origin of Cat Nights, my interest was piqued when I read several folk tails about a cat creature known as the Cait Sidhe in Ireland and the Cait Sith in Scotland. Both are pronounced “caught shee” and literally translate as “cat of the mound.” The mound refers to neolithic burial mounds found throughout the British Isles. In folk lore they were considered to be fairy mounds and residences. In England the Cait Sidhe, are commonly called fairy cats. The Cait Sidhe took the form of large black cats, with a spot of white on their chests. For the most part, the Cait Sidhe were seen as fearsome, but they were also capable of bringing blessings. Irish legend also tells how witches could turn themselves into a cat eight times. They could choose to transform themselves a ninth time, but then they were unable to change back to human form. This legend is the origin of the phrase “a cat has nine lives.” Many legends are based on elements of truth. Legends of the Cait Sidhe may be rooted in the Scottish Wildcat known as the Kellas Cat. The Scottish Wildcat looks like a very large house cat and is believed to be the result of a wild cat and domestic cat mating. But besides the old Celtic folklore, August is traditionally considered a yowly time for cats. This may be what prompted the belief that witches were on the prowl in mid-August in the first place. But what does the old legend have to do with Cat Nights? Well, August’s summer nights are getting both longer and cooler. Even as we humans notice the seasonal change, animals are much more sensitive to these changes. Those of us who share our lives with cats and dogs cannot help but notice how they are a bit more lively now. Cats, in particular, are active at dusk and dawn, with the possible exception of Jax, our retired barn cat who prefers to sleep the night away and the day, too, for that matter. Many cats, Jax excepted, are nocturnal hunters. Cats can see eight times better in the dark than we can. Cats can see some colors, too. They can see yellows, blues and violets. And their eyes are much more sensitive to movements than our eyes are. Longer nights are coming and the nights belong to them. So enjoy the lengthening nights and if you’re out on a stroll over the next few evenings, make sure it’s a cat that you see and not a lurking witch out to bewitch you.
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his year the COVID-19 virus has struck us all very hard and has caused us to be fearful, anxious, and stressed out about the virility of our immune systems. But acupuncture and herbs can fortify your immune Dr. Hyun K. Lee system and help quell your anxiety. If you consider your body as a country and your immune system its military, contracting any virus is like a declaration of war. Viruses are like a group of terrorists invading your body, and if your troops are weak and unprepared, you’re in for a fight. Viruses attacks when your body is at a weak point, as noted by the number of deaths of the elderly with this particular virus. How your body reacts to a virus is in direct relation to how strong your immune system is at the time. If your immune system is strong, the terrorists will see that your military is tough, and vacate your country immediately. If your military is very weak, the war might be long and drawn out creating lasting conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and very frequent illness. However, if your military and the terrorists are similar in power, war ensues and fever, aches, and chills wrack the body. When you catch a virus your body is truly fighting a war. The battle begins to resemble a war film, with its flames (fever), water (sweat, runny nose, and phlegm), smoke and dust (coughing and sneezing). Prevention is your body’s best weapon of defense. Eating foods right for your constitution, getting enough rest, limiting stress, staying warm and avoiding sudden temperature changes, and generally taking care of yourself are the
prime things you can do. However, dealing with this pandemic and its many side effects, physically, emotionally, mentally and economically, has also created a high level of fear and stress. In this case sometimes people need to send out for reinforcements. Viruses attack each constitution differently, so knowing what your constitution is in advance of getting a virus can rescue you from weeks of recovery. It’s like knowing who you’re fighting, and designing a strategic elimination plan. (Constitutional typing needs to be done when the body is healthy. It is much more difficult to diagnose your type if you are ill. For about 80 percent of people, constitutional typing can be done on the first visit. The other 20 percent of patients, who could perhaps be a mixed type, it may take a little longer) If you happen to get sick, catching it in its early stages and visiting your doctor of Korean Constitutional Medicine can shorten your illness down to just a couple of days. In Korean Constitutional Medicine, a mixture of herbs designed for your unique body type along with acupuncture needles can help reduce the symptoms, balance your internal organs and strengthen your immune system so your body can more readily defend itself from the invading army. South Korea has been very successful in its approach to COVID-19 using these herbs. Regular patients can call in advance, describe their symptoms and pick up their blend of herbs, which is taken as a tea, later in the day. I can leave the herbs at the front or back door, if you give me a pick-up time. As always, wash your hands frequently, don’t go out if you are sick, get plenty of rest, fresh air, sunshine and exercise. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” To make an appointment in the Solvang office, call 805-693-5162. His office is located at 2030 Viborg Road, Solvang. The clinic is held every Wednesday only. He also has offices in Los Angeles, and Atascadero.
Behind Santa Ynez General
August 4 - August 17, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11
People Helping People announces new CEO Kissell coming in to replace longtime executive Palius Staff Report
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fter an extensive search and comprehensive selection process that began at the start of the new year, the Board of Directors of Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People (PHP) is pleased to announce the selection of Valerie Kissell as the next and only second chief executive officer (CEO) of PHP. Kissell will succeed Dean Palius, who served as PHP’s CEO for the past 25 plus years and who will retire on Aug. 31. The new CEO resides in Solvang and comes to PHP from Youth and Family Services at the Channel Islands YMCA where she has served as the executive director since 2016. “I am thrilled to be a part of the People Helping People team at this critical time in our community,” Kissell said. “During times when our neighbors are in survival mode perhaps experiencing crisis, trauma or poverty, they may have no idea how to access the support systems and mainstream benefits that are available to them. This is the beauty of People Helping People, a one-stop service agency providing support and assistance under one roof. I am excited to become a member of this agency and continue the mission.”
Dean Palius served as CEO of People Helping People for more than 25 years.
Francisca Escobar, PHP’s board president, joined the balance of the Board of Directors, staff, clients served and the community in welcoming Kissell to PHP. “All of us on the board know that Valerie is following a predecessor that set a high standard of performance,” Escobar said. “That said we all have a high degree of confidence that she is
Photos Contributed Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People (PHP) is pleased to announce the selection of Valerie Kissell as the next CEO.
up to the task having successfully navigated a recruitment and selection process that was rigorous and most competitive with over 100 initial candidates required to submit written responses to key questions, make an extemporaneous presentation and participate in three sets of interviews. The board faced a critical decision made equally more difficult and easier by having to
select one of the three highly qualified final candidates as the next CEO.” Kissell will be responsible for providing vision, leadership, direction and accountability for all aspects of PHP’s diversified activities to ensure performance outcomes have maximum impact, meet organization objectives and fulfill the established mission. Kissell will act as chief of staff and lead the organization’s community engagement strategies. Kissell will start at PHP on Monday, Aug. 17 and Palius will depart on Aug. 31. Plans are underway at PHP to hold COVID-safe meet and greet sessions to introduce the new CEO to community stakeholders. Session dates and times will be announced soon. People Helping People is a 501 c-3 nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos and surrounding areas by addressing emergency and basic needs and furnishing comprehensive integrated family and individual support services. To learn more about PHP, its programs, and ways that you can help, please visit the PHP web site at www.syvphp.org or call (805) 6860295.
Santa Ynez Valley Star
12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
A day in the life of Hidden Wings Nonprofit serving those with autism, special needs going strong despite COVID-19 pandemic By Ellen Hunt
Chair of the Board, Hidden Wings Contributing Writer
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t’s 9:30 a.m. on a typical weekday, and the teachers and staff of the Solvang nonprofit Hidden Wings are meeting via teleconference. At the same time on another Zoom call, students are watching two videos solo — one about the dangers of making friends online and a second from a collection of more than 50 homemade videos from Hidden Wings’ own YouTube channel, Hidden Wings Live. Hard to believe that although COVID-19 has shuttered businesses across the globe, Hidden Wings decided to keep nearly all its staff. When the nonprofit that serves young adults with autism and those with special needs told parents it might have to suspend operations in light of the pandemic, the outpouring of messages was clear — Hidden Wings must remain open. With that, Hidden Wings Live! was born. All but one of our regular students participate, and we’ve actually increased enrollment by two. Back on the Zoom call, teachers went over the day’s lesson plans, designed to help students find a job and a friend. After the educational videos, Hidden Wings’ acting program director (who is also the defensive line coach for Santa Barbara City College football) would lead students in a grueling half-hour of squats, planks, pushups, sit-ups and windmills. Then, students would do a series of dance drills made popular on TikTok.
COVID-19 has given Hidden Wings an opportunity to continue to work outside the box and to help a population in need from learning, art, exercise and other videos.
Photos contributed View a collection of more than 50 homemade videos from Hidden Wings' own YouTube channel, Hidden Wings Live.
Next, an instructor teaches everyone the rules for gaining a safe-serve license — a meal ticket, so to speak, for working in the food service industry. The course has taken us almost two months to perfect, but now we have seven people licensed. On every Thursday, instructors taught students how to make essential food. (What’s ’more essential than pizza?) They make a plan for buying the right organic ingredients: flour, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, broccoli, mushrooms and salami. The noon hour is for one-on-one chats with instructors. Some say that adults with autism are the “champions of social distancing,” but that’s simply not true. Each student talks daily with a teacher they know well, and every day they enthusiastically wonder when they’ll get to come back to class in person. After that, a Tai Chi instructor does a live Zoom session with students, helping them achieve
balance, lowering anxiety and promoting peace. In that same vein, the next 30-minute activity is meditation. Over the last decade, we have learned that this cluster of meditation, Tai Chi, and “exercise ’til exhaustion” reduces anxiety much more than pharmacology. At 2 p.m., a student gives a live demonstration on how to make a high-protein, low-carb smoothie. He’s Zooming from the kitchen, grabbing kale and other green things. One student says it’s “just as good as a McFlurry.” Next, a tech-savvy student gives a presentation on how to clean computer keyboards, mice and screens. This same student volunteers to restore and resell electronics donated to Hidden Wings, helping to raise more than $3,000 so far. By 2:30 p.m., students just want to talk. “Why can’t we see each other more often?,” one said. “I can’t wait until COVID is over, and we can be back together as a family,” another student
said. We were alone. We were together. COVID-19, the monstrous event that it is, has given Hidden Wings an opportunity to continue to work outside the box and to help a population in need. Our work is more important than ever, as about 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). California’s Santa Ynez Valley doesn’t have many places for adults with special needs, where they can be who they are and also be educated and prepared for all that they can become. Our nonprofit can soldier on because of our network of supporters who champion our work — and have for more than a decade — and with the support of the Tri-Counties Regional Center. Co-founder Julia Billington, M.D., a local physician, also provides essential health-care guidance. “Jim and Julia Billington have created a unique program where inclusiveness and compassion for all individuals is at the heart of the program,” said Cindy Green, a parent. “It is the only program I am aware of that really looks past each individual’s disability and toward their unique strengths to provide an environment focused on continual growth. Every day is a new adventure and challenge based on respect and understanding of each of our unique value to the world. It is a blessing for my daughter!” Her daughter, Tina, said: “I think Hidden Wings is a wonderful program because there are so many things that people can do and learn.” In this uncertain time, we are happy to be a light in this sometimes very dark world. If you’d like to learn more about Hidden Wings, contact Jim Billington at jim@hiddenwings.org.
Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse gets donation to purchase COVID-19 supplies Staff Report
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he Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, a 501(c)(3) corporation which raises money to assist the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, provided a donation of $10,000 recently, with specific instructions that it should be used to purchase supplies and personal protective equipment for Sheriff’s personnel. Members of the Benevolent Posse’s Board of Directors presented the donation to Sheriff Bill Brown at Sheriff’s headquarters. The Sheriff’s Office plans to use the donation to purchase much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for line-level staff who work in patrol and custody settings, as well as necessary supplies to keep all of the employees at the Sheriff’s Office safe, such as masks, hand sanitizer and disinfecting supplies. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office budget is limited, so it relies on donations to fund certain programs and equipment items that are beyond budget resources. “The Posse is a group of incredibly dedicated philanthropists who seek donations and grants to benefit the Sheriff’s Office,” Brown said. “Because of their extraordinary generosity we are able to provide programs and resources to our people
and our communities that would otherwise not be available.” The Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse raises funds annually to support the D.A.R.E. and Explorer programs, and Sheriff’s K-9 and Mounted Enforcement units. The Posse has also purchased important protective equipment and supplies for the department, including helmets and protective vests for the Custody Operations Special Operations Response Team, ballistic vests for the department K-9’s, and contributions towards the purchase of the Hostage Negotiations Team command post vehicle, to name a few. “The Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse owes a deep debt of gratitude to the donors to the Posse — especially the anonymous donor who donated this $10,000 with the specific request that it be used for COVID-19 protective equipment,” said Sara O’Shaughnessy, the president of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse. “It’s only due to generous donors like this that the Posse is able to assist the Sheriff’s Office in filling their unfunded, urgent needs.” For more information about the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse and ways to support your Sheriff’s Office, please visit https:// www.sbsheriffsposse.org.
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August 4 - August 17, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13
Brughelli to replace Osborne as winemaker at Folded Hills Winery Local journalist pens book about SBC winemakers By Laurie Jervis
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Contributing Writer
ngela Osborne, founding winemaker of Folded Hills Winery, Ranch and Homestead outside of Buellton, will leave the winery this month in order to focus on her own brand, A Tribute to Grace, a grenache-based label she created in 2006. In announcing Osborne’s pending departure, Folded Hills owner Andrew Busch said: “We’re grateful to Angela for helping us create an identity around the kinds of wines we want to make. She has a light touch with grenache and other Rhone varietal wines, and translated our estate fruit honestly and beautifully.” Busch is the son of August Anheuser “Gussie” Busch Jr., who built and grew the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world by 1957. New Zealand native Osborne said she was “grateful to (owners) Kim and Andy” for her time with Folded Hills. Michael Brughelli of Vignerons Consulting will replace Osborne and oversee all winemaking, working directly with the vineyard and cellar staff. California native Brughelli is perhaps best known as winemaker for Scar of the Sea, a label he co-founded with Mikey Giugni. In 2019, Brughelli sold his portion of Scar of the Sea back to Giugni in order to launch his own consultancy, Vignerons. Before launching his own firm, Brughelli worked at Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, where he rose from sales manager to director of sales to director of supply. A graduate of Cal Poly, Brughelli was a firefighter and EMT before turning to farming and vineyards. “I’ve long been a fan of Angela and the wines she’s been producing,” Brughelli said. “And I’m proud and honored to have the opportunity to carry this torch. The Busch family’s ranch has
Lana Clark Schutz
Photos contributed Michael Brughelli is the new winemaker for Folded Hills Winery.
"Vines & Vision: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County," written by journalist Matt Kettmann, with photographer Macduff Everton.
incredible potential, and I’m looking forward to working with it.”
and tasting with winemaking icons Greg Brewer (Brewer-Clifton, Diatom and Ex Post Facto) and Ken Brown, owner of his namesake winery and a longtime viticulturist who introduced several grape varietals to Santa Barbara County vineyards. The following week (July 28), three winemakers who source from Fe Ciega Vineyard — Rick Longoria (Longoria Wines), Bill Wathen (Foxen Winery) and Adam Tolmach (Ojai Vineyard) — were featured, along with one or two of their respective Fe Ciega wines. Go to http://www.staritahills.com/member-events for more information on events. Meanwhile, speaking of writer Kettmann …
Sta. Rita Hills WGA shifts to online tasting events
In light of COVID-19 restrictions on public events, the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance was forced to cancel its popular Wine & Fire event scheduled for August. For more than a decade, the weekend affair has taken place at various wineries and vineyards throughout the Sta. Rita Hills, and featured a grand tasting at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park outside of Lompoc. However, the alliance, like many other organizations, pivoted with the pandemic and has turned to Facebook Live with a weekly slate of regional winemakers and Matt Kettmann, a Santa Barbara-based wine and food journalist and critic. The fifth installment of the live tasting took place last month with Kettmann interviewing
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Journalist pens book on Santa Barbara County winemakers
Matt Kettmann, one of the most prolific wine and food writers/backyard barbecue chefs I am honored to know, will soon release “Vines & Vision: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County,”
a book highlighting the people and the spirit of the county. Kettmann has written for the Santa Barbara Independent since 1999 and is the greater California Central Coast wine critic for Wine Enthusiast. Along with longtime photographer Macduff Everton, a fellow writer and publisher, Kettmann spent the better part of the past two years gathering stories about how both the region’s pioneers and up-and-comers live a life of wine. Kettmann has a knack for letting his subjects tell their own stories, so the book brims with viticulture history and the passion that various producers bring to the table. Everton’s photography has been published in magazines such as National Geographic, Life and Saveur, and he photographed “The Book of Santa Barbara,” which contains essays by Pico Iyer. “Vines & Vision” features profile chapters on more than 100 wineries/winemakers, as well as sections on history, geography, trends, a look at the effects of COVID-19 on the industry, and a year in the life of a vineyard, from pruning to bottling. There is a special section called El Buen Equipo, or “The Good Team,” which highlights the efforts of farmworkers and other often overlooked people who proudly bring each vintage to market, such as publicists who work behind the scenes. Kettmann and Everton said their book is headed to print this month, and copies should be available by October. While some books may be available at select wineries this fall (some of the wineries featured have secured copies for distribution), you can order online at https://www. vinesandvisionsb.com/. Copies of the hardcover, 600-plus page book are $60 each.
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14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
School year to start with distance learning Santa Ynez, other schools back to remote classes after governor's mandate By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
P
arents were given the news that the school year will begin as distance learning in Santa Barbara County as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced July 17 that all counties on the state’s COVID-19 watch list must begin the school year this fall with remote classes. “It is with regret that I inform you that our plans for reopening with students on campus are suspended at this time,” said Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Superintendent Scott Cory in a letter to parents. The district was planning to come back with a hybrid model with half of students on campus at a time. He did say the staff have learned a lot about distance learning even in the month and a half since school got out, and teachers and staff will provide rigorous, interactive and engaging lessons that are accessible to all of our students. “We have been, and will continue to, work hard to provide the best educational experience possible,” Cory stated. He also shared with the Star the results of a recent parent poll done asking if they wanted their
Photo contributed Gov. Newsom announced that all counties on the state's COVID-19 watch list must begin the school year this fall with remote classes
kid on campus or if they preferred distance learning. There were 356 responses with roughly 60 percent back at school and 40 percent preferred distance learning and/or independent learning. The more than 197 responses in writing are all over the spectrum of wanting their kids back on campus to they don’t want their kids on campus for various reasons and legitimate fears, Cory said. “When we come back, we must and will do better with distance learning, and simultaneously how to best roll out a phased in process to get kids on campus,” he added. For schools that are allowed to reopen and
when restricted schools can open, there will be strict guidelines in place. Some of those guidelines are having staff and students in the third grade and higher wear masks. Face coverings for younger children are encouraged but not required. Staff will also be required to maintain social distancing between each other and their students. Newsom said every school day will begin with temperature checks. “I feel like there are so many layers to this and so many mixed emotions. With that said I do believe it is everyone’s goal to get our children back to school in a safe environment,” said Solvang
School parent Lauren Iglesias. “Hopefully this will be a temporary situation and our kids can go back once our numbers change. I keep trying to find the positive in this. And keeping our children healthy and safe is, if not the most, important factor.” Other parents said this is not a balanced approach and this assumes that every student has a stable home/living location; internet connection; additional computer in the home not being used; a present adult with the time and ability to facilitate and an age/cognitive development to sit and learn in this environment. “These are minimum requirements for success that many families in our state are unable to meet,” said Sarah Risley of Arroyo Grande, who has two children in the Lucia Mar Unified School District, which announced even before Newsom’s decision to only distance. “We need to work on solutions that meet the needs of our communities and our teachers. There is a balanced approach, and this isn’t it.” To see the complete guidance from the California Department of Public Health go to https:// www.santaynezvalleystar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CDPH_guidance-schools_7.17.20. pdf to see the PDF.
Register now for SBCC fall semester
Staff Report
R
egistration is now open for the fall semester at Santa Barbara City College. Classes are open to everyone in the community, whether to earn an associate degree, transfer to a four-year university, or enjoy life-enrichment classes through the School of Extended Learning. Based on recent guidance provided by the state, county and Centers for Disease Control, a substantial majority of courses will be conducted online. A limited number of credit courses will be offered in a face-to-face or hybrid format, maintaining appropriate health and safety protocols. The list of face-to-face credit
courses is available at www.sbcc.edu/ classes. All student services, including the Luria Library and the Cartwright Learning Resources Center, will be offered remotely. Courses scheduled for faceto-face or hybrid instruction will transition to an online format should public health restrictions be re-imposed due to COVID-19. Instruction for School of Extended Learning classes will be offered primarily online through live video conference format. Information and updates available at www.sbcc.edu/extendedlearning. SBCC has been named the No. 1 community college in the nation by the Aspen Institute, and for the third year in a row Value Colleges rated SBCC the No. 1 community college as “a flawless investment.” Fall semester starts Aug. 24. Students are encouraged to register as soon as possible to ensure entry into their desired classes.
Start Your Day The Landsby Way enjoy our summer menu with new dishes and drinks alfresco in our courtyard
Breakfast
Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 11 am
Brunch
Saturday & Sunday, 7:30 am - 2 pm no reservations for breakfast reservations available for brunch, make yours today at madandvin.com
August 4 - August 17, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15
© 2020 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Special Edition
Use the coin code at right to reveal the answer.
Find the words in the puzzle. ALLOWANCE Then look for each word in this week’s OBSTACLES Kid Scoop stories and activities. NEIGHBORS A S R O B H G I E N ENDLESS M L E O D T N Y E L LIMITED S E L L S N P L D I SUPPLY CHORES R N A O C O E P E M WISDOM A D C R W A Y P K I SHOES O L T E N A T U S T SOARS S E R O H C N S A E SPEND R S H O E S E C B D POWER E S M O D S I W E O ASKED EARN COST
Leonard has a goal. He wants to buy a pair of sneakers that cost $25. But he only gets $3 a week for his allowance. Help Leonard make a plan to buy the shoes. Each week, Leonard could save $
Imagine that you get $3 per week for allowance. What would you do with your money? Pretend you want to buy three of the items at right. Come up with a plan, like Leonard’s, that will help you reach your goal.
Leonard could work for extra money by doing chores at home and for neighbors. He could earn $_________ per week for doing extra chores.
Following your plan, how many weeks would it take Leonard to reach his goal? weeks Make a plan to reach one of your goals!
This year, Father’s Day is celebrated on June 20. Look through the newspaper or your newspaper’s website for numbers that add up to exactly 20.
Brought to you by
Find words in the newspaper that start with each letter in your dad’s name (or an uncle, grandparent, or a friend’s name). Use these words to write a poem about that person.
Write a classified ad advertising for a father, uncle or grandfather. Look at the newspaper’s classified section for ideas. What special skills are needed for the job?
16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H August 4 - August 17, 2020
TA K E A V I R T U A L T O U R T O D AY
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