Santa Ynez Valley Star • August 15, 2023

Assemblyman, city manager discuss challenges, successes

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

Aroomful of public servants, business owners, and other pillars of the community were on hand to hear about the City of Solvang's challenges and successes over the past year during the latest annual Solvang State of the City address. The event was held Wednesday, July 9, at the Craft House at Corque in Solvang.

Gregg Hart, the State Assemblyman for the 37th District and a former Santa Barbara County Supervisor, was the keynote speaker, while Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy gave his first public address in his role. Other speakers included Solvang Chamber of Commerce

CEO Tracy Beard, Solvang Mayor (and emcee) Mark Infanti, Montecito Bank & Trust President and CEO George Leis, and Solvang Chamber of Commerce President Rene Martinez. Before the address, VFW Post 7139 Commander Alvin Salge led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pastor Chris Brown of the Bethania Lu -

theran Church gave the invocation.

After introducing the Solvang City Council and several city officials — as well as the just-arriving District 24 Congressman Salud Carbajal — Infanti brought Hart, whom he described as "the

individual who goes to Sacramento and fights for the people in this area," on stage for the keynote address.

Hart began by praising Beard for all she does with the Chamber and describing his feelings when Beard approached him

about speaking at the State of the City.

"I was thrilled beyond belief, because Solvang is so special," Hart said. "You have the architecture, you have the history of this community, you have the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Sports | Pg. 10 Pirates football getting ready for new season

News Briefs . . . . . . . . . Pg. 2

• Tree falls, blocks roadway in Los Olivos

News Pg. 3

• Crosswalk color flap re-emerged in Los Olivos

Opinion Pg. 6

• LEE PITTS: Goodfella comes calling

Spotlight Pg. 12

• Local woman has a huge heart for dogs in need

Community Pg. 16

• Buellton BBQ Bonanza serves up good food, good fun

Arts & Nonprofits Pg. 17

• Volunteers create new oak tree mural at the Wildling Museum

Lifestyles Pg. 20

• GENEALOGY TIPS: There are many places you can go for family research

Food & Drink . . . . . . . Pg. 21

• BARBIE BUTZ: Fresh tomatoes and farmer's markets

Gregg Hart, Randy Murphy hold court at Solvang's State of the City address

Assemblyman of the 37th District Gregg Hart, a former Santa Barbara County supervisor, gives his keynote speech at the 2023 Solvang State of the City address on Wednesday, May 9. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

LOS OLIVOS

approximately one hour. There were no injuries.

SOLVANG

City of Solvang Community Cleanup scheduled for Aug. 19

Solvang residents, get rid of your household trash, scrap metal, green waste, wood and bulky waste the responsible way — and for free!

You can drop off your items at Public Parking Lot 4 on Oak Street from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Acceptable items include:

• Household trash (bagged or boxed, not loose)

• Green waste (separated from trash)

• Wood (no treated wood, such as railroad ties)

• Scrap metal (any motor needs to be free of

• gasoline or oil)

Tree falls, blocks roadway in Los Olivos

A large oak tree fell over into a building in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 5, causing extensive damage to a building and a water-line break in the 2900 block of Grand Avenue, according to Santa Barbara County Fire.

PIO Scott Safechuck posted that SBC Fire responded to the call at 7:53 a.m. to the fallen tree, which was blocking off the road at 2920 Grand Ave. County building department and water department were requested to assist, as SBC Fire worked with chainsaws in an effort to remove the tree from the road, which was closed for

• Bulky waste (unusable furniture, mattresses, large items, etc.)

Note: Event for residential customers only. Customers required to bring a picture I.D. and a WM bill with matching address to participate.

Certain hazardous waste will be accepted during this event. Residents may dispose of household hazardous waste such as consumer batteries (taped ends), computer monitors (unbroken screens), televisions (unbroken screens), electronic waste, and appliances. These household hazardous waste items can also be taken to the Health

Sanitation Service (HSS) located at 97 Commerce Drive in Buellton. HSS is open Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Questions? Please contact the City of Solvang (805) 688-5575

Los Padres National Forest raises fire restrictions

In response to the increasing potential for a wildland fire start, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that fire restrictions will be implemented throughout the Forest effective Aug. 1. These restrictions will affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until Jan. 31, 2024.

Effective Aug. 1, the following restrictions took effect:

No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites, even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit, which can be obtained free-of-charge at any Forest Service office or by visiting the readyforwildfire.org website. Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for 5 feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person always attends the stove during use.

Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is

barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.

Fireworks – even the “safe and sane” variety – are not permitted at any time or in any location within the Forest.

Recreational target shooting is prohibited within Los Padres National Forest except for the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club that operate under special use permits.

For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit https:// www.fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/home or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

Valley returns Sept. 28 to Oct. 1

Taste Of The Santa Ynez

Tickets for Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, the four-day, six-town celebration of the region’s bounty held each fall, are on sale now, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley announced. Held from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, the four-day, six-town celebration offers an experiential culinary exploration of the region’s food, wine, and more — and the people behind it all.

Brought together by two of the West’s most respected travel brands — Visit the

A fallen oak tree is shown Aug. 5 after it fell over blocking Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. Photo by Scott Safechuck/ SBC Fire

Crosswalk color controversy re-emerged in Los Olivos

Los Olivos residents object to rainbowcolored walkways and potential lack of input for community projects

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer &

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

Rolf and Robyn Richter, longtime residents of Los Olivos, have reached out to the Santa Ynez Valley Star to voice their concerns about the multi-colored crosswalk that appeared overnight earlier this summer in the middle of the small town of Los Olivos.

In the middle of June, which is recognized as Pride Month, while visiting the Los Olivos Post Office to collect their mail, the Richters, as well as other town residents, were surprised to see the crosswalks in the middle of Los Olivos painted in the bright colors of the rainbow, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, not their usual white.

“Let me be clear, I am now and have always been a ‘live and let live’ kind of person. What signs you put up on your own property is your business,” Rolf Richter said. “But when a small minority of people take over an unincorporated town and disallow their fellow residents of having a say in what happens on the public streets in their town, well this is very concerning.

“The residents of Los Olivos were not consulted on whether they were OK with painting the crosswalks in rainbow colors. We, the residents of Los Olivos, have a say as to what happens in our little town; not just the business owners, who mostly reside out of town.”

The painting of the crosswalks in Los Olivos came after a similar proposal in Solvang earlier in the year.

The Richters heard of the proposal made to the Solvang City Council

in February by business owners of a children’s gift and toy shop in Solvang, Kiel and Matt Cavalli, who are also founder and executive director, respectively, of the Rainbow House, a nonprofit geared toward the LGBTQIA+ community.

The original proposal at the Feb. 27 Solvang City Council meeting included the painting of crosswalks on two intersections of Copenhagen Drive, along with pride banners on city-owned streetlights for the entire month of June. That was voted down by the council on a 3-2 vote.

On April 24, the Cavallis came back with an amended proposal to fly the pride banners for a two-week period in June, with no mention of painted crosswalks. That proposal was approved by a 3-2 vote as Mayor Mark Infanti, who voted against the previous proposal in February, voted yes for the amended one.

Later in that meeting, the council voted to ban all non-city banners for display after the already-approved Pride banner and Solvang Theaterfest banner are displayed this year.

"Cavalli’s proposal caused the City Council to amend the City Charter, disallowing any banners except the 'Welcome to Solvang' banners to be flown in the future," said Rolf Richter, who along with Robyn attended the April 24 meeting. "This amendment eliminates the once informative and inviting banners such as Julefest, the Elverhoj Museum, and Theaterfest for example, all long-time Valley institutions, to be flown in the future. In my opinion, the Cavallis and their small LGBTQIA+ community have ruined this valuable way to announce events for everyone.”

After a similar proposal was introduced in Los Olivos, the Richters said being in an unincorporated town in the Valley, they did not have the opportunity to voice their opinions on rainbow crosswalks.

“[Jefferson] Woeste, the chair of the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce and business owner in Los Ol-

ivos, seemed to take it upon himself to consult with Supervisor Hartmann, who consented to these crosswalks being painted in rainbow colors, without even consulting the residents or business owners for the most part," Richter said. "The crosswalks were quickly and quietly painted. It happened at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, without anyone in the town being notified.”

Jefferson Woeste, owner of the J. Woeste plant nursery in Los Olivos and member of the Chamber board, told the Santa Ynez Valley Star he put in motion the idea to paint the crosswalk in rainbow colors during Pride Month, and then paint the walks in red, white, and blue to celebrate July 4.

Woeste said he pursued the crosswalks project after a campus club at Santa Ynez High School had rainbow colors painted on campus crosswalks and speedbumps during a week-long club awarness campaign. After complaints from parents, school maintenance painted over the rainbow colors with white paint after just two days.

About the SYHS crosswalks, Woeste said "they were painted on a Monday, and the next day, kids are showing up and they are being painted white." Woeste claimed the project had a lot of support, but three who opposed spoke the loudest.

The school approved it, and they caved to those three parents,” he said. “So therefore I thought, you know, that’s not right. Let’s see if we can do that in Los Olivos.”

Woeste said he took the idea to paint the crosswalks in Los Olivos to the Chamber of Commerce and they unanimously said yes. He said he then reached out to Scott Ramsey of Ramsey Asphalt, who did the rainbow-painting on the Santa Ynez High campus.

"[Scott's] also the dude who deals with County Roads," Woeste said, pointing out that department is the one in charge of approving projects like this. "He knows what’s required.

He knows that if you’re going to paint a crosswalk, he knows you need flagmen, he knows there are procedures, he knows all that.

"He proposed it to County Roads and they sat on it. He told me ‘I’m sorry,’ and that he didn’t think it would happen," Woeste said. "Bottom line, there’s first amendment rights involved, not to mention the legality and technicality, and roads goes to county counsel, county counsel says yes.

“County Roads reaches out to Joan Hartmann’s office, she’s like 100 percent ‘let’s do this.’”

“We went through every legal proper channel,” Woeste said. “We went through the same channels when we painted them red, white, and blue.”

Richter said he called Hartmann’s office twice went to the office once when it was closed, then he tried to contact Mary Nash, a member of the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce. He said he has not heard back from either.

"No one asked us, the folks who live in Los Olivos," he said. "We feel voiceless and no one in the Chamber even consulted us. I had initially put up several flyers, voicing my opinion, which were promptly torn down. My wife and I continued to put up flyers daily, which continued to be torn down.”

Richter also brought up another factor — the horses that ride through town.

“We are also an equestrian town with horses riding daily through the town," he said. "One of the reasons the Solvang City Council denied Cavalli’s [original] proposal is because it is dangerous for horse and rider to traverse the colorful crosswalks. One of the veterinarians at Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic confirmed that ‘it’s a well-known fact among horse riders that stripes of any colors are dangerous for horses to tread on and they’ll bolt since they instinctively view them as cattle guards to get their feet caught in.’“

On Sunday, June 25, Richter heard from Meighan Dietenhofer, Joan Hartman’s Solvang representative, seven days after Richter had left a phone message for her.

“Dietenhofer had no response when I asked her why Hartman didn’t nix the crosswalk idea when she already should have known of the dangers to horses and riders as this was one of the reasons that the Solvang City Council rejected the painted crosswalks,” said Richter.

“The people in Los Olivos pay high property taxes. It takes a lot of work to afford to live here and to not get a vote or a voice on what happens in our community feels like a slap in the face. This is not about just the crosswalk — it’s about what could happen next."

Rainbow stripes are shown painted on the crosswalks on Grand and Alamo Pintado avenues in Los Olivos. Some residents are upset that the crosswalks were painted without input from the public. Contributed Photo

Santa Ynez Valley and Sunset Magazine — the unique event showcases the best of the region. More than 100 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, breweries, and distilleries will collaborate for more than a dozen main and ancillary events set in and around the distinct communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley — Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang.

Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley explores specific communities each day, beginning with a day in Los Alamos, the region’s burgeoning haven for foodies, on Thursday, Sept. 28. The celebration ends on Oct. 1, with the best of Solvang. Along the way, attendees are invited to enjoy wine and beer tastings, special communal and chef-driven dinners, vineyard experiences, horseback riding, wine tumbler making, and much more.

This year, 5 percent of all ticket sales for every Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley event benefits People Helping People, a local nonprofit that is a primary provider of human and social services in the region.

For more information on tickets and a full list of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley events, dates, and times, visit TasteSYV. com.

BUELLTON

The Popular Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Friends of the Buellton Library is coming back

On Aug. 26 from 12 to 2 p.m. everyone is invited to come for a pizza lunch, with ice cream for dessert, at the future home of the Buellton Library, the Willemsen House, 202 Dairyland in Buellton. Tours of the house and grounds will also be available, along with conceptual pictures of the building as a library.

Soon the new owner of the property, the City of Buellton, will begin renovations of the house and parking area to make this location ADA compliant and suitable for library and community room use. The anticipated completion of the work is early 2024, at which time the Buellton Library will move into the building from its current location by the Post Office.

For more information, please call (805) 252-2618.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital nationally recognized for highquality stroke care

Cottage Health has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for demonstrating a commitment to research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

Get With The Guidelines® — Stroke Gold Plus award with Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll — Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, recognized for ensuring stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care.

Get With The Guidelines® — Stroke Rural Bronze recognition — Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, recognized for efforts to optimize stroke care and strive to eliminate rural health care outcome disparities.

“We are proud our team is being recognized for the important work we do every day to improve the lives of people in Santa Barbara County and along the Central Coast who are affected by stroke, giving them the best possible chance of recovery and survival,” said Dr. Philip Delio, medical director of the Stroke Program at Cottage Health.

Santa Barbara County EMS earn Lifeline Achievement Awards

The Santa Barbara County EMS is, once again, nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality cardiovascular care. Advanced Life Support (ALS) agencies within the Santa Barbara County EMS System have received the American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline Achievement Awards” for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research- based guidelines for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital.

This year, Santa Barbara County EMS System received these achievement awards:

Mission: Lifeline ® EMS Gold Award

• American Medical Response (AMR)

• Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District (CSFPD)

• Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD)

Mission: Lifeline ® Target: Heart Attack

• American Medical Response (AMR)

According to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States, respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines.

“The Santa Barbara County EMS System is committed to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks and strokes,” Nick Clay, Santa Barbara County EMS agency director. “The Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs make it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which helps us ensure more people in Santa Barbara County experience longer, healthier lives.”

This year, the American Heart Association modified their qualification process to recognize individual agencies rather than the system as a whole. As part of the new application process, agencies must meet certain volume requirements to qualify for the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines and Mission: Lifeline achievement awards. As a participant in both Mission: Lifeline / Get With The Guidelines programs, American Medical Response (AMR), Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District (CSFPD), and Santa Barbara County Fire Department (SBCFD) qualified for the award(s) by demonstrating how their organization has been committed to improving quality care.

The Santa Barbara County EMS Agency works collaboratively with EMS/First Responders by providing ongoing clinical education, evaluation of high-risk skills and complex assessment training, in addition to ongoing system updates to the electronic documentation platform. All of these system implementations ensure not only the delivery of prompt and comprehensive patient care for EMS cardiac and stroke patients, but also the ability to capture critical information and integrate findings

with local hospital centers to provide definitive patient care.

Follow us on Twitter: @SBCPublicHealth Facebook: @SBCountyPublicHealth Instagram: @SBCPublicHealth.

Community Environmental Council hosts inaugural extreme Heat Forum

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting its inaugural Extreme Heat Forum on Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at its new Environmental Hub in downtown Santa Barbara. This free community event, presented in partnership with the Gray Panthers Santa Barbara Network and the Society of Fearless Grandmothers Santa Barbara, will address how our seniors can prepare for extreme heat and play a more direct role in building a resilient community.

Extreme heat events have been felt throughout the United States and the rest of the world during the month of July. In fact, July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, by a wide margin. Furthermore, UN Secretary General António Guterres shared his deep concern over increasingly intense and frequent heat waves by warning the public that “The era of global warming has ended, the era of global boiling has arrived.” It is crucial now more than ever to stay informed about extreme heat and learn how to stay cool during these extreme events.

Dr. David Labell and Rich Appelbaum of Gray Panthers, Pam Bury and Maureen Ellenberger of Fearless Grandmothers, Yumi Sera, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications; and Em Johnson, CEC’s director of climate resilience will lead a discussion of the real and lasting impacts on heat and climate change on our elderly communities, how seniors can play a more active role in protecting our most vulnerable populations, and what actions are needed to ensure we not only support resiliency at the neighborhood level but also at the policy-level.

CEC's Extreme Heat Forum will be offered in person at the Environmental Hub (1219 State St.) and livestreamed via Zoom on Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. Space is limited for the in-person option, and an RSVP is required to attend (both for in person and via Zoom). RSVP now using this link (attending via Zoom is an option upon "check out"). For more information, visit: cec.pub/23heatforum.

Cattle and dairy operations preserving land and natural resources

Cattle operation uses grazing to reduce fire dangers; organic dairy uses composting to conserve water

By Ching Lee California Farm Bureau Federation

CALIFORNIA — In a region dominated by vineyards, those who raise cattle for beef or milk production have looked to innovations and solutions outside the box to help keep their businesses viable.

A Napa County cattle operation and a Sonoma County organic dairy shared how they do just that while also helping to preserve the land and natural resources around them.

They offered an on-the-ground glimpse of their operations last week as part of an educational tour hosted by the California Farm Bureau and California Bountiful Foundation, with funding from the California Cattle Council. Tour participants included state legislative and committee staffers.

“These educational tours of cattle and dairy operations are critical in showing how our farmers and ranchers are contributing to food security, the local economy and its communities,” said Amrith Gunasekara, director of science and research at the California Farm Bureau.

“The tours further highlight how farmers and ranchers help take care of the land and environment. We need to tell their story more so their voice can be heard.”

At Gamble Family Farm in Napa County, cattle graze the property’s nearby pastures and hillsides to reduce fire dangers on land that otherwise could turn into a tinderbox as grasses dry.

With the region’s catastrophic wildfires

in recent years, “The concern has been managing our fuel loads,” said sixth-generation farmer Johnnie White, owner of the cattle. He and his wife, Kendall, started the cattle operation in 2021.

The Gamble family decided to fence off the hill so the land could be grazed to protect not just the family’s vineyard but also two houses on the property and two nearby wineries, White said. He leases the land, running about 11 head of cattle around the vineyard year-round.

White sells beef directly to a restaurant and chef in St. Helena. His beef is also featured in local farm-to-table dinners that sell for $375 a ticket.

“That kind of shows you the desire for people to get back to where their food comes from,” White said.

His cattle are mostly Angus crossed with shorthorn, Charolais and, more recently, Akaushi, a type of Wagyu breed known for its marbling.

“We’re going for that ultra-premium product,” he said.

Because Akaushi cattle are slow growing and take longer to raise, White crosses them with Angus to get “hybrid vigor,” producing meat qualities of Wagyu but with the growth of Angus. He uses shorthorn bulls in the mix as they are a “little heartier of an animal” and does “a good job of grazing and utilization of the forage,” he said.

He then finishes the cattle on grain, some of which is brewer’s grain — a byproduct of making beer — from Mad Fritz, a brewery and malthouse in St. Helena.

As a vineyard manager who also operates a custom farming business removing vineyards, White said he works with clients whose land will be out of production for a year and uses their properties to grow hay crops.

“It’s a very cheap source of feed for us,”

he said. “But it’s also pretty sustainable because we’re using this fallow piece of ground, getting a crop off of it to make a nutritious protein source.”

Launce Gamble, whose grandfather acquired the ranch in the 1950s, said fencing the property so that it could be grazed by White’s cattle is less costly than renting sheep and goats annually for the same service. With permanent fencing, the cattle can graze the land year-round, he said.

Gamble said state and federal lands also could benefit from a “well-intentioned and managed grazing program.” When done properly, he said, grazing can benefit the earth by increasing carbon sequestration, water retention and biodiversity.

In Sonoma County, an organic dairy run by the Beretta family earned the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award, which recognizes farmers and ranchers who employ sustainable practices to maintain natural resources. The dairy has been certified organic since 2006 and milks about 300 cows.

To reduce the farm’s methane emissions, the family added a system that automatically scrapes up the cow’s manure and separates the liquid from the solids, which are then composted. The compost is used in the barn for cow bedding and applied to pastures to improve the soil, dairy farmer Doug Beretta said.

Using the compost for animal bedding has been “a big savings,” he said, because the dairy no longer purchases beach or river sand, which costs about $700 a truck-andtrailer load.

During the summer, with the cows being on pasture, the dairy used to go through about two loads a month. In the winter, the loads increased to five or six loads a month. Beretta said he’s also noticed an increase in cow comfort and cleanliness

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with the compost bedding.

The $600,000 system, installed with help from a grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture, has also made handling the manure easier without the need of an excavator, Beretta said. Instead of scraping all the manure into a pond, the liquid is separated and applied to fields as fertilizer.

“We were hauling wet, sloppy loads,” he said. “Now about 70 percent of all the manure is being reused. We haul more liquid loads than normal, but we’re getting a lot better benefit out of that liquid, and it’s not quite as thick.”

The farm has also reduced its labor and use of diesel fuel from trucks that haul the manure, Beretta said. The number of loads has been cut in half because they’re not having to haul the solids, he noted.

Being able to use the leftover manure liquid in the field has allowed the dairy to save on irrigation water, said Jennifer Beretta, Doug’s daughter. The farm already partners with the city of Santa Rosa to use its reclaimed wastewater for irrigation to grow feed crops. Using the treated wastewater means the farm doesn’t have to pull about 80 million gallons of groundwater from the aquifer, she said.

“We’ve been one of the biggest, in my eyes, water savers for the last 40 years by utilizing that (reclaimed) water,” Doug Beretta said.

Now, with the addition of the recycled manure water, the farm can grow a second and third cutting of silage crop without using the city water, Jennifer Beretta said.

“This project benefited us not only by having less thickness of manure, but we were able to push that water into our irrigation set and still continue to grow crops even through drought,” she said. “That was beneficial for us.”

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By Lee Pitts Columnist

One of the disadvantages in trying to eke out a living in the cattle business on rented land is that the owner of the land will often be asked for access to the ranch to hunt, bird watch, shoot black powder, look for fossils or cultivate weed. And I'm not talking about crabgrass or dandelions.

One of the reasons the owner of the ranch could not say "No!" to trespassers was because he hoped to develop the ranch at some point in the future, and he was gonna need some help from some pretty shady characters, including City Council members, bankers, planning commissioners, alternative finan-

OPINION

Goodfella comes calling

ciers and all sorts of political types. So when one of them would call for permission to hunt, or to perform some other clandestine activity, like bury someone, the owner had to say "Yes."

Most of the visitation requests were to hunt on the ranch for quail, pheasants, elk, and wild hogs, all of which I'd never seen on the place in all the years we rented it. But this did not mean we didn't have varmints, including squirrels, rabbits, gophers, opossums, chipmunks, and snakes of both the human and reptile variety.

I was afraid a gentleman might step into a gopher hole at a breakneck walk and break a leg, so I didn't mind the squirrel hunters so much. And I've been told that 350 squirrels can eat as much as one cow, and I was not paying exorbitant rent just to feed 15 cows worth of squirrels. But I was concerned about hunters who didn't know the difference between a cow and a deer and didn't realize that just because an animal went "moo" didn't mean it was a moose.

Sometimes it seemed like my landlord was throwing a big party on the place every weekend, and I had no control over the guest list. We were infested with all kinds of guests, in-

By Daniel Rich Columnist

cluding one rich dude who, it was rumored, provided "alternative financing" to the ranch owner. Long before political correctness kicked in, I believe the guy would have been called a mob loanshark.

Naturally, you don't say "No" to a man like this.

The alleged mobster was the only guest the ranch owner ever warned me about in advance. I knew he must have been a big shot because the night before his visit, my landlord called to say that I was to treat this guy like my life depended on it. I was to give the visiting VIP anything he wanted, which I guess included My Truck, which the mobster immediately requisitioned. I would have said something if not for the bulge in his jacket under both armpits and the jagged scar on his face from his jaw to his forehead.

It turned out that one of the goon's interests was Greyhound racing, and I'm not referring to big buses skidding around racetracks. He showed up at the ranch to let his Greyhounds get a little exercise when we were very busy loading a truck with cows that had come up empty on preg checking day. Things had gone swimmingly well until

the gangster arrived with three of his adopted dogs that could no longer keep up with the pack on race day.

As my new friend prepared to unleash his three adopted Greyhounds I meekly asked, "Will they come when you call them? Will they bother my cattle? Have they been trained at all?"

"Kinda," replied the hoodlum.

"Being kinda trained is like being kinda pregnant; either they are, or they're not," I said, mostly to myself.

But my words came out too soft and too late as the Greyhounds assaulted my cattle from three directions. As a result the cattle tore down the ranch infrastructure, including the corral and the lead-up alley. And I actually had cows that had previously been loaded jump back out of the truck! The grumpy trucker left with only a half a load, and we spent the rest of the day trying to chase down the wayward Greyhounds.

I think they still must be out there having a great time chasing down real rabbits instead of the fake ones they couldn't catch at the track because we haven't seen a rabbit or a squirrel since the gangster's visit.

Strategies for enhanced mental health

This information may not be new, but it could reaffirm your current approaches.

First and foremost, be yourself, which has been described as being self-actualized. While it is being open-minded to listen to the advice and counsel of others carefully, the bottom line is to be true to yourself and to follow your own instincts and intuitions. Be true to your own goals, priorities, values, and passions. Basically, this means not attempting to impress others or try to be someone you that you are not.

The culture of repression and denial has been very prevalent in our society, starting in the 1930s. This has been called the “John Wayne” syndrome, where it was not considered manly to admit to or express your feelings. This was the era of the “stiff upper lip.” Don’t expose yourself, don’t let people know how you really feel, and be pleasant all the time, even when you don’t feel that way. Don’t express anger, anxiety,

or jealousy. Children were admonished to keep their feelings to themselves, and parents were advised never to consult their children about their feelings or opinions.

The approach of pretending that you do not feel the way you do is described as denial or repression and is not desirable for your mental health; it has also been proven to be both detrimental to one’s physical health. Admitting to and embracing one’s feelings, regardless of what they are, is substantially more effective than attempting to deny or repress feelings.

Others may attempt to control you or attempt to make you feel guilty if you do not conform to their agendas or goals. But, it is a different story if you seek out the opinions or advice of others.

Avoid multitasking. When a person is fatigued, overwhelmed, or simply attempting to do too many things at once, that is when mistakes, miscalculations, and accidents are more prone to occur.

Sleep deprivation, inadequate diet, and lack of exercise are all factors that typically contribute to

functioning less effectively and efficiently.

Social interactions with both family and friends may be the most significant thing that you can do to enhance good mental health.

The not often talked about elephant in the room may be the issue of substance abuse. Suffice to say that either alcohol or drug abuse not only does not solve mental health issues, it is almost always a complicating and negative factor, minimizing the ability to engage in introspection. The first step in dealing with understanding oneself is always to not abuse either drugs or alcohol.

There are some people who may claim that the road to good mental health is to stay rooted in the present, claiming that this is all we really have. Pretending that the past has no influence is sheer folly; ask anyone who has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Pretending that there is no reason to be concerned about the future is also sheer folly. While it does not make any sense to magnify either the past or the future, it is also just not realistic to ignore either.

Writing a journal or even an autobiography can really help being introspective, letting you see patterns and aspects of your life that you had not previously thought about.

Speaking of writing, if one has suffered from past traumatic experiences, writing letters about those events has been shown to be very therapeutic. These letters do not get mailed; they are a mechanism for dealing with traumatic events.

In general, I am suggesting a path of moderation. Neither obsessing or magnifying issues or challenges, on one hand, but on the other hand, not pretending that things are all pleasure and sunshine when they are not.

Spending some time every day with whatever gives you joy and pleasure is not only worthwhile but essential for good mental health.

Even in the most challenging times, having a sense of humor, optimism, and perspective helps get one of the rough spots.

Last but not least of all, gratitude for even the smallest things in life helps.

Your reactions or comments are welcome.

Pirates football getting ready for new season

Santa Ynez kicks off 2023 campaign with non-league contest at Cabrillo this Friday

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

At first glance, it may seem to some that the Santa Ynez High School football team has it tough for this season, considering the Pirates only have two starters each returning on offense and defense, and on offense saw its quarterback, two running backs, and a key receiver graduate.

However, Pirates head coach Josh McClurg begs to differ. While there will be many new names in the starting slots, according to the coach, his roster is much deeper than last year's team that finished 5-6 after a fast start.

"We have 53 players on the team this year, which is the most we've had since I've been head coach," McClurg said.

Last year, the Pirates came into the season knowing that they would have to depend on many players seeing action on both sides of the ball. McClurg said that's not the case for 2023.

"We're going to rely way less on two-way players this year; we'll be able to play two-platoon football this year," the coach said. "I think we'll only see a couple of guys play both ways for us, and that's huge [for our depth]."

For the offense this season, McClurg feels the strength of the squad lies in its pass-catchers, led by last year's leading receiver Daulton Beard, who was named a thirdteam All-State player by Cal-Hi Sports for 2022. He caught 77 passes for 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns in his junior year.

"We have a ton of talent at the receiving corps, and we'll be able to rotate guys and keep them fresh and hungry," he said. "Of course, Daulton will be on the field pretty much the whole time on offense."

As for the rushing attack, SYHS went with a running-back-by-committee gameplan as Cole Swain and Isaac Moran (both now graduated) shared carries with Dallas DeForest, but this year McClurg looks for the returning DeForest to be the main ball carrier.

"He'll be the guy this year," McClurg said of the 5-foot-7, 170-pound senior. "We ex-

SANTA YNEZ HIGH 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

AUG. 18 AT CABRILLO

AUG. 25 BYE

SEPT. 1 AT MORRO BAY

SEPT. 8 SANTA MARIA

SEPT. 15 AT MISSION PREP*

SEPT. 22 RIGHETTI (HOMECOMING)*

SEPT. 29 AT ST. JOSEPH*

OCT. 6 NIPOMO*

OCT. 13 AT PASO ROBLES*

OCT. 20 ARROYO GRANDE*

OCT. 27 LOMPOC*

Flores at middle linebacker, Ryder McClurg at safety, Max Andrade at corner, Nicky Vacca will start at receiver as well as corner," McClurg said. "I don't see any players who are necessarily going to be superstars, but we're going to be pretty solid.

"I think we'll be better on defense than last year; not really talent-wise, but just being able to have players who are defensive-only guys, it will make us just that stronger."

The Pirates are set to start their season this Friday, Aug. 18, as they travel to face Cabrillo at Lompoc's Huyck Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff. After a bye week and another road game, at Morro Bay, on Sept. 1, Santa Ynez will have its home opener against Santa Maria High on Sept. 8.

pect him to handle a heavier load."

Of course, one important position for the Pirates to fill is quarterback, after the graduation of last year's standout Luke Gildred, but the coach has high hopes for this year's projected starter behind center, sophomore Jude Pritchard.

"He's a unique talent," McClurg said of Pritchard. "He can throw the ball 70 yards in the air and he's fast; he gives us a lot of options."

"The thing is, we're just a multi-faceted offense, and we can play to our strengths," he continued. "If we look more like a passing team, we can do that; if we see our rushing game is stronger, we can do that."

Meanwhile, Santa Ynez can look forward to some familiar faces on the defensive side of the ball.

"On defense we have guys who didn't start but saw significant playing time last year: Luca Clifton at outside linebacker, Ben

After that it will be a tough Mountain League slate as the Pirates go up against the likes of Mission Prep, St. Joseph, and Lompoc, among others.

McClurg agrees facing off against the team's Mountain opponents won't be easy, but the Pirates will be ready.

"There's not one team [in the league] that isn't a battle. Last year, that league schedule, even our wins were brutal, physical games," he said. "I'm happy we have a lot of depth and numbers, because I think that's going to get us through that league schedule and into the playoffs."

Santa Ynez High football players go through their drills during a preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 7. The Pirates home opener will be against Santa Maria on Sept. 8. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

Santa Ynez High School football head coach Josh McClurg addresses his team during a preseason practice on Monday, Aug. 7. The Pirates kick off the 2023 season with a game at Cabrillo Aug. 18. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

Santa Barbara Zoo introduces Raj the Red Panda

New arrival among just 10,000 still left of endangered species Staff Report

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Zoo is excited to officially introduce Raj, the red panda, and welcome him into his new habitat, where he can now be seen by visitors. Since his arrival in April, Raj has been acclimating behind the scenes while his habitat underwent renovations to become his new home. Raj will share his new habitat with the zoo’s Burmese black mountain tortoise, Mathilda. These tortoises live in similar areas as red pandas do in the wild.

Red pandas, native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, are known for their striking reddish-brown fur, bushy tails, and endearing, bear-like faces. Despite their appearance, red pandas are not closely related to giant pandas; they are actually more akin to raccoons.

“Raj has settled in well to his beautiful

new habitat,” shared Dr. Julie Barnes, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s director of animal care. “He has been busy exploring, showcasing his natural agility and curiosity. We are delighted to provide him with a safe and enriching environment that meets all of his needs.”

Red pandas are endangered due to habitat loss, with less than 10,000 estimated left in the wild. They can be found in various regions of China, Nepal, and northern Myanmar. The name panda is believed to come from the Nepali word “ponya,” meaning “bamboo eater,” and in fact, red pandas were classified and named before giant pandas.

The Santa Barbara Zoo invites the community to come and meet this captivating creature. Raj not only provides an opportunity for guests to learn about the importance of conservation efforts for red pandas in the wild but also serves as a reminder of the zoo’s commitment to providing the best care and habitats for its animal residents.

The red panda habitat is sponsored by Nora McNeely Hurley, Michael Hurley, and the Manitou Fund, with additional support from the Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation. The public can also help welcome Raj to the zoo by becoming a Foster Feeder. Foster Feeders at all levels will receive a personalized Foster Feeder certificate (includes honoree’s name and animal photo) and recognition on the Foster Feeder board at the zoo. Various donation levels are available with different, wild benefits! For details please click here: sbzoo.pivvit.com/red-panda

About the Santa Barbara Zoo

The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m.; general admission is $25 for adults, $15 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Parking is $11. The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA zoos are dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great visitor experience,

and a better future for all living things. With more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and is the public’s link to helping animals in their native habitats. Visit www.sbzoo.org.

Raj the Red Panda looks down from his perch in the tree at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Since his arrival in April, Raj has been acclimating behind the scenes while his habitat underwent renovations. Contributed photo

Local woman has a huge heart for dogs in need

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

Jen Curtis, a resident of Los Alamos, has had a heart for animals in need since childhood. As a child growing up in Maine, she said she used to pick up neighborhood cats that she thought were homeless and bring them home.

“So, when I brought the cats home, my mother would say that they probably had homes of their own and that I needed to find out where they lived,” said Curtis. “From childhood, I was always wanting to help sick cats in need. Turns out I’m allergic to cats, so I went without any animal in my life until a friend of mine gifted me with a dachshund named Greta.”

In 2014, Curtis said she recognized the plight of homeless dogs in need of rescuing. So, she started fostering rescues. At first she focused on dachshunds and dachshund mixes.

“Shortly after bringing in a friend for Greta, I began fostering dachshunds who were looking for forever homes," she said. "I began with dachshunds and it slowly developed into fostering all breeds of dogs.

“I fostered and then adopted Hudson who was going to be euthanized because he had kennel cough. Then I started doing more. I adopted a cocker spaniel who a delivery guy in Bakersfield had seen someone throw out of a truck and it just went on from there.”

At present Curtis is an independent dog rescuer, but she is in the process of filing for a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. The name of her rescue will be LE WOOF, but for now she is doing this work as an independent dog lover.

“The word got out that I am interested in rescuing dogs, so people started calling me about animals in trouble,” said Curtis. “My journey is to find every dog a forever home.”

A board member from the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society and Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) asked Curtis to help with some fundraising and shortly after that, she was asked to join the Board of Directors and she said that she pretty much spearheaded fundraising for them.

“After two years of helping raise funds for the Humane Society I realized that I preferred to

focus on things I could control and make a bigger impact,” she said.

When COVID hit, Curtis started doing more fostering and pulling dogs out of highkill shelters in Los Angeles County and helping Santa Barbara County find homes for their dogs in need while at the same time continuing to foster.

“I formed a relationship with a rescue group in Oregon who agreed to take 12-15 dogs a month from overcrowded shelters in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. On a monthly basis I have to raise $2,500 to pay for their transport to Oregon alone,” she explained. “Between pulling dogs for the Oregon transport, raising funds for their transport, pulling dogs that I foster myself along with finding them homes and networking with a team of fosters who help with this work, well, I have to say, it is more than a handful. I host fundraisers, GoFundMes, adoption events to get dogs adopted, and continue to pay for spay and neutering, vaccines, and medical care. I also drive to wherever a dog needs rescuing. This weekend I am off to Ventura to rescue a dog in need. This is a lot to handle on top of having a full-time job in software sales, but it’s worth it.”

Although Curtis began by focusing on a particular breed, she has widened here efforts considerably.

“Currently I focus on all dogs in need, not breed or age specific, but I have a soft spot for senior dogs and medical dogs including hospice dogs," she said. "I have pulled a few end-of-life dogs from shelters and gave them love and medical support until they passed including my very social boy Ziggy who I had for 7 months before he passed away.

"In my opinion, shelters are no place for a dog long-term, let alone for a senior dog. Currently we have small, medium, and large dogs of all ages available for adoption.”

Curtis said that shelters are overflowing with adoptable dogs, some of them even pure breed.

“People are dumping their dogs in record numbers in shelters, in deserts, in fields, wherever," she said. "The number of homeless dogs is the worst it has ever been due to backyard breeders and not spaying or neutering animals or people who find their animals inconvenient and dump them because they don’t want them anymore.

“I will continue to do foster care and rescue and ask people to foster, raise money and find loving homes for as many of these deserving dogs that I can. The community of Los Alamos and the Valley and Santa Barbara County residences have been so supportive of the work I do along with help from friends, volunteers,

and fosters. I am grateful to the businesses that have allowed me to host adoption events such as Forage Floral, Full of Life Flat Bread, The Well, Priedite Barbecue, and Bell’s, to name a few.”

Curtis is always looking for fosters, volunteers to walk dogs, weekend puppy or dog foster flings, puppy socializers and people willing to transport.

“Fostering is easier than you think, long-term or short term," she said. "Volunteering to walk a dog daily helps the primary caregiver take a break and is a big help or raising money to care for these animals; truly, every little bit helps. I know fostering can be a little heart-breaking when you have to say goodbye to an animal you’ve cared for, but you just have to overcome that feeling and be happy that this animal has found a new forever home and you’ve helped make that happen. I will have over 12 puppies available for adoption by the time this article goes to press, so, if you are looking for a puppy to adopt or want to foster one or more of them, give me a call.”

To enquire about helping in any way including fostering and volunteering, email beaheroforadog@gmail.com or call (781) 6402926.

If you can’t adopt them by the bunch, how about taking this little fellow home.

Jen Curtis of Los Alamos is an 'independent dog rescuer' who fosters canines waiting for a forever home

(Left photo) Victoria Feld is a volunteer foster who is seen with an adorable little rescue puppy. The top center, top right, and top left photos show various dogs up for adoption. (Right photo) Ziggy was rescued by Jen Curtis from a high-kill shelter one hour before he was schedule to be euthanized. He had nasal cancer but lived seven very happy months with her. Photos Contributed (Left, top right, and bottom right); Photo by I Kissed A Dog (top center); Photo by Jose Villa (bottom center)

Santa Barbara Humane's remarkable achievement:

77 spay and neuter surgeries in a single day

Majority of operations on feral and community-owned cats found in area

Staff Report

Santa Barbara Humane is proud to announce a groundbreaking milestone in their ongoing mission to address the overpopulation of feral cats in Santa Barbara County. On July 20, the organization’s Santa Maria veterinary clinic successfully performed an astounding 77 spay and neuter surgeries in a single day, marking an extraordinary achievement in their efforts to promote responsible pet ownership and combating feline overpopulation. A majority of the 77 spay and neuter surgeries were performed on feral and community-owned cats, as part of Santa Barbara Humane’s Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. The program, which was launched in 2021, is a collaborative effort in which

community members humanely trap feral cats, who are then brought to Santa Barbara Humane. Once the cats arrive at the organization’s clinic, they are examined by a veterinarian, given appropriate vaccines and flea treatments, and surgically sterilized. TNR is important on several levels.

1) Feral cats frequently have very difficult lives, and may face many dangers when out on the streets. They can be hit by cars, attacked by predators, subjected to poisoning or trauma from community members, both unintentional and intentional, and are at an increased risk of contracting diseases like felike leukemia virus. In addition they are often covered in fleas and ticks, which can easily be passed on to owned cats in the neighborhood.

2) Because feral cats typically don’t receive regular veterinary care, TNR gives veterinary staff the opportunity to check them out and address any chronic or painful conditions they may have. It also allows

the veterinary team to provide crucial veterinary care including vaccines, dewormers, and flea control.

3) Unaltered community cats can be quite the nuisance — when they are mating it is very loud and disruptive in communities in the middle of the night. They also spray urine throughout the neighborhood which causes an unpleasant smell and can cause behavioral issues with owned cats.

4) Unaltered cats can produce multiple litters a year that have anywhere from two to 14 kittens per litter. Often community members find these kittens when the moms are out looking for food and bring them into the shelter. This causes the animal shelters to be inundated during the summer and fall months with kittens — many too young to survive on their own. In many areas in the U. S. including many places in California — this results in many kittens being euthanized because there is no way to care for them.

Including the surgeries performed on July 20, Santa Barbara Humane has already spayed or neutered more than 350 feral cats thus far in 2023. This number is a marked increase from the 298 feral cats spayed by the organization in 2022. Interested parties can learn more about Santa Barbara Humane’s TNR efforts on their website sbhumane.org/community-cats/.

Some of the veterinary staff that helped in performing 77 spays and neuters in one day (July 20) are shown at the Santa Barbara Humane animal shelter. Contributed Photo

Solvang Senior Center announces upcoming programs

Expanded exercise classes and social groups among the offerings

Solvang Senior Center is expanding options for seniors, attracting larger class sizes, and expanding opportunities to explore the community and make new friends.

Weekly offerings include exercise classes and social groups. For those looking to improve their health or stay in shape, the Center offers arthritis exercise as well as yoga and pedal power classes to get you moving. Seniors can spark their competitive instincts with Maj Jongg and Bridge or tap into their creative side with art class or beginning ukulele. The Book Club is currently reading "The Alice Network" and meets twice a month for discussion. Members looking for social connection can join Conversation Circles led by Ian Jacobsen.

“We are very excited about our 'Museum Crawl' this August starting Aug. 11th,” exclaims the Center’s Executive Director Ellen Albertoni. “The program will explore three local museums: the Elverhoj Museum, the Amber & Viking Museum, and the Wildling Museum. Each Friday, we will take 10 members to tour one of the local museums followed by lunch at a nearby restaurant.” Those interested in joining the Crawl can contact the Center at (805) 688-3973 to sign up.

Beginning in September, the Center will kick off a Health and Wellbeing Lecture Series. From mid-September through mid-November, four lectures will cover a variety of topics related to active aging and wellbeing. The series will kick off on Sept. 12 with Kandice Hawes and Sue Taylor from Farmacy presenting "Cannabis Basics for Active Aging Adults: An Introduction to Medical Use."

This lecture will offer seniors who are new to cannabis with accurate, evidence-based information that will help them make informed decisions about its potential use. Three additional lectures will round out the series, with the final class in November led by a registered

associate marriage family therapist who will offer helpful strategies in a "From Thriving to Surviving: Senior Mental Health Basics" presentation. The Center invites all community members to join and RSVP by emailing ssctr@verizon.net. Limited seating will be available.

On Sunday, Oct. 29, the Center will have its annual Alisal Breakfast Ride Fundraiser. After a wagon ride to the Alisal Adobe, complete with Alisal Ranch’s famous pancake breakfast, guests can bid on a selection of live auction items with proceeds going towards the Center’s new building.

The Solvang Senior Center is moving forward with plans to build a new permanent building, replacing the current modular structure with a 4,725 square-foot two-story building.

“Our new facility will allow us to expand programs, including developing

intergenerational programming. The building will allow enough room to hold multiple concurrent classes” said Center President Jim Richardson. The project’s construction plans are in the permitting process. Once construction begins, the Center’s daily activities will relocate to the Legion Wing of the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Solvang.

The Center’s capital campaign has raised over $3.3 million, approximately 90 percent of the total amount needed towards covering all costs associated with the construction of the building and furnishings to ensure it will be outfitted with state-of-the-art features important for its long-term use by the community. Santa Ynez Valley residents wishing to support the campaign can contact Executive Director Ellen Albertoni or visit www.solvangseniorcenter.org to learn how to help the Center reach its financial goal.

About Solvang Senior Center:

The Solvang Senior Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the Santa Ynez Valley’s community hub for active aging adults 55 years and older. Offering programs and activities such as low-impact exercise classes, daily lunches, and monthly member dinners, the Center provides local seniors with new opportunities for connection and vital resources for independent living. Members of the Solvang Senior Center keep their minds sharp, bodies healthy, and spirits soaring thanks to the Center’s services. Incorporated in 1978, the Solvang Senior Center is supported via individual memberships, donations and grants from area foundations, businesses and government. You can find the Center at 1745 Mission Dr., Solvang, California behind the Solvang Veteran’s Hall in the heart of town. For a list of services, events and more information visit solvangseniorcenter.org.

Seniors take part in an arthritis stretch and strength class at the Solvang Senior Center. The Center has many classes, programs, and events in the coming months. Contributed Photo

Alma Rosa Winery raises mental health awareness

Fourth annual 'Peace of Mind' walk raises over $200,000 for One Mind and Mental Wellness Center

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

Alma Rosa Winery hosted the fourth annual “Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction” fundraising walk on Saturday, July 22, at the vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills in Buellton. Two hundred people attended the walk which raised $200,463 to support One Mind and Santa Barbara’s Mental Wellness Center.

The walk was 4.5 miles over varied terrain in moderately hot weather with spectacular views.

“It was a 4-mile walk and 2 miles up, at the top, we had some champagne, which was actually very refreshing and then two miles back, at the bottom, we had a wine tasting,” said James Schaeffer, one of the participants.

“This is the first time we’ve done the walk,” said Lisa Schaeffer who came from San Diego to celebrate her “29th” birthday with friends from Santa Barbara. “It’s important for all of us to address the issue of mental health, which is just as important as physical health.”

“We have a friend, Dyan Colven, who we hike with in Santa Barbara. She works with Mental Health Matters and she recommended this walk,” said Deb Gibson. “She’s the main reason we’re here.”

One Mind was started in 1995 by Shari and Garen Staglin when their son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to a press release, One Mind today catalyzes visionary change through science, business, and media to transform the world’s mental health. Through such achievements as enrolling over 10,000 patients in innovative clinical studies and the One Mind at Work initiative that has brought supportive workplace mental health practices to over 7 million employees, One Mind powers evidence-based solutions to enable all people to succeed in their mental health journeys. Brandon Staglin, whose own experiences inspired the creation of the non-profit, now serves as its president, exemplifying the change One Mind seeks in its disruptive initiatives.

“[The walk] was well worth it — it’s for a great cause. We met the president of One Mind, Brandon Staglin, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Inspiring!” said Sue Hollingsworth, a participant from Santa Barbara.

“This weekend’s ‘Peace of Mind’ fundraising walk hosted at Alma Rosa Winery was a chance for hundreds of mental health supporters to walk ‘10,000 steps’ to raise funds for both One Mind and the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara," said Staglin. "It’s been such an honor for One Mind to be a recipient of the proceeds for the fourth year in a row; we are thankful to owners of Alma Rosa [Bob and Barb Zorich] and Debra Eagle and for orchestrating this chance to open our lungs, hearts, and wallets for an impactful and important cause.”

The second recipient of the fundraiser is the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara, which is celebrating 75 years of service to the community. According to a press release, the Mental Wellness Center has been a community leader in building hope for individuals and families, providing support in recovery and rais-

ing awareness of mental health. This important organization provides mental health education to local students, a residential services program, which safely provides a home to more than 100 community members across seven residential sites, and serves individuals and families impacted by mental illness through support groups, employment services, and social connection programs like the Fellowship Club, an on-site social day club and safe space with resources for those working on their mental health and wellness.

“We were so thrilled to see such a wonderful turnout for this year’s ‘Peace of Mind’ Walk," said Annmarie Cameron, Mental Wellness Center CEO. "Having a larger group walk this year in such a breathtaking setting while doing good for others, inspires us to ensure that every donated dollar to Mental Wellness Center and

One Mind goes to keeping our mental health programs and services free of charge to our greater community,”

“A delightful crowd of people attended the event,” said Hollingsworth. “Everyone I met was so friendly.”

Complimentary coffee and pastries were available before the walk, which were provided by Solvang’s Good Seed Coffee Boutique and Santa Ynez Pony Espresso.

Following the walk, the winery hosted a reception at its historic Ranch House, featuring cheese and charcuterie and the latest releases from Alma Rosa’s Winemaker Samra Morris, as well as from the nearby Santa Ynez Valley’s Brave & Maiden Estate. Additional refreshments and snacks were provided by sponsors, including Kate’s Real Food, Liquid I.V., Culture Pop Soda, and Leisure Project.

Alma Rosa hosted a three-course private luncheon catered by First & Oak at the estate from 12 to 2 p.m. with Staglin and Cameron as their special guests.

“As anxiety and depression continue to affect our community, we hope the funds raised will lead to improved outcomes in advocacy, research and treatment for individuals who are experiencing mental illness," said Alma Rosa Winery General Manager Debra Eagle. "We are grateful to be a part of the solution by raising funds for these critical organizations.”

The “Piece of Mind” fundraising campaign was originally conceived by Eagle and Alma Rosa’s proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich to support community services for mental health, research, and treatment for anxiety and depression. Over the past three years, the campaign has raised $545,000 for One Mind and the Mental Wellness Center not including the $200,463 raised from this year’s walk.

This year, to amplify the efforts of the event, the Zorichs matched individual donations dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000 for each organization, for a total of up to $70,000. The Zorichs have also announced a dollar-for-dollar matching incentive for corporate sponsors up to $25,000, and are grateful to have already received generous donations from Rio Vista Chevrolet in Buellton, Creating Connections, Montecito Bank & Trust, Mullen & Henzell L.L.P., Acme Hospitality, SeaVees and SCI Specialty Construction.

For more information about Alma Rosa’s commitment to mental health awareness and support, visit https://almarosawinery.com/about/ community-commitment/

Alma Rosa Winery proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich conceived of the "Peace of Mind" awareness campaign and fundraising walk along with their general manager, Debra Eagle (not shown). Contributed Photo

A group of participants nearing the end of the four-mile walk at this year’s “Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction” at Alma Rosa Vineyard. Photo by Devyn Marseilles

Buellton BBQ Bonanza serves up good food, good fun

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

On a warm July day, the last Saturday of the month, city residents enjoyed what has become a Buellton tradition as the Buellton Rec Department held its 21st annual BBQ Bonanza on July 29 at River View Park.

Crowds of Buellton residents lined up for tri-tip sandwiches and some sides. Afterward, they were able to delve into a table of treats provided by Pam Gnekow and the Solvang Senior Center.

In the middle of the three-hour event, Buellton Rec Director Paul Smith was already declaring it a success. The event had one notable change in that it was for Buellton residents only. Those residents received postcards in the mail with notice for the Bonanza, and showed those along with IDs to get in.

"It's going good," Smith said. "We made a few changes this year, with the food being for Buellton residents, and we've gotten some new talent for entertainment. We got Ron Miller's [Gunmetal Gray] Band, some Irish dancers, and other acts, and just a few groups we haven't had in the past."

This was the first BBQ Bonanza to be presided over by Smith, who took over as head of the Buellton Rec Department after the departure of long-time leader Kyle Abello, the person who came up with the BBQ Bonanza concept.

"While we made some changes, you don't want to ruin what's been a good thing," Smith said. "Kyle's had done such a good job of it over the years."

Smith also mentioned the partnership they made this year with the Solvang Senior Center, which was able to provide many of the food items.

"The Senior Center did a lot of the beans, cookies, salads," he said. "Our partnership with the Senior Center has been beneficial."

The organizers also got a hand from the city leaders as Buellton Mayor Dave King and City Councilmember David Silva,

among others, were seen serving food to the people in line. King, who said he had been to many Bonanzas in the past, said he was just glad to have the event as a yearly occurence again.

"Well, we couldn't have these during the pandemic," he said. "This year we had the people show their ID to make sure they're Buellton people so we don't run out of food. I do kind of wish the temperatures weren't so high today, but everyone's having a good time."

Another aspect of the Bonanza was the

chance for some local businesses, organizations and nonprofits to set up booths and showcase their wares.

One such group was the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 491 based out of Santa Ynez Airport, with its glider on display and a pilot, Don Macomber of Atlas Air, ready to answer any questions about the craft.

"I've been involved with gliders and light airplanes sinces I was a little kid," Macomber said while manning the EAA booth. "It was Bob's [local pilot Robert

Perry] idea to bring it out here, and I think it's worked out great."

Macomber is trying to get another glider-ride service at the Santa Ynez Airport, one of the reasons to have the booth at the event.

"We're hoping to crank up another glider op; right now is the first time in decades we didn't have one mainly because of COVID," he said. "Hopefully next year, we can get one up back up, taking people on rides and giving them flight instructions."

City residents enjoy games, music, and even an up-close look with a glider, along with a tri-tip sandwich meal

The Mendenhall family (clockwise from left) — Misty, Mark, Kylie, and Vicki — prepare the tri-tip sandwiches

Ron Miller's Gunmetal Gray Band performs at the Buellton BBQ Bonanza on Saturday, July 29, at River View Park.

A glider sits at the booth for the Experimental Aircraft Association during the Buellton BBQ Bonanza on Saturday, July 29, at River View Park. Photos by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

Buellton Mayor Dave King (left) and Buellton City Councilmember David Silva serve attendees of the Buellton BBQ Bonanza on Saturday, July 29, at River View Park

Volunteers create new oak tree mural at the Wildling Museum

In the last few years, the Wildling Museum has worked to devote more resources to family-friendly activities that all visitors can enjoy. Among them are an activity guide for main floor exhibitions, an animal track identification opportunity, origami, word searches, and nature journaling.

Three Santa Ynez Valley residents volunteered their time and talent to paint a large oak tree mural for the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature’s George and Barbara Goodall Education Center this summer.

The new mural encompasses one wall and also features a quote from environmentalist Jane Goodall: "The small choices we make each day can lead to the kind of world that we all want for the future." The quote serves as a prompt to urge visitors to make a personal sustainability pledge, with an adjacent pledge station located next to the new mural. Visitors can participate by choosing a leaf with an environmental pledge, and adding it to a communal pledge wall to take the idea to heart in their daily lives.

The project was led by volunteer artist Stacey Thompson, and supported by artists Rebecca August and Carolyn Dorwin. All three spent over two months hand-painting the mural. The finishing touch was the addition of a gray fox, painted solely by August, who has recently begun to devote more time to her art.

“We each have a deep love and reverence for nature, especially trees. They are the unsung heroes of our world, providing us with the very air we breathe, the shelter we seek, and the nourishment we require," said Thompson. "This mural gave us an opportunity to celebrate trees and share our appreciation with the public. We are honored to contribute to the

Wildling Museum’s mission.”

Wildling Museum Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate expressed her gratitude for the three artists’ work, which has made a direct impact on the museum's visitors.

“The mural is so much more than we had hoped for. It has been amazing to watch it evolve over the past two months," said Otte-Demangate. "It has really brought nature into our space in the most beautiful way and is already inspiring people to make personal pledges to live more sustainably.”

Another recent addition to the classroom is a station devoted to nature journaling, which involves careful observation of nature and then documenting findings through sketching.

“Thanks to our friends at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, we now have two bird specimens, along with shells and feathers to intrigue our young visitors," said Otte-Demangate. "The process of nature journaling and sketching organically connects people to nature, so it’s a perfect activity for us to promote."

The Wildling Museum is currently working on taking the concept further, with a goal to find local leaders to start nature journaling hikes in 2024.

“We want to engage our younger visitors when they come here and create opportunities for the whole family to enjoy and learn together,” said Otte-Demangate.

The Wildling offers free admission to visitors 17 and younger and active duty military members with ID. In addition, the Museum is proud to be a member of Museums for All, which allows visitors receiving CalFresh/SNAP benefits free admission for up to 4 adults upon presentation of a valid CalFresh/SNAP EBT card and photo ID at check-in. General admission is a modest $5 for adults.

About the Wildling Museum

The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, and education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations. Current visiting hours are weekdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, and to volunteer or join as a member to support this important local arts and nature institution, please visit wildlingmuseum.org.

Finished work encompasses one wall at the updated George and Barbara Goodall Education Center

(From left) Santa Ynez Valley artists Carolyn Dorwin, Rebecca August, and Stacey Thompson are shown in front of their completed mural in the Wildling Museum’s George and Barbara Goodall Education Center. Contributed Photo

Entries now open for 1st Annual Viking Charities Classic Car Show

Three days of classic cars and motor vehicle-oriented activities planned for early October

Applications for participation in the 1st Annual Viking Charities Classic Car Show are now being accepted. The VCCCS event serves as the successor to the popular 20-year Wheels & Windmills Car Show which concluded last year.

Three days of vehicle-oriented special events will take place Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, in Solvang as well as neighboring Buellton and Santa Ynez, highlighted by the Saturday, Oct. 7, car show.

Downtown Solvang will be transformed into a classic car (and motorcycle) mecca as an expected 200 or more pre-1990 impeccably restored, stock, and customized vehicles of every make, model and type including hot rods, sports cars, muscle cars, vans, pickups, trucks, motorcycles, and other special interest vehicles fill the streets of and be on display, competing for coveted prizes. An awards ceremony will take place in Solvang Park in the late afternoon. To assure no bias, independent judges not affiliated with the event or any participating club, will determine awards in more than two dozen classes, including muscle, sport, and truck.

Car show participant applications and additional information are now available of the show web site: www.vikingcharitiesinc. com/carshow.

Admission to the car show is free to the general public. Other Saturday special features will include music throughout the day, a VCCCS beer and wine garden and Viking burger bar as well as the famous Vikings of Solvang parade longboat for inspection and tour. A family “Poker Walk” courtesy of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce will also be offered, as well as a 50/50 ticket raffle.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Endowment Fund of Vikings of Solvang, a 49-year-old social and philanthropic 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, which

provides funding for the medically related needs of qualified individuals and health care organizations in the Santa Ynez Valley and throughout Santa Barbara County.

Vikings has donated more than $3 million in medically related aid since its founding.

VCCCS weekend activities kick off Friday evening, Oct. 6, with a gala fundraising dinner at the unique and

renowned Mendenhall’s Motor Museum of Gasoline Pumps and Petroliana in Buellton. A delicious Santa Maria-style barbecue with all the “fixins” will be prepared by the expert Vikings of Solvang BBQ team and guests will be treated to hosted super premium local beer and wine. Dinner will conclude with dessert, and silent and live auctions featuring one-of-

a-kind items. Tickets are $100 per person. The activities conclude on Sunday with an admission-free “sneak peek” behind the scenes of the Santa Ynez Valley’s premier private and commercial garages. Starting at Santa Ynez High School Pirate Auto Shop in Santa Ynez, participants will pick up their list of Santa Ynez Valley participating custom garages to tour. Following the tour, there will be a barbecue at the Pirate Garage at 1 p.m. with lunch tickets offered at $10 each. Funds raised from this event benefit the Santa Ynez High School Pirate Garage.

Viking Charities Classic Car Show is cochaired by long-time car enthusiast, Wheels & Windmills participant, and Solvang Viking Dr. Roger Lane.

“We have an outstanding group of volunteers working to make our first annual event one that honors the tremendous history and tradition of Wheels & Windmills," Lane said. "We’re dedicated to making the VCCCS weekend fun, memorable and a must-do event for participants and spectators.”

For more information on Viking Charities and VCCCS, please visit vikingcharitiesinc.com.

Some of the classic cars anticipated in the 2023 Viking Charities Classic Car Show are shown parked in front of one of Solvang's iconic windmills. The show will be held Oct. 7 in Solvang. Contributed Photo

This 2022 photo shows cars of display during the final Wheels and Windmills car show in Solvang. The Vikings of Solvang have picked up where Wheels and Windmills left off and will hold their inaugural car show on Oct. 7.

Shakespeare is dead, but ‘The Book of Will’ lives on

Lauren Gunderson’s play is the final production of the 59th season at Solvang Festival Theater

William Shakespeare is dead. Bad Hamlet knock-offs and children’s acting troupes litter the stages of Elizabethan London. And the King’s Men are running out of time. Rooted in real events, “The Book of Will” is the witty and wonderful battle of how the Bard’s legacy came to be, and is sure to be loved by Shakespeare fans and skeptics alike. After playing at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria from Aug. 17-26, “The Book of Will” will drop the curtain on the 59th season in the Solvang Festival Theater from Aug. 31 through Sept. 10.

“The Book of Will” is an unforgettable true story centered around the first collection of the works of William Shakespeare. The play takes place in London over 1619-23 and follows the artists, colleagues, rivals, and real-life friends of William Shakespeare, who were determined to protect and preserve his poetry and legacy.

Lauren Gunderson once said in an interview about her play “The Book of Will

“: “We know that Shakespeare’s friends collected his plays and published them in the first folio, but most of us don’t really know how that came to be and how complicated and exacting and surprising and riveting the process actually was. And in many ways, the events that unfolded to make the first folio possible were like a great Shakespeare play!”

That great play has, indeed, come to fruition in “The Book of Will.” It premiered at the Denver Theatre Center in 2017, won the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award in 2018 and has been moving and delighting audiences across the country and internationally ever since.

Director Emily Trask notes “Good friends are behind all good stories. And good stories make for good lives. In that spirit, in lieu of sharing my own thoughts,

I defer to the men, the friends, who knew Shakespeare and his work best, and who are so beautifully, humorously, and humanly brought to life again in Lauren Gunderson’s ‘The Book of Will.’”

The creative team includes Trask as director, Jason Bolen as the scenic designer, Pamela Shaw as the costume designer, Cody Soper as the lighting designer, Ben Lechtman as the sound designer, and Jack D. Myles as the stage manager.

The cast includes Andrew Philpot as John Heminges alongside his daughter in real life and on stage Isabella Lind as Alice/Susannah Shakespeare, Don Stewart as Henry Condell, Kitty Balay as Rebecca Heminges/Anne Hathaway, Polly Firestone Walker as Elizabeth Condell/ Emilia Lanier/Marcellus, Erik Stein as Richard Burbage/William Jaggard/Sir Edward Dering, George Walker as Ben Johnson/Barman 2/Bernardo, Joshua Aran as Ralph Cane/Barman/Compositor/Francisco, Antwon Mason as Ed Knight/Isaac Jaggard, and Audrey Cizran as Marcus/ Boy Hamlet/Crier/Horatio/Fruit Seller.

To purchase show tickets, please visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at (805) 922-8313.

(From left) Andy Philpott, Kitty Balay, Don Stewart, and Isabella Lund star in the PCPA production of “The Book of Will,” playing at the Solvang Festival Theater from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10. Contributed Photo

STAR LIFESTYLE

There are many places you can go for family research

wide). Check online for county of interest web addresses and information about how to obtain copies of their records. Others include school yearbooks, diaries, land and taxes, military records/pension files, naturalizations/passenger lists, newspapers/queries, DNA results, and the list goes on.

GENEALOGY TIPS

By Sheila Benedict

Summer is here and what better time to turn on the computer and the air conditioner and check out digitized records. NO, not everything is digitized and probably never will be but YES, they are working on adding more and more daily. What records are needed to complete a family research project?

The list of records is very long but some suggestions include bibles/church records, census, state and federal (population and non-population), city directories, county histories, court documents, vital records (birth, marriages, deaths for every county and some cities state-

The following URLs are listed, but it is important to check and make sure they are current. Do not forget to use PERSI for your periodical sources. It has a huge selection: genealogycenter.info/persi. Of course, as is stated in the column every month regarding the law, all the laws in California do not match laws in other states and countries. Each needs to be reviewed to make sure privacy policies and other restrictions are followed. In California, here are some of the major record repositories: Federal, National Archives (NARA) Regional Centers are in two locations: 23123 Cajalco Road, Perris, CA 92570 (www.archives.gov/frc/riverside; email: riverside.archives@nara.gov) and the Leo J Ryan Building, San Bruno, CA 94066 (www.archives.gov/frc/san-francisco; email: sanbruno.archives@nara.gov).

Available services

• Archival Research Room, Microfilm Research Room. California State Library at three locations; website: (www.library. ca.gov). For additional information on their holdings at the branches in Sacramento and San Francisco, email cslinfo@library.ca.gov and sutro@library.ca.gov.

• California State Archives, 1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 653-2246, https://www.sos.ca.gov/archives; email: archivesweb@sos.ca.gov.

• California Historical Society, 678 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105. Website: www.californiahistoricalsociety.org

• Bureau of Indian Affairs, regional office in Sacramento with branches in Redding and Riverside. Website: www.bia.gov/ WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/Pacific/index.htm

• LDS Family History Library Branch Centers: statewide, every county and some cities.

• Online archive of California, California Digital Library (www.oac.edlib.org; click “browse collections”).

• Some individual societies include Native

Daughters of the Golden West, Native Sons of the Golden West, Los Californianos, Society of California Pioneers, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, Museum of Forgotten Warriors (military), California African-American Genealogical Society, and in other parts of California, Jewish genealogical societies in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and other areas.

Finally, there are genealogical and historical societies all across California, other states, and other countries. There are also both subscription and free sites available as well. Remember, to do the research effectively, one record source is NEVER enough. One other source that seems to get little attention because of all the latest technology are books. Most genealogy libraries still have their collections, but many offer the use of their computer services. Enjoy your August and “see” you in September.

Copyright ©2023, Sheila Benedict; All Rights Reserved Email: benedictresearchservices@gmail.com No reproductions without prior written permission

As fall approaches, feel free to mix and match

ELNA'S FASHION CHATTER

By Sue Manning

Versatility equals value, so while traditional items may cost a bit more, they also work hard. With creative layering, pieces you may have dismissed as too trendy or too summery can actually become your newest wardrobe staples.

To add versatility to your neutral latte colors, add toast, blue, dusty rose, sage green, or black. For gray, add shocking pink, vibrant orange, lemon, or royal blue. For ivory, add eggplant, espresso, pine, or ruby.

When it comes to expanding your wardrobe, building from pieces you have and adding something new gives you extra wearing capabilities and who doesn’t want to expand their wardrobe while saving money at

the same time.

Remember, wardrobe building is a free service at Elna’s Dress Shop. Our expert staff specializes in this area.

With fall just around the corner, fashion can seem intimidating and inaccessible. We think we need the “total” look, but not all things belong together. Some do, some don’t. Fall gives us the option of being free spirited, so feel free to mix and match! This fall, look for earth tones, plush textures, tapestries, florals, and plaids. Floral textiles have a history in fashion design. From bold statements to muted prints, they give fashionistas a chance to express their personality. One thing is for sure — floral prints are always in style.

Known for its “quiet authority,” nude and beige textiles provide a background for bold statements.

The popular trend is suitable for everyday as well as on the runway.

Major denim trends for fall and winter from key silhouettes to surface finishes. This season’s denim is all about elevating this closet staple. No longer just a casual classic, contemporary denim pieces are being put together with sharp tailoring, surface textures, and eastern aesthetics for a fresh, fashion-forward take on utility wear.

Stop by Elna’s during the month of August for our special sale featuring 50 percent off selected summer merchandise. You’ll find the quality name brands we are known for, but hurry, because when they are gone, they are gone.

Elna’s is open: Wednesdays thru Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located in the heart of Solvang at 1673 Copenhagen Drive

FOOD & DRINK

Fresh tomatoes and farmer's markets

• 2 thick slices day-old sourdough bread

• 2 ripe peaches, cut into wedges

• Good-quality honey such as lavender or wildflower honey

Directions:

If you don't have your own tomato patch, don't worry; our farmers markets will certainly be able to keep you supplied. And there's just nothing like a fresh tomato when it comes to color, taste, and texture.

I am always looking for ways to prepare tomatoes other than just slicing them or putting them in BLT sandwiches.

On that note, I recently found this recipe for a tomato, peach, and toasted sourdough salad. Bet that got your attention — I know it got mine. It's a wonderful salad for a barbecue, a picnic, or just dinner at home anytime.

And all of the ingredients can be found at the farmers markets.

Slice tomatoes or cut them into halves, quarters or wedges, depending on their shape and size. Put them in a large bowl and season generously with smoked salt. Cover and set aside for at least 30 minutes (longer is fine). 30 minutes to 2 hours before you plan on eating, toss the olive oil, vinegar and red onion into the tomatoes. Toast the bread until well charred and, once cooled, break large chunks into the salad. Toss well to combine, then transfer the salad to an airtight container and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Just before serving, add peach wedges and toss lightly. Finally, drizzle about 2 teaspoons honey over the salad and serve.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook potatoes in a pan of salted boiling water for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Drain well. Place potatoes in a large roasting pan and use the back of a fork, or the heel of your hand (if potatoes are cool enough), to gently push down on potatoes, crushing them slightly without breaking them apart completely. Season with salt, scatter with crushed chilies, then drizzle them with the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Roast for 40-45 minutes, turning halfway through cooking until golden and crispy. Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for salsa verde. Transfer roasted potatoes to a large bowl and toss with the salsa verde. Do this while the potatoes are still warm, so they soak in all the flavors of the dressing. Set aside to cool before refrigerating. Salad can be made a day ahead, but take it out of the refrigerator in time for it to come to room temperature before serving.

Tomato, Peach and Toasted Sourdough Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 12 ounces ripe tomatoes, in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes

• Flaky smoked salt, to taste

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

Crushed Roasted Potato and Salsa Verde Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds 4 ounces medium new potatoes

• Large pinch of crushed red chilies

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• Sea salt

For the Salsa Verde:

• 1 tablespoon salted capers, rinsed, squeezed dry and chopped

• 2 anchovy fillets, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 ounce bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves only, chopped

• 1 ounce bunch mint, leaves only, chopped

• Grated zest of 1 lemon

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Ingredients:

Cucumber and Bacon Sandwiches

• 8 slices white or whole wheat bread

• salted butter, softened for spreading

• 1 cucumber, thinly sliced

• 8 strips of bacon, cooked to crisp and patted dry with paper towel

Directions:

Cut crusts off bread slices and liberally butter them all. Arrange layer of cucumber over 4 of the slices of bread, then top with 2 strips of cooked bacon and add remaining bread slices buttered side down. Cut sandwiches in half, depending on the size of the bread slices. For a picnic, wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap or foil and keep chilled until you reach your picnic site.

Barbie Butz Columnist

STATE OF THE CITY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

commitment of the residents to protect and preserve the heritage you have. It's something that's very unique."

Hart pointed out the small businesses that comprise Solvang and give the city that "special" small-town atmosphere.

"There are so many places that look the same as I travel across the country — a real homogenization of cultures, the same stores, the same malls, that makes it a little less interesting," he said. "And yet here in Solvang, you've been able to maintain, support, and foster unique businesses, that make the experience of coming to Solvang special, and interesting."

After speaking of Solvang's uniqueness, Hart then moved on to problems facing the state overall, and how the unique and different communities must work together to solve them.

"There are always differences of opinion, as Mayor Infanti mentions to me, through local, county, state and federal governments," Hart said. "We have challenges that affect every community, and we need to work together to solve them."

According to Hart, one of the major challenges facing the state is the housing crisis, which he called "profound," and relayed an experience of his that showed how it's affecting Santa Barbara County.

"I was at a grocery store in Santa Barbara recently," Hart said. "One of the checkers helping out mentioned that she lived in the San Fernando Valley, and would be called occasionally to cover shifts at the store.

"She said they couldn't get anyone from Santa Barbara to fill the shifts because people couldn't afford to live and work there. So, they would bring her up, put her up in a hotel across the street, and pay her time and a half just to keep that store open."

To further support his point, Hart said that 30 years ago, the average salary was $60,000 a year, and the average cost for a house was $200,000. Today, he said, the average salary is $85,000, but the average cost for a house has gone up to $800,000.

"That's why we have a housing crisis," he concluded. "The price disparity is dramatic, and that's because our population increased greatly and we haven't built the housing to meet that demand."

Hart mentioned another big topic, locally and statewide, is water.

"We're seeing water differently this year than last year," he said. "We've had one of the most devastating periods of drought in history, and we've seen the most explosive increase in water supply this year than we've ever seen."

What it means, according to Hart, is that residents can expect more swings from one extreme to another as far as weather, and established methods of storing water are no longer relevant.

"We have to redesign infrastructure that we have for storing and keeping water," he said. "And Santa Barbara County is doing a good job with that."

In summary, Hart said things haven't changed all that much as far as what issues people in the state are concerned about.

"If you look back at the headlines from 100 years ago," he said. "They would be talking about housing, water, and transportation. Basic infrastructure issues.

"Mainly, we're not going to be able to solve the issues, we'll just have to manage them."

Later, City Manager Randy Murphy, who was hired earlier this year and was taking part in his first State of the City, came up to give his address.

Murphy began his speech by reminding the audience that then went to say how he was learning about Solvang bit-by-bit, he wasn't that unfamiliar with the town.

"When I was a kid, my uncle worked at Vandenberg, so we would come up to visit him and his family quite a bit," Murphy said. "My mother spent her teen years in post-war Germany, so she liked to go to Solvang because it reminded her of the town in Germany where she lived."

Murphy gave his address, bolsterd by a powerpoint presentation focused on developments just in Solvang over the year.

In explaining his management style, Murphy told a story about a young married couple and how the husband noticed when the wife cooked the roast, she cut the ends off it before putting it into the oven.

"So the husband asks 'why did you cut the ends off'" Murphy recounted. "She answered 'because my Mom always did it that way. I'll ask her why. So when she asked her mom, the mom said 'because my mom always did it that way, I'll ask her.'

"Then, when the first mom asked her mom why she cut off the ends of the roast, the answer was 'I had to do that so it would fit in the pan.'"

Murphy's point to the story was that there should be a reason why something is done the way it is — not just because "that's always how we've done it" — and that's the mindset he always wants his staff to have.

Murphy went over the events that happened in Solvang during the year 2023: The early-year rainstorms (praising city staff and workers for their work in fixing the damage), the Memorial Day ceremony, the hiring of a city manager and marketing firm, and the 4th of July parade.

Murphy also mentioned current projects

in Solvang, including a new Solvang Senior Center, a Lucca Italian Market at the corner of Mission and Alisal Road, and multiple hotel projects.

Financially, Murphy pointed out some plusses at the moment: No debt for the city currently, the city recruting for new positions, an expected increase of tourism with the hiring of new marketing partners, and new agreements being negotiated with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and its labor union.

So the State of the City: "We're doing very well," Murphy concluded.

Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy gives his State of the City speech at the 2023 Solvang State of the City address on Wednesday, May 9. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.

At Community Services District Building, 1070 Faraday St.

For more info: sycsd.com

THURSDAY, AUG. 17

SOLVANG DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE, 5 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

Buellton Planning Commission, 6 p.m.

At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.

At Betteravia Government Center, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria

For more info: countyofsb.org

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26

LOS ALAMOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M.

At LACSD Board Room, 82 Saint Joseph Street, Los Alamos

For more info: losalamoscsd.com

THURSDAY, AUG. 24

BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.

At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

MONDAY, AUG. 28

SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

TUESDAY, AUG. 29

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,

9 A.M.

At Betteravia Government Center, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria

For more info: countyofsb.org

EVENTS

SATURDAY, AUG. 19 CITY OF SOLVANG COMMUNITY CLEANUP, 8 A.M. TO 12 P.M.

Solvang residents, get rid of your household trash, scrap metal, green waste, wood and bulky waste the responsible way – and for Free!

Acceptable Items:

• Household trash (bagged or boxed, not loose) • Green Waste (separated from trash)

• Wood (no treated wood, such as railroad ties)

• Scrap Metal (any motor needs to be free of gasoline or oil)

• Bulky Waste (unusable furniture, mattresses, large items, etc.)

Note: Event for residential customers only. Customers are required to bring a picture I.D. and a WM Bill with a matching address to participate.

At Public Parking Lot 4 on Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: City of Solvang, (805) 688-5575

ZACA MESA MAKER’S FAIRE, 12 TO 3 P.M.

Come on out to the Zaca Mesa Maker’s Faire and support your community of local artists! Join us for our inaugural Zaca Mesa Maker’s Faire on Saturday, Aug. 19, for a fun-filled afternoon in wine country.

Sip ‘n stroll around the booths showcasing all manner of handmade goods: jewelry, apparel, chocolate, candles, hand-crafted artwork, local food vendors, and more.

Live music will be performed by outstanding musician Jineanne Coderre, and delicious tacos by Tortilleria Mexico will be avail -

CALENDAR

able for purchase.

$10 glasses of wine will be available for purchase at our lounge and terrace. Your first glass includes a complimentary Zaca Mesa GoVino travel glass!

At Zaca Mesa Winery, 6905 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos

For more info: Tara, (805) 6889339

SUNDAY, AUG. 20

WILDLING MUSEUM SUMMER FAMILY DAY, 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.

The Wildling Museum is pleased to announce its third annual free Summer Family Day event, which returns on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Our event lineup will include: Live Owl Meet-and-Greet with Eyes in the Sky, a program of the Santa Barbara Audubon Society. Meet a mermaid and get your own eco-glitter tattoo with Parties and Paint by Kate in the Wildling Museum lobby. Sketch and nature journal with leaves, rocks, and a wealth of natural materials in our third-floor classroom – be sure to take a photo to share on social media! Explore three floors of exhibitions

– including Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives, Sedgwick Reserve: A Conservation Story, and Message in a Bottle!

At Wildling Museum of Art & Nature, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang

For more info: wildlingmuseum. org

ONGOING

SUNDAYS SOLVANG THEATERFEST CONCERTS IN THE GARDEN, 3 TO 5 P.M.

AUG. 20: Yamila Guerra is a latin music performer. Salsa's roots reach back to Cuba and Guerra is honoring that heritage. She lives, breathes, and sweats the Afro-Cuban rhythms that ignite

the heart. She has her audiences following the clave like moths to the flame.

SEPT. 3: Originated on the sandy shores of California, Soul Majestic channels their sunny beach days and bonfire nights into their unique style of reggae music. Look beyond their laidback vibe, and you’ll find they are ever pushing the boundaries of the genre with an edge that cuts through the smoky haze. Their music blends a deep commitment to roots reggae with a love of hiphop, R&B/Soul, psychedelic rock, pop and folk music. At Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang

For tickets and info: solvangtheaterfest.org

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS STORYTIME AT SOLVANG LIBRARY, 10:30 A.M., TUESDAYS AND WEDNES -

DAYS

Join us indoors on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Come to enjoy songs, stories, movement, and a warm welcome. Please make a reservation at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/ goleta-valley-library

At Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang

For more info: Solvang Library (805) 688-4214

WEDNESDAYS SOLVANG FARMERS MARKET, 2:30 TO 6 P.M.

Each week, the farmers in the marketplace display a colorful bounty of agricultural products grown right in our backyard. Seasonal diversity is available year-round rain or shine. Come. Shop. Socialize. Certified — the only way to buy! Join us in downtown Solvang every Wednesday on First Street, between Mission Drive (Highway 246) and Copenhagen Drive.

BUELLTON, 4 TO 8 P.M.

Please join us for an evening out with family fun for all in Buellton, hosted by Esfuerzo Wines and The Birria Boyz. This event will take place each Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Each week we will have guest food vendors, live music and much more to be announced. We hope to see you there!

At 140 Industrial Way, Buellton

For more info: info@esfuerzowine.com

SOLVANG MUSIC IN THE

PARK, 5 TO 8 P.M.

This summer music series will feature weekly family-friendly concerts from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at the Solvang Park gazebo, located at the corner of Mission Drive and First Street. Attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and family and friends. Presented by the Solvang Chamber of Commerce.

AUG. 16: Dirty Cello: From Iceland to Italy, and all over the U.S., San Francisco-based band Dirty Cello brings the world a high energy and unique spin on blues, rock, and Americana. Led by vivacious crossover cellist, Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello is cello like you’ve never heard before. From down-home blues and rock with a wailing cello, to virtuosic stompin’ Americana, Dirty Cello is a band that gets your heart thumping and your toes tapping!

AUG. 23: Sean Wiggins and Lone Goat: Sean and her band Lone Goat have toured the U.S., playing more than 150 dates per year while opening for and sharing stages with the likes of Montgomery Gentry, Blues Traveler, Cyndi Lauper and the Bodeans. As an award-winning writer and performer, Sean has music placement in films, on TV, and on the radio both nationally and internationally.