Santa Ynez Valley Star December B 2019 by Santa Ynez Valley Star

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

www.santaynezvalleystar.com

Every Issue Complimentary Every Time

Rodeo clown creates barrels of cozy care By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

his little rodeo clown takes making people happy very seriously. Nineyear-old Caleb Moon decided to go beyond what was asked of him, making custom blankets and raising more than $2,500 for children going through cancer treatments. “The kids going through their cancer treatments inspired me. I wanted to make something special to support them,” Caleb said. The third-grader at Solvang Elementary School earned the spot of Junior Barrel-man at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo this year, and he loved entertaining the crowds. “I loved telling jokes and making people laugh with my funny dances,” he said. The blankets and donations were presented to 20 children from Golden Circle of Champions at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas on Dec. 8. Caleb made the official donation in November to the Elks Rodeo officials. Golden Circle is a nonprofit founded in 2016 that partners with the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. Golden Circle provides funds to help local children battling pediatric cancer and after the first year they were contacted by the NFR to expand their program. The children who are selected get to attend a dinner at the rodeo, meet many of the cowboys and cowgirls, and then get to watch the rodeo from a special reserved sec-tion in the grandstands. Caleb’s part at the event in Las Vegas is teaching the kids how to tell jokes and climb in and out of the barrel during a fun event Sunday morning. The kids also learned roping skills, participated in a stick horse barrel race and received a custom Resistol cowboy hat, buckle and Justin boots. Caleb decided to make the blankets because he knew the kids get a duffle bag of goodies they will take to treatments. The blankets are red, white and blue to match the patriotic theme of his Junior Barrelman face paint and rodeo outfit. He found a blanket kit at a fabric store and ordered all 20 they had remaining. Over a

period of two months he spent weekends and time after school putting them to-gether with the help of his family. “Caleb made a presentation to the Alpha Pi Charitable Organization of Santa Ynez Valley about his project and they ended up funding the cost of the blankets,” said his mother, Robyn Christian Moon. They ordered patches to be sewn on the blankets from valley native Ian Palmer of Authentic Leather Patch Co., and when Moon asked for the invoice, she was told it was taken care of. Authentic Leather Patch Co. also donated hats to each of the participants with custom 2019 NFR Golden Circle of Champions patches. Caleb said he was grateful for all the

help in getting his goal accomplished. “Caleb also started a cash donation drive and made $2,500 that will go towards helping a local family for whatever help they need as their child goes through treat-ments,” she said. Through donations and fundraising efforts, support is provided directly to the fam-ilies to fulfill their most urgent needs: paying bills, buying medicine and caring for their families. “Our goal is to bring the much-needed education and awareness, locally and na-tionally, to pediatric cancer and offer a ray of hope to the families that are navigating through this journey. They desperately need our help as a community, and we want to let them know we are here for them,” said Golden Circle founder Tina Tonascia. “It is our job to tell their story about pediatric cancer, in the hopes that one day we will be able to make a difference.” The Santa Maria Elks Rodeo holds a special place in Caleb’s family. His grand-mother, Mindi Jaeger Christian, competed in the 1972 queen contest and his mother was the 2001 Santa Maria

Peter Sterling, Elks Recreation president, was on hand for the presentation of blankets and $2,500 donation from Junior Barrelman Caleb Moon.

Elks Rodeo Queen. They both represented Santa Ynez Val-ley Youth Recreation during their campaigns. Even Caleb’s teacher last year, Jodi Rog-ers, represented the valley as the 1986 Santa Maria Elks Queen. The Elks Rodeo has landed this past year on the 2019 PRCA ProRodeo tour, an elite list of 59 locations where the sport’s top athletes will compete for points. To learn more about Golden Circle and this year’s events at the NFR, visit their Facebook page. For other rodeo-related activities and information, visit www.elksrec.com.

FYI The Santa Ynez Valley packs in the Photos by Robyn Moon National Finals Rodeo Barrelman JJ Harrison, left, with one of the Golden Circle of Champion recipient James Castellanos and Jr. Barrelman Caleb Moon.

holiday fun, with more fun to come.

El Rancho Market The Heart of Santa Ynez Valley

2886 Mission Drive • Solvang • 805-688-4300 elranchomarket.com

See Page 7.

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10 more charges filed in Buellton man’s teen-sex case By Janene Scully

Noozhawk North County Editor

Buellton man who worked as a yearbook salesman has pleaded not guilty in Santa Barbara County Superior Court to 10 additional criminal charges alleging inappropriate sexual contact with teen Greg Ray boys. After prosecutors filed a second amended complaint earlier this month, Gregory Scott Ray, 53, now has been charged with 31 criminal counts in a case being heard in a Santa Maria courtroom. The new charges allege acts involving three additional victims, putting the total at 11, with allegations the crimes occurred in Orange and Fresno counties in addition to Santa Barbara County. Ray, who was described as a yearbook consultant and salesman based in Central California, was taken into custody in April 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. In April, Ray pleaded not guilty to 13

felony charges filed against him, including two counts of lewd and lascivious acts, three counts of sodomy, seven counts of oral copulation, and one count of sexual penetration with a foreign object. In late May, additional allegations and victims added a felony count of sending harmful matter, two felony counts of oral copulation, two felony counts of sodomy, and three misdemeanor sexual-battery charges. Charges filed Nov. 7 include sodomy, oral copulation and dissuading a witness. While authorities originally said the case involved three alleged victims, the amended complaints pushed the number to 11 — referred to as John Does No. 1 through 11— with the alleged acts reportedly occurring between 2007 and 2018. The investigation into Ray began March 18 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 as a way to meet and have sexual contact with young males ranging from 13 to 17 years old. Deputy District Attorney Fabiana Fede is leading the prosecution team while Deputy Public Defender Lea Villegas is representing Ray. The case will return to court Jan. 9, when the judge and attorneys may set a date for a preliminary hearing. Ray remained in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail, with bail set at $500,000. Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com.

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Photos by Mike Eliason, SB County Fire Firefighters kept the flames from burning any homes in the Cave Fire.

Once the fire was under control, Caltrans crews worked during the wet weather to clear storm drains along Highway 154.

Cave Fire nears containment; remote areas still smoldering By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

he Cave Fire was still at 90 percent containment at the Star’s press time, according to fire officials, because the wet weather has made it difficult to get to some areas because of the rugged terrain. “Remember that additional smokes might still be visible for a period of time. Note how thick the brush is that they are working in,” wrote Cpt. Daniel Bertucceli in a video showing crews working in vegetation that is so thick that it wasn’t penetrated by the rain. The Cave Fire started on Nov. 25, and the cause remains under investigation. Strong winds fueled the flames that quickly spread and raced down the south side of the Santa Ynez Mountains, and even jumped Highway 154 in several spots causing the closure of the highway for more than a week. Caltrans officials said that the guardrails needed to be replaced, and the hillsides needed to be assessed

before they could allow the public to drive the pass. This area has not burned since the Painted Cave fire in 1990, and luckily the more than 600 firefighters assigned to the blaze were able to protect structures and no residences burned. Only one outbuilding was destroyed. Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway work zones and to watch out for emergency responders. For traffic updates on state highways in Santa Barbara County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the District 5 website at https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5. An article at Noozhawk.com details other charges against Dungan, stalking and firearms-related incidents in March, which are being prosecuted in

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 3

Photo contributed Learn how to save a life at Cottage Health’s adult CPR class on Nov. 22.

SYV Cottage Hospital celebrates 55 years of service Staff Report

anta Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital at 2050 Viborg Road in Solvang is celebrating 55 years of service in 2019. The hospital, which opened on Nov. 9, 1964, was funded through a community effort spearheaded by a concerned group of 68 women. They formed the Hospital Auxiliary Charter Members in 1962 and along with 1,225 donors contributed $352,391 to make the Solvang hospital a reality. Ground was broken on Jan. 31, 1964, and by November of that year, the facility then called Santa Ynez Valley Hospital opened to provide acute-care services to the residents and visitors of Solvang and the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley. The doors officially opened at 10 a.m. Nov. 9, 1964, with the arrival of a pharmaceutical license. By the end of the day, the first baby — Martin John Silva — had been born and eight patients had been admitted. In April 1995, the hospital became affiliated with Cottage Health and was renamed Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. SYVCH has received the Press Ganey “Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Ex-

perience” for many years, which acknowledges that the hospital is in the top 5 percent of U.S. health care organizations for overall patient experience in the Emergency Department. On Oct. 31, 2019, SYVCH celebrated its one-year anniversary as a “Stroke Ready” facility certified by The Joint Commission and Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The SYVCH Tele-Stroke Program provides remote specialized neurological evaluations to patients who come to the Emergency Department with stroke or neurological symptoms. “The program continues to be a great success and is also benefitting patients with other conditions including seizure, intracranial or traumatic hemorrhage, sudden onset headache, concussion, dizziness and fainting,” said Wende Cappetta, SYVCH Vice President. “The Tele-Stroke Program is saving lives.” “We are so honored and proud to continue to provide outstanding patient care combined with current technology,” Cappetta added. “It’s all thanks to the strong support of our staff, Auxiliary, Foundation and the entire Santa Ynez Valley community.”

Forest imposes ‘extreme fire danger’ restrictions for December

Staff Report

ue to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, “extreme fire danger” restrictions will be enforced in Los Padres National Forest through Dec. 31, forest officials have announced. The restrictions include: n Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas, including designated Campfire Use sites. Persons with a valid permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel only within the Designated Campfire Use Sites. Campfire permits are available for free download from http://www.fs.usda. gov/lpnf. n Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit.

n Hunting with a valid California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from the target shooting prohibition. n Smoking is prohibited in all areas except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site. n Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.) Violators may face a fine of $5,000 and/or six months in jail. For more information on current conditions and safety tips, contact the nearest Forest Service office.

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4 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Blue Shield, Anthem ‘Covered California’ health plans available for 2020 By Giana Magnoli

Noozhawk Managing Editor

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here are two plan options in 2020 for Santa Barbara County residents who want to buy health insurance through Covered California, as Anthem Blue Cross returns to the Central Coast market. Locals only had the option of purchasing Blue Shield health plans through the state health insurance exchange for the 2018 and 2019 years, but can purchase Anthem EPO or Blue Shield PPO plans for 2020. Open enrollment for 2020 ends Jan. 31, but Medi-Cal enrollment is yearround, and anyone with a qualifying life event (such as losing employer-sponsored coverage or student health coverage) can sign up anytime. Starting in 2020, California residents need to have qualifying health insurance, obtain an exemption from the requirement, or pay a penalty when they file their state tax return. The penalty will be $695 for an adult and half that for a dependent child, according to Covered California. According to the Covered California 2020 plan options, the Central Coast region of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties will have the second-highest average rate increase, of 4.6 percent, compared to the current year. As of April, 91 percent of the 64,368 enrollees were receiving financial assistance for premiums. If Covered California customers in the Central Coast change to the lowest-cost plan of their tier (bronze, silver, gold, or platinum), they could save an estimated 2.3 percent on average, according to the state. Statewide, most people are expected to be able to pay the same premiums, or less, if they switch plans, according to Covered California. There are 12 insurance providers through Covered California for the state, but only three for the Central Coast region, and two for Santa Barbara County: Anthem EPO (exclusive provider organization) and Blue Shield PPO (preferred provider organization) plans.

The plans are in different metal tiers, with bronze plans having the lowest premiums and highest out-of-pocket costs, while platinum plans have the highest premiums and lowest out-ofpocket costs. This year, 54.9 percent of the 15,010 Santa Barbara County Covered California customers purchased silver tier plans, 38.4 percent purchased bronze plans, 5.4 percent purchased gold plans, and fewer than 1 percent each purchased minimum coverage or platinum plans. The age breakdown of Covered California enrollees for 2019 is as follows: 8.7 percent are age 17 or under; 9.7 percent are ages 18-25; 15.3 percent are ages 26-34; 13.2 percent are ages 35-44; 20.1 percent are ages 45-55; 32.4 percent are ages 55-64; and 0.6 percent are age 65 or older. Certified enrollment counselors, including insurance agents, are available to help residents enroll in health coverage, and plan details and price comparisons are available on the Covered California website through the Shop and Compare tool. For more information about enrolling in Medi-Cal health benefits, contact CenCal Health, the Medicaid administrator for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. You can submit applications online, through Covered California (anytime, there is no specific enrollment period) or the MyBenefits CalWIN website, and by visiting a Department of Social Services office. Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 5

Santa Barbara Zoo euthanizes sickly, elderly lion Staff Report

hadwick, the male African lion that lived at the Santa Barbara Zoo for 17 of his 21 years, was humanely euthanized Dec. 5 after a long battle with a degenerative illness. Chadwick exceeded the life expectancy for lions (16.9 years) in human care by almost five years. He was the oldest male pedigreed lion alive in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institution. “Chadwick has been dealing with health issues associated with his advancing age for several years,” said Dr. Julie Barnes, vice president of animal care and health. “Two weeks ago, he developed lameness in his right forelimb, which rapidly progressed to generalized pain that we suspected was associated with spinal changes. He did not respond to multiple treatments for pain relief. “Three days ago, we performed a CT scan, which confirmed our suspicion Photo Contributed that he had progression of degeneraChadwick, the male African lion that lived at the Santa Barbara Zoo for 17 of his 21 years, has been euthanized after tive spinal disease, which is common battling a degenerative illness. in geriatric carnivores. Based on his deteriorating condition and his advanced “Chadwick lived a healthy, active life At 21, Chadwick was considered geriage, the decision was made for humane atric, and had been receiving medical here at the Santa Barbara Zoo,” said euthanasia.” care for ailments typically associated Rich Block, Santa Barbara Zoo presiBorn at the Indianapolis Zoo in 1998, with aging big cats (such as renal faildent/CEO. “He was well-loved by those Chadwick arrived in Santa Barbara who looked after him, and provided a ure) for several years. in 2003 for the opening of the Cats of meaningful connection to our guests as He had cataract surgery in 2010, and Africa exhibit, which also featured a representative for his vulnerable wild in recent years, the zoo’s animal care black-footed cats. He shared space with counterparts. staff provided a specialized diet, daily female lion Gingerbread, with whom he training sessions, and unique enrich“He has been a part of the zoo family sired two living offspring during their for many years, and our staff and volunment items to keep him as engaged and comfortable as possible. teers are grieving this significant loss.” 14 years together.

IN LOVING MEMORY

Lowell (Buzz)

Davis 1936 -2019

Lowell (Buzz) Davis, 83, of Solvang, CA, passed away on November 8, 2019 from complications due to COPD. Buzz was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Vida Belle Davis; and his wife Martha. He is survived by his siblings, Lorie Wolfe, Ray Davis, Marsha Saddler, and Marty Siracusa; and his daughter and her husband Anne and Tad Bixler of Solvang, CA. Buzz was born on August 13, 1936 in Maywood, California. After graduating from Montebello High School in 1955, he worked as a machinist and advanced to the position of Quality Control Manager with Furon in Sunnyvale CA. He met his wife, Martha, at San Jose State University and they were married in September of 1963. They lived in Saratoga where they raised their daughter, Anne, until his wife’s death in 1991. After retiring, Buzz relocated to Buellton, CA to be closer to his daughter. He was active with the local Amateur Radio Group, held the callsign KE6BQC, and often volunteer as a radio operator for local events such as bike rides, the Trout Derby, and Santa Ynez Days. He also enjoyed fishing in the Sierra’s, model railroads, and talking to people. He lived at Atterdag for the last several years and could often be seen riding on the Atterdag parade floats. Donations in his memory to the National Park Service, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association or Atterdag would be appreciated

In the wild, many elderly male lions live solitary lives, having been ousted from the pride by younger, stronger males. After the passing of his mate Gingerbread in 2017, Chadwick lived on his own, mirroring this natural stage of lion social structure. Gingerbread and Chadwick produced two living offspring: Kiki (female), the first African lion ever born at the zoo, was born in 2004, and Docha (male) was born in 2005. Both Kiki and Docha moved to other zoos as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, and Kiki has produced two litters. Plans for more lions to take up residence in Cats of Africa are in the works, and may involve a male-female pair with a breeding recommendation from the AZA. More details will be announced as they become available. As Santa Barbara Zoo Premier Foster Feeders, the Dreier Family generously sponsored Chadwick since his arrival in 2003. Anyone wishing to make a gift in memory of Chadwick may consider these options: make a donation to the Santa Barbara Zoo (www.sbzoo.org/ support), which funds general operations to support the Zoo’s animals, conservation work and education efforts; or purchase an enrichment item for another zoo animal on the zoo’s Toys4Animals Amazon Wish List.

6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Strengthen Solvang’s brand, don’t change it

n December 4, the Solvang City Council invited 5,500 residents and businesses to a Solvang tourism rebranding workshop at the City Hall Council Chambers. Let’s start by ignoring the fact that inviting 5,500 people to a room that accommodates less than 100 people is a slight miscalculation. Initially, it sounds like a noble and great idea to engage every resident in the rebranding of Solvang tourism. Realistically, it might be as ridiculous as asking every citizen of the United States to attend a workshop on the foreign policy direction of the U.S. Especially since most of us don’t have the experience to comment on foreign policy, or we are not affected by it or we have some other reasons that prevent us from making informed decisions about foreign policy. Maybe for the same reason we have not been invited by the County of Santa Barbara or State of California to participate in a workshop on how to rebrand tourism for our county or state. So, what exactly are we rebranding? This is the question I wrote and asked the Public Information Officer of Solvang, Kady Fleckenstein, under the assumption that since this

is a rebranding session there must be a brand already that we are going to rebrand. The Public Information Officer went silent on me and I never heard from her again. So much for public information. I guess I will have to figure out the brand that we are rebranding … myself. In my mind what makes Solvang unique is undoubtedly the fact that it is a Danish town in America of a significant scale and historical longevity. Solvang’s architecture of half- timbered Danish Provincial style, street names and bakeries are all different from what one finds elsewhere. I believe that this is what we are selling to the tourists who come here and that is how they think of Solvang. Hence, this is our brand. Our brand is unique (adjective: being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else), and tourists have come to see it for more than 70 years. There are plenty of other small towns in California, many with better restaurants and retail stores, and many easier accessible. Before I explain my rationale for why we need to protect the current Solvang brand and keep it unique, I trust that we all understand that tourism is the most significant industry in Solvang other than maybe construction (mostly fed by tourism anyway). In other words, Solvang is a place to live but Solvang tourism is the business that pays for it.

Without Solvang tourism the City Council cannot write checks and the residents need to dig into their wallets, and some of them will potentially lose their jobs and see property values decline. No doubt that Solvang can make lots of improvements in terms of quality of offerings and the type of tourists it attracts, and the city and the businesses can and should do better. The previous Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau always seemed to focus on volume rather than quality and in terms of businesses on the select few rather than the greater good, which in my mind was not great for the Solvang brand either. Unfortunately, the current City Council seems to believe that we should continue this “volume over quality” approach starting with the Fall Festival. I have nothing against carnivals and garage bands as long as they are not placed in the middle of what the city itself has designated the Tourist Related Commercial zone (TRC). We need to keep in mind that how effective a brand is depends a lot on consistency! In order for a brand to be effective, you cannot on some days choose to be an average small town blocking of the entire main street of the TRC tourism

zone with a carnival, garage bands, beers and variety of mediocre-looking food booths, and on other days you want to be this beautiful architectural gem of a unique Danish town in America where everything has to be approved by the Board of Architectural Review. What we saw with the Fall Festival was a City Council who completely ignored many of the businesses, its own TRC, and proved that they are completely ignorant (or arrogant) when it comes to the awareness of the Solvang brand. It took a long time for the Solvang tourism brand to become unique. It will only take a short time to become ordinary it if the City Council is not careful. My recommendation is to forget about rebranding Solvang tourism and instead focus on current branding improvement and consistency. René Gross Kærskov Solvang resident and business owner

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.

Teachers resent superintendent’s actions

he Buellton Union School District’s superintendent, Randal Haggard, recently used the school-to-home communication platform Parent Square to share the district’s political position on negotiations for new contracts for teachers and support staff. This is the second time Dr. Haggard has used Parent Square for this purpose, sending out information and “statistics” to a captive audience. As an educator and community member, I have great concerns regarding the superintendent’s use in this manner when it should be solely for educational and safety issues pertaining to students. While the district certainly has a right to present its position on negotiations, Superintendent Haggard’s use of Parent Square uses a system dedicated to communications with parents for the education and safety of their children; it

is not for the political gain and one-sided debate presented by Superintendent Haggard for negotiations or for his advocacy of his 23 percent raise, which he posted on last spring via Parent Square as well. Parents did not provide their emails and cell numbers to receive information on anything other than information directly related to their children, and using the system in any other manner is abusing its purpose. After reading the most recent post on Parent Square, which I received at work, I sent the School Board questions, all of which have gone unanswered. Instead I received a weakly worded letter from the district’s lawyer indicating I could not send an email asking such questions during the workday. Given teachers received the Parent Square post during school hours, and a subsequent work email, this is per-

plexing, a gigantic waste of money, and an unsuccessful attempt to intimidate. Regardless, the same questions remain. What is the board’s reasoning for allowing Superintendent Haggard to post details about negotiations on Parent Square? Does the School Board pre-approve the posts regarding negotiations? How does the board justify communication of this nature when they shut down communication from the public and the Buellton Education Association at a board meeting last spring? While negotiations for the educators of Buellton continue to be of interest to the public, Parent Square is not the proper forum for the district to post its position. Certainly the district could use its website or, like the Buellton Education Association has done, use other social media outlets such as Facebook. As an educator, I greatly appreciate parent and community support for

causes in which I believe. Naturally a fair contract and fair compensation and benefits for those of us in the field of education are issues I feel have great importance. Interested community members can find information on social media regarding these causes and more. But teachers and support staff are not allowed to engage in any politically motivated action during work hours, and rightly so. It was and continues to be inappropriate for Superintendent Haggard to use Parent Square in this manner. The focus of the school-to-parent communication on Parent Square should be on the students, their education, and their safety — period. Lisa Restivo Buellton Union School District teacher

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 7

Santa Ynez Valley packs in the holiday fun, with more fun to come

MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 26

By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

here has been no shortage of ways for folks to celebrate the holiday season in the Santa Ynez Valley, as the two cities and many of the townships host their own festivities. Kicking off the holiday season, the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce hosted the valley’s first tree lighting event on Sunday, Dec. 1. They also hosted a free holiday party in the courtyard at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Traditional holiday music was played by Steve Ochoa and Christina Barnes and in addition to Santa, food, music and fun, a special appearance by the Fossemalle Studio dancers delighted all with their beautifully choreographed holiday dances. The big finale was the lighting of the large cedar tree next to Panino’s that has been dubbed the town’s official Christmas tree since the first Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce tree lighting event in 2014. The next holiday events were in Solvang with visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Christmas Holiday Market and their tree lighting event on Friday, Dec. 6. Even a light sprinkle of rain didn’t deter the hundreds of people that gathered for the event. Fossemalle Dancers again delighted the crowds as well as singing from the vocal group Mystique, led by Heidi Jacobs. Folks then gathered on Copenhagen Drive to finish the evening with a light show. The next morning the streets were once again lined by hundreds of people to watch the annual Julefest Parade. The dark clouds threatened, but didn’t drop any rain as more than 50 entries marched down the street. This year’s grand marshals were Bent Olsen, of Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery, and John Martino, who spearheaded the movement to get a live Christmas tree installed in Solvang Park. There were many entertaining entries from the vintage motorcycles Nimbus Motorcycle Club, Girl Scouts Troop 55400, United Boys and Girls Club, Atterdag Village of Solvang, Santa Ynez Jazz Band, Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, Lemos Feed and Pet Supply, Willow Creek Ranch Friends and Family, Gymnastics North, Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, Santa Ynez Valley Humane

Photos by Daniel Dreifuss Santa and Mrs. Claus got the biggest cheers at the Solvang Julefest Parade.

Kali and her mom Jessica Larsen smiled and waved for the Julefest Parade crowds.

The SYHS Marching Band played festive music for the Julefest parade crowds.

Cruz Dancers took home the parade’s award for best performance.

Society, Tine Art Cars, and more. The 2019 Solvang Julefest Parade Awards and recipients were: n Best Theme-Oriented (Solvang and Julefest): Vikings of Solvang n Best Float: Solvang Spice Merchant n Best Equestrian Entry: The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort Best Vehicle Entry: Antisocial Stangs n Best Musical Entry: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Pirates Marching Band n Best Performance Group: Cruz Dance & Entertainment n Best Overall Entry: Santa Ynez Valley

in the new St. Lucia Day Parade on Dec. 13. Coming up there are still several local events to enjoy, such as the “Aurora Dronealis” show on Dec. 21, which will involve 100 remote-controlled aircraft creating designs in the skies in a choreographed show set to last 15 minutes. Organizers say there is no other show like this in southern California. For tickets and more information, visit www.solvangjulefest.org.

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Cottage Hospital Other fun family events that day included Los Olivos Old Fashioned Christmas and the Solvang Nativity Pageant at Solvang Festival Theater. On Dec. 8, folks enjoyed a full day at Buellton Winterfest starting with Breakfast with Santa. A new parade took place, and the Holiday Village was packed with kids playing in more than 20 tons of trucked-in snow. Buellton’s tree lighting took place that night in the new Village Park behind Tractor Supply. The following week people also participated

Julefest will end Jan. 3 with the annual Christmas tree burn and fire safety demonstration on the grounds of Mission Santa Ines.

Small size - big sound

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8 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Christmas Messages: Lights radiate the reason for the season By Pastor Sam Kiser Crossroads Church

ight has turned to day as the valley is bright with light. Everywhere you drive you are hyper-aware of the Christmas season. The decorations are full-on display. The Christmas Tree takes center stage in the hearts of those who adore the Christmas season. Yet, it’s the unsung hero of the Christmas lights that brings meaning to our season. Drive around the valley for a moment and your attention and focus will be drawn to the radiance of light. It’s the house in Buellton we all know and love, and have to make our rounds to. Maybe it’s all the new sparklingly additions to Solvang stores. The light itself is not the point, however. It’s what the light does that is important. In a very real way, the light does what it’s supposed to — it illuminates a tree or a house, but it also helps point the way. The light is never the point. The point of the light is what the light points to. Christmas lights were used in the holiday’s history to point to the reason for the holiday its self. The origin of Christmas

File photo

Pastor Sam Kiser

is wrapped up in its root word Christ, which means Messiah or savior. For early Christians, Christmas lights were a symbol of their belief that Jesus was their savior. Jesus said of himself, “I am the light of the

world” (Jn 8:12). One of the young followers of Jesus would poetically write in his gospel, “the light shines into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.” Christians believe that Jesus is a light

to the world, or in other words, He points the way. Whether you are a Christian or not, most people would agree that Jesus displayed for us a supreme ethic — love. Jesus made love the light of the world. Love shines into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. The unsung hero of the Christmas season is the light that points us to something more. The lights radiate the reason for the season. The sparkling of lights sparks something deep within us. The season is bright with the light of love that gives meaning to the holiday. The traditions of the season are backlit with love that lights up the night. Christmas gives us hope that no matter how dark the night, the light has shown and darkness cannot stop it. May we see God in the festivities and magic of Christmas traditions and may we see God in each other and those around us, especially the vulnerable and the marginalized. And may we always remember the details of this story, because it is through these details that God chose to speak and continues to speak today.

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December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9

Christmas Messages: God is in the details

By Pastor Chris Brown Bethania Lutheran Church

he Advent and Christmas season still spark joy for me. If I were to use Marie Kondo’s pedagogical approach to decluttering the holidays throughout the year, Christmas would definitely be something I’m keeping. The changing of the weather, the Christmas lights glistening at night, the radio stations that turn to favorite Christmas songs for the month, and the festive ways people come together to share this holiday with one another, bring warmth to my heart. I get to add another activity that warms my heart this year. The other day before bath time, my 2-year old randomly started singing in the sweetest toddler voice, “Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season…” in preparation for her first preschool Christmas program (enter meme of me as a puddle of tears on the floor). After recovering from my heartwarming overload, I reflected on those words, “Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season.” I’m a Christian pastor and I believe those words, and they bear deep meaning for me during this time. But what do they mean? People will probably give different answers. For me, the answer to that question of meaning lies in the details of the story of Jesus’ birth. The story is told every season in varying forms, through songs, pageants, displays, movies, and Charles Schulz. However, in many of those stories, the details seem to be forgotten. It is told that Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger by a mother who was a virgin (the Greek means righteous), but that seems to be all the details that are

File photo

Pastor Chris Brown

remembered. It is forgotten that while it’s said she’s a virgin, she’s also an unwed, engaged, pregnant woman, an immense scandal of that time. It’s forgotten that she belongs to the Jewish faith, a persecuted group of people living under Roman occupation. It is forgotten that Jesus was

born in Bethlehem because his mother and father were traveling for a mandated census, a vehicle of exploitation of all empires. It is forgotten that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were all from Palestine, meaning their skin was brown and their hair was dark. It is forgotten that shortly after his birth his life was in danger and

he and his family sought refuge in a foreign country. And it is forgotten how important each of these details was for the communities telling this story in the first century. As we immerse ourselves in our own holiday traditions this year, may they be joyous and filled with love. Whatever stories you share, for whatever reasons you gather, I pray they lead you to more wholeness, connection and compassion. And if Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season for you, I hope you remember all the details of the story. For those of us in the Christian tradition, may we remember the story of God incarnate in humanity is the story of God who is connected to the least of these, the suffering, the marginalized, the misunderstood, the “scandalized,” the castigated, the oppressed, the beaten up and broken, and those seeking refuge. Let us remember that the Christmas story, at its heart, is about God coming into this world through the powerless, not the powerful, and that penultimate detail might be the most important part of the story we share each year. May we enjoy this holiday and spend it in love. And while we’re enveloped in the comfort and joy of this season may we also remember those among us and those in our world for whom the details of this story entail a profound connection. May we see God in the festivities and magic of Christmas traditions and may we see God in each other and those around us, especially the vulnerable and the marginalized. And may we always remember the details of this story, because it is through these details that God chose to speak and continues to speak today. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Senior Fitness

We shrink as we age, but we can slow process down By James Riley

Contributing Writer

o we really shrink as we age? It’s a frequent question from seniors in my classes and club members at Performance Fitness. Perhaps their doctor measured and informed them that they are an inch shorter than they believed, or maybe the kids commented, “Dad, you look shorter than you used to be.” Our children do have a tendency to precisely point out our shortcomings. Is losing height as we age normal and, if so, is there something we can do about it? The answer to both questions is: It depends. About four out of five people lose some height as they age, beginning at about age 40, but genetics, lifestyle, diet, exercise habits and posture may slow or accelerate the process. The tendency to lose height occurs among all races and both sexes. Here are some major factors affecting height loss: n As we mature the spinal discs between vertebrae may lose fluid, slightly dehydrate and flatten. Since the spine has 24 discs, one between each two vertebrae, a little flattening in some of the discs may result in significant loss of length through the spine even if it remains well aligned.

n Poor postural habits, slouching in chairs and the “looking down” habit often result in rounded shoulders, forward head and a collapsed rib cage. This postural habit not only results in a loss of height and undue stress on the spine but may also inhibit proper breathing and leave less room for the major organs to align themselves. Poor posture is primarily caused by faulty postural habits. In effect, we teach ourselves our poor habits by the way we move. To correct poor posture, we need to focus and move in good alignment throughout the day, a task that is easier said than done and often requires professional help from a physical therapist or personal trainer. It will take time and commitment, but the reward is not only regaining some height but reclaiming healthy movement. n The bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis may cause subtle micro-fractures in vertebrae, causing them to lose height. These micro-fractures are often painless and go undetected. To slow or prevent osteoporosis, seniors should include ample calcium and vitamin D in their diet and also some good fats, as vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium. A little sunshine is also a great source of Vitamin D.

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If you are a woman over 50 or a man over 60, The Osteoporosis Foundation recommends a Dexa Scan as a screening procedure and to establish a base foundation for future reference. n Seniors often demonstrate a loss of muscle mass in the shoulders, spine and hips as they age. Losing muscle mass often results in spinal compression and rounded shoulders and forward head, resulting in increased height loss as well as other problems. Although some loss of muscle may be due to aging, much of the loss is due to inactivity and lack of weight-bearing exercise. Research has consistently shown that those who exercise regularly lose about half as much height as they age as do non-exercisers. Putting stress on muscles and bones stimulates them to become stronger. Improving strength also improves mobility and prevents falls, two major concerns among seniors. n Beware of your vices. Smoking damages bone and lowers some hormone levels in the body that are essential to health, while excessive alcohol consumption inhibits the processing of calcium into bone, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption seem to be linked to most chronic diseases. Most of us will lose some height as

we age, as it appears to be a normal process. A loss of up to 1.5 inches over time is not usually cause for concern. A loss of two to three inches is reason for a doctor visit for consultation and evaluation. There is a reason your doctor measures you during the annual physical. To prevent excessive loss of height, feed your bones and muscles a good diet, exercise regularly, maintain good posture, drink moderately or not at all, don’t smoke, and move well and often throughout the day. James Riley of Solvang is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a level-one Olympic Lifting Coach. He holds a B.A in physical education, M.A. in psychology and a doctorate in education.

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December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11

Reindeer visiting SB Zoo through December FYI

Zoo officials say you can help protect reindeer by getting creative with concealing presents this year: Use recycled wrapping paper, cloth bags, newspaper or cookie tins instead of buying new gift wrap. Reducing the demand for paper saves old-growth forest habitats in reindeer and caribou territory, which is the only source of food for most animals that overwinter in the north. By Wendy Campbell Contributed

n keeping with the holiday season, two female reindeer will be on view at the Santa Barbara Zoo through Jan. 1. Cookie and Peppermint will live temporarily near the zoo’s hilltop. Reindeer and caribou are well-suited for harsh winters; they have two “toes” on each foot, which spread out and act like snowshoes to keep them from sinking into snow, soft ice, and wetlands. Rear “dew claws” add traction and help keep animals from slipping when they run. The undersides of their hooves are hollow, allowing the animals to dig through snow in search of food. Listen carefully when the reindeer walk

Howard honored by fellow nurse practitioners

M Photo Contributed Cookie and Peppermint will live temporarily near the Santa Barbara Zoo’s hilltop this holiday season until Jan. 1.

to hear a “click, click, click.” It’s not their hooves, but a tendon that snaps over their ankles. The sound may help keep the herd together in blinding snowstorms. Reindeer are the only deer species in which both males and females sport antlers. People sometimes call antlers “horns,” but the two are very different. Horns are made of protein, like fingernails and hair, and don’t ever shed. Antlers are made of bone, and are an extension of an animal’s skull. Antlers also are shed every year. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between reindeer and caribou? The two are actually subspecies of the same species, and location also defines them.

Caribou are wild reindeer that live only in North America and Greenland. Reindeer refers to wild populations in Europe and Asia, and to all of the species in human care worldwide. Cookie and Peppermint are on loan from Windswept Ranch in the foothills above Antelope Valley near Tehachapi, California. The facility is home to a collection of animals including camels, llamas, zebra, alpacas, sheep, goats, horses, deer and reindeer. Many of the animals have been rescued or rehabilitated.

yra Howard, right, has been named the Nurse Practitioner of the Year for the Santa Barbara Chapter of California Association of Nurse Practitioners (CANP), which is the voice and networking forum for all nurse practitioners statewide. Howard is one of the founders and leaders of the Santa Barbara chapter. CANP provides a forum and unifying voice for more than 22,000 nurse practitioners statewide, often joining forces with other state and national organizations to advance the profession and bridge health care needs.

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Oriental Medicine practitioner celebrates 20 years locally Dr. Hyun K. Lee moved to the SY Valley to be closer to his horses By Pamela Dozois

Reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com

his month marks the 20th anniversary of Dr. Hyun K. Lee, one of the longest-practicing acupuncturists in the Santa Ynez Valley. He has been practicing Oriental Medicine at Valley Medical and Professional Center since his arrival in the valley in the fall of 1999. In addition to helping numerous patients over the years with their aches and pains, he also deals with complex issues such as Parkinson’s, Chron’s Disease, COPD, chronic allergies, and auto immune diseases, among others. He has also helped patients look their best for special occasions, beautifying them with Oriental Medicine face lifts. He has also helped to bring new life into the valley by helping patients overcome their infertility issues and achieve their dreams of a family. But, in addition to his professional skills, few people are aware of Lee’s interesting background as a political refugee, or of his hobbies. Lee is a double immigrant, having had to flee his home as a child in North Korea to South Korea when the Communists took over,

Photo by Pamela Dozois Dr. Hung K. Lee is pictured at his clinic in Solvang.

then immigrating with his family again from South Korea to the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1995. Lee was schooled by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather in Oriental Medicine, herbology and acupuncture in Korea. After immigrating to the United States he obtained his California Acupuncture license upon

graduating in 1999 from the prestigious South Baylo University School of Acupuncture in Los Angeles. He worked as an acupuncturist in Los Angeles in a group practice but then decided to open a clinic in the Santa Ynez Valley. He received his Ph.D. in Korean Constitutional Medicine and herbology in 2010. He

holds a U.S. Doctorate in Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture, which he received in 2014. He is also a Certified Master Oriental Herbalist. He gives acupuncture seminars in Korean, and participates in numerous acupuncture and Oriental Medicine conferences, to keep current on new innovations. Lee has received numerous accolades and awards for his outstanding contributions to his field, one of which was from the Oriental Medicine Herbal Research Center for his innovative research and teaching on herbal formulas and acupuncture. He also received a teaching award from the American Korean Acupuncture Association for his facial acupuncture technique and another for his leading research and teaching on Oriental herb formulas and acupuncture. He is also an elected member of the Incurable Disease Research Center in Los Angeles. “Dr. Lee is a wonderful and caring man. He is highly skilled in acupuncture and herbs. My husband James and I have been his patients for over 13 years and I can’t say enough good things about him and his herbs. Whatever our health issues may be, he is always there to take care of us, supporting and guiding us mentally and physically to obtain better health and well-being. I love his use of metaphors in explaining how acupuncture works to create harmony in the body. As he always says, DR. HYUN CONTINUED TO PAGE 28

12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

GENEALOGY TIPS

You can become your family’s anthropologist

By Sheila Benedict Contributing Writer

f you want to find out more about your ancestors aside from names, dates, and places, consider checking out old receipts, memberships, and other documents that can give insight into who those people were, what were their likes and dislike, and how they lived. Think about the following non-traditional items — become the family anthropologist, if you will — and handle items carefully, make copies of old newspapers on acid-free paper, and store everything in conservation/preservation containers. Consider these: n Bank statement and/or blank, voided check n Old love letters, and letters of any kind n Dated receipts from markets, department or discount stores n Vehicle registrations n Expired passport, travel photos and maps n All types of legal papers: court, land, tax, etc. n Catalog pages to show what was “in”

during your lifetime n Animals’ registration certificates and vet bills n Raffle and lottery tickets n Warranty booklets n Newspaper headlines and articles (be sure to cite name, date and page number) n Coin or stamp collection information (sheet from an appraisal book) n Diplomas, degrees, certificates, tassels, etc. n Union membership book, club membership cards and/or a list that includes offices held n Maps and historical data

from all places in which you have lived n Calendars and/or old date books (just a few pages are enough) n Prom invitations and/or invitations to other special events n Videotape of family and audio or CD of family history n Political memorabilia from all parties n Baby books, birth announcements, lock of baby hair, etc. n List of friends and family, and business partners n TV Guide or a page from a newspaper n Separate lists of books you read

that you liked and those you disliked, and why. n Likes and dislikes in music, art, movies and clothing. n Holiday cards with handwritten notes n Funeral handouts n Internet and email information n DNA results n Something personal to only you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and all the other holidays this month. Next month, the column will try to list all the places in Santa Barbara County, especially in the Santa Ynez Valley, where one might do some family research. We will cover both genealogy libraries and centers as well as non-genealogy places such as libraries and archives. If you have questions, please send them to news@santaynezvalleystar.com so they can be answered in future issues. 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.

An immigrant perspective: Part actor and part witness FYI This is the fifth article in the Inclusion SYV Local Stories Project, which is intended to include as many local voices as possible. By Inclusion SYV Contributed

nfortunately, the Santa Ynez Valley is not immune to the impacts of racism and bigotry. Is there a way that we can all better embrace the national, ethnic, religious and gender diversity of our community and live more rewarding lives? That’s the purpose of Inclusion SYV, an organization founded in 2017. The members of Inclusion welcome you to a monthly series of true stories written by members of our community, dedicated to initiating a continuing and open discussion of the immigrant experience and the often dramatic and long-term impact of both welcoming and traumatic events. Our hope is that readers will find each story a meaningful contribution to a better understanding of each other. The names of the writers are kept anonymous to protect their identities. Email any comments to inclusionsyv@ gmail.com. If you are interested in telling

your story, please let us know. nnn My name is Antoinette. If my accent does not give me away as an immigrant from France as soon as I open my mouth, my name generally does. I came to the United States in 1980 to study at Stanford University. After I got a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the Food Research Institute, Stanford sponsored me for a green card. Shortly thereafter, I got married and became a U.S. citizen. I worked at the university until 2000 and have been living in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley ever since. In recent months, I have given a lot of thought to the anti-immigration and discrimination issues that are becoming more and more prevalent. Being part actor and part witness gives me conflicting perspectives. I love the United Sates. I chose to come here, and I chose to stay. I used to think that it was truly the land of open minds and opportunities. During all my years here, not once have I felt like I was treated negatively because of my immigrant status, even early on when I barely spoke English. In fact, it has most often been the opposite. My Stanford classmates helped me by sharing their class notes since language was a big barrier. Faculty and staff were kind and did everything they could to make me feel welcome. Even now, people routinely comment on my “cute” accent and advise me never to lose it (as if I could). They ask where I am from and comment on how

cool it is that I grew up in Paris. They are interested and want to find out more about France and me. Over the years, however, I have witnessed a very different story for other immigrants. It started when I was interviewed for a green card. I remember noticing that I was treated much better than other foreigners at the INS center. My interview was not especially cordial, but it was conducted in a polite and professional manner. I could hear, however, the incredibly rude and literally mean way that some agents were talking to other (non-Caucasian) immigrants. I remember being shocked. I have also witnessed numerous incidents in my current work environment. My husband and I own and operate an olive orchard and an olive mill. Key to our business are two wonderful Hispanic people: José, our farm manager, has worked for us for 25 years, first for my husband in the Bay Area and now here. His wife, Blanca, has worked for us for 13 years as our bookkeeper. They live on our property with their children. They are family. Time and time again, unfortunately, I see how differently some of our clients treat them. Sometimes it is subtle; sometimes it is totally out of line. I was once told by a neighbor to “go tell my migrant worker that ….” referring to José. I was so taken aback that I did not know how to respond. I have watched people time and time again abusing José and Blanca’s very helpful nature and asking for things they would never think to

ask me. José once drove two hours each way to advise a woman about her olive trees, at her request. She gave him a bag of citrus to thank him. I could go on and on. It is an ongoing, appalling reminder of entitlement, racism and economic discrimination. When all the negative rhetoric about immigrants started to intensify, I was first puzzled, then horrified. I could not understand how some citizens of a country founded by immigrants could have such a short memory. I have wondered at length what causes such discrimination. Why do I see such different behavior towards other immigrants? Why is there story after story of belittling, bullying and abuse? One day, I commented to a relatively conservative friend that it did not make me feel particularly good to hear all the anti-immigration talk, even though I was never attacked personally. She responded: “but it’s different for you.” Why is it different? Because I am Caucasian? Educated? From a European country? Because although I am not quite “the same,” I am only “a little” different? Probably all of the above, but I certainly don’t think it is based on any intrinsic value. I responded to her that the United States needs farm, construction and restaurant labor, for instance, far more than economists. There is a big olive crop this year and it is difficult to find enough labor to pick the olives in a timely manner and to help with the IMMIGRANT CONTINUED TO PAGE 28

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13

DEC 21

AURORA DRONEALIS 11/30 AND EVERY SAT IN DEC

14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

This year’s Christmas Basket program will support 161 families

By Laura Kath Contributed

he 19th annual Santa Ynez Valley Christmas Basket Program in 2019 is supporting 161 local families that include 369 children and 293 adults, a total of 662 people. Recipients of food and gifts through the program must be residents of Ballard, Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez or Solvang, and fami-

Photo contributed Students from Santa Ynez Valley Charter School helped to fill Christmas Baskets in 2018

The donated, bountiful Christmas baskets are ready for families to pick up at Solvang’s Old Mission Santa Inés each year.

lies with children under the age of 17 who are struggling financially and unable to provide for them at Christmas time. The Christmas Basket Program is organized entirely by volunteers from Old Mission Santa Inés, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mark’sin-the-Valley Episcopal Church and Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church along with support from hundreds of individuals and more than 35 businesses and organizations. “Each year, we want every local family to experience the magic of Christmas regardless of financial status, so we reach out to community members and ask them to help us convey

the spirit of the season,” said Basket Program Director Genevieve Geyser. “This program provides a hand-up to help during this Christmas season of sharing and caring.” Applications to participate in the program are available each October, then reviewed by the all-volunteer committee. Then families are notified of their acceptance in early November. Baskets will be picked up at Old Mission Santa Ines on Dec. 20. Each family will receive a bountiful hamper of food, staples and toiletries, plus fresh chickens donated by El Rancho Market, a gift card for a local grocery store, as well as a large,

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Photos by Pamela Dozois More than 800 special-needs students, teachers and aides attended the Vikings’ Christmas party on Dec. 2.

Special kids get special party from Vikings of Solvang More than 800 people get lunch, gifts, and a visit with Santa By Pamela Dozois

reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com

Move-In

Ready What’s Christmas without the ever-lovable Mr. Grinch?

gift certificate for use in her classroom,” he continued. “We have parents who bring their children as well, as some may be fearful of getting on a bus or coming alone with a teacher. … Some of the children keep coming back year after year. Some are 18 or 19 years old now.” Approximately 100 Viking volunteers work at this special event. Some are greeters, some work at the registration desk, others are ushers and food servers, and others help control the traffic into and out of the dining room. After the children have eaten, they are guided into the room where Santa and Mrs. Claus await them. “The teachers and aides are absolutely remarkable. They are so peaceful and calm. They know how to handle their children. They have the ‘patience of Job’,” said Dave Bemis, chief of the Vikings this year. “They are so skillful, working with their individual kids, helping them to succeed.” “Putting on this event is not work, it’s a pleasure,” said Cassidy, who has been chairman of this committee for about 10 years, taking over from the late Hans Birkholm who had run the program for decades before stepping down. “Sometimes I think it is more pleasure than work,” Bemis agreed with a grin. “But then again, the chief does very little with regard to this event .... Jim is the VIKINGS CONTINUED TO PAGE 18

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s the buses pulled into the parking lot at the Marriott Hotel in Buellton on the morning of Dec. 2, only smiling faces could be seen peering out of the windows as children anticipated the opportunity of attending a party created just for them with a restaurant lunch, gifts, and a chance to see Santa. Disembarking, eyes widened as each child was greeted by familiar characters such as Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch, a Christmas elf, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The annual Vikings of Solvang Christmas Party, given yearly on behalf of special-needs children and young adults from northern Santa Barbara County, is the highlight of the Vikings’ many yearly projects. Each of the more than 800 guests was served lunch in a highly decorated banquet hall while the Viking Troubadours (Suzanne Hollrah, Gene Madsen and Franci DeFranco) and the Christmas Brass Group (David Pedersen, Doug Bube, Eldon Shiffman, Eugene L. Myers, and Mike Moore) performed Christmas music. Each child then visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus, allowing them the opportunity to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Each one then received a bucket of cookies from Olsen’s Bakery to take home. “The party planning began in August,” explained Jim Cassidy, chairman of the event’s committee. “We have a master list of all the schools and teachers and begin emailing invitations to see who will be attending this year’s party, then we double check the list. If a teacher hasn’t responded, we then track her or him down by telephone in order to get an accurate head count to make sure that we order enough food for the party. “Each teacher receives a $300 Amazon

16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Auction of Huguette Clark’s dolls to benefit Bellosguardo Foundation Event will include a public exhibit from reclusive heiress’ collection of more than 1,000 dolls By Giana Magnoli

Noozhawk Managing Editor

he late heiress Huguette Clark’s doll collection will be auctioned off in Goleta in January to benefit the Bellosguardo Foundation. Clark died in 2011 at age 104 with a $300 million fortune, and in her will she created a foundation to foster the arts. She gifted her grand estate at 1407 E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara to the foundation, and after years of probate and tax issues, ownership was transferred in late 2017. Stuart Holbrook, president of Theriault’s auction house, said Clark’s collection will be auctioned on Jan. 11. The collection of 1,000-plus dolls includes about 400 being auctioned, minus the 30 to 40 dolls that will be displayed at the Santa Barbara estate, he said. “We’ve been working with (the foundation) and have established our vision and their vision, understanding that dolls are an important part of the legacy and life of Huguette,” he said. Holbrook said he has visited Bellosguardo several times recently and seen the improvements — presumably to make it ready for the public. “It’s a time capsule basically of a gilded life, and these homes that are truly spectacular,” he said. Clark’s passion for music is shown in her collection, and Holbrook incorporated some mechanical dolls — including a ballet dancer and one that plays a harp — into the estate’s music room. Theriault’s moved its annual auction to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in western Goleta to honor Clark’s collection, according to Holbrook. He said some of the dolls will be displayed in an exhibit open to the public the day before the auction, from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 10. The public exhibit will also be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 11, and the auction will start at 11 a.m., exclusively for Clark dolls. Members of the public are welcome to stay and watch the auction, although it may be standing-room-only, Holbrook said. Clark is “beloved in the doll world,” he added. “Collectors are flying in from around the world for this.” He said the popularity of her collection is drawn from her unique life. “Yes, the dolls are fabulous ... But overall, the greatest part of this whole collection is the story of Huguette,” he said. A few 19th-century French dolls wear custom clothing made by couture fashion house Christian Dior, which Clark requested in the 1960s. “That is a very unique thing,” Holbrook said. “Who can talk to Dior in Paris and have them actually do this? And they did.”

Photo contributed About 400 dolls and automata from heiress Huguette Clark’s collection will be auctioned by Theriault’s on Jan. 11 at The RitzCarlton Bacara in Goleta.

According to Theriault’s president Stuart Holbrook, this 19th century doll comes with custom clothing made by the Christian Dior couture fashion house at Huguette Clark’s request. “It reflects well to her unique eye,” he says.

The doll collection was gifted to the Bellosguardo Foundation in 2014, when Theriault’s appraised it at $1.7 million.

Holbrook said at the time that he and others at the company had exchanged notes and doll catalogs with Clark, one of their biggest

collectors, for decades without knowing who she was, since she always contacted them through attorneys. He said Clark mostly purchased French dolls from the 19th century, though she did buy some Japanese dolls and even some unique Barbie dolls. Clark was the daughter of copper tycoon and Idaho Sen. William Clark, who made his fortune from mining, banks and railroads. She lived at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York for the last decades of her life, and she reportedly had not visited the Santa Barbara estate for 50 years. That property, as well as a lavish Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City and a home in Connecticut, was kept ready for a visit at a moment’s notice. Many of the Clark family’s fine art collection, furniture and other belongings have been auctioned to fund the settlement for the will, and the Christie’s auction in 2014 raised almost $8.5 million. The Bellosguardo Foundation was created, and then-Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider nominated members to the board of directors. Her former political consultant, Jeremy Lindaman, is president and working as the executive director for the estate. Other than a fundraiser last year, with $1,000-plus tickets, the public has not had much of a glimpse into the estate or the foundation’s plans. The Bellosguardo Foundation “is committed to both honoring the Clarks’ past and building a future where the estate can be enjoyed by all as a focal point for the arts,” according to its website. “Realizing that future will take time and commitment, but the fruits of that labor will be well worth the effort. “Be it coming up to enjoy a family picnic by the rose garden, delve into the estate’s history, view art from institutions around the world or take in a jazz recital on the lawn, Bellosguardo will become a new home for art, music, history and culture on the California coast.” Bellosguardo is a 23½-acre property with an assessed value of $51.7 million for the 2019-2020 year, according to the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office. The 21,666-square-foot mansion, built in 1936, has nine bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and 13 fireplaces. Annual property taxes were about $20,000 per year before Clark’s death because of Proposition 13, but when it transferred ownership to the Estate of Huguette M. Clark upon her death, payments jumped dramatically, according to Assessor’s Office records. Property tax payments of $270,140.35 were made on Dec. 10, 2018, and April 10 this year, with the next payment of $274,006.21 due by Dec. 20.

Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17

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18 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

o VIKINGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

Photo contributed The regional offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have teamed up to cover the costs for 24 adoptions.

Realtors combine to support dog adoptions

covered 15 adoptions at the Santa Ynez

Staff Report

he Santa Barbara, Montecito, Oxnard Beach and Ventura regional offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage have teamed up to cover the costs for 24 adoptions from C.A.R.E.4Paws; Cold Noses, Warm Hearts; Santa Ynez Humane Society; and Santa Barbara County Animal Services. The effort comes as a part of Coldwell Banker’s Homes for Dogs project, a partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com aimed at helping adoptable dogs find loving homes. “All four Coldwell Banker offices came together and made a difference for 24 pets who now have loving homes,” said Cindy York Shadian, the branch manager of the Montecito and Santa Barbara offices. During the day of the Wags n Whiskers event on Oct. 13, Coldwell Banker helped seven dogs and two cats find their forever homes and also raised additional funds that

Humane Society. In addition, Coldwell Banker made a $500 donation to C.A.R.E.4Paws, a nonprofit whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation, keep animals out of shelters, and improve quality of life for

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Children are greeted by costumed characters that include a Christmas elf.

person who is really in charge.” “The Marriott is doing such a good job for us. We have been coming here for 10 years now. The Marriott provides a fine team that works with us, making sure everything goes off as planned,” said Cassidy. “Every time a bus comes in, we see kids with all kinds of issues, but 99 percent of them step off the bus with smiling faces, and then we start smiling,” Cassidy continued. “I think that’s why we have so many volunteers – it’s because it makes them so happy to be here. The Vikings have close to 200 members. Most service clubs have a hard time recruiting, but we have at least 20 new members each year.” “We feel very blessed to have the opportunity to attend this party with our kids and to have the Vikings’ support each Christmas. Everyone is having such a wonderful time,” said D.J. Barber, long-term substitute Special Ed teacher at Taylor Elementary School in Santa Maria as the children at her table were happily feasting on hamburgers, French fries, and treats that were being served to them by the Vikings and Marriott staff members. “This is such a heart-rending event – it makes me want to cry,” said Viking Al Salge. “It makes me so thankful for all the blessings I have in my life.”

The Viking Troubadours entertained during the luncheon. Pictured, from left, are Gene Madsen, Suzanne Hollrah and Franci DeFranco.

The Vikings are a social and philanthropic nonprofit group that exists to provide help with the medically related needs of qualified people and organizations in Santa Barbara County. This year, in addition to the cost of this party, they have made grants for medical needs that total nearly $85,000. For more information, log onto www.vikingcharitiesinc.com.

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December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19

Use of prescribed burns gaining momentum Ancient practice can clear ag land as well as inhibit wildfires By Ching Lee

AG Alert

eadly and destructive California wildfires have fueled growing interest in bringing back an age-old practice that ecological experts say could help prevent future fires and restore the health of the landscape: prescribed burning. The practice of deliberately setting fire to the land as a management tool has deep roots in the state’s history, with native tribes using controlled fires to manipulate the landscape and encourage growth of desirable plants, but prescribed burning is “far enough in the past where it’s almost folklore,” according to Jeff Stakehouse, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties. He said acreage of prescribed burns on private land has dwindled from a peak of more than 200,000 acres a year in the 1950s to less than 10,000 acres annually in the last 15 years. But that is changing. Momentum for increasing the use of controlled fires has spurred formation of prescribed-burn associations that allow private landowners to pool resources and work together to burn each other’s properties. The Humboldt County Prescribed Burn Association, which formed in 2018, became the first of its kind in the West, with other counties including Sonoma, Plumas, Nevada and Mendocino also creating their own groups. For Humboldt County, turning to prescribed burning was not so much

Photo contributed Increasing interest in using controlled fires has spurred formation of prescribed-burn associations that help landowners pool resources to burn each other’s properties.

prompted by wildfire concerns as it was about landowners wanting to manage vegetation and reduce wood encroachment on their properties, Stakehouse said. He noted that mechanical removal tends to be “incredibly expensive” — about $500 to $1,000 an acre — and the use of herbicide is “strongly frowned upon” in his region. “We had people coming into our office asking about prescribed fire,” he said, and he would refer them to CalFire and its Vegetation Management Program, “knowing the whole time that the capacity of CalFire to get projects done was limited.” CalFire, which established its VMP

Farm Bureau needs farmers, ranchers to be pen pals Staff Report

he Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau’s GAATE Foundation is looking for farmers and ranchers to participate in a pen pal program with classes of students. The GAATE Foundation’s Ag Pen Pal Program educates students and teachers about their food, fiber and fuel through creating a personal connection between a farmer or rancher and a classroom. The ultimate goal of the pen pal program is to increase agricultural literacy in the county. The program asks that a farmer or rancher write or email an assigned classroom at least three times

per year — fall, winter and spring. In addition to letters and emails, participants might also send videos or photographs, seed or fiber samples or even make a visit to the classroom. Classrooms are also asked to write or email their assigned farmer/rancher at least three times per year. It is not always possible to match a pen pal with a classroom within a drivable distance, so visiting via Skype is another option. For more information, visit www.sbcfb.com and click on the AG Pen Pal Program.

in the 1980s, does most of the burning for private landowners — and because CalFire has been doing the burning, people now “lack the skill and comfort” to do their own, said Lenya Quinn-Davidson, UCCE fire advisor and director of the Northern California Prescribed Fire Council. With more landowners asking about prescribed fire in recent years, she said “we knew we needed to figure out a different way to help those people and to get those projects going.” Prescribed-burn associations may be new to the West, but the neighbors-helping-neighbors approach has been around for years in other parts of the country,

Stakehouse said, noting that he and Quinn-Davidson “blatantly stole the idea and the model from the Midwest” after traveling to Nebraska in 2017 to learn firsthand from two well-established PBAs. Traveling with them was Humboldt County rancher Dean Hunt, who now serves as president of the county PBA. Prior to the trip, Hunt had already completed a VMP burn with CalFire to reduce brush encroachment, targeting conifers and Douglas firs that had returned to the range. “Fire is the best tool to restore this ground,” Hunt said. “The huge benefit we’ve seen is not only to the cattle but to the wildlife. We’ve created a lot more browse for the deer and we have a lot of elk that are on our property.” Seeing strength in diversity, Stakehouse said he and Quinn-Davidson have been adamant about allowing anyone from the community to join the Humboldt County PBA, which has more than 80 members. “It’s turning out to be a good bonding experience to be able to cross paths with different people that we never knew before,” Hunt said. Since its establishment, the association has done 18 burns on more than 1,000 acres, though the projects were for training, Stakehouse said. The biggest challenge to doing more burns, Quinn-Davidson said, is the preparation and planning involved, which takes a year or two to get a project fully ready to go. That includes obtaining permits, waiting for the right conditions and aligning those factors with people’s schedules. Last year, the association performed BURNS CONTINUED TO PAGE 25

20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

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Traditionally fermented pickles are the real deal By Vida Gustafson Contributing Writer

robiotic-rich foods have had their moment in the food-trend spotlight, and while we’re all familiar with the myriad of health benefits associated with adding them to our diets, I’d like to point out that they are also just plain good eating. Case in point, the superior crunch and zest of a traditionally fermented pickle as opposed to their vinegar brine counterpart. Pickles are an easy place to start in learning to preserve your own foods through natural fermentation, a gateway to sauerkraut and kombucha — if you’re in to that kinda thing. Known also as Kosher dills, full sours or deli-style pickles, these are pickled (fermented) in an anaerobic salt brine that prevents the formation of bad bacteria while allowing beneficial lactobacillus to thrive. The natural fermentation process gives an almost carbonated zing to the cucumbers. This is a great way to preserve the last few cucumbers from the garden (or your friendly neighbor’s garden) and will liven up any sandwich or cheese plate.

Ingredients

2 qt filtered water 6 tbsp kosher salt 12-14 small Kirby cucumbers (if using

Photo by By Vida Gustafson The natural fermentation process gives an almost carbonated zing to the cucumbers.

larger cucumbers, slice into discs or spears) 2 Grape leaves 3-5 cloves of garlic 1 tsp mustard seed 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp coriander seed A bunch of fresh dill

If you cannot find grape leaves, two or three bay leaves, raspberry leaves or an equivalent amount of black tea leaves will suffice. The tannins in the leaves help to keep the pickle crispy. Special equipment Canning jars (this recipe makes 2 small or

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one large jar) Method Clean and trim your cucumbers. Any blossom or bud left is said to make the pickles mushy. Clean and sterilize your canning jars. I run mine through the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle. Dissolve the salt in the clean filtered water. Make sure the water is chlorine free. I’ve had success using distilled water instead of tap water. Pack your grape leaves, garlic, dill and spices into the jar, topping off with the pickles. Pour over your salt brine, ensuring that everything is submerged. If the cucumbers will not stay submerged, you can put a small dish over the top, inserted under the lid, to keep them under the brine. Once the lids are in place, the pickles are ready to do their work. Leave them in a cool, dark area for at least two weeks. Check on them every two days, opening the lid slightly to allow any gasses to escape. The brine will become cloudy, and that’s exactly what you want! Your pickles will be ready to eat or move to the refrigerator after two weeks.

22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

God’s Country Provisions buys Los Olivos Lemons

By Raiza Giorgi publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

enifer and Grant Sanregret have sold Los Olivos Lemons to God’s Country Provisions, owned by Loren and Sarah Ollenburger and Craig and Tracy Minus. God’s Country Provisions is best known for delivering doughnuts throughout the Santa Ynez Valley Los Olivos Lemons began as Austin City Lemons in Austin, Texas, in March 2014, after the Sanregrets’ son Vance was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. When they decided to relocate to the Santa Ynez Valley, they brought their business with them, establishing Los Olivos Lemons, which has since developed a loyal following from adults and children, locals and tourists. “Jen and Grant created something extremely special with Los Olivos Lemons. Their commitment to raising money for CF and bringing joy to our community has been inspiring, and we just didn’t want to see their legacy end. It is our responsibility to keep it going” Sarah Ollenburger said. “It is the perfect fit. Doughnuts bring smiles, and so does lemonade.: God’s Country Provisions (GCP) is also committed to continuing the Sanregrets’ mission to Cystic Fibrosis by donating 2.5 percent of sales of the lemonade to the CF Foundation. “Grant and I are thrilled to have the GCP team take over Los Olivos Lemons, with their same passion for community and

Photo contributed Los Olivos Lemons has been sold to God’s Country Provisions

mission to adding happiness to customers, we know this is a great fit for the future of

our business,” Jenifer Sanregret said.

For more information, email God’s Country Provisions at info@godscountryprovisions.com.

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23

Kids can help with no-bake Moon Cookies 1 spoon or spatula

Staff Report

ere is a recipe for Moon Cookies that kids will enjoy making with you while they learn a little about the moon. No baking is required! For example, scientists think the moon formed when a Mars-sized object crashed into Earth. When the moon formed, it was much closer to Earth, so it must have looked giant in the sky. The moon is getting about 1-1/2 inches farther away from Earth every year. The moon is bright because it reflects sunlight. There is no air on the moon. The Apollo astronauts had to bring their own. The moon’s gravity is only about 1/6 as strong as Earth’s. When Apollo astronaut Alan Shepard hit a golf ball on the moon in 1971, it probably landed more than two miles away!

Dry measuring cups 1 tray or storage container

For dipping: 1-1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 small bowl

What to do: Measure all of the ingredients and dump them into the large bowl. Mix ingredients very well with a spoon. When the ingredients Photos contributed Use your hands to shape the dough into small round balls, or “moons.”

get too stiff to mix with a spoon, you can continue mixing and kneading the dough with your hands. (Wet your hands for best results.)

Here’s the recipe.

What you need For the dough: 1/2 cup wheat germ 1-1/2 cups peanut butter (Nutfree butters, such as sunflower seed butter, can be used instead.) 1-1/2 cups honey d 3 cups dried milk 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 large bowl

Next, use your hands to shape the dough into small round balls or “moons.” You can also shape the dough into crescent moons if you’d like. Pour powdered sugar into the small bowl. Roll each moon in the powdered sugar. They’re now ready to eat! Store leftover cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator.

This recipe makes about five dozen moons.

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24 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

United Boys & Girls Clubs set goals for 2020

Staff Report

ey goals in the coming year for the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County include extending service centers in Solvang, according to a 2020 strategic plan approved by its 17-member board. Other goals are to increase fundraising efforts with a 10 percent increase in grants, individual giving, and special events. The board also set a goal to grow to 18 active members, and increase the community councils at each club location to at least five active members attending at least 75 percent of all meetings. “This plan is centered on our mission, ‘to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and

Photo contributed Among the goals of the United Boys and Girls Club in 2020 is to extend service centers in Solvang.

responsible citizens.’ Our board has set out big goals in this plan, but they are important goals that with the community’s support I am sure we will accomplish,” Board President Tony Vallejo said. “I am so honored to be the CEO of an organization that has the support of an incredibly philanthropic county that enables our board and staff to be ‘bold’ and to maximize our outreach efforts and focus like a laser on doing the best we possibly can for the youth that need us the most,” CEO Michael Baker said. “This plan is just another reason why I love my job.” United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County is also known for its acronym of UNITEDBGC, which is an acronym for United, New & Nimble, Impact, Teens, Education, Development, Board, Growth and Collaboration. Each letter stands for a way the organization strives to grow with this new strategic plan.

High school students to compete with ‘water-wise’ videos Staff Report

rea high school students are invited to win prizes by creating 30-second “water-wise” videos that center on this year’s theme, “Life after Lawn.” Applications for the 21st Annual WaterWise High School Video Contest are now open, according to the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. Every year, students compete to create entertaining and informational videos that convey the importance of water-use efficiency in Santa Barbara County. The contest meets several California State Department of Education Content Standards, including implementing world languages. “Our long-standing and popular program continues to evolve, and this year we are thrilled to be adding a Spanish language category,” said Water Agency manager Fray Crease. Up to three videos in English and/or Spanish can be submitted per school. The winning videos will receive prizes and will be aired on local TV stations and in movie theaters. While the County Water Agency and

water providers arrange for monetary prizes to the winning schools, local private sponsors provide awards for the students: First Place (English): $500 provided by Carollo Engineers. First Place (Spanish): $500 provided by Univision. Second Place: $250 provided by Geosyntec. Third Place: $150 provided by Ewing Irrigation. Two Honorable Mentions for North and South County submissions: North County: Car wash vouchers provided by Splash N’ Dash Car Wash. South County: Film festival tickets provided by the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. People’s Choice Award (voted by the public): $500 provided by All-Around Landscape Supply. To be eligible to win prizes, student participants must submit their videos and completed application packet online by 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 6. The student winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in May. For more information and the application, visit WaterWiseSB.org/HSVC.

Photo contributed The annual WaterWise High School Video Contest challenges students to create 30-second videos centered on the same theme.

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o BURNS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 a burn on 320 acres for Humboldt County rancher Hugo Klopper. Doing the burn as part of a PBA not only reduced the project’s cost, Klopper said, but it provided training for volunteer firefighters, who bring their engines and provide support. “These guys have very little experience fighting wildland fires; most of their experience is structures,” he said. “This gives them an opportunity to put a drip torch in hand and do a burn, not just do fire suppression.” Following workshops Quinn-Davidson and Stakehouse have held across the state to promote the PBA model, the idea is catching on. Jamie Ervin, an organizer for Coloma-based Sierra Forest Legacy, which encourages prescribed burning, has been helping to organize the Nevada County Prescribed Burn Association, which formed in May. Most of the group’s members live in Nevada City or Grass Valley, he said, regions that have been dubbed “the next Paradise,” the site of last year’s Camp Fire, the worst in

state history. “People are just on edge about fires right now,” he said. Whereas the Humboldt County PBA has been focused on reducing invasive plant species on grasslands, Ervin said most members of his group want to burn forestlands to reduce fuel, “which is a different kind of burn and takes a different kind of expertise to pull off.” Though the group so far has done just a small demonstration burn on a fifth of an acre, he said members are working to raise funding to do bigger burns next year. He said even though the state has encouraged more burning through its Forest Management Task Force and air-quality districts have committed to permitting more burn days, “there’s a lot of barriers to making it happen,” with air-quality days being one of them.

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Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert, a weekly newspaper of California agriculture. She can be reached at clee@cfbf.com.

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Photo by Raiza Giorgi Fossemalle Dancers delighted crowds for the annual Santa Ynez Tree Lighting.

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milling process. Labor costs are crippling here because there is always a shortage of labor. Olive picking is back-breaking, minimum wage, seasonal work, and we cannot find white Americans who want to do it. So exactly what would make me a more valuable immigrant than our olive pickers? One could argue there are way too many economists! I have lived extensively in three very different environments: Paris, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Santa Ynez Valley. I have also been lucky enough to travel extensively around the world and become familiar with other cultures. I have been to many extremely poor as well as very wealthy countries, with completely different cultures, customs and traditions. It has made me appreciate how fortunate we are to live in the United States. We have so much, at so many levels. I try to remember that every day and be grateful, even for things as mundane as turning the water faucet on. How many billions of people don’t have running water? In my opinion, we all can learn a tremendous amount from other cultures. Being exposed to different people and habits and trying to understand them helps us grow. The most basic example is ethnic food. We love some a lot and other not so much, but it always generates ideas about our own cooking. I think it is the same about everything from music to traditions, religion, family and other values, to life in general. Being with people who are different from us and trying to understand where

they come from is fascinating and fun. More profoundly, it helps us not see them as “unreal others.” We realize that, in fact, we are all very similar: We all want to be happy, to have hope, to have opportunities. We want to be treated with respect and honesty. We all have small and big challenges. We are much more the same than we are different. Another thing that strikes me is the growing lack of civility and manners in the United Sates. Manners and decorum are very important in France (unless you are a waiter in a French café, intent on projecting the worst possible attitude to locals and foreigners alike). They have a profound impact beyond appearances. First, controlling our behavior and words can give us some space to consider what we want to communicate. This in turn impacts how people respond to us and prevents a vicious circle of mutual distrust. I firmly believe that more civility could go a long way in helping discrimination, bullying, and racism issues. My love for the United States has not changed. I have observed profound changes in this country during my almost 40 years here, however, and they are disheartening. I hope that we will collectively come to our senses and find a way to return to the fantastic, more open and tolerant country we once were striving to be. My father taught me that we have a responsibility towards less privileged people. I think the same applies to us as a country. We have so much. Let’s pay it forward.

o DR. HYUN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 ‘Happy mind, happy body, happy life,’” said Stacey Foss. “Dr. Lee is a very humble healer whose only focus is to relieve patients from their pain and guide them to obtaining a long and healthy life,” said Amy Hohenfeld, a long-time patient. “As he always says, if you want to go for the gold, which is a long life, free of pain, just follow what he prescribes - acupuncture, herbs, a constitutional diet, moderate exercise and a healthy mind. It’s that simple, and it has worked for me and my family.” Despite his busy professional life, Dr. Lee finds the time to fit in a few hobbies. A keen horseman, he was on the Korean-American Olympic Team in the Asian Olympics held in Taegu in 1992, representing America in dressage. He was also a riding instructor for the Korean-American Riding Association in Los Angeles and Korea, and a board member of the Korean American Federation Riding Association. “There were 20 teams in total representing Korean-America and South Korea at the Asian Olympics. Most of the Korean-Americans who flew over from USA chose to compete in the jumping classes, but I chose dressage. Unfortunately we could not fly our horses to Korea, so I was only told the night before which Korean horse I would be riding,” Lee said. “I was so proud to be riding for America. This was a once in a lifetime experience, and it was my first visit back to Korea since I’d left.” He also competed successfully in the United States, in hunter-jumper divisions and in dressage, winning first place in 2016 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center on his Holsteiner

gelding named Ramsee. “As far as I’m concerned, Ramsee won the blue ribbon, I was just along for the ride,” Lee said. “I’ve been privileged to ride some wonderful horses in my lifetime, but Ramsee was a star and my lifetime teacher. I will always be grateful to him for the lessons he taught me and the friendship he gave me.” Lee gave said he chose to move to the valley and open a clinic was to be closer to his horses. “Initially my horses were boarded in Goleta. and when the boarding facility moved to Buellton, I decided to open a clinic in Solvang so I could spend more time with them, and continue to train in dressage,” he said. “Whenever time allowed, I trained with Susan Derr Drake, a Grand Prix dressage teacher and competitor who competed in 116 Grand Prix dressage events and then later with Ariane Resvani, an FEI-level rider and USDF certified instructor at Silver Cup Training.” Lee is also a US certified PADI scuba diver and black belt in the Korean art of Kuk San Do, an ancient martial art that focuses on meditation and breathing techniques to increase physical and mental strength. He also worked as one of the Samurai riders in the movie “The Last Samurai” with Tom Cruise. Lee holds weekly clinics on Wednesdays at the Valley Medical Center, 2030 Viborg Road, Suite 107, in Solvang. He also holds clinics at his office in Los Angeles at 2525 W. Eighth St., Suite 201, and at his office at the Holistic Health Center at 4605 El Camino Real, Suite B, in Atascadero. For more information, call 310-666-8021.

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ore than 100 people turned out for a recent community meeting organized by a group opposed to the “Camp 4” property in Santa Ynez becoming part of the Chumash reservation. Members of the Santa Ynez Valley Coalition, which was created to defeat legislation that would take the rural land “into trust” for the tribe, focused on land use and preserving the valley’s rural character. At the meeting on April 27 at the Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall, coalition members recounted the history of land-use master plans called the Valley Blueprint and the Valley Plan and said they would release more information in the coming weeks, organizers said. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians announced in January that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had placed the tribe’s 1,390 acres known as “Camp 4” into federal trust. “Camp 4 is officially part of our reservation so we can begin the process of building homes on the property for tribal members and their families and revitalizing our tribal community,” Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn said in a prepared statement that was part of that announcement. The tribe bought the Camp 4 property in 2010 from late actor, vintner and hotelier Fess Parker, and they soon began the process of placing the land into federal trust, which makes it part of the tribe’s sovereign nation. Those efforts have been loudly opposed

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2886 M o CAMP 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 e ission Drive • Santa Yn ez Solvan g • 805- Valley elranc homar 688 43 ket.com 00 2886 Mission Drive • Solvang • 805-688-4300 o

El Rancho Market The Heart of the Santa Ynez Valley elranchomarket.com

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

“Your voice is the instrument and I felt like we were in the 1930s,” by Raiza Giorgi Remak said. news@santaynezvalleystar.com Elizabeth, 12, a seventh-grader at Solvang Elementary School, ultimately didn’t win the competition but she definitely left an impression on the hundreds of people who came to see the performances. Nolan shley Carroll does everything she Montgomery can keep her concentration betweenof Dos Pueblos High School was crowned the winner. “Being and on stage was mind blowing and I had such a great time. rounds by wearing dark glasses Performing is about bringing a smile to people’s faces, and that’s what I listening to music as she pushes through each strive for when I perform,” Elizabeth said. trap-shooting match. She’s no stranger to the stage as she has performed in the valley for His career includes images of naturalHer disasprocess is definitely working, because Story by Raiza Giorgi various functions-singing the national anthem at Fourth of July and porters, Super Bowls and Hollywood’s the biggest 22-year-old from Solvang won her first Photos by George Rose traying Poppins in last year’s production with the Arts Outreach celebrities. World Cup gold medal in Acapulco onMary March Summer Theater. Rose started his professional journey 19. more This popular eorge Rose loves to post pictures of the than 40 years ago when he was in college, “I keep my pre-shooting routine going and event along with Teen Dance Star are now in their seventh to season of crowning hardworking students, and creator and executive Santa Ynez Valley landscape, especially studying art history. He fell into photography I’ve met with sports psychologists help me Photo contributed producer Lambert, a former valley resident, talks about his efforts. along Armour Ranch Road where new while he was a copy messenger for the withProgmy mental focus and staying calm.Joe It can Solvang native Ashley Carroll father, Charlie “I am really impressed and humbled bycredits their her hard work andCarroll, what’swith instilling in her the love of shooting clays and a blacktop paving contrasts starkly with the epic ress Bulletin, a small newspaper in Pomona. be hard when you have people talking to you sense of responsibility and safety around firearms. really amazing landscape of meadows and mountains beyond it. “I used to hang out with the sportsbetween editors,matches, and I really try to pick a is they set their goals to get into the show, or into the top 10 and they keep pursuing their dreams,” Lambert However, his stunning landscapes are just and they helped me with my interestsong in phoand focus on it,” Carroll said. or participating in league events.said. My friends Union High School Carroll has been attending Star drew all around Santa “retirement photos” for Rose, who made an tography. I would make the plates on plastic, Carroll has been trap shooting This sinceyear’s she Teenwould wantcontestants me to go tofrom a party with them andBarbara the University of Colorado and working on at the Arlington Theatre. The finalists award-winning career in photojournalism that which would get transferred onto thewas printing in second grade. It was anCounty activityperforming that I their knewhearts if I didout I wouldn’t get enough rest or her general education. She believes this will weredid Jillian GarnettgetofinSan Marcos School (12th Grade), Elizabeth spanned from the days of spending hours with equipment, and back then it was theshe cusp of her father, Charlie Carroll, and togethtrouble andHigh not be allowed to shoot,” be a big year for her shooting. She moved to of SolvangCarroll Schoolsaid. (7th Grade), James McKernan of BishopColorado Springs to be close to the Olympic film in the darkroom to the more immediate the turning point of technology,” Rose said.is now the coach for thePadfield er. He Santa Ynez High School (12th Trujillo of Dos Pueblos High gratification of making and manipulating digital In the late 1970s and early 1980s Valley Rose Sportsman Association’sDiego Scholastic Trap Grade), shootingNicole has also allowed her to Training Center, which is also the headquarPhoto Daniel Dreifuss (11th Grade), Daniel Geiger of Pioneer Valley High School images. spent six years as a staff photographer forTarget the byProgram, Clay in whichSchool hundreds participate in a sport and travel all around the (11th ters for USA Shooting. She placed second Seventh-grader Padfield of Solvangtwice wowedfor theacrowd with her rendition of “Summertime” by Georgeprimarily Gershwin. The judges were stunned to HeElizabeth has been nominated Pulitzer Los Angeles Times, focused in the of kids from all around the Central Coast world for competitions. TEEN Recently went toON PAGE for the learn her age and said her vocal talents were astounding. STAR she CONTINUED 11 2016 Olympic team trials and is still Prize. entertainment industry. He has photographed participate. Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic east of deciding if she wants to go for the next Olym“Photojournalism is such an admirable profes- figures from Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa“He and wouldn’t let me shoot until I could Turkey. pic tryouts. sion because it can really capture the story for Eva Gabor to Meryl Streep, Sidney hold Poitier, the gun up on my own for a good “It was a beautiful country and one of the “A highlight for me was meeting Kim the reader. I was really lucky to have my career amount of time. We would set up boxes in the cleanest places I’ve been to. The streets were Rhode, who has been an inspiration to women GEORGE ROSE CONTINUEDliving ON PAGE 20 and I would practice for hours in the heyday of print journalism,” Rose said. room impeccable and the people were beyond hos- in shooting. After talking to her it became until I was ready,” Carroll said. pitable,” she said. really clear to me that I can achieve this as She she believes that more kids should take Carroll also won bronze in the HH Sheikha well,” Carroll said. lessons and learn their way around a gun. Fatia Bint Mubarak Women’s International Rhode became the first athlete to win an “Guns actually kept me out of trouble, beShooting Championship in the United Arab individual medal during six consecutive sumcause every Friday night and most weekends Emirates on April 13. SHOOTING CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 my dad and I were at the trap range practicing Since graduating from Santa Ynez Valley

George Rose loves taking photos of Santa Ynez Valley landscapes like this Happy Canyon rainbow shot.

ry Tim

by Raiza Giorgi

TELEPHONE:_______________________EMAIL:____________________________

ary Eve

FIRST-GRA

SYV coalition says Camp 4 impacts larger than they seem

Ashley Carroll travels news@santaynezvalleystar.com een Star Santa Barbara judge Catherine Remak thought there the world to compete was a typo next to Elizabeth Padfield’s name because her maturity and depth of range were astounding during the competition in trap shooting on Feb. 25 at the Arlington Theatre.

Sunrise Armour Ranch Road photo by George Rose, photo graphic by Aimée Reinhart Avery

e Com pliment

SCHOOL

o THANKFUL

— Jose — Coli n — Jaxs on D ON PAGE 28

CONTINUE

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 29

NOW PR OVIDING

NEWS / TALK RADIO o n 10 6 . 3 F M t o t h e SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

30 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

Casino hosting New Year’s Eve dance party

Staff Report

he Boogie Knights and The Spazmatics will return to the Chumash Casino Resort for a New Year’s Eve Dance Party full of flashbacks from the 1970s and ’80s. The party begins at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 in the Samala Showroom. General admission tickets are $25. The Boogie Knights were formed in 1992 as a Halloween gag in Los Angeles. Almost overnight, the group took the live music scene by storm. Complete with choreography, polyester, afros and

bell bottoms, The Boogie Knights are heralded as “The greatest disco revival show in the world.” And when The Spazmatics hit the stage, all the awesome sounds, styles, and way cool dance steps we’d love to forget from the 1980s will be in full effect. Complete with skinny ties, gelled hair, and horn-rimmed glasses, The Spazmatics recapture all the best of the worst of the outrageous decade. Tickets are available at the casino or at www. chumashcasino.com.

Comedian Felipe Esparza coming to Chumash casino

Staff Report

omedian Felipe Esparza, who rose to stardom by winning season seven of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” will bring his North American stand-up tour to the Santa Ynez Valley at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom. Tickets for the show are $19, $29, $39, $49 and $59. Following his “Last Comic Standing” victory in 2010, Esparza went on to produce his first hour-long stand-up comedy special, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You” (now on Netflix). He has also made several TV appearances, such as recurring roles on “The Eric Andre Show” and NBC’s “Superstore,”

TruTV’s “World’s Dumbest” and “Russell Simmons Presents Stand-Up at the El Rey.” In 2017, Esparza produced his second hour-long stand-up HBO special with his wife Lesa, titled “Translate This,” which continues to run on all of the HBO platforms. In addition to his stand-up touring, Esparza hosts a weekly podcast on the All Things Comedy Network called “What’s Up Fool?” In September, ABC Studios announced that it is developing a single-camera, sibling sitcom starring Esparza and fellow Latino comedian Dustin Ybarra. Tickets are available at the casino or at www. chumashcasino.com.

WHAT’S�MISSING?�YOUR�AD! TO�ADVERTISE�PLEASE�CONTACT Raiza Giorgi ads@santaynezvalleystar.com 805-350-8786

December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 31

To submit an event for publication, email the information to news@santaynezvalley star.com. To see more information online, go to www.santaynezvalleystar.com.

December 19

Tamale Making Party - 6 - 8 p.m. at Los Arroyos in Solvang - Interested in learning how to make tamales? Join in for this hands on demonstration with Dona Catalina. $25 per person, only 24 spaces available, no kids under 10. Contact Los Arroyos at 805-693-2994.

December 20

Buellton Bookworms Club - 12:30 - 2 p.m. at the Buellton Library. Join the monthly discussions, this month’s title is “The Rosie Project”, by Grame Simsion. Call 805-688-3115 for more info.

sky. The show uses choreographed drones performing to music using the dark sky as the canvas for lights on the remote-controlled aircraft. Visit www.solvangjulefest.org for tickets and more details.

December 22 Pet Photos with Santa - 12 - 3 p.m. at PAWS Park in Buellton. Suggested donation of $5 to support improvements and maintenance at the valley’s only dog park. Visit www.facebook.com/syvpaws for more information.

December 21 & 22

nell@connellandersen.com for more info. Family Movie: Aladdin - 1 - 3 p.m. at the Solvang Library. December’s film is the 2019 release of Disney’s “Aladdin” with Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, and Billy Magnussen. Run time is 128, rated PG.

December 31

New Year’s Eve New Year’s Eve Party - 9 p.m. through midnight at the Chumash Casino - Celebrate the end of 2019 and the start of 2020 at the Chumash Casino Resort with great music from The Boogie Knights and The Spazmatics! Visit www.chumashcasino. com for tickets.

January 1

New Year’s Day; Santa Barbara Zoo is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parents Night Out - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Gypsy Studios Art Spot. Kids Only Night provides art projects, pizza dinner and a kids movie, while you get a chance to go out! Free for Art Spot members, visit www.gypsystudiosart.com/art-spot-memberships/ for details. Ages 5 - 13.

January 3 The Christmas Revels: A Venetian Celebration of the Winter Solstice - at the Lobero Theatre - The Christmas Revels is an exciting and heartwarming entertainment experience for every age and a favorite Santa Barbara holiday tradition created by and for our community for the past 12 years. Visit www.lobero.org for details.

Politics of Dancing - 8 - 11 p.m. at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez. Come rocks out to music from the ’70s through the ’90s.

January 4

December 21

Valley Clean Team - 8:15 a.m. - Meet at Zaca Station Road and Foxen Canyon Road to go in both directions along Foxen Canyon. Supplies are provided. Contact Bill Connell at wconnell@connellandersen. com for more info. Ornament Workshop - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Solvang Library - A free drop in craft for all ages, materials supplied and there are several instructions for different ornaments. Call 805-688-4214 for more info.

The Nutcracker - This beloved holiday tradition will delight audiences of all ages! State Street Ballet performs alongside students of the Gustafson Dance and the Opera San Luis Obispo Grand Orchestra. Visit ticketing.granadasb.org/single/PSDetail. aspx?psn=13712 for details.

December 25

Christmas Day; Santa Barbara Zoo is open from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

December 27

SYV Cottage Hospital Nutrition Class - 11 a.m. Noon - at the Cottage Admin Building 2050 Viborg Rd. Join Nutritionist Stacey Bailey as she gives free nutrition and diabetes education classes. This discussion is on Healthy Treats for the New Year. Call 805-694-2351 for more details.

Drone Light Show - 5 p.m. - Downtown Solvang involve hundreds of unmanned aircraft flying in unison to create smoke-free and noise-free displays in the night

December 28

Valley Clean Team - 8:15 a.m. - Meet corner of 246 and Refugio Road to head toward the Mountain. Supplies are provided. Contact Bill Connell at wcon-

Knit and Crochet - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571. Healing Hearts Support Group – 2-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1825 Alamo Pintado Road. Free. To R.S.V.P. call 805-693-0244. Solvang Farmers Market - 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Street between Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. Crafternoons – 3:45-5:45 p.m. Arts Outreach, 2948 Nojoqui Ave. Suite 9, Los Olivos. $10/child; 805-688-9533.

Every Thursday

Sideways Inn Local’s Night Specials 5 p.m.- 8 p.m., 114 East Highway 246, Buellton; 805-691-8088. Chair Exercises - 10 a.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571. Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; Mah Jongg, Noon; Basic Cartooning, 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley Noon-2 p.m., Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center offers a support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers; www.jodihouse.org.

Every Friday

Solvang Julefest Tree Burn - 5 - 7 p.m. at Old Mission Santa Ines - Supervised by the SB County Fire Department, this is the largest safety demonstration in the county. There will be free, live entertainment and refreshments for purchase. Visit www.solvangjulefest.org for details.

Felipe Esparza - 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Don’t miss this hilarious comedian at the Chumash Casino! Visit www.chumashcasino.com for tickets.

Art Class, 9 a.m.; Book Club, 10 a.m. (call first); Bingo, 1 p.m.: Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793.

Valley Clean Team - 8:15 a.m. - Help with their toughest assignment. Need all sober hands on deck for: Santa Rosa Road – all 14 miles of it! (Gulp!!) Meet at the bottom of Avenue of The Flags/Mosby Winery. Supplies are provided. Contact Bill Connell at wconnell@connellandersen. com for more info.

Every Tuesday Computer class, 9 a.m., Knitting, 9:30 a.m.; Tai Chi, 11 a.m.; bridge and poker, 12:45 p.m.; Mah Jongg 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Toddler Tuesdays at the MOXI - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. www.moxi.org. Preschool Story Time - 10:30 a.m. at Solvang Library. Two-Step Dance Lessons – 6:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. - Industry Night and Karaoke Party. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www. themavsaloon.com.

Every Wednesday SYV We Support the Troops – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteer to pack care packages on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. 805-245-4951.

Nutrition Classes - 11 a.m. - SYV Cottage Hospital Conference Room - Instruction Stacey Bailey is a dietician and offers weekly courses in various topics. For more information call 805694-2351. Bring your lunch and talk nutrition. Tai Chi, 9:15 a.m.; Mah Jongg, 10 a.m.; Pilates – 10:15 a.m.; Ukulele 11:15 a.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-3793. Bingo - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Every Saturday

Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; 805-6884515 or www.sbparks.org. Junior Rangers Program – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Highway 154. Children 3 and up; under 10 years must be accompanied by an adult. $3/person. Nature Center admission is free. Visit www.clnaturecenter.org.

Every Sunday

Brunch at The Landsby - 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - They now accept reservations on Open Table app for the dining room and Mad & Vin patio starting at 7.30 am. For more info visit www.thelandsby.com.

Coming up

Log onto www.cityofsolvang.com, www.buelltonrec. com or www.visitsyv.com to see a full schedule of programs and events that range from adult and youth sports to teen dances, field trips, excursions and more.

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32 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H December 17, 2019 - January 7, 2020

$2,595,000 | 2075 Still Meadow Rd, Solvang | 5±acs

$2,995,000 | 3169 Montecielo Dr, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3½BA

Carole Colone | 805.708.2580 | Lic # 01223216

Brett Ellingsberg | 805.729.4334 | Lic # 01029715

$2,175,000 | 2601 Baseline Ave, Ballard | 4BD/4BA Sharon Currie / Nina Stormo | 805.448.2727 / 805.729.4754 Lic # 01357602 / 01341678

$1,795,000 | 3030 Baseline Ave, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3½BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580

$1,299,000 | 2172 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3BA Rhoda Johnson | 805.705.8707 Lic # 1070384

$1,295,000 | 2425 Cebada Canyon Rd, Lompoc | 3BD/2½BA; 20± acs Brad Berch | 805.680.9415

Lic # 01244576

$1,229,000 | 4145 Woodstock Rd, Santa Ynez | 2BD/2BA Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929 Lic # 00887277

$1,195,000 | 1135 Edison St, Santa Ynez | 3BD/3BA Glynnis Mullenary | 805.705.5206 Lic # 01748187

$1,085,000 | 2626 Janin Wy, Solvang | 4BD/3BA; 1±acs Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580

$1,039,000 | 239 Valhalla Dr, Solvang | 4BD/3BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580

$995,000 | 620 Foxen Ln, Los Alamos | 4BD/3BA; 1± acs Ealand & Sideris Group | 805.698.9902 / 455.3159 Lic # 01766178 / 00603730 / 01978598

$799,000 | 591 Poppyfield Pl, Goleta | 3BD/3BA David & Marlene Macbeth | 805.689.2738 Lic # 01132872 / 00689627

$735,000 | 370 Price Ranch Rd, Los Alamos | 3BD/2BA Cammy Godeck / Laura Drammer | 805.452.9725 / 805.448.7500

Lic # 02074002 / 01209580

$723,000 | 653 Hillside Dr, Solvang | 3BD/3BA Brenda E Cloud | 805.901.1156 Lic # 01772551

$650,000 | 420 5th St, Solvang | 2BD/2BA Brenda E Cloud | 805.901.1156 Lic # 01772551

$795,000 | 3155 Long Canyon Rd, Santa Ynez | 13.79± acs Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929 Lic # 00887277

$615,000 | 327 5th St, Solvang | 2BD/1½BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500 Lic # 01209580

$430,000 | 644 Floral Dr, Solvang | 2BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496

$415,000 | 136 Sierra Vista, Solvang | 2BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496

$399,500 | 19 Paseo del Rio, Solvang | 3BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496

$298,999 | 330 W Highway 246 #116, Buellton | 2BD/2BA Karin Aitken | 805.252.1205 Lic # 00882496

$250,000 | 24 Ealand Pl, Sycamore Canyon | 0.7±acs Tony Miller | 805.705.4007 Lic # 01979251

MONTECITO | SANTA BARBARA | LOS OLIVOS

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©2019 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