SANTA YNEZ SPECIAL SECTION1
COMMUNITY PRIDE 2019
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 | A3
“We have arts. We have culture. I don’t have to leave the valley to hit good restaurants. I’m about to do the Sanford 5-Miler. I don’t have to leave town to do a major sports event. We’ve got it. We’ve got it here.” —Solvang City Council Member Karen Waite cities to go to college, so many of them move back to raise their families because it really is a great place to raise a family, a great place to live,” Waite said. Solvang Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Beard called Solvang a terrific place to raise a family. “We have three private schools, the best public schools in Santa Barbara County, the college extension. If I was a young parent, I’d want to move to Solvang because, look at the parade: you can wagonwheel your children right into town, have hot dogs while we are celebrating our veterans, then there are bounce houses, burgers, beef sandwiches, tri tips, fireworks in the evening. There’s something to do all day long in this community,” Beard said. She pointed to local service clubs including Elks, Rotary and Pirates Boosters. “These are important people to our community,” she said. There are festivals from Danish Days to Julefest, unique opportunities in Solvang Festival Theater, not to mention ample wine and food selections. And Waite said she particularly appreciates that area festivals remain small, neighborly events where the community comes together while visitors enjoy a taste of small-town USA. “It’s a unique city to explore,” said Ruth Noemii Rodriguez of West Hollywood. “I like everything about it. It has a lot of history and very interesting architecture, and there’s different types of restaurants and everyone is really nice. I really enjoy going to the Christmas store because it makes you feel like it’s Christmas. I also enjoy going to all the different types of ice cream shops and candy shops.” As she and her partner, Jonathan Stephens, reminisced about their previous visits to Solvang, they gushed about Mission Santa Ynez, wine tasting and Danish pastries. “Oh, yeah,” Stephens said, his eyes widening. “The Danish pastries.” When visitors come knocking, the clear first-step might be taking in the walking tour through Solvang’s Danish-style village where a variety of locally owned
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL PEDEN ON BEHALF OF SOLVANGUSA.COM
Santa and Mrs Claus wave to excited children at the 2018 Solvang Julefest Parade. shops offer toys and trinkets, souvenirs and collectibles. For a taste of folk history and culture, there’s a stop at Elverhøj Museum where nearly lost skills like nålbinding and lace making are preserved by friendly, capable volunteers. There are drives through the countryside with views of vineyards
FRANK COWAN CONTRIBUTOR
2019 Danish Maid Gillian Nielsen rides down Mission Drive during the annual Solvang 4th of July parade.
and horse country, picnic opportunities, and the good, old Western town feel of Santa Ynez. “I grew up in the military. I’ve moved around a lot. And this is, hands-down, the best place I’ve ever lived,” Waite said. Besides the cultural blend, the beauty of the open spaces with oak-studded
rolling hills, the peace and quiet, Solvang offers another clear draw for Waite: community. “We are not just seven degrees of separation. We’re one degree of separation from the other towns that we work with so nicely to create one big community,” Waite said.
PHOTO CREDIT BY RICK INEMAN
The traditional Aebleskiver breakfast is part of the annual Danish Days celebration.
JACOB MARTIN, CONTRIBUTOR 00 1
Runners begin the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon in front of Solvang School on Saturday morning. Eventual winner Matthew De Villers, of Seaside, right, gets an early lead.
SANTA YNEZ SPECIAL SECTION1
COMMUNITY PRIDE 2019
TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2019 |
A7
MIKE HODGSON, STAFF
Among those who gathered Monday to unveil a new sponsor sign at Solvang Festival Theater are, from left, Mason, Gigi and Jean-Paul Demeure, representing sponsor Demeure Construction; former Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson; Jim Farnum and David Wyatt, Solvang Theaterfest board members; Mary Ann Norbom, executive director of Solvang Theaterfest; Solvang City Councilwoman Joan Jamieson; Ken Harwood, economist for Visit Santa Ynez Valley; Stephen Palmer representing sponsor C&D CPAs; and Tracy Beard, executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce. of members like Chamber Vice President Sylvia Brents who has become one of the organization’s greatest ambassadors, Beard said. It’s invigorated by the tenacity of Victoria Conner and Megan Cullen who have developed Santa Ynez Valley High School’s STEAM Industry Day. “Our job is to educate our business community, to advocate, educate and provide resources,” Beard said. The Chamber currently represents 340 of Solvang’s more than 700 businesses, Beard said, including the 2018 Business of the Year Cottage Hospital, Restaurant of the Year Succulent Café, Large Business of the Year C&D LLP, Spirit Entrepreneur Treats Clothing Boutique and PCPA. There are new businesses that have jumped on board too, Beard said, including The Spice Merchant, Beef Jerky Outlet, Delfin Huset, SPACE VR, and The Ultimate Escape Room. Chambers are traditionally funded through their membership, with contracts with other agencies including cities augmenting their budgets. Solvang Chamber sponsors include Air Energy, Montecito Bank, Waste Management, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, The Berry Man, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, C&D CPA Advisors, Succulent Cafe, ComCast and Pacific Western Bank. “The business community I feel really benefits from having a Chamber and being involved in the Chamber. I’m really proud of the fact it does a great job getting out there to people. A lot of our programs are open to anyone walking by, visitors or guests or owners, business members and nonmembers,” said Brents who also owns Succulent Cafe. Some of her favorite Solvang Chamber offerings are the Solvang Community Awards Banquet held annually to recognize the city’s movers, shakers and contributors. “I love the way the community comes together. I love the way the people get to dress up and go out for an evening for dinner, cocktails, to talk to business leaders who are in the trenches with you day to day. During the year, you’re so busy you don’t really have the opportunity to just socialize like that,” Brents said. She also appreciates the
LISA ANDRÉ, LANDRE@LEECENTRALCOASTNEWS.COM
Santa Ynez Valley News Lifestyle Editor Lisa André, left, Tracy Beard, executive director of Solvang Chamber of Commerce and 7-year-old Adriano smiling from below, sell newspapers at the intersection of Mission and Alisal in Solvang for Day of Hope. Chamber-sponsored State of the City event. “It’s a good way to catch up with what’s going on in your city. We all get energized and hearing about what’s going on makes us all even more proud to live in this beautiful community,” Brents said. Beard turns back to volunteers, their projects and campaigns that have promoted local business. The Solvang Chamber is the only such organization in Santa Barbara County offering online workplace harassment prevention training. “We’re very proud of our North County nonprofit Leadership Program where we’re invested with all the nonprofits in Northern Santa Barbara County, the seven marketing classes this year we’ve done with SCORE, and we partnered on the Economic Alliance this year,” Beard said. And the list goes on: first chamber of commerce to win a Telly Award for its women in business sustainability campaign; inclusion of non-members in the refurbished walkshop-wine-and-dine map; expansion of its free, summer music in the park series from 16 to 22 performances; expanding the annual scarecrow contest to 140 participants and eight awards; and working the beer garden for Danish Days.
LEN WOOD, STAFF
Hancock College President/ CEO Kevin Walthers, second from left, poses for a picture with area chamber of commerce leaders including Santa Maria’s Glenn Morris, left, Solvang’s Tracy Beard, and Lompoc’s Amber Wilson, right, during a press conference showing the groups’ support for Measure Y.
Ken Andersen, of Neilsen Building Materials Inc., receives the 2017 Large Business of the Year Award from Solvang Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Beard. SETH MURRAY, CONTRIBUTOR
LEN WOOD, STAFF 00 1
The Landsby Hotel on Mission Drive near Atterdag Road is among many businesses working with Solvang’s Chamber of Commerce to promote local involvement.
COMMUNITY PRIDE 2019
B4 | Tuesday, July 30, 2019
SANTA YNEZ SPECIAL SECTION1
BARON SPAFFORD, CONTRIBUTED
Friends and family congratulate Santa Ynez Valley’s 2019 Woman of the Year Priscilla Higgins, right, at the annual banquet in April at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton.
Creating great
memories Santa Ynez Valley Marriott has ‘elevated’ menu, places to gather, drinks to sip
JENNIFER BEST
Contributing Writer
Imagine a hotel that welcomes its guests, but caters to locals, an inn that offers free public movie screenings complete with popcorn and lawn seating, a lodge that welcomes locals for ice cream sundae socials and Wednesday wine-down events. At Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, tourists and locals alike benefit from an innovative staff who focus on building community and welcoming newcomers with affordable food, family friendly events and social opportunities for all ages. “Santa Ynez Valley Marriott is always looking for new things to offer. We definitely have a general manager (Karla Azahar) who allows us to think out of the box, allows us to experiment. If it’s a flop, it’s a flop and we move on,” said Jack Von Schlicthing, the hotel’s food and beverage manager. In recent years, the Marriott has undergone a remodel that provides the wide-open lobby entrance with adjacent restaurant, the 555 Lounge & Bar. “With the restaurant right there and the open, welcoming lobby, it seems like a gathering place, not just a place you pass through when you check in,” Von Schlichting said. In June, the eatery went through a massive menu change, with offerings ranging from tuna tartar to the Marriott burger, caprese stack with heirloom tomatoes and burrata cheese to a knife-and-fork grilled cheese featuring prosciutto layered on a baguette and served in French onion soup. “It’s not a restaurant. It’s a lounge with elevated bar food. All food is cooked in the pizza
on fresh, farm to glass drinks that begin with local beers, local wines, and mixed drinks that may begin with a freshly squeezed lemon or lime. The bar keeps 10 beers on tap leaning heavily toward locals like Firestone, Figueroa Mountain, and M. Special. All wines served are from wineries within 50 miles of the Marriott, including eight reds and eight whites available by the glass at any time. A handful of bottles are also available, with a heavy focus on the valley’s mainstay pinots, he said, and those who LEN WOOD, STAFF prefer to bring their own favorite varietals, the corkage fee is just Participants exercise at the beginning of a workshop during Hancock College’s annual conference for the Latina $10. Leadership Network for the California Community Colleges. The 2019 event was held at the Santa Ynez Valley In addition to indoor dining, Marriott Hotel in Buellton. 555 Lounge & Bar offers terrace oven. There are no deep friers, dining with three fire pits. “We’re in the valley with perno grills,” Von Schlichting said. He knows from where he fect weather for outdoor seating,” speaks. Von Schlichting said. VonSchlichting has worked It’s a popular gathering place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wine with sous chefs from award-winWednesdays when local winerning eateries, and while he won’t admit it, has become quite the ies are invited to pour their own, foodie: conversation continon summer Friday and Saturday uously returns to flavorful faevenings when make-your-own vorites at his own property and ice cream sundaes are on offer, neighboring favorites. and on the occasional Saturdays “I think a lot of us think, ‘Why when locals are invited for pool would you eat at a hotel?’ We’re parties and sno-cones. trying to dispel that notion that Throughout the summer, lohotel food isn’t worth a look. I cals are invited to complimentary call it elevated bar food because BARON SPAFFORD, CONTRIBUTED movie nights when the terrace is overtaken by the big screen, it’s simple but excellent, and afRich Nagler talks to a crowd of close to 300 during the 2019 Santa Ynez wicker furniture is lined up to fordable, especially in this valley Valley Man and Woman of the Year Banquet at the Santa Ynez Valley provide theater-style seating, where there are so many excelMarriott in Buellton. and popcorn and candy are on lent but really expensive places to eat,” Von Schlichting said. vegan options. It’s vegetarian be- who come to us,” he said. offer. It’s not warm-nuts-and- yond the salad options. Employees from numerous “The hotel is an avenue for us to Ranch-dressing bar food. It’s It’s this focus on memorable nearby businesses make their help the locals gather. The valley cubed, sushi-grade tuna bar foods, and affordable prices, that way to the 555 Lounge & Bar seven has fantastic food. It truly does. food. It’s cubed cucumbers, to- attracts locals for repeat visits. days a week, he said, for lunch, We want to be that place locals matoes and onions drizzled with “Truthfully, the guests in the after work, on their weekends. can come enjoy good, affordable ouzo sauce. It’s flatbreads. It’s hotel, you might capture them For those after-hours visits, meals, some fun and create great carnivorous. It’s gluten-free with maybe for a dinner. It’s the locals Von Schlichting’s staff focuses memories,” Von Schlichting said.
LEN WOOD STAFF
Knud Jacobsen, of the Vikings of Solvang, serves special needs students and their teachers during the 2017 annual Christmas party at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton.
FRANK COWAN, CONTRIBUTOR
Residents of the Santa Ynez Valley filled the ballroom CONTRIBUTED PHOTO at the Marriott Hotel during the 2016 Santa Ynez Valley Foundation and Santa Ynez Valley News Man The 2019 Solvang Century, Metric & Half Century start/ finish line was and Woman of the Year Awards Banquet in Buellton. located at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton.
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