Santa Ynez Valley Star February 2016 by Santa Ynez Valley Star

February 2016 • Volume 1, Number 1

Light show becomes a marriage proposal

Couple who met after harrowing accident will be married soon

Boutique blends comfort with fashion Women’s clothing store in Solvang is a “Treat”

Farmer Matt McCurdy’s dream has flowered

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

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Welcome to our Premier Edition

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Restaurant enjoying fruits of its own farm

by Raiza Giorgi

Every year Egan de los Cobos strings together more than 10,000 lights and spends at least 100 hours programming a Christmas light show with synchronized music at his home in Solvang. This year was special, however, as he spent three months preparing two new songs in the

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‘Acoustic Night’ raises big support for tiny school Contributed As an elaborate way to propose to Rachael Jerse, Egan do los Cobos of Solvang strung together more than 10,000 lights and spent at least 100 hours programming a light show that featured the song “Will You Marry Me?”

Actor Jeff Bridges, Valley’s Chris Pelonis perform

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Actress goes from Little Theater to big screen Angie Patterson-Muto’s path into the entertainment industry started in the Valley by SYV Star Staff

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

Contributed Actress Angie Patterson filming a segment for Carl’s Jr. in which she eats a hamburger, and even though she loves hamburgers, she had to spit out bites as there were so many takes.

Eating a hamburger on camera is a lot harder than it looks. Learning that lesson required hours of preparation and filming for Santa Ynez Valley native Angie Patterson-Muto, who now lives in Los Angeles as she pursues her career in show business. “It seems silly, but I was actually really excited to land the Carl’s Jr. commercial because I really do love hamburgers. I am a girl that

likes to eat,” Patterson-Muto said. She didn’t think the filming would take very long, but she quickly found out how elaborate and intense the experience was. She hadn’t anticipated a crowd of people hovering around her to ensure that a jalapeño looked just right. “I originally told them I don’t need a spit bucket because I really love hamburgers, but after the first few hamburgers I took their advice,” she said. And while the hamburger looked flawless on film, Patterson-Muto said it was pinned together to hold all the bits and pieces in place, leaving only enough room for her to take a bite. She had worked for several years before getting hired for the Carl’s Jr. commercial, and it turned out to be a good steppingstone. Patterson-Muto always knew she would end up doing something in entertainment as she

was growing up, but she didn’t know quite what it would be until a class in high school changed her life. “I didn’t appreciate the valley when I was a kid, because the thing to do after school was drive around from one side to the other and wave to friends doing the same thing,” she recalled. “I moved around a lot as a kid. We finally settled in the Santa Ynez Valley when I was in elementary school, and I felt like I was home. I didn’t really have any creative outlets, and it was in my sophomore year of high school I took a drama class and I knew I found my passion,” she said. Acting on the stage of the Little Theater at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School sealed

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Photo by Rebecca Rivera

Raiza Giorgi with her husband Toby and two children Reagan and Sloane

Welcome to the SY Valley Star

hank you so much for picking up the first edition of the Santa Ynez Valley Star. This publication has been a lifetime in the making. I hope you continue to read it and to connect with our wonderful community. The Santa Ynez Valley has a special place in my heart. I credit my love of writing and photography to growing up in the valley. I would spend hours trying to be Harriet the Spy, interviewing my friends and neighbors. I also spent hours driving around the valley when I was a teenager taking pictures of landscapes and animals. I learned to appreciate the valley’s beauty, from rural landscapes to picturesque buildings and everything in between. I just didn’t know how to combine my two passions until my childhood dog Taxi, a yellow lab, died when I was a young adult. I walked into the Santa Ynez Valley News and met Pamela Dozois, one of the editors, and asked her to publish my story about Taxi. She did, and I got such a great response from my story that I took courses and got into Cal Poly’s school of journalism. Once I graduated I was hired by the Santa Ynez Valley News and spent a few years as a reporter, which is how some of you know me, but I always had in the back of my mind

the hope of starting my own publication. A few more years, a wonderful husband and two beautiful children later, I kept thinking of ways to get back into working as a parent and providing for my family while doing something that I loved. A friend half-jokingly suggested I start my own paper, and that idea clicked. The Star was born. This publication is intended to be uplifting for our small community. It focuses on what makes this valley the amazing place it is by highlighting our people, businesses, agriculture, equine culture, schools, nonprofit groups, food, events, and so much more. I also want you to be involved in this project as much as possible. If you would like to take a stab at writing or photography, please let me know. If you have suggestions on what you would like to see us publish, please email me at news@santaynezvalley star.com. Stay connected with updated news and features by reading our website, www. santaynezvalleystar.com. I am starting out small but hope to grow. I appreciate the support and feedback I have already received. Thank you from my whole heart.

~ Raiza Giorgii Publisher, editor and residenti

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STAFF

Raiza Giorgi Publisher & Editor news@santaynezvalleystar.com

Santa Ynez Valley Star P.O. Box 1594, Solvang, CA 934

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star news To get more information or to register, visit www.durango-songwriters-expo.com or call 970-946-9521.

Local Nurse honored for 62 years of service

Contributed

Cars lined up at a previous Pirate Garage car show.

Pirate Garage car show registration open Many students and Santa Ynez Valley residents are gearing up for the third annual Pirate Garage car show, which starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 19. Registration is underway at a cost of $25 per entry with lunch of a tritip sandwich, chips and water for an additional $5. “This car show started two years ago with what we thought would be about 25 cars and approximately 70 showed up. Last year, we expected about 75 cars and we had 115 entries on site. It has received such great support from the local and tri-county classic car communities,” said Mindi Christian, the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) coordinator at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. All proceeds benefit the high

Teen talent show set for Feb. 27

The finale of the Teen Star Santa Barbara competition will be held Feb. 27 at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara. Executive Producer Joe Lambert, a Santa Ynez Valley resident, says that in its seventh i year the program is as popular as ever. i The mission of Teen Star Santa Barbara is to support youth in performing arts with the goal of nurturing talent by inspiring passion, instilling a drive for success and encouraging excellence and professionalism. Audience members shoudl arrive early for a chance to win UGG and other Deckers Brand shoes and accessories before the show begins at 7 p.m. After the finalists perform their opening numbers, a “quick pick” will give three students randomly selected from the audience (with parental approval) a chance to perform on the Arlington stage. They will perform a 30-second a cappella song. The audience will vote and the winner will win a prize package sponsored by UGG worth more than $400. The proceeds from the showcase will benefit performing arts in Santa Barbara County

school’s automotive department. Food, music and kids activities are scheduled, along with a raffle sponsored by Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation. For more information about the show, contact Rob Hill at rhill@ syvuhsd.org. schools. It also creates a one-of-a-kind place for singers across genres to come together to perform and compete for the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Santa Barbara Bowl. For more information, visit TeenStarUSA. com or call 800-380-9110, ext. 200.

Expo gives singers a chance to be discovered The Durango Songwriter’s Expo/Santa Barbara Wine Country, with a 7:30 p.m. concert Feb. 25-27 at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton, will give singers a chance to make the big time. The expo is one of the nation’s premier artist-songwriter events and in the last two years there have been 10 major signings take place, including writer Sophie Rose signed by Dr. Luke, and Meghan Trainor signed by Big Yellow Dog Music and Epic Records. With registration limited to 200 attendees and over 40 music industry pros, the expo is a networking and relationship-building bonanza. There will be three listening sessions, live showcases and open-mic sessions.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) Vice President Wende Cappetta honored Frances Carricaburu, RN, for her 62-year nursing career with 27 years total at SYVCH. “Frances epitomizes the passion for nursing and compassion for her patients that is the hallmark of this profession. We are so grateful to have had her on our staff for a total of 27 years! Frances is an inspiration to all healthcare professionals and embraces the high standards we have at SYVCH. We will miss her experience and enthusiasm so much.,” Cappetta said. Carricaburu moved to California at the age of three from New Mexico, and came to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1944, attended Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and graduated from Lompoc High School in 1950. From the age of six, Carricaburu said she wanted to become a nurse. In 1953, she received her degree from Mount Zion School of Nursing

in San Francisco and began her career there. From 1956-58, she served on the staff at St. Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. Carricaburu moved back to the Santa Ynez Valley and worked at a doctor’s office until the birth of her son in 1960. From 1970-77, Frances was on staff of Santa Ynez Valley Hospital (as it was known then) and worked in all departments including Emergency, Labor & Delivery and Surgery. She went back to St. Francis Hospital in 1977 and managed the Gastrointestinal Laboratory (GI Lab) there and “retired” in 1994. Her “retirement” lasted only three months. Carricaburu returned to SYVCH in February 1995 as a Registered Nurse in the GI Lab helping perform upper endoscopies and colonoscopies. She shared her wealth of knowledge and experience in the development of the department as it is today. Additionally, she worked two days a week for several years at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital GI Lab. At her retirement luncheon at SYVCH, Carricaburu shared many memories including that she delivered a baby before the doctor arrived and rarely missed work but often missed meals caring for her patients.

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business Why should you care about tourism? by Tracy Farhad

Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

ore than 1.5 million tourists visit

Solvang annually and spend an average of $190 a day. The year-round great weather, restaurants, bakeries, attractions and lifestyle we enjoy are highly sought-after by us locals and our visitors. In fact, more than 55 percent of the city of Solvang’s general fund is derived from retail sales tax and hotel transient occupancy tax (known as TOT or bed tax, with visitors paying 12 percent on top of their hotel room rate per night.) The tourism multiplier effect (for example, a visitor stays in a hotel that buys products and services and pays wages) trickles down into all segments of our local economy. So, why should you care about tourism here? Simply put, it provides for the lifestyle we all enjoy. Tourism is a major economic driver and con-

By Tenley Fohl Photography

Delicious lamb is served at Aly’s by Alebru Restaurant, one of the newest restaurants in Solvang.

tributes to our enhanced quality of life by providing more outstanding dining, shopping and recreational opportuni-

Whether you have a 3:00 pm ankle sprain or 3:00 am stomach pain...

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital’s emergency-trained physicians and staff provide easily accessible care. Learn more at cottagehealth.org/syvch

Our doors are ALWAYS open

ties than our 5,245 city residents could possibly support on our own. According to our studies, Solvang households would pay $1,450 annually more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the local tourism industry. My staff and I, as tourism marketing professionals, together with local businesses and other hospitality industry promoters, keep our focus on attracting those lucrative overnight guests year-round with proven strategies that put more “heads in beds” and thus, increasing TOT and making Solvang an even better place to live, work, recreate, shop and dine. Speaking of dining, can More than 55 percent of the City of Solvang’s genyou name eral fund is derived from some of the retail sales tax and hotel new restautransient occupancy tax. rants that have opened in Solvang within the past year? Consider these and dine local: First & Oak Restaurant at the Mirabelle Inn, 409 First St., www.firstandoak.com; Aly’s by Alebru Restaurant, 451 Second St., www.opentable.com/ alys-restaurant; and Mad & Vin at The Landsby, 1576 Mission Drive, www. thelandsby.com/dine/mad-vin-at-thelandsby.htm. Be sure to save the dates of March 16-20 this year for the 24th annual Taste of Solvang Food & Wine Festival. Events featured are the Farmers Market Chef Walk; Bubbles, Brews and Brunch; Sip and Savor (desserts and wine reception); Tasting Trail (more than 30 stops); and the ever-popular Wine and Beer Walk. For more details and tickets, visit www. solvangusa.com/events/taste-ofsolvang. Cheers!

‘‘ ’’

Tracy Farhad is the executive director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, the nonprofit agency promoting the culture, cuisine, shopping, arts and attractions of “California’s Little Denmark.” For more information, stop by the Solvang Visitors Center at 1639 Copenhagen, call 805-688-6144 or visit www.SolvangUSA.com

by Marsha Griggs

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital

Show your heart some love

alentines Day is always Feb. 14, but it’s important to take care of your heart yearround. And sometimes even that isn’t enough. I followed all the heart-healthy suggestions: not smoking, limiting alcohol, eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, yet 18 years ago I had open-heart surgery. I’ve known since childhood that I had a heart murmur. One day shortly after I turned 40, I had heart palpitations and trouble breathing when I was exercising on the treadmill at the gym. I knew I had to see my doctor right away. I found out that I needed a heart valve replacement and aortic aneurysm surgery. Knowing the symptoms of heart disease allowed me to get early treatment and saved my life! How ironic that a cardiac rehab nurse would need heart surgery. I really understand the fear that can happen with heart issues. My surgery was successful and I went to cardiac rehabilitation to get back to doing what I love —helping others. Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised outpatient program at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) that helps people who have had a heart attack or stroke and cardiac procedures such as angioplasty, coronary stents and open heart surgeries. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation is associated with a significant (21 to 34 percent) increase in five-year survival rates, according to the Journal of American College of Cardiology. We provide medical supervision, assessment and counseling by registered nurses and dietitians, EKG and blood pressure monitoring, and support with managing stress and healthy diets. The program runs for 8 to 12

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Boutique blends comfort with fashion K

Treats Women’s Boutique features clothing lines that are stylish and timeless so any generation can be comfortable.

Kristine Hanberg, right, with the help of her interior designer mother Laura, wanted the store to be inviting for all women to find something to wear.

Treats Women’s Boutique owner Kristine Hanberg says she wants her store to appeal to all ages and help every woman feel comfortable and beautiful.

ristine Hanberg always wanted to start a women’s clothing store that mirrored her love of all things soft and comfortable. Since it opened in May 2014, her shop, Treats Clothing Boutique, has become one of the Santa Ynez Valley’s premiere clothing stores where women of any age can find something they will wear. “I would say my favorite thing to do is just be wrapped in a huge soft blanket sitting on a deep-cushioned couch. I couldn’t find a store that had my style, so I opened my own,” Hanberg said. She and her mother, Laura, have blended their classic style with pieces that are seasonal eye-catchers — and don’t break the bank. “My mom and I love shopping together and her help with Treats has been amazing. I definitely get my taste from her,” Hanberg said. Laura Hanberg has been in the interior design industry for more than two decades and she studied interior design at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. “Treats is really Kristine’s baby, but we have helped her get started and given advice on how to be successful. Really having a store that appeals to all ages is what the valley has needed for some time, and we are so proud of her,” Laura Hanberg said. Women from ages 15 to over 70 have found pieces that can go with any look. Kristine Hanberg encourages everyone to come in for a personalized experience and a chance for her to help them put together different looks. “I really want to help women feel beautiful at any stage of life and be confident in their outfits,” she added. When she had the idea to open Treats, Hanberg couldn’t fathom opening her store anywhere else but Solvang, since her family has had a long history with the area. In 1954 her grandparents Paul and Asta Hanberg bought the Solvang Shoe Store and it’s been in the family ever since. Their store is famous for selling shoes of all kinds, including Danish clogs, but also

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Taylor Jacobsen and Kristine Hanberg model clothing from Hanberg’s store, Treats Women’s Boutique.

Photos by Rebecca Rivera

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BOUTIQUE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 for the big red clog out front that seems like a magnet for photo opportunities for locals and tourists. Her father Max took over the store more than 15 years ago and has continued to offer Danish clogs as well as other wellknown shoe brands. Treats is on Copenhagen Drive just down the street from her father’s shop, and she looks forward to expanding her comfortable brand in the future. She already has

dreams of starting her own clothing line. Currently she offers clothing from BB Dakota, Articles of Society, Elan, Z Supply, Sloane Rouge, Lovestitch, Denimocracy, Bella Dahl and others. Treats is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1603 Copenhagen Drive in Solvang. To make an appointment for a personal styling, call 686-4358 or email treats2014@yahoo.com. You can also shop online at www.treatsclothing.com.

STAR NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Benedict elected by forensic genealogists Santa Ynez Valley resident Sheila Benedict has been elected vice president of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) for 2016. CAFG is a professional association dedicated to advancing public awareness and understanding of the forensic genealogy profession. For more information about CAFG courses offered this year, and any prerequisites required for the Advanced DNA Practicum, visit www.forensicgenealogists

GRIGGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Photo by Rebecca Rivera Valley resident Taylor Jacobsen models clothing available at Treats Women’s Boutique on Copenhagen Drive in Solvang.

ACTRESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the deal, and when she graduated in 2000, she knew she wanted a career in show business. Still, she took a year of Santa Barbara City College trying to talk herself out of acting and pursue something more conventional. But she decided if she didn’t at least try, she would regret it. “I moved by myself to L.A., got an apartment and a job at a restaurant and enrolled in Stella Adler’s Academy of Acting,” Patterson-Muto said. She spent four years learning the craft and techniques of acting, taking classes in dance, movement, voice and everything she could enroll in. Her first auditions were for a Colgate toothpaste commercial and as a back-up dancer in a Snoop Dog rap music video. “I really wasn’t right for the Snoop Dog video. I look back at that and laugh how ridiculous I probably looked to them,” she laughed. She switched agencies and ended up in the same room as the casting director who was creating “Entourage,” Mark Wahlberg’s hit television series. “The casting director called me in to read in front of the writers, including Stephen Levinson, and at the time I had no idea who I was reading for, and ended up getting a part on their pilot episode,” Patterson-Muto said. She played Deborah, a girl from Kentucky who wins a ticket to a premiere and ends up going to a party with the main character. “It was such a great experience because it was so laid-back and not a lot of pressure. I get recognized the most from the fans of ‘En-

Contributed Actress Angie Patterson was very excited to have her film, “Mocktress” in the Women’s Independent Film Festival in Santa Monica in December.

tourage,’ which is funny because I was only in the first episode,” she said. Patterson-Muto has also made appearances on television series such as “Californication” and “Prime Suspect.” Her funniest memory of breaking into acting came during a play that was staged in a less than great part of town. The dressing room backed up to an alley next to a restaurant, and as she put on her make-up and costume she had to deal with maggots all over

weeks with a maximum of 36 visits and consists of a full assessment, followed by one-hour-long group classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. You just need a doctor’s referral to get started. We’re celebrating National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week (Feb. 14-20) this year with a free public event: Lunch & Learn for the Heart from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. We’ll feature heart-healthy presentations, a question and answer session, tasty heart-smart lunch items, and blood pressure screenings. You can learn the floor. “I know people talk about paying their dues to get their career to a certain level, but I think walking over maggots is a little much,” she laughed. Her best experience today, she said, is her most recent role on first two episodes of the new show “American Crime Story,” in which she portrays Paula Barbieri, O.J. Simpson’s girlfriend during the time of the Nicole Brown-Simpson murder. “Not many people know about Paula and her connection to O.J. during the murder. They dated for about two years and she was hopelessly in love with him,” Patterson-Muto said. She spent a lot of time reading Barbieri’s memoir and details of their relationship to prepare for the role. “Before the whole Bronco chase, O.J. was hiding at his lawyer, Robert Kardashian’s, house, and Paula was right by his side. She recalled she was on suicide watch with O.J. and she stayed with him all throughout the trial because she believed he wasn’t guilty,” Patterson-Muto said. It helped to read Barbieri’s memories and see how someone could love and support Simpson during that time because Patterson-Muto was still in elementary school when it happened and only recalled the car chase and watching the trial on television at school. “To be in the acting world these days is a lot different than when I first began because now actors are making their own projects — because you can’t sit around and wait for the phone to ring,” Patterson-Muto said. She isn’t waiting by hers, either. She has

.org. Questions about the 2016 Forensic Genealogy Institute may be directed to FGI Director Helen Haldeman Daglas at institute@forensicgenealogists.org.

Early sign-up for CERT Class in Buellton

The City of Buellton with Santa Barbara County Fire Department invites the public to attend the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes starting in March. The free classes run March 22 through April 26. They will be from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Buellton Rec Center at 301 Second Street. For information, contact Mike Eliason at mike.eliason@sbcfire.com or call 681-5556. Space is limited.

about the risks for and the symptoms of heart disease. You may help yourself or someone else recognize a problem early. The Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department is in the medical building next to the hospital at 2030 Viborg Road, Suite 108, in Solvang. Please feel free to give us a call directly at 805-686-3990. Everyone is invited to come and show your heart some love! Registered Nurse Marsha Griggs is the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department Coordinator at Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.

Y Check it out! To see Patterson-Muto appear as Paula Barbieri in “American Crime Story”, which airs on FX at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. To view “Mocktress” go to:

https://vimeo.com/140741388 password is “anna”

co-written and directed her first project, “Mocktress,” a short film about a single mother struggling to support her son while pursuing her acting career. “The whole experience from auditioning actors to directing and editing was amazing. This really is my love story to single parents who want to chase their dream while providing for their kids,” Patterson-Muto said. She and her husband Chris are both actors who are providing for their 3-year-old son, Joe, while chasing their own dreams. “I met Chris in the typical LA cliché of spotting each other at the gym and then acting like grade-schoolers by asking our trainers to introduce us. On our first date we both knew we wanted to be together, and 10 years later we are still going strong,” she added. Their hope is to move back to the valley one day, but for now Los Angeles will do.

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Long culinary journey gives Kurt Alldredge the ‘chef’s touch’

hef Kurt Alldredge of The Chef’s Touch is excited to offer full-service catering and cooking classes. Being a cook in the 1970s was not trendy or prestigious, it was just hard work, according to Chef Kurt Alldredge of the Chef’s Touch. On a recent rainy afternoon, he graciously took time to share his love for food and recall the long culinary journey that led him to the Santa Ynez Valley. “What I love most about cooking in the Valley is the flexibility by Coreen Padilla and availability of fresh food from growers and farmers and the amazing scenery. It inspires me,” he said. His restaurant career began when a Chicago restaurant owner gave him his first chance as a line cook. After two years of picking up some gems of culinary knowledge, he hightailed it back to California and progressed through different restaurants over 30 years making stops in Monterey, Stockton, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. He continued to gather as many culinary skills as he could from chef mentors who pushed him farther than he imagined. Alldredge had his arms around a huge project, working as executive chef for Universal Studios, when he stumbled upon the Santa Ynez Valley and instantly fell in love. “Santa Ynez has this energy and vibrancy that is so much more organic to me, it inspires me so much more than big cities,” he said. Since 2001 Alldredge has called the Central Coast his home. After a short time as an executive chef for Fess Parker, he shifted gears and headed up the entrepreneurial grade toward his business vision, The Chef’s Touch. The Chef’s Touch offers full-service catering to the Central Coast as well as cooking classes and one-on-one cooking time with Alldredge. Lately he has been mostly fired up about his new smoker barbecue pit that was custom made for him in Texas. This two-ton smoky beast brings the unique flavor of East Texas-style barbecue to the Central Coast, where Santa Maria-style barbecue is the garden-variety style of choice. Here are seven questions with Chef Alldredge: Q: Fried egg, omelet or scramble? CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

food~drink

Restaurant enjoying fruits of its own farm by Raiza Giorgi

news@santaynezvalleystar.com Organic farmer Matt McCurdy’s dream has flowered this year. His goal of growing high-quality produce that goes straight to people’s plates come to fruition after he partnered with Sam Marmorstein, owner of the Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe. McCurdy now grows organic, non-GMO produce solely for the restaurant. McCurdy started farming on Marmorstein’s property in Los Olivos in June last year and has already produced more than 100 pounds of vegetables that are used in most menu items at the restaurant. “There is definitely a learning curve and we are figuring it out as we go along, but how wonderful is it to know that the vegetables on your plate were picked that morning and brought straight to the restaurant a mile down the road,” McCurdy said. “In the past we have used many local farmers, and we still do, but the idea of having our own farm started as happenstance which has really turned out well. We have gotten so much great response from our customers (that) we hope to do more in the future,” Marmorstein added. In his certified-organic vineyard, which is next to the three acres that McCurdy farms, Marmorstein grows syrah, nebbiolo, cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese varietals for Bernat Estate Wines label that he started with his wife Shawnda in 1995. “I originally came to the valley to escape Los Angeles and started the vineyard. When the opportunity to purchase the restaurant came about, it seemed logical to pair our wines with great food. We just celebrated our 20th anniversary in December and it was a blessing to use vegetables from our farm in our celebratory dinner. This is definitely the right direction for the restaurant,” Marmorstein said. McCurdy’s love of gardening started in 2006 when he worked at an organic nursery in Texas. He decided to move back to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2012 and worked at Windmill Nursery in Buellton until he jumped at the opportunity to farm for the restaurant. “California agriculture is so different from

Y Check it out!

Matt McCurdy will host a vegetable gardening seminar at Windmill Nursery in Buellton at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5.

See online our calendar for more info.

Photo by Raiza Giorgi

Farmer Matt McCurdy starts all of his produce from organic non-GMO seeds.

Texas, from the climate to the insects, and I don’t use any forms of herbicide of pesticides, even the organic versions,” McCurdy said. He plants various flowers to attract the beneficial insects that ward off the ones who

destroy the crops. “We learned the hard way planting kale too early before the right weather conditions

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5 unique Valentine’s Day dates to try j Ride a balloon …

Sky’s the Limit Balloon Rides offers daily adventures that will take guests over the Santa Ynez Valley’s countless views of vineyards and ranches. On an average day you can soar over Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch and see a stunning landscape surrounded by the mountain ranges. You can even add a wine-tasting tour after your balloon ride. Log onto www.santabarbaraballoonrides.com for more information or to book your flight.

on Figueroa Mountain into Los Padres National Forest on one of many trails, including the popular Davy Brown trail. Driving out Paradise Road off Highway 154 allows a good walk to Red Rock, if rain hasn’t flooded it out. Lake Cachuma also offers nature hikes on weekends. For information, see www.clnaturecenter.org or www.hikelospadres.com.

A cut above

j… or a horse

Vino Vaqueros allows guests to ride some of the most beautiful ranches in the Santa Ynez Valley and complete their day with wine tasting. Husband and wife Peter and Jaye Ganibi and their staff lead guests on a 90-minute tour followed by a wine tasting that is paired with a gourmet deli lunch. Log onto www.vinovaqueros. com for more information.

j Paint in a vineyard

Get inspired in the most picturesque places in the Santa Ynez Valley by painting with Gypsy Studios, a full-service art studio on wheels. You can participate in a class or take a private lesson with Christi Schaeffer or Chelsea Ward. Even if you think you can’t paint, they will show you how. Log onto www.gypsystudiosart.com for more.

j Volunteer together

The many wonderful nonprofit organizations in the Santa Ynez Valley are always looking for volunteers, and making others feel good is always a good way to bring you closer together. For example, volunteers for Veggie Rescue (www. syvfvr.org)glean produce that will go to feed hungry people in the county. Visitors at either of the Buellton or Solvang senior centers can play a game or read books with the elderly.

j Include the whole family Get outside and take a family hike

Photo by Raiza Giorgi Solvang Knives Etc. features custom knives such as these from Anza Knives.

A one-of-a-kind Valentine gift A unique Valentine for that special someone who enjoys a good knife, rustic decor or the great outdoors is available at Solvang Knives Etc., owned by Jim and Diane Wittenbrock. This shop carries custom knives, signs, tools and more at 442 First St. in Solvang. You can look at their inventory at www.solvangknives.com.

Bring in this ad & receive a 10% discount 240 E. Hwy. 246, Suite 109 • Buellton • 686-9582 www.pattibakes.com

Photo by Raiza Giorgi Sort This Out Cellars winemaker Michael Cobb pays homage to legendary pin-up model Bettie Page with a special wine club.

New wine club honors legendary ‘pin-up girl’ by Star Staff Bettie Page is just as much of a legend today as she was during her modeling days, before her abrupt disappearance from the spotlight and conversion to evangelical Christianity in the late 1950s. Her interesting life and career are still followed by countless fans. One of them is winemaker Michael Cobb, owner of Sort This Out Cellars in Solvang, which is known for its Las Vegas-style tasting room and unique wine labels. “Bettie is the essence of pinup models and I wanted to pay homage to her with this label,” Cobb said. Cobb created a separate wine club just for Page after getting special permission from

RESTAURANT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 brings in aphids, but have adjusted our planting schedule to ensure we get a good harvest,” McCurdy said. McCurdy said he plants three times as many seeds to ensure a good harvest as well. They rarely have leftover vegetables, but when they do McCurdy invites Veggie Rescue to come glean the rest. Veggie Rescue is a local nonprofit group that uses crops to feed the needy. In November McCurdy had an overabundance of cucumbers and Marmorstein said

the holders of the Bettie Page trademark. Every other month, members will get two limited-edition bottles with unique photos or artist-conceived images. Some of the images have never been released to the public. Every year Cobb continues Page’s pin-up legend and rockabilly culture by hosting his own pin-up model contest; the winner graces a label of his wine. The Bettie Page Wine Club offers free tastings to all of Sort This Out Cellar’s limited-production wines as well as 20 percent off all wine and merchandise purchased in the tasting room and online. Sort This Out Cellars is at 1636 Copenhagen Drive in Solvang. For more information on the wine club, log onto www.sortthisoutcellars.com or call 805-688-1717. they learned to pickle them rather than waste them. “It’s also amazing how the same vegetable can taste so different when harvested during different times. In summer the kale has a bitterness, but in winter when the plant conserves sugars, it has a sweeter flavor. It really has opened our experiences with growing ourselves,” Marmorstein said. The Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe at 2879 Grand Avenue is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information visit www.losolivoscafe.com.

February 2016 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 9

education

‘Acoustic Night’ raises big support for tiny school In the Vista de las Cruces school gymnasium with the lights low on a cool winter evening, the world-famous Jeff Bridges and Santa Ynez Valley resident Chris Pelonis performed an intimate acoustic concert in the name of education. “I couldn’t be happier with the education opportunity at Vista. My kids have both attended and we just did our part to help raise money in the best way I knew how. I have some amazingly talented friends like Jeff, who support me and want to give their talent to do something good for the community,” Pelonis said. The Jan. 15 concert, “An Acoustic Night in the Country,” with special guests Stolen Thunder, was a fundraiser to help send Vista’s eighth-grade class to Washington, D.C., and to help the school offset the year’s many budget cuts. The 17 eighth-graders, including Pelonis’ daughter, need to raise $30,000 and prior to the concert had raised $5,000, according to Superintendent Scott Turnbull of the tiny school district in Gaviota.

“For us it’s an honor that we would be able to host someone so well known (as Jeff Bridges). The kids have seen him in movies like ‘Iron Man’ and they are excited. As a musician he’s amazing, and the fact the guitarist is one of our parents has a great close connection,” Turnbull said. The concert raised the remaining $25,000, through Bridges’ and Pelonis’ celebrity status and generous donations to the silent auction. Opening for the duo was Stolen Thunder, a band composed of Katelyn Mires singing lead vocals, Christian Pelonis on guitar and vocals, David McInnes on drums, and Jackson Eddy on bass and vocals. Christian, 17, is Pelonis’ son who graduated from Vista de las Cruces and wanted to help his alma mater. The band lived up to its name as it stole the show with powerful covers of ’90s hits from The Cranberries and Foo Fighters and their own songs, including “Down in Flames.” Stolen Thunder has opened for Jackson Browne and played at legendary venues such as Whisky-a-Go-Go and House of

Parents Take Note: Kids will love ‘Touch-A-Truck’ event

for a family of five. The hour from 10 to 11 a.m. will be a “no-horn” period for children with sensitive ears. For more information, contact Lisa Petersen Kekuewa at syvtouchatruck@ gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ syvtouchatruck.

by Raiza Giorgi

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

The first SYV Touch-A-Truck event will be a unique experience that gives kids, and kids at heart, the opportunity to climb on, learn about and explore all kinds of vehicles. The family event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Bethania Lutheran Church, 611 Atterdag Road in Solvang. Proceeds will benefit Bethania Preschool and Afterschool programs. The day will feature farming and construction equipment as well as safety, military and specialty vehicles, all accompanied by the community members that operate them each day. In addition to the dozens of vehicles, activities will include face painting by Prismatic Body Art, bounce house by M&J Jumpers, food concessions, and music by the Dylan Ortega Band. Admission will be $5 per person or $20

YMCA will host Father-Daughter Ball Santa Ynez Valley fathers are invited to dance the night away with their daughters at the annual Father-Daughter Ball at the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez on Friday, Feb. 5, or Saturday, Feb. 6. Girls can spend the evening like Cinderella with music, photos and games. Light refreshments will be provided. The ball starts each evening at 5:30 p.m. with photos and refreshments. Dancing will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $35 for each father-daughter and $15 for each additional daughter. Limited tickets are available. Call Adria Griggs at 686-2037 for more information.

Photo by Raiza Giorgi

The multi-talented Jeff Bridges and Santa Ynez Valley resident Chris Pelonis turned out an acoustic performance of blues, country, rock and occasional grit and humor.

Blues. They also help Bridges to promote the No Kid Hungry campaign, performing at concerts to raise money for the Free Summer Meals Program. “It’s incredible to watch them perform, and Christian and the kids are better than most studio musicians that have taken years to learn the craft. When I record them they have so many good takes and nail the music right away,” Pelonis said proudly. The longtime friends Bridges and Pelonis turned out an acoustic performance of blues, country, rock and occasionally grit and humor. Pelonis told stories of how he convinced Bridges to paint on screens during a show, but failed to tell him the screens were rented and they ended up auctioning them off

to pay the bill. “This community is so unique, and the show felt more like hanging with neighbors than anything,” Pelonis said. The concert was presented by the Vista Del Mar Foundation, which is solely dedicated to serving the students of the Vista Del Mar School District in Gaviota. The foundation is an official 503(c)(3) nonprofit, and it welcomes donations. Vista de las Cruces School is at 9467 San Julian Road in Gaviota. For more information about the performers, visit Chris Pelonis’ Facebook page, follow Bridges at www.jeffbridges.com, or Stolen Thunder at www.stolenthundermusic. com.

CULINARY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

A: Chef Jina Bae at A-Ru in Buellton. She is all about the food. No BS. She goes the distance to get the best possible seafood for her customers. I respect her dedication to high food quality and her commitment to always being present at the restaurant. For more information on the Chef’s Touch, call 688-1040 or log onto www. thechefstouch.com.

A: French Omelet (with a laugh.) Q: French or Italian cuisine? A: Italian. It speaks to my style preference, simplicity. Q: Football or baseball? A: Football (emphatically) Q: Wine or beer? A: Beer! Figueroa Mountain. Q: Favorite celebrity you’ve cooked for? A: Clint Eastwood. Q: A culinary trend you hate? A: Culinary tattoos. Spend that money on better knives. Q: A chef you respect?

Bay Area native Coreen Padilla spent 10 years in the coffee industry, which ultimately brought her to Santa Barbara. She started a family in the Santa Ynez Valley while earning her degree in culinology and working in the local food, wine and restaurant industry.

10H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 2016

Arts Outreach links the community with the arts for all ages

o you ever wonder where all those paintings and drawings your children and grandchildren bring home come from? Perhaps you have noticed the youth theater posters that tend to scatter the Valley every July. Or maybe you’ve heard about Real Men Cook, the ever popular October amateur chef competition. What do children’s art, community theater, and popular parties all have in common? Arts Outreach! What exactly is Arts Outreach, you may ask. Read on to find out. Arts Outreach is a nonprofit arts education organization whose mission is to “bring life to art and art to life.” It achieves this mission through numerous programs, both in and out of the classroom. During the school months, Arts Outreach puts local artists in ALL local elementary schools for little or no cost to the schools and also offers after school art classes once a week at most local elementary schools. During the summer, Arts Outreach runs summer camps for children from grades K-8. The fun doesn’t stop there. Arts Outreach also encourages children to pursue the arts with additional programs: APPLAUSE, Summer Youth Community Theater, and Valley Glee. APPLAUSE is an adjudicated competition for students in grades 5-12 who are interested in the visual, literary, and/or performing arts. Each category culminates in a showcase. Students who want to let their inner actors out can find a home in Arts Outreach’s Summer Youth Community Theater program, which is a four-week intensive acting workshop for grades 5-12. Younger drama

Photo by Raiza Giorgi

AJ Slobig presents his ideas to fellow MechaPirates for the team’s robot that will be entered in the FIRST Robotics Competition in March.

by Sandie Mullin, Executive Director seekers can participate in the Junior program for grades 2-5. Both workshops produce performances that continually wow the community. Valley Glee is a children’s choir that meets on-site at local schools and ends with a Valley-wide concert. A vibrant Elder Arts program which provide access to the arts for our senior neighbors rounds out the list of programs offered through Arts Outreach. Arts Outreach is completely funded by private donations and grants; we receive no government funding. At Arts Outreach, we believe that an awareness and knowledge of the arts makes for better students and better people. Opportunities for our youth to experience and appreciate art in all its forms are needed now more than ever. Arts Outreach is a huge, if somewhat quiet, part of the Santa Ynez Valley community, so go ahead and ask your friends about us—we’re confident they’ll have good things to say. To find out more about us, visit www.artsoutreach.com, give us a call at 688-9533, or come to our next event. That’s Arts Outreach in brief. Look here next month for information about upcoming events and program information.

MechaPirates gear up for 3rd FIRST contest by Raiza Giorgi

news@santaynezvalleystar.com As president of the MechaPirates robotics club at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, senior Robyn Ribet is excited to start building a robot with 28 of her fellow students for the FIRST Robotics Competition. “The challenge is more than just building a robot to me, it’s about team-building and learning how to budget — not just funds, but time — and using everyone’s skills to ensure we make a great robot,” Robyn said. FIRST is an international high school competition that has each team’s robot complete tasks such as scoring goals, putting inner tubes onto racks, hanging on bars, and balancing on balance beams. The game changes every year, which keeps the excitement fresh and gives teams a more level playing field. During a live, worldwide webcast, all participating teams hear about the new game and watch an animation that illustrates the game’s basics. During kickoff, teams receive the kit of parts, software, and rules manuals for the game. Robyn and the students who are part of MechaPirates, Team 5136, have six weeks that started Jan. 9 to design and build a game-playing robot that can weigh up to 120 pounds for the competition that will be held March 10-13 in Madera, Calif. The first year they competed, the MechaPirates took the all-star rookie award, which earned them a spot on the team that placed second in the world; they earned a spot on the second-place-alliance team in the second year, but couldn’t attend due to lack of funding, according to Sandra Slobig, the co-chair of the school’s math department and co-advisor to the robotics team with Priya Jackson. “This year the ‘game’ is Stronghold, which is made up of two parts autonomous and tele-op. The autonomous part is for the first 15 seconds, the robot must work off programming. Then the tele-op is the remaining 2 minutes and 15 seconds, where the alliances of three teams work together to score goals in the opposing teams’ tower,” Slobig said.

The team has a budget of $28,000 to buy or make specialized parts, and this year Hancock College has offered the use of their machine shop every week for the students to build parts, Slobig added. The shop in the high school’s Industrial Arts building has equipment that is more suited for wood projects and the robotics students work primarily with metal. “The kids are so responsible and even with a bigger group of freshman this year, we have some really great ideas to make an excellent robot,” Slobig said. The students will spend a majority of their time designing the robot, and even though there will be less building time it will be more organized, according to Robyn. “We are really a family and we enjoy the challenge,” she added. Robyn’s father Burt Ribet has been mentoring the students for the past three years along with other community members who have a background in engineering and technology. “When Robyn asked me to be involved with the robotics club I jumped at the chance to spend as much time with her as I could. This has been so great helping the students manage project-building, and if nothing else they will have a great working knowledge going into the workforce of how to collaborate and finish tasks,” Ribet said. If the MechaPirates end up securing a spot for the championship in April, they will compete with 75 other teams on six different fields until the competitors are narrowed down to determine the overall champion. “The spirit during the championship is amazing, and I have never seen anything like it, even at our local school functions. The energy is captivating,” Slobig said. The big challenge if the team makes it to the championship will be to raise an additional $10,000 to attend the competition. For more information on the MechaPirates, log onto www.team5136.org. Anyone interested in helping the MechaPirates Booster Club with additional funding can email Ribet at president@booster.team5136. org.

star lifestyle February 2016 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 11

Lifestyle by Kristen

‘Clean eating’ helps with fitness goals Chicken Chile Verde I ’m Kristen Wood, the mother of a very active 3-year-old named Madeleine Annie. I also have a budding business called Lifestyle by Kristen, which incorporates fitness and clean eating for the entire family. I am studying to become a health coach and plan to help people not just with diet and exercise, but also to help them achieve body transformations to feel confident when they look in the mirror. My lifestyle plan can be tweaked to work for everyone, including people who are gluten intolerant, diabetic, vegetarian, etc. Before becoming a mother, I was very active and athletic and ate “on the plan,” the clean-eating diet I had created over the years for myself. Once I had Madeleine I was very motivated to get back to working out, but she cried so terribly in childcare at the gym that the attendants would come for me to get her within 10 to 20 minutes. Trying to find balance with my failed attempts at exercise, working odd hours while raising Madeleine, and trying to keep up with life threw every-

thing off for me. My exercise had slumped and I was eating poorly. I felt extremely insecure, stuck in a rut, and stuck in a body that wasn’t my own. In September I stopped making excuses and took a stand. I took over all the grocery shopping and cooking for our household. I started meal planning for the week with old and new healthy recipes I created and stuck to eating those meals and snacks I had scheduled. I re-joined a gym and scheduled workouts. So far with the combination of clean eating and regular workouts, I have lost 25 pounds. I soon will be launching fitness challenges on my blog where people can follow my workouts to achieve their own clean-eating and fitness goals. I came up with this Chicken Chile Verde recipe and it was so good that I’ve made it again and again. I grew up eating a lot of Mexican food and it’s my favorite comfort food. I love this dish because it hits the spot without all the fat, calories and carbohydrates. Plus, this recipe is easy!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a baking dish with coconut oil. Place 6 thin-cut, boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the baking dish. In a bowl mix 12 ounces of salsa verde with two generous tablespoons of low-fat sour cream. Top each breast with the salsa verde and sour cream mixture (it will generously cover about 6 thin-cut chicken breasts). Lightly sprinkle low-fat cheddar cheese over the top. Bake for 30 minutes. While it bakes, make a salad with dark greens (think kale, spinach, chard). Top with black beans, bell pepper, tomatoes, chopped olives, onions. Lightly drizzle a small amount of your favorite low-fat dressing over the salad. I use a Greek yogurt ranch dressing from the produce department of our grocery store (the type that has to stay refrigerated) that has 4

Photo by Kristen Wood

Kristen Wood’s recipe for chile verde is a simple classic meal in a healthy way.

grams of fat per serving. You don’t need very much dressing, as the salsa verde falls from the chicken and the black beans give the salad a little juice as well. Once the chicken is done, throw it over the salad and voila!

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12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 2016

‘The list of things to do creatively is endless’ by Robbie Kay

Contributing Writer

It is such a privilege to be part of the Santa Ynez Valley Star’s debut, and I am excited to present one amazing woman each month in my “Ladies of the Valley” column. LOV is a documentary of the inspirational women who live among us, and a newbie, I am in awe of the women I have been privileged to meet so far. This month, I am delighted to introduce you to a fellow New Yorker gone SYV, Suzan Hamilton Todd. Suzan, a resident for 21 years, is an extremely talented artist, full of wisdom with a spirit that could fill an entire ocean. Though she has faced extremely trying experiences, it is difficult not to smile in her presence or walk away with more love in your heart. When you look at her work, it makes you want to see the world through her loving eyes, every day, with wonder and graceful strokes of color, bold yet understated. Like the sign outside her office door, she will make you believe a little more in the miracles of life. Suzan is known as an equine artist

who works quickly and on large-scale projects. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, but her inner voice brought her “home” to the Santa Ynez Valley. She feels a strong connection to the land, the hawks above and to the visiting owl on her property. “I am from a place that had no rolling hills, oak trees or horse farms. I grew up in a concrete jungle. The first horse I saw was in my neighborhood during the riots,” Suzan said. “Now, I love hiking Figueroa Mountain, stopping along the road to sketch a majestic oak or herd of horses. My fashion background forms the style that people see in my drawings — quick movements by the horse, quick lines to capture the beauty and elegance of the equine,” she added. This land holds the stories of what makes this valley this valley, and she loves documenting that through her art. Suzan also enjoys checking out local music venues and visiting friends. The connections she’s made have come through so many different ways, and the horse community is one of them, even though

o CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Photo by Robbie Kay

Suzan Hamilton Todd is known as an equine artist who works on large-scale projects.

PROPOSAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 show just for his girlfriend, Rachael Jerse: “Will You Marry Me?” by Jason Derulos and “Home” by Phillip Phillips. “I made up this story that my light show was going to be in a commercial for the city, and when the words ‘Will You Marry Me?’ showed up, I got down on one knee and asked Rachael to marry me,” de los Cobos said. Their first meeting was even more unusual than the marriage proposal. It was, essentially, Egan de los Cobos and the result of a har- Rachael Jerse. rowing accident. On the morning of October 3, 2013, de los Cobos and his 3-year-old son Daylon were having their breakfast at El Rancho Market in Santa Ynez. “We were eating in the gazebo at El Rancho and this car just plowed through and hit my son and I. We were fortunate enough to walk away with a few scrapes and bruises,” de los Cobos said. Daylon was pinned briefly under the car, but de los Cobos was able to use his skills as a firefighter-paramedic with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department to help rescue him. Father and son were released from the hospital the same afternoon and de los Cobos thought life would return to normal. However, a few days later he got a phone

YCheck it out! The video of Egan de los Cobos’ proposal to Rachel Jerse can be viewed at:

https://vimeo.com/150450454 call from Jerse, who was then a KCOY-TV reporter. Because she was working on a story about the accident, he agreed to meet for an interview. “I thought it would be good for me to talk about the accident and get public awareness. When I met Rachael, she was just so genuine and the way she talked was captivating. We exchanged phone numbers and within a few days went on our first date,” he said. For her part, Jerse said with a laugh, “I remember talking to my mom after I interviewed Egan and I said he looked so cute and he could be the one.” They began dating and will soon be married. De los Cobos not only spent months creating his elaborate marriage proposal, but he also arranged to have both their families hiding nearby and had the whole event filmed by his friend Ian Palmer of Inspired Emotion. “It was the best moment of my life,” Jerse said. “I was so surprised, my jaw dropped and my eyes filled up with happy tears. It’s a proposal every girl dreams of. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and I’m so thankful for him.”

February 2016 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13

CREATIVE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 she no longer owns or rides a horse. “The art community is such a supportive one, and I also feel connected to the mothers here though I don’t have children of my own,” she said. LOV: Can you tell us about challenges that you have overcome? Suzan: One of my challenges was having stage-3 breast cancer in 2000. Steve, my husband, and I took it head-on and overcame it. He asked for my hand in marriage half way through my chemotherapy treatments and we continued to fight this battle called cancer with love and together, we conquered it. My biggest challenge has been the sudden passing of my husband, my best friend. Steve went to the gym on the morning of March 21st and never came home. Though I now know it was his time, his sudden passing traumatized me and all that followed. Acceptance is still a big challenge. I start each day knowing I am right where I am supposed to be, in this tiny fabulous shack in Solvang, being guided by the owl that lives on a 100-year-old palm tree in my front yard. I am grateful to all my friends and those who are also widows, whose bravery and love helped show me the way back to moving forward and to trust again. LOV: It is mesmerizing to hear you

Photo by Robbie Kay

Suzan Hamilton Todd says that drawing always makes her feel rested and relaxed mentally.

describe your creative process. Suzan: “I feel so deep in a trance when I draw. I’ve always said it feels like tunnel vision, like I’m lost in the line and I get a true sense of blocking out everything around me. Whether it is with pen-pencil on paper or paint on canvas, I enter a meditative state. Drawing always makes me feel rested and relaxed mentally, and I get a physical feeling of warmth. LOV: What are you working on now? Suzan: I am always working on something art-related, whether it’s home design, photos, backdrops for the theatre, studies of trees, surfers or women. I have a book I’m working on

about a Brooklyn girl, a double survivor, coming to the Santa Ynez Valley, “From Brooklyn to Solvang.” I’m also working on a coffee table book of horse illustrations from my inventory that stretches over the last 20 years, and several other books. I am illustrating a book of the human body written by a gifted local Pilates instructor and dancer, Rina Van de Kamp. The list of things to do creatively is endless. LOV: Can you tell us something that few people know about you? Suzan: My horse that came with me to the valley 21 years ago was an Arabian mare named Malika. Her father was the famous stallion Raffon, who

stood here a champion. I didn’t know until I moved here that he had lived in this valley and was previously owned by Paul and Carol Hemming. I believe that Malika was responsible for bringing us, she and I, home … here to the valley. Also, I lived in Europe for two years. I was spotted in NYC by a modeling scout when I worked freelance at Macy’s in window display. I was sent to Paris to work but found out I wasn’t too fond of having my photo taken. I took hold of the opportunity as I quickly realized this Brooklyn girl wanted to see the world. If I were to give advice to other woman about following their dreams I would say, “Live YOUR life, visualize what you want, trust and keep going no matter what.” You can contact Suzan Hamilton Todd through her website at www. suzan hamiltontodd.com, where you can also see examples of her work. Two of her paintings are permanently on display at Dos Carlitos restaurant in downtown Santa Ynez. Robbie Kaye is an international, awardwinning photographer whose work has been exhibited in various museums and galleries. She is also a designer and author. You can sign up for LOV news at www.ladiesofthevalley.com.

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Randall J. Giorgi*, CLU®, ChFc®, CFP®, CASL® Visionary Insurance & Financial Services, LLC** CA Ins Lic # 0672372 2650 Industrial Parkway Ste 200 Santa Maria, CA 93455 (805) 347-1979 randy@visionaryifs.com http://www.visionaryifs.com/ *Financial Adviser offering investment advisory services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser, Registered Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency and wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance and an agent licensed to sell insurance through New York Life Insurance Company and may be licensed to sell insurance through various other independent unaffiliated companies. **Visionary Insurance & Financial Services, LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company or its affiliates.

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14H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 2016

The Winter Herald Equestrian community Don’t let temperature swings has long traditions frustrate your gardening

he Santa Ynez Valley has long been called “The Lexington of the West” because of the abundance of racehorse breeding farms and training facilities here, which truly gave Kentucky bluegrass breeders a run for their money. Racing stallions trained and stood here, and famous horse trainers such as multi-Kentucky Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas, have graced our not-so-bluegrass horse farms and racetracks. Lexington and Santa Ynez have been meccas for the racing world. After springing up in the 1960s, the Arabian horse world to this day maintains a strong presence here, with champion farms such as Om El Arab and Day Dream Arabians, home to multiple world champion stallions and mares. World champion polo team members, reining and cutting world champions, a dressage Olympian, and a retired Hollywood stunt rider reside here (hat tipped to you, Audrey Griffin). A world-renowned, state of the art veterinary practice has been built here by locals Doug and Sue Herthel. Even “The Horse Whisperer,” Monty Roberts, and his equine-sculptress wife Pat call Solvang home. We also are home to the world famous Rancheros Visitadores and the Sage Hens (a females-only response to the Rancheros’ male-only annual ride). The valley claims 52 breeds and dozens of disciplines that annually contribute multiple tens of millions of dollars to the local economy. There is even a nonprofit wild horse sanctuary hidden in the back hills of this beautiful area. But our equestrian tradition goes further back than Arabians and Thoroughbreds, team penning and dude ranches. The early-Californio vaquero traditions so famous now worldwide (think Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt) were honed by professional cowboys on our Spanish Land Grant Ranchos starting in the 1700s.

by Puck Erickson-Lohnas

Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Garden

by Jessica Schley Ironic though it may seem, our own local equestrian culture lost sight of much of those vaquero traditions for many decades. Speculation is that this was specifically due to the diversity of other equestrian disciplines that sprang up here. With so many fun things to do with horses, most forgot the old ways. Showing, competing, and making a buck took precedent. Locals such as Bill Reynolds have revived some of that old tradition with his annual “Buck Branaman Pro-Am Roping” contest at our coveted Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center. It is truly a sight to see, watching men and women gather in their finest silk kerchiefs and hand-carved saddles to practice the refined art of the early Californio skills of the rancho. The valley’s own Historical Museum and Carriage House also hosts an annual Vaquero show featuring traditional and antique bits, spurs and various equestrian haberdashery for all to admire, and for those with deep pockets to collect. Our own Therapeutic Riding Center, not to be outdone, also hosts a fun annual fundraising event honoring the diversity of our equestrian history, often highlighting themes like “East meets West” with dressage riders and western riders trading horses for a ride to themed music. These annual events

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The climate of the Santa Ynez Valley is an intriguing affair: balmy nights, foggy mornings, spring winds that rattle windows from dawn to dusk, and now frost warnings that wake our viticulturists from their deep winter’s sleep. For gardeners in the valley, cold snaps and spells remain a source of frustration when checking the frost tolerance of many of our favorite plants. However, you can use some cold-weather techniques for creating a garden that doesn’t mind the wild swings from the triple digits of late summer and early fall to the freezes that settle onto our valleys and arroyos just before winter’s dawn. To save water and your back, try a few good-sized hardy natives for the “backbone” of your garden. Most gardens in the valley have growing conditions that support some of our larger evergreen natives. Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphylos “Howard McMinn”), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) and Sugarbush (Rhus ovata) are three shrubs that grow easily to 6 feet in diameter and can take the hot sun as well as a few chilly mornings. As with other drought-tolerant plants, these natives appreciate some water for establishment but as they age they like deeper, less frequent watering. Some shrubs from other Mediterranean regions that also do well in the valley include Saratoga Bay (Laurus “Saratoga”) and Upright Rosemary (Rosmarinus “Tuscan Blue”). Although they don’t require the constant clipping of some other evergreen shrubs, their foliage is super for tucking into baskets and wreath frames for holidays. As drought conditions deepen and our community is awakening to the valley’s environmental constraints, many people are beginning to explore the world of succulents. As Penelope Hobhouse once said, “Every garden needs a big leaf.” Many succulents have the form and substance to create some real visual zip in the garden. However, do your homework to make sure the wonderful succulent that caught your eye outside the valley has the grit to take a predawn chill or two. If you have the space, Century Plant (Agave americana) is a real workhorse for larger landscapes. Our native Chalk Dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta) can survive happily in smaller containers, capturing winter’s light on its spectacular silver leaves. And don’t be afraid to embrace the bare limb or two in your garden. The Santa

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Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is a shrub that grows easily to six feet in diameter and can take the hot sun as well as a few chilly mornings and is a beautiful addition to any Santa Ynez Valley garden. Ynez Valley is host to a number of deciduous natives that help shape the visual character of this place we call home. As the sun drops in the winter sky, the silhouettes of the Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) and California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) dance a duet of light and dark as the savannah merges with a hidden arroyo. Another midwinter treat is the sight of the plump white berries of Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus) dancing on bare, bending branches like miniature snowballs. But even after carefully minding the true nature of our garden’s climate, many of us still want citrus! Having grown up in a colder climate, I do love seeing a few ripening fruit on my citrus on a cold morning. So look carefully and see if you have a spot that is south facing and out of the wind. Tucked against a wall, when located in a small heat sink, even a dwarf citrus or two have a chance of survival. Just be ready with some old sheets for a nighttime wrap if the alarms really start going off. Let’s celebrate this season whose chilly mornings and frosty nights provide us great grapes, superlative apples and yummy stone fruits.

This month’s gardening tips:

• Mulch, mulch, mulch! Help build your soil with a good layer of mulch in all of your landscape areas. Mulch also helps protect the root zones of plants during hard frosts and prevents runoff during winter rains. Just be careful to leave an air gap around the crown of the plant to prevent rot. • Prune fruit trees while they’re dormant. Check this link for tips: homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/pruningfruit.pdf. Puck Erickson-Lohnas is board president of the nonprofit Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, which is dedicated to encouraging children to explore, adults to learn, and individuals of all ages to enjoy a relaxed moment in the beauty of nature. For more information or to become a sponsor, visit www.santaynez valleybotanicgarden.com.

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February Events - To submit an event for March email events@santaynezvalleystar.com. For the online calendar www.visitsyv.com.

Brown Bag Retreat - Quilting retreat at Creation Station 252 W Highway 246 Buellton www.thecreationstation.com.

Bandemonium at SYHS - Country Night featuring Cadillac Angels, The Dylan Ortega Band and special guests at the Little Theater at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. tickets are $25/show or $40/both nights at www.syvmusicboosters.com. Steve Ochoa at Sort This Out Cellars - Local musician Steve Ochoa plays from 7-10 p.m. at Sort This Out Cellars 1636 Mission Drive Solvang. Call 688-1717 or www.sorthisoutcellars.com. Wine & Canvas - Instructor led step-by-step on how to create your own painting masterpiece. Includes 1 glass of wine, instruction and painting supplies. At Solvang Vet’s Hall. Call 688-7529 to register.

Brown Bag Retreat - Quilting retreat at Creation Station 252 W Highway 246 Buellton www.thecreationstation.com

Bandemonium at SYHS - Rock N Roll Night featuring Ruben Lee Dalton Band, EchoSwitch and Stolen Thunder at the Little Theater at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. tickets are $25/show or $40/both nights at www.syvmusic boosters.com. Dead Zeds Chopper at at Sort This Out Cellars Dead Zeds Chopper plays from 7-10 p.m. at Sort This Out Cellars 1636 Mission Drive Solvang. Call 688-1717 or www.sorthisoutcellars.com. Valentine’s Workshop - Cut and craft a willow valentine for your sweetheart. Cost is $25/adults and $5/child at SYV Botanic Garden at River View Park in Buellton. Register cityofbuellton.com

Brown Bag Retreat - Quilting retreat at Creation Station 252 W Highway 246 Buellton www.thecreationstation.com

EQUESTRIAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 are the “see and be seen” and “who’s who” for our community. Where else does a local charity for at-risk families run a Polo Classic fundraiser? We honor and preserve our equestrian roots by passing on our time-honored equestrian traditions, keeping them alive from generation to generation. Although we have some wonderful community resources such as our coveted Equestrian Center, which we work hard every year to improve and keep open, we also have assets yet in need of preservation. Each year our local roadside bridle paths and riding trails are threatened with one more locked gates or raised speed limit. Even the heavyweight, high-profile Rancheros

events

Cirque du Soleil at Dodger Staduim - Experience Cirque du Soleil at Dodger Stadium with Buell-ton Rec. from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Register at buelltonrec. com.

Wildling/Elverhoj Museum Collaborative Excursion - Trip to LA’s new contemporary art museum, prominent holdings of postwar and contemporary art from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes VIP onsite welcome with self guided tour. Also view Disney Concert Hall. Cost is $49 register cityofbuell-ton.com FatTuesday at Standing Sun - Celebrate FatTuesday with the band Roosevelt Dime. Doors open at 7 p.m. www.standingsunwines.com for more info.

Karen Gearhart-Jensen at Honey Paper - Artist reception and celebration from 4-7 p.m. at Hon-ey Paper 2933 Grand Ave in Los Olivos. www.honey-paper.com.

Santa Ynez Valley MOPS - Local chapter of the non-profit organization Mothers of PreSchoolers (MOPS) Meeting starts at 9:15 a.m. at Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church. Childcare in-cluded. $60/ semester.

A Wine Fantasy in February Participants can visit all 16 SYV Wine Country Association tasting rooms to taste reserve, estate and library wine. Small bites serves on Saturday and Sunday.