Santa Ynez Valley Star • November 7, 2023

NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

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SYV has Halloween events both haunted and wholesome Solvang scary house overrun with clowns, while fledgling Buellton program has fairies and live vignettes

INSIDE

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

T

he Santa Ynez Valley just enjoyed another fun Halloween weekend as several events in the area brought fun costumes, eerily decorated homes, and frights and scares galore.

However, while many in the SYV celebrated the usual way, embracing the frightful and macabre, the founder of the local Acorn Village Forest School went the opposite way, creating an event for kids ages 2-8 without the frights.

So, for the second year in a row at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, Acorn Village hosted its "Halloween Journey." The event is described as "a unique theatrical event designed for young children (2-8 years old) and their families to celebrate the magic and imagination of Halloween through an immersive, age-appropriate interactive experience."

Tracy Roberts, founder and director of Acorn Village, a "forest school" emphasizing the outdoors for learning, said she wanted to cre-

Spotlight | Pg. 10 Santa Ynez High's Wall of Honor adds five more names News Briefs . . . . . . . . . Pg. 2 • Buellton Planning Commission OKs In-N-Out Burger News . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 3 • Solvang gearing up for Julefest Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 8 • LETTER: POLO grant to address Los Olivos wastewater issues Education . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 8 • SYHS educator named a California Teacher of the Year Sports . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 14 • SYHS girls golf captures CIF Division 2 championship Arts & Nonprofits . . . . . Pg. 16 • Ghost Story Challenge winners announced

One of the "fairies" leads a group through the "Halloween Journey" at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden on Oct. 28. Photo by Mike Chaldu

ate a more-appropriate experience for smaller kids on Halloween.

"I wanted to show the Valley what we were about; how we honor young children's intellect and their capabilities without the gore and sugar that is [usually] Halloween,"

she said. "I just wanted the Valley to have Halloween for the littler kids."

To that end, "Halloween Journey" consists of kids ages 2-8, and their parents/chaperones taking a stroll through the Botanic Garden, located at River View Park in Buell-

ton, and stopping to watch fantasy-based skits being performed by live actors. At the end of each skit, instead of candy each child gets a trinket — for instance, small treasure map scrolls from the "pirate" CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Community . . . . . . . . Pg. 17 • Chumash pride on display at Santa Ynez gathering Lifestyle . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 21 • Is ostrich meat gaining popularity as alternative to beef?

Calendar . . . . . . . . . Pg. 22 • Government meetings and events

2 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

NEWS BRIEFS

BUELLTON

LOS OLIVOS

This artist rendering shows what the new In-N-Out Burger would look like on the proposed McMurray Road site. Screenshot from City of Buellton

Planning Commission OKs In-N-Out Burger on McMurray Road

Despite continuing concerns about traffic, the Buellton Planning Commission approved a proposed In-N-Out Burger to be built on the site of the closed Parks Plaza Theater on McMurray Road.

The project passed by a narrow 3-2 margin, with Planning Chair Patty Hammel voting yes along with Commissioners Art Mercado and Marcilo Sarquilla, and Commissioners Laura DeFazio and Shannon Reese voting no.

The plan is to have the longtime theater torn down and the new 3,885-square-foot In-NOut to be built on the site between the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott and McDonald's on the west side of McMurray Road.

Several residents of the Vineyard Village residental complex located near the proposed site spoke in person and on Zoom opposing the plan, due to traffic mitigation, citing the problem of having the entry road to the complex directly across the driveway of the restaurant, as

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well as its effect on the already congested area between Highway 101 and McMurray Road.

Many who objected to the project pointed out St. Mark’s hosts community book reading that they were not against having an In-N-Out to celebrate author Cathy Pepe in Buellton, but against the proposed site.

The Women’s Guild of St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley invites the community to a book reading of City awarded grant for bicycle, pedestrian author Cathy Pepe’s Grandma Gang Mysteries on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 1-3 p.m. A reception safety and education program The City of Buellton Public Works Depart- honoring her talent and strength will follow. ment has received a $43,739 grant from the Cathy was a long-time parishioner at St. California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to Mark’s. During the pandemic, she fulfilled her help fund a year-long program to educate pe- dream of writing a book inspired by her youngdestrians and bicyclists in the community. er brother, Donny, who was born with Down “Buellton has been working on various bike Syndrome. She wanted to share her brother’s and walking improvements, including a trail joyful personality and her experience of growing along the Santa Ynez River between Buellton up with a family member who has Down synand the travel length of the entire Santa Ynez drome. One book turned into four, and the last Valley," Mayor Dave King said. "This trail will was published posthumously after Cathy passed make a safe alternative to Highway 246 next to away earlier this year. high-speed traffic. Bike and pedestrian safety The youth series, written for ages 8 and is, and will continue to be, a top priority for our above, is about Donny and his sister, Mary Grace, moving from Kansas to California to city."

Grant funding will be used to host walk- live with their grandmother. Together along ing and bicycling presentations for children with her mystery-solving group known as the in the schools (when possible) and to edu- “Grandma Gang,” they solve crimes, combat cate adults interested in becoming walking bullies, and rescue those in trouble in the Lomand bicycling leaders for the community. The poc Valley.

MOVE Santa Barbara County, (MOVE) formerly SBBIKE, a countywide nonprofit organization with the mission to promote bicycling for safe transportation and recreation, will lead a variety of activities with Trout being released into Cachuma Lake collaborative partnerships in the Santa Ynez Autumn has arrived and with it comes all of Valley. the seasonal favorites; cozy scarves and sweaters, The grant program runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. warm drinks, pumpkin everything, and Rain30. bow Trout. Cooler air and lake temperatures Funding for this program is provided by also create ideal conditions for trout stocking a grant from the California Office of Traffic and fishing. In cooperation with the California Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Department of Fish and Wildlife, the County of Santa Barbara will welcome a total of 16,000 Safety Administration. pounds of Rainbow Trout to the lake this stocking season, with the first 4,000 pounds arriving on Oct. 18. The fish range in size from halfpound “catchables” to eight-pound trophies and come from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, Inc., located in Paynes Creek, California.

This fall, Cachuma Lake is celebrating all the

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

CONTACT US santaynezvalleystar.com Santa Ynez Valley Star LLC PO Box 6086, Atascadero, 93423 (805) 466-2585 Powered by 13 Stars Media | Nic & Hayley Mattson No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or distributed without the authorization of the publisher. Digital copies available at: issuu.com/santaynezvalleystar The Santa Ynez Valley Star is proud to be a member of:

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seasonal specialties. The summer crowds and heat have dissipated and what remains is ultimate serenity and mild temperatures.

Everything an angler needs is available for rent or purchase at the Cachuma Lake Marina and Boat Rentals, which offers pontoons, outboards and kayak rentals, as well as one-day and annual fishing licenses. Fishing from shore in the recreation area or from a boat is open yearround with a valid fishing license.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is a full-service campground offering year-round cabin, yurt, RV and tent camping, recreational activities, nature programs for all ages and of course, fishing! For camping reservations and more information, go to countyofsb.org/334/Parks.

SANTA YNEZ Chumash golf tournament raises $135K for three local nonprofits

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has announced that its annual Chumash Charity Golf Classic raised $135,000 this year, with proceeds split evenly among the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara and Savie Health in Lompoc.

The tribe’s annual tournament, which spans three days, was held Sept. 19-21 at the River Course at the Alisal in Solvang.

Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter, which serves San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, will use these funds to deliver care in the form of support groups and education programs for local families.

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute will use these funds to make a significant impact on its mission to improve the lives of people affected by all forms of diabetes.

Savie Health, which offers no-charge health care to the uninsured population in Santa Barbara County and beyond, will use these funds to directly pay for patient care services.

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STAR NEWS

Month-long holiday event to include daily light and music shows, scavenger hunt, nighttime makers market, and candlelight tours

S

Solvang gearing up for Julefest

Staff Report

olvang has announced additional plans and features for this year’s Solvang Julefest (www.SolvangUSA.com/thingsto-do/solvang-julefest), the town’s annual celebration of all things “holidays.” The season’s event stretch will begin Friday, Nov. 24, and run through Saturday, Jan. 6. Solvang Julefest 2023 (pronouned “Yule-fest”) will include multiple holiday-themed happenings all located within what is frequently listed as one of the nation’s “most Christmassy towns.”

“We’ve added daily elements to this year’s Solvang Julefest for locals and visitors in town midweek, in addition to the weekend festivities throughout Julefest,” said Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy. “In particular, we expanded one of our most popular Solvang Julefest experiences, the evening Candlelight Tours, with extra dates and for an entire week, keeping in mind families looking for entertainment once schools break for the holidays.”

Solvang Julefest’s daily happenings include a free light and music show in Solvang Park (corner of Mission Drive and First Street), running each night. Attendees will be treated to a choreographed light and music display on the hour, right in the center of all of Solvang’s holiday magic. Two

The crowd watches in Solvang Park as the town's Christmas tree is lit to celebrate Solvang's Julefest. This year's Julefest starts Nov. 24, with the tree-lighting happening on Dec. 1. Photo by Mike Laan

different shows will run each evening; showtimes are 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 p.m.

Other daily Solvang Julefest activities include the now-annual Nisser Adventure, where participants join in a citywide hunt for the mysterious Solvang Nisser (Christmas elves) which have hidden themselves throughout downtown Solvang.

Nisse-hunters of all ages may stop by the Solvang Visitor Center for a list of clues to the various hiding spots that the Nisser frequent. Once participants have found each Nisse, they may return to the Visitor Center to receive a special Solvang keepsake.

Scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., is the Solvang Julefest Makers Market. An open-air night market fashioned after traditional European Christmas markets, the Solvang Julefest Makers Market will feature a row of crafters and local artisans offering one-of-a-kind

Tim Buynak, Principal

holiday gift ideas, seasonal treats, and more, under the stars in Solvang Park.

The popular Solvang Julefest Candlelight Tours will be offered Dec. 8, 9, 15, and 16, and as schools traditionally pause for the holiday season, the Candlelight Tours will run weeklong, Monday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 23. Starting at 5 p.m., the Solvang Julefest Candlelight Tours will provide special holiday experiences for locals and visitors as they traverse the streets of Solvang, accompanied by Christmas carols and an entertaining education about some Danish traditions and Solvang history. Guided by a costumed host, all tour participants will receive an LED candle to hold during the tour.

Advance purchase is required; ticket sales will begin in November 2023.

Solvang will shine bright with the return of the Solvang Julefest Tree Lighting Ceremony, set for Friday,

433 Alisal Road · Solvang, CA 93463 tbuynak@buynaklaw.com · buynaklaw.com

Dec. 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. in Solvang Park. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is slated to include ballerinas encircling the Solvang Christmas tree, other live entertainment, caroling, and the season-opening tree lighting at about 6:30 p.m.

The following morning, Saturday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m., the 2023 Solvang Julefest Parade — carrying the theme of “My Favorite Christmas Movie” — will feature marching bands, horses, classic cars, plus more parade floats and entries, all traveling along Solvang’s main streets. Post-parade, Julefest presents a free opportunity to meet Mr. Claus in Solvang Park, from 2 to 4 p.m..

Solvang Julefest Santa meet-andgreets and photo ops will continue each Saturday during December (Dec. 9, 16, and 23), from 12 to 4 p.m. in Solvang Park.

Closing out the Julefest festivities

is the annual Solvang Christmas Tree Burn. Usually held in early January as a wrapup of the month-long Solvang Julefest celebration, Solvang’s Tree Burn is considered to be one of the largest fire safety demonstrations along the California Central Coast.

The 2024 Tree Burn is currently scheduled for Friday, Jan. 5, at 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Murphy continued, “Solvang’s Danish heritage and Old World ambience keep it festive year ’round, but during Julefest, locals and visitors feel totally immersed in Solvang’s Christmas spirit. Julefest gives our community, and tourists, a forum for creating holiday memories and a place to start, or continue, lasting family traditions.”

Solvang, known for its Danish-American vibe, architecture and design details, pastries and bakeries, and array of wine tasting options, also boasts dozens of unique boutiques, restaurants and gourmet food purveyors. Carefully-curated indie booksellers and high-end home goods suppliers mingle with fairy tale-like children’s stores and museum gift shops. Solvang’s foodie destinations offer everything from elevated street cuisine to European-style pretzels and sausages, to Italian standbys or iconic Danish dishes, to elevated new-Californian fare in the form of Michelin-honored menus.

Solvang Julefest 2023 is produced by the City of Solvang (www.CityofSolvang. com). All Solvang Julefest events are open to the public with either free or paid admission. More information and event updates will be available at www.SolvangUSA. com/things-to-do/solvang-julefest.

4 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

California’s homeowners insurance crisis sparks executive action Governor’s executive order homeowners policies and decrying how the past experience without regard to two real- distressed fire-prone area.

Department of Insurance over- ities they maintain must be included in the Lara’s proposed quid pro quo — the regand proposed regulations California sees the setting of their homeowners insur- premium calculations if they are to garner ulations, if fully promulgated and approved, a reasonable profit. First, they want to use would allow insurance companies to charge spark controversy and debate ance premiums.

Those insurers stated that doing business forward-focused models that account for the more to account for their rising cost of doing among stakeholders in California in our age of consuming wild- risks of climate change to predict future loss- business in the state utilizing forward-lookBy Barbara Burke California Farm Bureau Federation

I

t’s the old policymakers’ and interest groups’ song and dance. If the legislature fails to come to yes and cannot address an urgent issue affecting citizens, but instead, sine dies and ends its legislative session, then stakeholders (often a euphemism for lobbyists) sometimes prevail in their efforts to convince the executive branch to act.

That’s what happened with regard to the exodus of key players in California’s homeowners insurance sector. Dismayed legislators’ constituents let their representatives know that they needed to intercede after State Farm and Allstate took their balls and went to play elsewhere, refusing to write

fires results in enormous losses attributable to the marked increase in wildfire claims.

Farmers Insurance took a less extreme position and currently only writes a limited number of homeowners policies in fireprone areas. Overall, since 2022, seven of the top 12 insurers have paused or restricted new business, according to data compiled by the Department.

During the few weeks before the legislative session ended, there were private negotiations between legislators, insurance lobbyists, and other interest groups about whether to change how insurers writing policies in California calculate risk when seeking Department approval to increase their rates. Currently, the insurers are mandated to base their proposed insurance rates based on

es. Second, they want to factor into the premium calculations the cost of reinsurance– insurance the insurers get for themselves to cover some of their risks, a cost that insurers maintain is rapidly escalating worldwide.

The negotiations broke down.

“Deal is dead,” said Sen. Bill Todd, who represents Napa, an area prone to wildfires.

“Very frustrating.”

Meanwhile, many local homeowners and homeowners statewide are reeling as they face either extremely increased premiums or finding that no insurance company will write them a policy. No policy combined with a high risk of wildfires is enormously stressful for homeowners.

The executive order and proposed new insurance regulations On Sept. 21, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order “requesting” that the Commissioner of Insurance “take prompt regulatory action to strengthen and stabilize California’s marketplace for homeowners and commercial property insurance, and to consider whether the sudden deterioration of the private insurance market presents facts that support emergency regulatory action.”

The same day, Insurance Commissioner Lara Ricardo responded by announcing the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, which he characterized as the largest insurance reform since 1988 when Californians passed a proposition requiring insurance companies to obtain permission before increasing their premiums.

Lara’s proposed rate-setting regulations would require insurers to cover a certain share of homeowners in most wildfire areas. This figure is summed by calculating a given insurer’s share of the number of policies written in the state and mandating such an insurer to cover homeowners in wildfire-prone areas at 85 percent of their statewide coverage. Consider this hypothetical provided by Lara’s Sept. 21 press release — if an insurer writes 20 out of 100 homes statewide, it must write 17 out of 100 homes in a

ing wildfire estimates, insurers’ increased costs of building and their reinsurance costs to cover some of their risk exposure in California.

Not so fast says insurance advocacy group Consumer Watchdog The executive order and Lara’s efforts are not lauded by all, with one key consumer rights group, Consumer Watchdog, maintaining that if insurers can obtain premium rate approvals based on their projected wildfire-related losses, then homeowners will lose.

Lara’s “undisclosed deal will allow insurance companies to use secret algorithms to set rates for homeowners’ policies,” and allowing insurers to add in reinsurance costs will hike home insurance rates, the organization’s website said.

“The use of catastrophic modeling and adding of reinsurance costs to premiums has pushed Florida’s premiums up 2 to 3 times higher than California’s,” said Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdog President. “Lara has given into industry’s demands, and the consumers are going to be paying the bills for a long time unless he is stopped.”

On Sept. 26, Consumer Watchdog released a statement characterizing Lara’s proposal as a “behind-the-closed-doors deal” that will raise home insurance premiums for millions of Californians.

Delving further, on Sept. 28, the organization noted that Lara’s announcement of the deal with the insurance industry to use models marketed privately did not acknowledge consumer groups’ recommendation that the Department of Insurance investigate a public model built with full transparency and public participation so as to prevent artificial insurance rate inflation.

“California’s insurance protection laws make transparency in rates non-negotiable,” said Carmen Balber, Consumer Watchdog’s Executive Director., who opined that the two largest risk modelers’ systems are inaccurate and possibly biased.

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6 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

PUC to weigh changes to net energy metering program State’s Net Energy Metering vestor-owned utilities — Pacific Gas and vice, but there’s no evidence that that is vincing the commission defer its decision Co., San Diego Gas and Electric correct. Our position is NEMA customers regarding net energy metering aggregation Aggregation program has led Electric Co., and Southern California Edison. The do pay their cost of the program, and so for nonresidential customers such as agriculture. to increased adoption of solar proposed decision would effectively elim- there’s no reason to change it.”

The proposed decision is a response to inate the benefit of aggregation for powHe said Farm Bureau made the request and other renewables er used and generated by customers with a PUC-requested study of net energy me- because the PUC study largely focused on

By Christine Souza California Farm Bureau Federation

CALIFORNIA — A proposed decision under consideration by the California Public Utilities Commission would bring changes to a program implemented to encourage private investment in on-site renewable energy.

The state’s Net Energy Metering Aggregation program, or NEMA, has led to increased adoption of solar and other renewables by farms, ranches, and other businesses.

Under a proposed decision outlined in August, the PUC on Nov. 2 is due to consider changes that would affect multimeter customers of the state’s three in-

more than one meter.

The purpose of net energy metering is to compensate customers for generating renewable energy that is exported to the electric grid to help the state meet its renewable energy goals. State legislation passed in 2012 authorized aggregation of meters on contiguous parcels, enabling renewable customers to offset energy generated against energy used from more than one account.

“Net energy metering aggregation has been the option for our members to control their costs and utilize renewable energy to operate in a sustainable fashion,” said Karen Norene Mills, California Farm Bureau director of legal services. “The argument by utilities has been that NEMA customers don’t pay their full cost of ser-

tering under NEM 2.0, the second version of the program that allowed customer generators to receive full retail rate credit for energy exported to the grid and compensation for surplus energy. NEM 2.0 also required a switch to time-of-use rates.

The study, which looks at only net metering and not aggregation, claimed that the program negatively impacts nonparticipating and low-income ratepayers and is not cost-effective.

However, California Farm Bureau associate counsel Kevin Johnston said the proposed decision “would unfairly discriminate against multimeter customers compared to single-meter customers and effectively eliminate the use of NEMA in agriculture.”

In joint comments submitted Sept. 28 to the PUC, the California Farm Bureau and the Agricultural Energy Consumers Association challenged the proposed decision and urged the commission to retain the subtariff for multimeter aggregation.

If benefits of aggregation disappear, the two organizations argued, that effectively ends net energy metering programs for agriculture and discriminates against multimeter customers compared to single-meter customers.

“We’ve argued either just leave us as is under the existing NEMA program or do the research and come back to us,” Johnston said. “In this process, the fundamental aspect of why Farm Bureau and others fought for the NEMA program has been lost, and the commission hasn’t proven that that change should take place to NEMA.” Interested in investing in renewable energy, many farmers were early adopters of NEMA. “But now, with significant proposed changes to the program,” Johnson said, “the commission and utilities are making it cost-prohibitive to do so.”

The changes in the proposed decision should have been addressed under new net billing tariff guidelines known as NEM 3.0, which took effect Apr. 15. But Johnston said Farm Bureau succeeded in con-

single-meter customers and found residential net energy metering customers created the cost impacts.

Unlike NEM 2.0, under the new billing program, there are lower rates of compensation for power generation, and the program reflects time-of-use rates with lower rates for the nighttime and early morning hours. The new version of the program provides some incentives for pairing solar with battery storage.

Tulare County dairy producer Ken De Groot invested in solar on his farm about seven years ago. He said the changes in the proposed decision “benefit utilities because of the high-value, time-of-use period changes to late evening when little solar power is generated, and average compensation rates for generated solar power are therefore sharply reduced.”

Fresno County farmer Russel Efird, who farms nut crops, raisins and fruit, began investing in on-farm solar in 2015. He said the farm’s solar installations generate about 1.25 megawatts of renewable energy, saving the farm considerable costs annually through the NEMA programs. The cost of the farm’s energy usage, which is mostly for irrigation pumping, and powering homes and buildings, is offset by the solar energy generated on the farm.

For customers under the earlier programs, the compensation rates stay intact for 20 years and then are shifted to the new net energy metering program.

“Depending on where you are in that 20-year span with these other (NEM) programs, you’ll have to decide whether it’s a good fit for you to move on to this new program,” Efird said.

With some nut crops at break-even prices, he added, “You have to do the math and decide whether it is worth it. It is very much unique to the individual operation and where they stand financially.”

At the Nov. 2 meeting, the PUC may approve the proposed decision or make revisions. For more information, visit cpuc. ca.gov/nemrevisit.

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8 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

EDUCATION

Santa Ynez High teacher named a California Teacher of the Year

Gregory Wolf won Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year honors last spring Staff Report

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Gregory Wolf, a social sciences teacher at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (SYVUHS), was announced Oct. 16 as 2024 California Teacher of the Year, the highest state recognition a teacher can earn.

The California Teacher of the Year serves as an ambassador of the profession and as a representative of the state for the calendar year, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who delivered the news to Wolf personally.

“I’m overwhelmed and speechless,” said Wolf after being told, adding that he is still processing the news. “This is a wonderful validation of my efforts to put my students at the center of everything and allow them more ownership of their own learning.”

Described by his colleagues as the “undisputable heartbeat” of the SYVUHS social sciences department, Wolf teaches U.S. history, political science, and advanced placement psychology and has served as the social sciences department chair, vice president of the Parent Teacher Student Association, and Associated Student Body activities director. A teacher for 10 years, Wolf was named the 2024 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year this past spring, qualifying him to be considered for the top state recognition.

Andrew Schwab, superintendent of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District, said he and the school community are thrilled for Wolf.

“Greg is a phenomenal teacher and I honestly cannot think of a more deserving educator," Schwab said. "He exemplifies what we want to see in education for the 21st century. We were all rooting for him, and we are thrilled to see him awarded.”

Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido was elated by the news “Recognition at this level is a testament to Mr. Wolf 's unwavering commitment

Santa Ynez High School teacher Gregory Wolf, seen here in class with his students, has been named a 2024 California Teacher of the Year. Contributed Photos

Santa Ynez High School teacher Gregory Wolf discusses a point with a few of his students during a recent class. Just a few months after being named Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Wolf has now earned the statewide honor.

to excellence in education, his dedication to nurturing the minds and hearts of our students, and his tireless efforts to inspire a love for learning in the classroom," Salcido said. "We look forward to seeing the positive influence he will have as a state-

wide ambassador of education."

When Wolf was applying for the County Teacher of the Year honor, he was invited to put into words his teaching philosophy: “My class needs to be a safe space where all students feel seen and heard.

My classroom experience is designed to put students at the center of everything.

I aim to give students ownership of their own learning with the goal of facilitating engagement, development of critical thinking skills, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that will hopefully fuel every student’s desire to pursue success in their own lives beyond the classroom.”

Being selected as the California Teacher of the Year is a rare achievement and the result of a multi-faceted process. In the fall, all Santa Barbara County school districts are invited to submit a nomination for County Teacher of the Year. Teachers can also self-nominate. The SBCEO Teachers Network and a team of selection committee members conduct an extensive review, interview process, and classroom observation of the nominees. Once an individual is named County Teacher of the Year, they are eligible to apply for the statewide award, which also includes its own series of interviews and reviews.

Presented by the California Department of Education (CDE) and supported by the California Teachers of the Year Foundation, the California Teachers of the Year Program began in 1972 to honor outstanding teachers and encourage and inspire new teachers to enter the profession.

Wolf joins four other teachers from across the state who were also named 2024 Teachers of the Year.

Earning the prestigious California Teacher of the Year award is rare. In Santa Barbara County, past awardees are Eric Burrows of Santa Barbara Unified School District (2005); Chris Mullin of Santa Ynez Joint Union High School District (2003); and Carmen Candelaria from Santa Maria-Bonita School District (1993). In 1952, Geraldine Jones of the Hope School District was named National Teacher of the Year.

Wolf was celebrated as both the Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year and the California Teacher of the Year at SBCEO's A Salute to Teachers event last Saturday, Nov. 4, held at the Music Academy in Montecito. SBCEO and co-founding sponsor, Cox Communications, honored Wolf along with other award-winning teachers from Santa Barbara County.

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10 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

SPOTLIGHT

Santa Ynez High's Wall of Honor adds five more names Barbarick, Fiske, Gafford, Ross, and Swanson honored at halftime of Pirates football game on Oct. 20

S

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

anta Ynez High School inducted five more former student-athletes and coaches into its Wall of Honor on Friday, Oct. 20, during the Pirates' football game against Arroyo Grande Brad Barbarick, Josh Fiske, Lee Swanson, April Gafford, and Matt Ross each joined the Pirates' Wall of Honor that highlights the school's most successful athletes and coaches.

Brad Barbarick Brad Barbarick graduated from Santa Ynez in 1982 and played both basketball and tennis for the Pirates. Brad was a two-year varsity basketball player and helped lead Santa Ynez to a 1980-81 Los Padres League title. Along with his younger brother Kevin (Class of 1983 and also a Wall of Fame inductee), the Barbaricks were the first brother duo to start on the hardwood at Santa Ynez since Bill and John Fitzgerald had done so in the 1940s. Brad averaged 10.1 PPG as a senior and scored a career high 22 points and 13 rebounds in a big LPL road win at Paso Robles his senior season.

Brad earned a basketball scholarship to Columbia Christian College in Portland, Oregon, and enjoyed a strong collegiate career starting at forward for the Clippers during his junior and senior seasons. After graduating from Columbia in 1987, Brad embarked on a successful teaching and coaching career. He spent seven years teaching elementary and middle school physical education while also working as an assistant collegiate basketball coach. He was hired in 1994 as men’s basketball head coach and professor of exercise and sport science at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, and served as the head coach until 2019 (25 years). He also served as the athletic director at Portland Community College from 2019 to 2022. In March 2022, Brad was named national director of coaching and player development for Shoot 360 Basketball, a global basketball training company that currently has 30 locations worldwide. Brad resides in Vancouver, Washington, along with his

On Oct. 20, Santa Ynez High inducted its five latest inductees into its Wall of Honor during halftime of the Pirates football game against Arroyo Grande. From left are Josh Fiske, Matt Ross, Brad Barbarick, April Gafford, and Lee Swanson. Contributed Photo

wife Tawny. He has four children as well as one High in 1965. He played three years of varsity grandchild. football and participated for four years in track and field. He was voted team track captain in Josh Fiske both his junior and senior years of high school.

Josh Fiske attended SYHS from 1991-95, ex- He held several school track records (class A, B, celling in many sports. He earned varsity letters and C) during his participation in track and field. in football, track, basketball, and volleyball.

He held Tri-Valley League records in the 100While he excelled in many sports, he always yard and 220-yard dash, and qualified and comconsidered himself primarily a football player. peted in the CIF final track meets and received During his tenure he earned recognition as All medals his junior and senior year. His school reLos Padres League first team in his junior and cord in the long jump, established in 1965, still senior years, and broke many Santa Ynez High stands. quarterback records during his career. In 1993, he He went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree was selected as the Santa Maria Times All Area at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. He held MVP. In 1994, he was a preseason Blue Chip that college's record in the 440-yard dash for 17 All-American for football. years. Lee went on to complete his Ph.D. at the He attended Cal State Northridge on a full- University of New Mexico and his postdoctoral ride football scholarship for five years while he work at UCLA. He is currently retired as a disstudied kinesiology. tinguished professor emeritus from the UniverIn 2016, he returned to school, and graduat- sity of California, Riverside. He has been mared from Linn-Benton Community College in ried to his wife, Cathy, for 55 years. He has four Albany, Oregon, as a surgical technologist. He children and nine grandchildren. He is currently now works at Three Rivers Medical Center in a research professor at the University of New Grants Pass, Oregon, where he continues to use Mexico, focusing on providing children who the work ethic and dedication he developed on have learning disabilities with needed services. the field to provide safe, quality care to patients during their most vulnerable moments. Josh and Matt Ross his wife have two young children.

Matt Ross graduated from Santa Ynez High in 1989. In football, he was named All-Tri-Valley Lee Swanson League as a junior and All-Frontier League as a Lee Swanson graduated from Santa Ynez senior. He also ran track all four years and wres-

tled as a heavyweight during his senior year. After redshirting his freshman year at New Mexico State University, Matt continued his academic and athletic career at Orange Coast College and San Francisco State University, where he was also a starter and team captain.

Matt earned his Bachelor's degree in sociology from San Francisco State University in 1994.

After college, he jumped into his career in the television and motion picture industry, becoming a member of the Directors Guild of America in 2002. Matt has two sons and resides in Bozeman, Montana.

April Gafford April Gafford graduated from Santa Ynez High School in 1982. She ran track for one year as a freshman and played basketball for four years, making all-league teams her junior and senior year. After attending the University of Redlands on a scholarship, she returned to Santa Barbara City College to play one more year for her high school coach, Marylou Stephenson, and finished her college career playing Division I basketball at San Jose State, while earning a Bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in human factors. This led her into the field of aviation, and in 2004, she started her own aviation business, JATO Aviation, where she is the chief pilot and teaches aspiring pilots to fly. April lives with her family, including her twin boys, in San Mateo.

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 11

SPORTS

Staunch defense leads Pirates to win over Braves

Santa Ynez breaks four game losing skid with 17-14 victory in regular season finale

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

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he Santa Ynez High football team was desperate to stop a four-game losing streak in its regular season finale on Oct. 27 against Lompoc. And that’s exactly what the Pirates did thanks to a dominant defensive performance that punctuated a 17-14 win over the Braves at Rio Memorial Field.

After a scoreless first half, Santa Ynez broke through with two touchdown receptions by Vince Casey in the second half, and the Pirates withstood a late Lompoc rally to clinch the win.

The hard-fought victory gave Santa Ynez a 2-5 record in the Mountain League, 4-6 overall.

That was good enough to get a postseason berth, as the Pirates, as a 13th seed, traveled north to play fourth-seeded Delano Kennedy in a first-round CIF Central Section matchup. The Thunderbirds finished second in the South Sequoia League with a 5-1 record, 8-2 overall.

Going into the regular-season finale, both the Pirates (Daulton Beard) and the Braves (Nelson Maldonado) were without their top receivers due to injury, and it was the defenses that got the upper hand in the first half as the teams went to the half tied 0-0.

Santa Ynez was held to one fieldgoal attempt in that first half.

For the game, the Santa Ynez held the Braves to 151 yards of offense on the night, including just 18 yards rushing. Ryder McClurg and Blake Smith led the squad in tackles with seven apiece, while Smith had a fumble recovery, and Diego Pulido pulled down an interception in addition to kicking a

The Pirates' Evan Gotschall (right) trips up Lompoc's Jacob Manzo as Max Andrade (3) and another defender close in during Santa Ynez's 17-14 win on Oct. 28. (Top left) Pirates players celebrate after beating the Braves. (Top right) Pirates defender Blake Smith brings down a Lompoc ballcarrier. Photos by Mike Chaldu

third-quarter field goal.

“They had one of their top players out, like we did, and we had a game plan to take away what they wanted to do, and that’s the deep pass play,” Pirates head coach Josh McClurg said.

The Santa Ynez offense broke through on the first drive of the second half when Casey scored the first of his two touchdowns, this one a 63-yard pass from quarterback Jude Pritchard just two minutes into the third quarter. Pulido later added a 34-yard field goal

later in the quarter to make it 10-0 after three quarters.

The Pirates then opened their bag of trick plays to begin the final quarter when Pritchard took the snap and handed it off to lineman Joey Duarte, who then stopped and lofted a pass to a wide open Casey for a 49-yard touchdown. Pulido’s extra point made in 17-0 in favor of Santa Ynez with 11:30 left in the game.

“I got that play from my cousin who coaches wing-T up in Northern California,” McClurg said. “They do

it every year with a lineman, so we gave it a try tonight.”

SYHS continued to shut down Lompoc until a 14-second outburst made it a tight game again.

After a long pass play set it up, Jacob Manzo ran it in from the 1-yardline to make it 17-7.

Lompoc then was successful on an onside kick to get the ball back, and shortly after, Manzo scored another touchdown, this one on a 30-yard pass from quarterback Tony Arango, with 6:08 left in the game.

However, the Pirates were able to get the ball back and run out the clock for the victory, which sparked a celebration from the Pirates players after an intense game.

“Santa Ynez and Lompoc have developed a healthy disposition for each other,” McClurg said of the two schools that sit about 25 miles apart. “We respect the heck out of them, (Lompoc head coach) Andrew Jones and I are close friends. We’ve been battling these guys for years and they’re the closest team to us.”

12 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

POLO grant to address Los Olivos wastewater issues Dear Editor, The Los Olivos Community Service District has been gifted a $75,000 grant to complete a third-party study to determine the most efficient and cost-effective wastewater options for Los Olivos residents, to protect the groundwater, and to preserve our quaint town’s history and open spaces.

After months of dithering and nay-saying by the district’s board president, Preservation of Los Olivos (POLO), a local nonprofit organization founded in 2003 to protect the rural character of Los Olivos and the Santa Ynez Valley, threw a much-needed lifeline to the district that was short on cash and seemed to be fresh out of inspiration.

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 13

OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The district will have spent more than $1 million of district residents’ taxpayer money in the last five years without yet constructing adequate test wells and/or commencing work on an appropriate design for a wastewater collection and treatment system.

The latter is especially disappointing in light of the fact that the district board had community and Santa Barbara County agency buy in for a “phased approach” that, had the CSD board pursued it, would already have the downtown commercial core off septic and, most likely, also would have decent public restrooms available downtown for residents and visitors alike.

Over the course of the last four years, that has not happened, but this POLO grant presents an opportunity to get this project back on track

with a focus on a local solution to a local problem.

POLO believes that how Los Olivos addresses its wastewater issues is the single biggest issue controlling the preservation of Los Olivos and the character of the greater Santa Ynez Valley.

It is vital that the residents and property owners of Los Olivos fully understand the costs, benefits, and negatives of the various collection and treatment options available.

As a result, POLO is donating up to $75,000 to the Los Olivos Community Service District for the purpose of completing a third-party engineering study to evaluate the feasibility, design, and cost of various local wastewater collection and treatment options in the district service area.

Michelle de Werd Los Olivos

Call for ADA and PAGA Reform Dear Editor, The California State Assembly should heed the voices of Californians and undertake essential reforms to improve the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act).

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, a fact I've observed as a small business owner for 24 years. Unfortunately, our state's business climate continues deteriorating, posing significant challenges to these enterprises.

For decades, California has grappled with regulatory issues, leading to situations where well-intentioned small business owners inadvertently violate the law and then face excessive litigation. Among the most problematic pieces of state legislation are the ADA and PAGA.

It's important to clarify that the issue with the ADA isn't about opposing inclusivity for individuals with disabilities, which is undoubtedly an admirable goal. Rather, it's about unscrupulous lawyers exploiting the ADA to extort small businesses. These bad actors identify minor infractions, such as a countertop installed an inch too high, and use the threat of lawsuits to force business owners into costly settlements. Oftentimes, business owners are left with no choice but to accept these settlements, as going to trial would be prohibitively expensive.

PAGA, similarly, presents its own set of problems. This law empowers attorneys to turn employees against their employers and sue for trivial violations, like discrepancies on pay stubs. Similar to the ADA cases, these lawsuits aim primarily to extract settlements that benefit the attor-

Reflecting on courage and commitment ney while leaving employees with minimal compensation.

The solution to these issues lies in implementing straightforward measures that target bad actors while still allowing legitimate grievances to be addressed.

We've seen some progress on this front when the California State Senate passed SB 585, a bill designed to reform the ADA. Unfortunately, this legislation received little attention in the State Assembly.

As we look ahead to the upcoming legislative session, I implore our local lawmakers in both chambers to prioritize the protection of small businesses and the reform of misguided state laws that are harming them. It's time for meaningful change that will benefit both our business community and the state as a whole.

Regina Simpson Santa Ynez

Honoring 105 years since the Armistice, Veterans Day celebrating heroes past and present

By Hayley Mattson

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n the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—one hundred and five years ago—World War I ended with an armistice signing between the Allies and Germany. It was 20 years later, on May 13, 1938, that Nov. 11 was anointed as Armistice Day and proclaimed as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace.”

Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in several other countries, stands as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by the servicemen and women throughout history. Its origins, dating back to the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, signify not only the cessation of hostilities but also the hope for a lasting peace.

The armistice signed on that

significant day did not symbolize victory but rather represented a collective, weary acknowledgment that conflict should cease. The repercussions of this decision were felt worldwide, leading to a determination that diplomacy should prevail over conflict, a principle that was, tragically, to be tested repeatedly in the following century through various global conflicts, including World War II. When Congress enacted the day as Armistice Day in 1938, it was a tribute to the veterans of World War I. Still, there was a shift following the substantial conflicts of World War II and the Korean War.

Recognizing the continuous sacrifices being made in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, expanding the significance of the day to honor American veterans of all wars, not just those who had served in World War I. In this contemporary era, 105 years after that fateful day in 1918, Veterans Day embodies a dual purpose: it is a time of remembrance for those who lost their lives and a time of gratitude for those who served. Across the nation, ceremonies, parades, and memorials will be held in honor of these brave

men and women. They serve as a reminder not just of past wars but of current and ongoing conflicts and the continuous efforts of all our service members.

The aspiration for peace that marked the original Armistice Day remains as crucial now as it was 105 years ago. Today, as we commemorate Veterans Day, we reflect on the toll of war, honor those who fought and continue to fight for freedom and peace, and contemplate the essentialness of diplomacy and dialogue over conflict. Each event attended, each story shared, and each moment of silence observed reinforces collective memory and respect—ensuring that the past’s lessons steer the future’s choices.

This November, we remember all those who served in “the war to end all wars” and every war since. Armistice Day was set aside as a day to remember the cost of war, the treasures of freedom, and the purpose of peace.

If you are able, please take the time to attend one of the Veteran’s Day events in remembrance of the cost of war and the peaceful purpose of Armistice Day.

City of Solvang Veterans Day Event Join the City of Solvang as they honor all Veterans at Solvang VFW Post 7139’s annual Veterans Day Program on Saturday, Nov. 11. VFW Post 7139 will honor and salute all American Veterans who, throughout our history, have unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom and way of life.

A program will be conducted in the Veterans Hall, including an American Legion Flag posting, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, SYV Chorale, SYV Wind Ensemble, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Post Speakers. A free luncheon will be served in the American Legion Wing after the Program by Pam Gnekow’s Outreach Foundation and the Daughters of the American Revolution. They invite all veterans, their families, and caring citizens to attend. Also welcome are veterans from allied countries who fought beside our Service Men and Women. For more information, visit cityofsolvang.com.

14 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

SYHS girls golf captures CIF Division 2 championship Head coach Sara Ovadia gets inducted into Columbia Hall of Fame — again Staff Report

Girls Golf

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he Santa Ynez Pirates won the CIF Central Section Division 2 Championship Oct. 23, shooting a season-best team score of 488 at Lemoore Golf Club, 14 strokes ahead of runner-up Lemoore.

Junior Addison West led the Pirates in the Central Section tournament with a career-low score 87 followed by junior Mackenzie Phelan with a 92. Sierra Freedman (100), Katherine Becerra (102), and Caralyn Barber (107) rounded out the top 5 scores for the Pirates, Savannah Hudley was our drop score with a 113. The other CCAA schools competing in the eight-team tournament were Atascadero (fourth place) and Cabrillo (sixth).

"I am very proud of this team accomplishment today," Santa Ynez head coach Sara Ovadia said. "The girls have improved their team score by almost 100 shots from last season. It has been an absolute joy to watch the collective improvement this young team has made over the past year and I look forward to returning all of our starters next season."

This is the second CIF Central Section golf title won by an Ovadia-coached team in the last six months. Ovadia also is head coach of the Pirates boys golf team, and they won the Central Section boys title back in May. Ovadia inducted into Columbia Hall of Fame Ovadia got some more good news last month when it was announced she would be inducted in the Columbia University athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 2006-07 team that won the Ivy League championship in just its fourth season as a varsity program.

That year, Columbia pulled off the unlikely, beating out Princeton and Yale, which combined to capture each of the previous nine Ivy League titles. The Lions defeated second-place Princeton by 10 strokes for the crown, and Ovadia won the individual title

(From left) Santa Ynez High assistant coach John Nicholas, golfers Sierra Freedman, Mackenzie Phelan, Katherine Becerra, Addison West, Caralyn Barber, Savannah Hudley, and head coach Sara Ovadia celebrate after winning the CIF Central Section Division II championship.

that year by four strokes.

Three weeks later on May 10-12, Columbia made its first ever NCAA Championship appearance, competing in the NCAA West Regional in Utah.

Ovadia, who was the first Lion to win the individual Ivy Golf Championship, was earlier inducted into the same Hall of Fame for her individual honors in 2016.

Girls cross country It was another fantastic race for a Santa Ynez cross country standout on Oct. 13, as Brooke Phelan, under the leadership of head coach Jennifer Sell, SYHS CC traveled to Mt. San Antonio College for the 75th Annual Mt. SAC Cross Country invitational race and beat 105 other competitors to win.

Phelan ran the race of her life; in the first mile of their race, all three front runners were on the same pace, and at the end of the first mile, Brooke was in third place. Brooke took charge on switchback hill, grabbed the lead from the other two runners, and held on for the win out of 106 runners.

Santa Ynez High cross country runner Brooke Phelan is shown at the Mt. SAC Cross Country invitational race, which she won on Oct. 13. Contributed Photos

Girls tennis The Pirates girls tennis was eliminated from CIF Central Section playoffs in the semifinals Nov. 1 with a 6-2 loss to top-seeded San Joaquin Memorial.

Natalie O'Shaughnessy (6-2, 3-6, 10-5) got the only singles point for the Pirates, and she teamed with Keegan Withrow (6-2, 4-6, 10-8) for the lone doubles victory.

The girls played a long, hard match against an evenly matched No. 1 seed today," said head coach Jennifer Rasmussen. "Many of the matches went to tiebreakers. We came up short, but the girls played amazingly! I'm proud of all the girls!"

Paige Halme was leading in her singles match 6-4, 5-4, but had to leave because the match was already decided and the team had to board the charter bus to get back home at a decent time.

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 15

ARTS & NONPROFITS Vaquero Show & Sale returning to Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum The 39th annual event to take place Saturday, Nov. 11, and Sunday, Nov. 12 Staff Report

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he popular annual Vaquero Show & Sale at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum is once again celebrating the Vaquero Spirit and a way of life almost forgotten.

The Californio Vaquero, that lifestyle and how it thrives on the modern ranches of California is the focus of the weekend. The weekend will kick off with a Gala dinner where we will laud the 2023 Vaquero of the Year, Leo Acquistapace, followed by a multi-course dinner in the museum courtyard and a live auction of over a dozen exciting packages. This Gala Dinner and Preview Sale on Friday, Nov. 10, will also allow guests the opportunity to bid on silent auction items and to preview and purchase items from exclusive exhibitors, who have been selected to represent the very best of the Vaquero way

of life and spirit of the Californio. Tickets for the Gala Dinner and preview sale are $200 per person. Tickets are available by calling (805) 688-7889 or online at santaynezmuseum.org/ vaquero-show.

The 39th Annual Vaquero Show and Collectible Sale runs Saturday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 12, and admission is just $5 per person or $7 for the full weekend. During the show hours, guests will also enjoy demonstrations of roping, stockmanship, and blacksmithing, talks on Vaquero history and tack, discussions and book signings, traditional fiesta dancing, and carriage rides around town via mule. The Show and Sale includes unique offerings from jewelers, tack makers, artists, specialty apparel producers, western collectible dealers, leatherworkers and more. Tickets can be acquired at the gate. A no-host bar and lunch options will be available throughout the show.

Saturday night brings the popular Pig Roast and Barn Dance, at the Pork Palace just south of Buellton. Dinner will include spit-roasted pig and all the fixins, along with non-pork and vegetarian options. Once the plates are cleared,

SMOG CHECKS Old & New Vehicles

OIL CHANGES

living well with diabetes FREE DIABETES CLASSES AT SANTA YNEZ VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Classes will be offered in December 2023, with additional dates scheduled in 2024.

A four-part series every other month covering carb counting, label reading, complications, exercise and more.

SMOG CHECK

Pass or Don’t Pay!

Monte Mills and the Lucky Horseshoe Band will take the stage to get guests on their feet and into the "swing" of the celebration. Tickets to the Pig Roast and Barn Dance are $75 per person with discounted tickets available for Museum members. Tickets are available online at santaynezmuseum.org/vaquero-show or by calling (805) 688-7889. Email info@santaynezmuseum.org for additional information.

After that Saturday night shindig, Cowboy Church is in order and will be held at the Museum at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning prior to the Show & Sale opening. Free coffee and doughnuts are available as well as stronger libations for sale. All events over the three days benefit the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House.

Founded in 1961, the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum is the official caretaker of the Valley’s rich cultural history, housing one of the finest collections of antique, horse-drawn carriages and wagons in the Western United States. In addition, examples of finely crafted horse saddlery and tack from days gone by and icrafts are on display. The Santa Ynez Valley Western sculptures, paintings, books, and hand- Historical Museum is a 501c-3 organization.

(805) 937-5340 Expires 11 /30/23

805 - 937 - 5340

100 E. Clark Ave. Orcutt, CA 93455

Wednesdays 11 a.m. - noon Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, front conference room

To register or for more information, please contact Amanda Edwards, RD: 805-694-2351 a4edward@sbch.org

16 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Ghost Story Challenge winners announced Celebrate Halloween with spooky stories galore from your library Staff Report

GOLETA — The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries recently announced the winners of this year’s Ghost Story Challenge.

Community members heard the news firsthand when they gathered at Casa Cassara Winery in Solvang last week for “The Final Reckoning,” the culminating event for the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries Ghost Story Challenge. Contest participants and their friends, teachers, and families listened to the winning entries as they were read aloud by the authors and applauded as winners received prizes and High School winners for the Goleta & Santa Ynez Libraries Ghost Story Challenge were (from left) Emma Tesdahl, books for their spooky submissions.

Adelina Kelley, Benke Sepulveda, and Sadie Godfrey. Contributed Photo Now all the frightful submissions are available for you to read on the Ghost Story Challenge 2023 page of the library website (goletavalleylibrary.org). A total of 119 entries were received during the month of September from authors in the middle school, high school, and adult age categories. Library staff were impressed by the talent and enthusiasm of our community, whose 500-word entries ranged from horrifying to humorous.

After multiple rounds of review by the contest’s local and celebrity judges, the following winners in each of the categories below were selected: Middle School Category:

• Scariest story went to Adeline Eliana Martinez of Solvang School, for “Bus Stop”; and runner-up to Sarah Martiny of Goleta Middle School winners for the Goleta & Santa Ynez Libraries Ghost Story Challenge were (from left) Hazel Chevitarese, Valley Junior High, for “Don’t Open the Johnny Kump, Adeline Eliana Martinez, Griffin Rowles, Bruno Rakowski, and Lillian Paige Van Eyck. Contributed Photo Door!”

• Most Original Story was “Witch Hunt” • Best Plot award went to Johnny Kump of • Overall Best in Challenge for the Middle Jonata Middle School, for “He’s Gone.”

by Lillian Paige Van Eyck from Our Lady School category went to Jane Hanson of of Mount Carmel School; runner-up was • Best Craft was awarded to “The WhisperMountain View Middle School, for “A ing Trees” by Nadia Milani Comparetti of Flaming Ghost.”

“Spooky Dookie,” by Charlie Leonard of Santa Barbara Middle School; runner-up Dunn Middle School. was “The Void” by Elliott Cooper of Dunn High School Category: • Best Dialogue was awarded to Hazel Middle School.

• “Toy Crazy” by Ethan J. Hicks of Dos Chevitarese of Santa Barbara Middle School, for “A Light in the Dark”; run- • Library Staff Favorite award was given to Pueblos High School was named Scariest; ner-up to Griffin Rowles of Dunn Middle and Emma Tesdahl of Riverview School Bruno Rakowski of Our Lady of Mount School for “Gone Camping.” was awarded Most Original for her story Carmel School for “The Store.”

“Lost and Found.”

• Best Dialogue went to Chloe Minor of Dos Pueblos High School for “It’s Dark in the Forest”; runner-up to Cole Weaver of Santa Barbara High School for “The Ghosts of Babylon.”

• Best Plot was awarded to Sadie Godfrey of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School for her story, “Already Dead”; runner-up to Sofia Tinajero, also of SYVUHS, for “The Interview.”

• Best Craft was won by Reagan Lee Widroe of Providence High School for “The Things We Cannot See”; and a special Judges Favorite award went to Samuel Vazquez of SYVUHS for “Hidden Revenge.”

• Overall Best in Challenge for the High School category went to “Puppy Love”

by Adelina Kelley of Dos Pueblos High School; runner-up to Benke Sepulveda of Dunn School for “Leaves and Shadows.”

Adult Category:

• Jennifer Gunner’s “Life Sentence” won Scariest; runner-up was “A Quick Trip for a Long Stay” by Andrea Tufekcic.

• “All Hallow’s Eve” by Stacy Arnold-Strider was named Most Original; runner-up was “The Tiny Footprint Fabricator” by Celena Garcia.

• Bruce Berlow’s story, “What to Feed a Monster” was awarded Best Writer’s Craft; runner-up was “Don’t Bury Me” by Rose Filitchkin.

• “Overdue” by Peggy Kelly was named Library Staff ’s Favorite.

• Overall Best in Challenge for the Adult Category was awarded to “Demon” by R.K. Jackson.

Congratulations to all the authors who participated in this year’s Challenge!

Be sure to check our online calendar and visit the library website at www.goletavalleylibrary.org to stay in-the-know on all our services and upcoming programs.

The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries extend their heartfelt appreciation for the support of the judges and program sponsors who made this contest a hauntingly successful event. Sponsors include: The Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley, The Haunt Ghost Tours, and Solvang Parks and Recreation.

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 17

COMMUNITY

Chumash pride on display at Santa Ynez gathering Seventeenth annual Culture Day takes place with music, dancing, games, and goodwill

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

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he Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians welcomed their own tribal members, as well as other tribes from all over, and the general public with music, dancing, games, and more on its 17th annual Chumash Culture Day. The all-day event took place on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the property at the corner of Highway 246 and Meadowvale Road in Santa Ynez. The free event was open to the public and all ages, and also featured native vendors, food booths, and basket-weaving demonstrations.

In the afternoon, the audience sitting in the bleachers under a tent were treated to several Native American music performances and dances, with many coming out of the stands to perform.

Leading the festivities was Vincent Townsend of Bishop, the emcee, and a member of the Bishop Pauite Tribe whose has volunteered for this event a number of times.

"I travel around to a lot of these things, and I'm friend with Nakia [Zavalla, the culture director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians," Townsend said. "I always liked coming here and they asked me to [emcee] the event, and I guess I did OK, because they've asked me back many times."

While the Culture Day event drew many people and tribes from out of town, locals were part of the big day.

Chanse Zavalla, a Santa Ynez High School alumnus was part of the lineup playing tribal music for the audience, said he continues to attend the Cultural Day event each year.

"I grew up on the rez [reservation], and have been coming to this ever since I can remember," said Zavalla, who works on an archaeology team digging up tribal artifacts.

"I always like to do these things to keep the spirit alive."

The musical performances that went on as attendees either stayed at the tent to watch or milled about many of the vendor tables and food booths continued until about the 6 p.m. dinner break. After that, the tribes present would partake in what was called

Members of the Chumash Culture Collective perform Native American music and dance during the Chumash Culture Day in Santa Ynez on Oct. 21. Photos by Mike Chaldu

"handgame." Also known as stickgame, it is a Native American guessing game, in which marked "bones" are concealed in the hands of one team while another team guesses their location.

"It's a traditional style of gambling among the tribes," Townsend said. "We pit teams against each other and have tournaments.

It happens all the time when the tribes get together."

Townsend said there are several versions of handgame depending on which tribe sets the rules.

"Each tribe is different as far as nuances of the game," he said. "It's kind of like each one having its own 'house rules'" Before the event paused for the dinner break, the audience was treated to some traditional musical and dance numbers from a group calling itself the Chumash Culture Collective.

Some of the group played music on traditional Native American music while others did traditional dances dressed in animal skins and other natural dress.

Deborah Long, a member of the group, which draws members from all over the state, is important in teaching and maintaining the customs and culture of tribal members.

"It's just a way to keep our culture intact," she said.

However, Long said there is another aspect

An attendee to the Chumash Culture Day performs a song as emcee Vincent Townsend looks on during the event in Santa Ynez on Oct. 21.

to what they do. with other tribes to do that, it can be very "The best part of this is just being able to inspiring." get together, see each other and share the For more information about the Chumash culture," she explained. "When we can gather tribe and related events, go to chumash.gov.

18 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

STAR LIFESTYLE

A widowed mother was Thanksgiving’s unsung hero

HOLIDAY HISTORY

By John Copeland

T

his month, November, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving, a time when we gather together with family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate and give thanks.

We will also be sharing a moment with our distant ancestors.

Throughout human history, every culture has celebrated harvest — ancient Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Persians, Chinese, Egyptians, Celts and Native Americans, among others, all held harvest and celebrations of thanksgiving. Our contemporary Thanksgiving is related in spirit to every one of those ancient festivals. But have you ever wondered how Thanksgiving came to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November? That is an interesting piece of America’s past.

Several historical events vie for the title of the “First American Thanksgiving.” Although they remain topics of contention and more than a few bar fights, these occasions all share one thing in common: They all celebrated survival in a strange new land.

The traditional “first Thanksgiving” most of us are familiar with is the one held at Plymouth Plantation in 1621. After barely surviving their first year in America, thanks to the help of local Indians, the Plymouth colonists’ first harvest was good and ample, and there was reason to celebrate. The surviving original 50 colonists and 91 Indi-

ans celebrated the harvest together in October 1621. In the decades following, nearly every American colony observed its own days of thanksgiving. Most of us living in 21st-century America would probably not recognize these early thanksgivings. Rather than festive gatherings with an overabundance of food, these early celebrations were solemn days of prayer and fasting.

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress issued a First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving in 1777 to celebrate the colonists’ victory over the British at Saratoga. Then, in 1789, President George Washington proclaimed a day of thanksgiving, partly to honor ratification of the United States Constitution.

These thanksgivings were patriotic in nature and quite different from a harvest festival.

Then, along came Sarah Josepha Hale, a truly fascinating woman. At 34, she was widowed and penniless, and with five small children to provide for, turned to writing to support her family. Sarah co-published a book of poetry, wrote a successful novel and went on to publish more than 50 works, including one of the best known nursery rhymes: “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” Based on her success, she was hired as editor of American Ladies Magazine, the first women’s magazine in America. She eventually became the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, under her guidance, Godey’s became the most widely read magazine of the 19th century and Sarah one of America’s most influential voices. Perhaps the most remarkable part is, she did all of this after she turned 40. Arguably, though, her greatest legacy was her role in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday and the story we know today about the first Thanksgiving.

Hale campaigned for more than 20 years to create a Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday in the United States. Over the years, she petitioned every sitting president, who all ignored her entreaties. In the fall of 1863, she wrote to President Abraham Lincoln urging him to set aside of a day for national thanks. She finally found a sympathetic ear.

In 1863, the balance of the Civil War had shifted as a result of the Union’s victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. On Oct. 3, 1863, Lincoln called on Americans to “set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. Until Lincoln’s declaration, the only national holidays celebrated in America were Washington’s Birthday and Independence Day. There is no official evidence that Sarah Josepha Hale’s letter caused Lincoln to make this declaration, though it’s hard to believe it didn’t play a role in the founding of a national holiday. And she was not done with Thanksgiving yet.

Hale changed the way elementary school children learned about the meeting between the English colonists and the Wampanoag Indians. Prior to her great campaign for the holiday, the romanticized story of the first Thanksgiving, as told today, was unknown. In 1865, when Hale described in Godey’s the first Thanksgiving as a celebratory feast between the “pilgrims” and the Native Americans, the story spread like wildfire. It was reproduced in numerous other magazines and newspapers. It only took five years from the time her article appeared for the story of Thanksgiving to be taught in schools and included in textbooks. Over the next few decades, the story served as the perfect way to teach newly arriving im-

Sarah Josepha Hale, 1831, by James Lambdin

migrants about America’s history.

Although not historically accurate, the story has stuck with us over the years.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November rather than the last Thursday. The United States was still in the midst of the Great Depression and Roosevelt thought that giving merchants longer to sell goods before Christmas would help the country recover from the Depression.

Thanksgiving dinner takes center stage in our contemporary celebration of Thanksgiving. Historians are not completely certain about the menu of the feast, but it’s safe to say the Pilgrims and Indians weren’t gobbling up pumpkin pie or playing with their

mashed potatoes. We do know that the Plymouth colonists didn’t use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers. They wiped their hands on large cloth napkins which they also used to pick up hot morsels of food. Salt would have been on the table at the harvest feast, and people would have sprinkled it on their food. Pepper, however, was something that they used for cooking and wasn’t available on the table.

Today, our American Thanksgiving tradition contrasts the holiday with the meal held in 1621 by the Wampanoag and the Plymouth colonists. But, it took the trauma of the Civil War to make Thanksgiving a formal, annual holiday, set aside to observe the many blessings our land and nation have provided us.

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 19

Hypertension is the silent enemy

GOOD MEDICINE

By Dr. Hyun K. Lee

T

here are some ailments people are diagnosed with that have become so common that they don’t seem quite so serious to the patient, especially when there is a quick fix with medication; hypertension is one of these conditions.

The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with hypertension are advised by their Western doctor to take a medication to regulate blood pressure and more often than not, the patient will do so. Though medication works very well to bring blood pressure to a more normal level, long-term use of hypertension medications diminish the body’s support of the brain and lower immune system function, which ushers in a host of more serious problems, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.

What is so often overlooked is why your blood pressure is high to begin with. Hypertension

exists for a reason and finding the cause is much more important than treating the result.

Hypertension is caused by both an inside and outside reason.

The outside reasons vary, but are usually either stress and/or weight gain related. The inside reason is diminished organ function.

Stress-related hypertension is caused when stress makes the veins and arteries in the body tighten. Blood pressure is forced to rise in order to continue to deliver the body the nutrients and toxin removal it requires from moment to moment. Over time, the impact on your organs is great, and they begin to weaken.

When weak, they are no longer able to support the body as well as they were when you were healthy.

Due to this imbalance, the body begins to build up toxins from both medication and lifestyle which builds further pressure in your veins and arteries. Those who develop stress-related hypertension also tend to grow very tight and hard around the neck and shoulder area. This is a physical indication of how your body is doing inside and needs to be paid attention to. In a moment of great stress, chi quickly rises to the top of your head. In a healthy individual it lowers safely and in a timely fashion, but in someone with that hardness and stagnation, the chi cannot descend easily or

fast enough which leads to stroke.

Keeping this area of the body soft and supple through exercise, stretching, and massage is very important.

Individuals who are overweight develop hypertension because their heart is trying to support the extra weight. Some might not take into consideration that the extra fat and flesh needs to be nourished and supported like any other part of the body.

The heart becomes stressed and begins to beat faster and harder in order to nourish the usual areas it serves in addition to all of the extra portions of you. When you alter this process and bring your heart rate down to a more normal 120/80, those extra areas are no longer supported as well as before. Over time, the lack of nourishment and contaminate removal leads to a build-up of toxins in the body which create a host of other serious ailments.

Losing weight with proper diet and exercise will eliminate the surplus areas of your body to support and your heart will return to a more normal rate naturally. By going this route, you’ve not only treated your hypertension but likely staved off other diseases that accompany being overweight.

Lowering your blood pressure on your own is a worthwhile venture. Think of your body as a five-story office building. If

the second and third stories in your building were reporting low water pressure on their floors, just doing a quick fix so those two floors received ample water would be taking away water from the other floors. Those workers would no longer be able to function properly without water on those levels. This is the logic of hypertension medication.

Instead, fixing the water pressure on the second and third floors properly so that it gives all floors exactly the right amount of water

is the best fix. It’s the same with your body. Just covering a problem is never the best solution.

One of the most fascinating mechanisms on earth is the human body. Its remarkable ability to heal itself is impressive, if only given the opportunity.

Dr. Lee’s off ice is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. The clinic is held every Wednesday only. Dr. Lee also has an off ice in Los Angeles. To make an appointment in the Buellton off ice, call (805) 693-5162.

1656 Mission Drive, Moving from

Solvang

MOVING

SALE 30% OFF

Everything Must Go!

New Location:

The Mole Hole Cottage 1539 A Mission Drive, Solvang (Next to Paula’s Pancakes)

20 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 17, 2023

"Welcome to the Night," (from left) Stacy Thompson, Marcelino Sepulveda, and Carolyn Dorwin greet the visitors during the Halloween Journey. Photos by Mike Chaldu

Plenty of sinister clowns and other "Tainted Souls" were present in Solvang's annual Halloween haunt, located on 2nd Street on Oct. 27 and 28.

The "Pumpkin Queen" (Lexy Trice) displays a doll while telling a story to the audience during the Halloween Journey at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Garden on Oct. 28.

Eliz Hale and John Lawrence entertain the visitors at the Halloween Journey at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanical Garden on Oct. 28.

HAUNTED & WHOLESOME CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

of the journey, or a package of pumpkin seeds from the program's "pumpkin queen." In all, the entire journey takes between 30 and 40 minutes.

The program also serves as a joint fundraiser for the school and the botanic garden. Roberts also has been a board member for the garden in the past.

"We started it last year, and we

sold out 240 tickets in an hour, mostly to people in our schools," she said. "But this year we wanted to expand it outside that community, so we increased to 900 this year. I was a little nervous about how that would go, but it's been smooth so far this year."

And Roberts found a fitting setting for her event.

"We used to have our classes here [at the garden] since we're an outdoor school, before we outgrew it," she said. "Having been on the

board before, I knew how beautiful it was and I wanted a woodland kind of setting for it, so it fit the bill."

For more information on Acorn Village Forest School, go to acornvillage.org or you can email Roberts at Tracy@acornvillage.org.

While youngsters were having fun with their "journey" through the botanical garden, over in Solvang, the Parks and Rec Department was staging its haunted house for the 29th year.

Themed "Tainted Souls: Even Clowns Have Feelings," volunteers donned the personas of sinister clowns and did their best to startle visitors at the rec building on 2nd Street. Some visitors weren't even safe after they got out as some of the "clowns" came out with "chainsaws" to give them one last fright.

While a lengthy line was formed of people waiting to get their frights, a blocked-off 2nd Street was alive with food trucks and music to keep the wait bearable.

The haunted house was enjoyed by all ages on a cool, crisp Saturday night, and the retooled presentation was welcomed by a few.

"I thought it was really good, there were a lot more things jumping out at you this time; I liked that," said Francine Talmadge, who came with her friends, mar-

ried couple Ericka and Aaron Allin.

"We've been coming here for five years, and it's always fun," Aaron Allin said as screams and yelps, along with chainsaw sounds, could be heard in the background.

The trio said coming for the festivities lets them express a little Halloween spirit.

"Our kids are grown, so we don't do the trickor-treating stuff anymore," Ericka Allin said.

"But this is one thing we always like to do."

Meanwhile, teens and Santa Ynez High School students Tula-Hoover Jones, Emilia Piersma, and Ava Wade were enjoying themselves after being

chased out of the haunt by the chainsaw-wielding clown.

"I think I've been here about the last three years or so," Hoover-Jones said. "It's always scary, but fun."

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 21

Is ostrich meat gaining popularity as sustainable & healthy alternative to beef?

“If your head is stuck in the ground like an Ostrich, your pride never allows wrongs to reach your heart, and all that is showing is your big fat stubborn butt.” — Anonymous

By John Salisbury Contributing Writer

H

ow would you like a big ruby red steak that was 99 percent fat-free, more protein and iron than beef, which it also tastes like, with a much smaller environmental footprint requiring one-third of the water and 1/50th of the land to raise than beef ? Then try a juicy ostrich steak. The cost is around $20/pound (low end at $12/ lb. to high at $30/lb.), but have you looked at the price of a bone-in ribeye lately?

Ostriches are the largest of living dinosaurs. They can grow to 9 feet and can weigh 320 pounds. They lay the most giant eggs — 3 to 5 pounds that hatch in 42 days that take an hour and a half to boil — of any living land animal and are the only birds with two toes, and all others have three or four toes. Lacking teeth, they swallow pebbles to grind their food, carrying about 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of stones at any one time. They can run nearly 45 mph with their six-foot wing span helping them to keep balance when running, and trot for

long distances at 31 mph, making them the fastest birds on the planet. Their eyes are 2 inches across, the largest of any land animal, and a brain the size of a walnut. One kick can kill a lion, and they can go 20 days without water.

Ostriches have a 10-second memory span so that they can be running and, after 10 seconds, forget why they are running in the first place. Not unlike most of us seniors wondering why we are where we are and why we came in the first place! They can live 50 to 75 years, and the flightless most giant world birds are omnivores, eating plants, roots, and insects. Farmers feed them mostly alfalfa, among other plants and seeds. Most ostriches are in South Africa, with 350,000 on breeding farms. Some 150,000 live in the wild worldwide. Ostrich shells dating back 120,000 years were found near Cape Town, South Africa, discarded by homo sapiens living along the coast. Fully grown, they have the most advanced immune system known to man. Ostriches and emus are cousins in the Ratite family but cannot interbreed. Ostriches are native to Africa, and the smaller emus are native to Australia.

Ostriches are only a tiny part of the big animal protein market in the United States that tastes great and is a healthy option for the planet and people, as pointed out in an article in the Van Trump Report. Ground ostrich meat has more protein than ground beef and less cholesterol than turkey,

chicken, and beef. It is also safe for those with Alpha-Gal Syndrome, which is caused by certain tick bites and is a serious allergy.

Ostriches for the meat market are ready for processing in 12 to 16 months. A hen can lay up to 100 eggs a year, with each egg equaling 18 to 24 chicken eggs, and produce many more offspring, as do cattle.

Like many crops and animals brought on the market throughout history, ostrich farming has had boom and bust cycles.

Ostrich farming started for their feathers in the 1880s when they were imported from Africa. But that market fell when the feather market started falling short.

There was a short boom in the late 1930s, but it fell once again. In the early 1980s, another craze started because an American Embargo held up the importation of ostrich leather — commercially the strongest in the world. This started a national raising of flocks grown and processed to make up the difference. However, instead of just leather, the ostriches were also found to produce red meat, a much healthier alternative than beef.

During this boom time, breeding pairs were priced in the tens of thousands of dollars, and eggs were being sold for several hundred dollars apiece without being sure they would even hatch. Then the scammers jumped in, taking deposits on birds that were not even hatched and never would be.

Investors were promised significant returns

on production that never happened. Only a few ranchers produced birds for processing into meat, leather, and eggs. This was also a time of few rules and infrastructure for distributing ostrich products.

Then, in 1993, Congress opened up ostrich product importation, a part of repealing the South Africa anti-apartheid legislation unwittingly, naturally, resulting in an instant overload in the ostrich industry of birds, leather, and eggs that could be imported into the country. A giant oversupply came with a huge price drop that wiped out most American operators.

South Africa became and still is, the major supplier of ostrich goods, controlling 70 percent of the world market. Nationally, the ostrich industry is the number one South African meat exporter in volume and value. In South Africa, ostrich meat is a lean, healthy staple.

Surprisingly, there is no comprehensive place to get information on prices, markets, and production of ostrich products. In 2007, 714 farms were raising 11,880 ostriches.

Five years later, in 2012, only half as many farms and ostriches were being raised. Texas is the biggest ostrich producer, followed by California and Kansas. Less than a dozen processors are in the country, and the ostrich business is back in the fledgling stage. Visit OstrichLand USA between Buellton and Solvang to get up close and personal and feed their ostriches and emus.

22 NOVEMBER 7 – NOVEMBER 20, 2023

CALENDAR

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS TUESDAY, NOV. 7

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M. County Administration Building, 105 E Anapamu St., Santa Barbara For more info: countyofsb.org THURSDAY, NOV. 9

BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.

At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton For more info: cityofbuellton.com MONDAY, NOV. 13

SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang For more info: cityofsolvang.com TUESDAY, NOV. 14

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.

At Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Administrative Building, 2975 East Highway 246 Santa Ynez For more info: syvuhsd.org WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15

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

Famed trainer Chris Perondi and his cast of rescue dogs entertain audiences of all ages at the Stunt Dog Experience, taking place at Solvang Festival Theater on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Contributed Photo

At Community Services District Building, SOLVANG DESIGN REVIEW 1070 Faraday St. COMMITTEE, 3:30 P.M. For more info: sycsd.com At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang LOS OLIVOS COMMUNITY For more info: cityofsolvang.com

ghost hunting tour!

At: Firestone Walker Brewing Company, 620 McMurray Road, Buellton For more info: solvangcc.com, firestonebeer.com

At St Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal EVENTS Church, Stacy Hall, 2092 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos THURSDAY, NOV. 9 For more info: www.losolivoscsd.com SOLVANG CHAMBER HARVEST

FRIDAY, NOV. 10 TO SUNDAY, NOV. 12

SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M.

LOS ALAMOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M.

PARTY, 5 TO 7 P.M.

Celebrate the winner of the “Best Solvang Scarecrow” contest at Firestone WalkAt LACSD Board Room, 82 Saint Joseph er Brewing Company! Enjoy light bites, Street, Los Alamos wine, and beer while networking and revFor more info: losalamoscsd.com eling in the creativity of this year’s contestants. The overall winner will receive the THURSDAY, NOV. 16 contest’s exclusive, handcrafted trophy, BUELLTON PLANNING the Harvest Cup, made by famed blackCOMMISSION, 6 P.M. smith Hans Duus, which may be kept on At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway display in the winner’s place of business 246, Buellton until the end of the following year’s conFor more info: cityofbuellton.com test. Winner will also receive 4 tickets to join The Haunt, Solvang’s hands-on

The Buellton Fall Festival is a three-day event on Nov. 10-12 on Avenue of the Flags in Buellton! This is a free admission event, that the entire family can enjoy!

Carnival rides and games, live music from over 30 bands on two stages, a Street Faire, and plenty of great foods, vendors, craft beer and wine!

At: Avenue of Flags, Buellton For more info:

Famed trainer Chris Perondi and his cast of rescue dogs entertain audiences of all ages with high-energy excitement from beginning to end. During the Stunt Dog Experience, you will witness some of the most incredible stunts and behaviors ever performed by dogs. With amazing tricks, big-air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, and athletic feats, it is the most entertaining show of its kind! The dogs have been featured on "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Show starts at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.). For the safety of the stunt dogs, please do not bring animals to the show.

At: Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang For more info: solvangtheaterfest.org, stuntdog.com

SATURDAY, NOV. 11

SATURDAY, NOV. 18

BUELLTON FALL FESTIVAL; 4 TO 10 P.M. FRIDAY, 12 TO 10 P.M. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

CHRIS PERONDI'S STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE, 5 TO 6:30 P.M.

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

SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM 23 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 required to bring a picture I.D. and a WM Bill with matching address to participate.

At: Public Parking Lot 4, 1616 Oak St., Solvang For more info: Call City of Solvang, (805) 688-5575

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.

WINE WEDNESDAYS IN 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.

ZACA MESA 50TH ANNIVERSARY We hope to see you there!

FALL FIESTA, 5 TO 7:30 P.M. At 140 Industrial Way, Buellton Get ready to hoot n’ holler this harvest sea- For more info: info@esfuerzowine.com son in celebration of the end of Zaca Mesa Winery's 50th anniversary year of cele- SPORTS AND RECREATION bration! Its Fall Fiesta will mark the close of its 48th vintage harvested at its histor- ONGOING ic estate winery and the 50th year since PICKLEBALL, TUESDAYS AND its founding in 1973. The event will have THURSDAYS 6:30 TO 8:30 P.M. magnificent tacos and tamales by Torti- Pickleball — part Ping-Pong, part badminlleria Mexico to enjoy with the winery's ton, lots of momentum — is one of the fastever-delicious wines. Live music will be est-growing sports in the country. The games performed by the venerable Victor Valen- can be fast-paced and deliver a good workout. 2 cia, who will play a superb set of songs in person teams/ or singles. All are welcome! the genres of pop, jazz, Latin-rock, reggae, At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., R&B, Latin-Jazz, and more! Tickets are Buellton $75 (general) and $65 (veterans and club For more info: buelltonrec.com members). Call (805) 688-9339, email events@zacamesa.com for tickets!

DROP-IN ADULT BASKETBALL, YEAR At: 6905 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos ROUND, MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS For more info: zacamesa.com AND FRIDAYS 6 TO 7:15 A.M. Start your day with a pick up game of basketONGOING ball with friends.

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS Buellton STORYTIME AT SOLVANG For more info: buelltonrec.com

LIBRARY, 10:30 A.M., TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS

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) 6884214

OPEN BASKETBALL, ONGOING, MONDAYS, 7:30 TO 9:30 P.M.

Start your day with a pick up game of basketball with friends.

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton For more info: buelltonrec.com For info on these and other programs, go to buelltonrec.com

FOR INFO ON THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS, GO TO BUELLTONREC.COM