Santa Ynez Valley Star April B 2020 by Santa Ynez Valley Star

April 21 - May 4, 2020

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Shining a positive light into dark moments; keeping the community #SYVStrong By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

anta Ynez Valley is not immune to the effects of the COVID-19 virus that has swept the world. Businesses are closed as this heavily tourism-based community has turned into a ghost town with empty streets. Schools have switched to distance learning, and all the senior care facilities have been placed on lockdown. However, this isn’t the first time that the valley has seen crisis, such as when the Thomas fire and Montecito mudslide closed Highway 101 for weeks, which was financially devastating for a lot of local businesses. Most likely this isn’t the last either. The difference is in the attitudes of the residents and business owners who have come together to support others in need. We have put together this roundup of caring people who are working hard to help every facet of the community. We also have a short documentary on our YouTube page. The week before Easter brought in much-needed rain that will help farmers and ranchers get through another year. People were treated to amazing views from double rainbows and beautiful green hillsides, as a reprieve from the COVID-19 news. People put their heads together (digitally) to come up with fun, positive activities to brighten people’s spirits as well. The PVSR Hot Rod club decided to do a fun drive through various neighborhoods in the valley from Santa Ynez to Los Olivos, back through Solvang and a loop around Buellton. The club members also decided to drive the loop through the Atterdag Village of Solvang, as many of the residents haven’t left the facility in weeks. “Residents and staff came out from every level to watch the parade of cars,” said Chris Parker, executive director of Atterdag. “This was so uplifting for many of the residents to see the community remember they’re here.” Parker said Atterdag employees have been busy keeping the residents occupied with games,

Photos by Daniel Dreifuss The PVSR Hot Rod club decided to do a fun drive through various neighborhoods in the valley including Atterdag Village of Solvang.

The Camilleri family of Buellton loved having a visit from the Easter Bunny.

having social distancing coffee and cocktails outside. This situation weighs heavy on his heart as he knows how special and precious time is, and having to not let family and friends on campus to visit has been rough. “I have a couple who has been married for 45 years separate because one is in skilled nursing and the other in assisted living,” Parker said. “I am making sure they get to at least have visits outside near one another.” When the restrictions are eventually lifted, Parker is planning on how visitors will be screened when allowed on campus from taking temperatures and ensuring people still wear masks and gloves. The Solvang Senior Center is also still going strong, even during this time of uncertainty and concern. Although all physical and social activities have been suspended until further notice, Executive Director Ellen Albertoni and Kitchen

the community as their school routines have been upended. A lot of the neighborhoods have put teddy bears in their windows for kids to go on “Bear Hunts,” and held social distancing Easter egg hunts. The Buellton and Solvang Parks and Recreation departments usually come together for the annual Easter Eggstravaganza, but this year volunteers went around to the neighborhoods and placed eggs in yards for the kids to find. The Buellton Chamber of Commerce teamed up with Flying Flags RV Resort and Sideways Inn to hold “physically distancing” Easter egg hunts. Resident Candice Signa and her family dressed up as the Easter Bunny and went on a tour of Buellton to cheer up the kids. Signa was also a part of several local real estate agents and construction companies who SYV STRONG CONTINUED TO PAGE 22

Manager Anne Twigg are still at the Center every day during normal hours. “With the help of a fantastic group of volunteers, all of our 500 members have been contacted, checking in on their needs and offering a kind voice at the other end of the phone,” Albertoni said. The facility has restructured its lunch program and is also offering mental stimulation by offering free wool and patterns to knit for the troops, as well as puzzles, books and games. The senior center also has had great support from local restaurants like Solvang Restaurant, Veggie Rescue, Albertson’s, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County and Sysco Systems. “Please call the Center at 805-688-3793 and ask for Ellen if you have any questions about available services or need someone to talk to,” Albertoni said. Children have also had a lot of support from

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2 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

File photo The Santa Ynez Valley Star won six statewide awards recently in the California News Publishers Association’s annual contest, including the story about SYHS wrestler Richie Sandoval.

SYV Star wins 6 statewide Awards Staff Report

he Santa Ynez Valley Star won six statewide awards recently in the California News Publishers Association’s annual contest, which evaluated work published in 2019. The Star’s coverage of local high school wrestler Richie Sandoval’s rise to the top earned second place for Sports Feature Story, written by Brian Stanley. “We are so thrilled to receive these top honors from our colleagues,” said Raiza Giorgi, the newspaper’s owner, editor and publisher. “We are always striving to make sure our stories are the best they can be and that they tell the story behind the story.” All contest entries are judged against entries in the same categories from other newspapers of similar size. The Star also took home two third-place awards for Coverage of Business News with the story on the Solvang Fall Festival coverage written by Giorgi, and Sports Feature Story for Stanley’s coverage on the SYHS baseball team’s participation in the local Challenger Division for special-needs players. “It’s important to tell these stories which

matter to our local community from local high school sports to local government,” Giorgi said. “Especially during situations like COVID-19, people need uplifting stories.” Giorgi started the Star in February 2016 as a monthly publication and moved it to twice-monthly in 2017. Prior to the Star, Giorgi has more than a decade of experience as a journalist. For 130 years, the California News Publishers Association (CNPA) has protected the interests of newspapers throughout the state, from the smallest weekly to the largest metropolitan daily. CNPA operates from offices in Sacramento and is governed by a board of directors drawn from its more than 500 daily, weekly and campus newspaper members. This year’s California Journalism Awards was formerly known as the CNPA’s Better Newspapers Contest. Other local publications that took home awards this year were the Santa Maria Times, Santa Maria Sun, New Times, Santa Barbara News-Press and Santa Barbara Independent. A detailed list of awards is posted at www. cnpa.com.

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File photo A cleanup vessel works offshore to recover some of the 142,000 gallons of crude oil that spilled from a Plains All American pipeline near Refugio State Beach in May 2015.

Plains All American to pay $60M over oil spill

The company must also implement new safeguards in the wake 2015 Refugio pipeline rupture By Joshua Molina

Noozhawk Staff Writer

lains All American Pipeline must pay $60 million in financial penalties and implement new safeguards, according to a settlement reached between the company and the U.S. Justice Department. Plains’ Line 901, which runs along the Gaviota Coast in southern Santa Barbara County, ruptured on May 19, 2015, and spilled about 142,000 gallons of crude oil onto the shoreline and into the ocean. According to the Justice Department, the discharge was caused by Plains’ failure to address external corrosion and have adequate control-room procedures in place and was further exacerbated by Plains’ failure to respond properly. “Today’s settlement shows federal and local governments working in partnership to hold industry fairly accountable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Gelber of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The agreement will also promote public health and safety, and protect the environment for local communities.” The settlement requires Plains to pay $24 million in penalties, $22.3 million in natural resource damages, $10 million for reimbursed natural resource damage assessment costs and $4.26 million for reimbursed Coast Guard cleanup costs. Excluding the value of the required injunctive relief changes to Plains’ national operations, the

settlement in conjunction with reimbursed costs is valued in excess of $60 million. The discharge resulted in the oiling of Refugio State Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and other shorelines and beaches, resulted in beach and fishing closures, and adversely impacted natural resources such as birds, fish, marine mammals, and shoreline and subtidal habitat, according to the Justice Department. The federal government worked with the State of California to reach the settlement. “This case is a classic example of why the Clean Water Act authorizes penalties for harmful oil discharges,” said Susan Bodine, Environmental Protection Agency assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “With this settlement, EPA, along with its federal and state partners, is holding Plains accountable for the damage they caused to natural resources.” The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period that begins with the posting of a notice in the Federal Register. The consent decree can be found at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees. “We are pleased to join this agreement with industry and our co-trustees to help restore vital habitats, wildlife and recreational areas injured by this oil spill,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service. “Local communities and economies depend on these ecosystems, and we look forward to working with the public on projects to restore them to health.” A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge in 2019 ordered Plains All American Pipeline to pay a $3.3 million criminal fine for the Refugio oil spill.

Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com.

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Raiza Giorgi

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April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 3

Volunteers Memorial sign effort underway to honor Laura Cleaves sought to serve on Investigator, horsewoman was killed 12 years ago in Highway county 154 collision grand jury By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

Staff Report

he current memorial cross for longtime Santa Ynez Valley resident Laura Cleaves cannot be seen from Highway 154 unless you are really looking for it. It currently sits in the spot where she was killed almost 12 years ago by a drunk driver, down the side of the embankment where her car came to a rest. “Even though it has been 12 years, to me it feels like she passed away yesterday,” said her daughter Krista Cleaves Robert. “It’s a horrible feeling that never goes away. I feel like she did so much for so many people and I don’t feel like I have done enough to honor her.” Robert has started the process with Caltrans to get a memorial sign erected, and within eight days she raised the $1,200 necessary to get the sign put up. The GoFundMe has actually raised more than what was needed. Cleaves, 53, suffered fatal injuries on May 1, 2008, in a head-on collision on Highway 154, just a few miles from her home. The driver of the vehicle that killed Cleaves was Ashley Johnigan, 22 at the time of the accident, who was driving with a blood alcohol content of .24, according to past media reports of her sentencing. She was found guilty of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter and two misdemeanor drunken-driving counts. She received 15 years to life and is eligible for parole in 2021 after serving at least 12 years of her sentence. Cleaves was a senior investigator with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney/s Office, and she was known in the valley as “Martha Stewart with a gun.” She was an avid horsewoman, teaching lessons on the weekends, and her Christmas decorating skills were unparalleled. She also helped at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Solvang by making fudge occasionally. “She was defiantly a woman who could

Photo contributed Laura Cleaves will be remembered with a sign with her name to be put on Highway 154 in Santa Ynez.

Laura Cleaves taught me so many lessons in life. I started riding with her as a young girl, wide-eyed and obsessed with horses. I spent many years of my life walking to her house in Santa Ynez and shoveling horse manure, as that was a trade to keep our horse at her house. I can say that I have shoveled horse poop in the snow, that one time it was snowing in Santa Ynez. Laura taught me about hard work, compassion and responsibility in caring for animals, and to always keep my heels down. She also taught me how to have fun while I work. She would often come out and talk with me while I shoveled poop, and those extra moments I

cherish forever. She loved her career, and she loved her family, both the two-legged and four-legged kind. I know so many other people here in the valley that knew Laura in many capacities. She was very well respected and loved in this community. When her daughter Krista, who is one of my lifelong friends, approached me she wanted to erect a sign in her honor, I wholeheartedly supported that endeavor. Just a week after she presented her idea, it started to come to fruition. I am very pleased there will be a sign in her name, where the community will see every day as they travel along Highway 154.

do it all and still made time to bake cookies for Halloween and Valentine’s Day for my sister and I as well as our entire class,” Robert wrote. She added her mother was up before the sun feeding and caring for her horses and home in time to make a homecooked meal for her family. “She inspired me to go into the medical field and help others,” Robert said.

Robert is currently an EMT/nurse at a hospital near Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. “I am very thankful for everyone who donated to get this sign created in memory of my mom, and hope to see it up soon,” she said. Robert said she was not sure how long it would take to get the sign created and erected, and as of press time Caltrans wasn’t able to be reached.

Editor’s Note:

he Santa Barbara County Superior Court is seeking volunteers for the 2020-21 Civil Grand Jury, Darrel E. Parker, Superior Court executive officer, has announced. To be considered for service on the Grand Jury, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, of good character, have been a resident of Santa Barbara County for at least one year, and have never been convicted of a felony or malfeasance in office. Principal functions of the Grand Jury include investigation and review of the departments and special districts of county and city government; involvement in fiscal or management audits; and the preparation of reports on related matters. Reports are then filed with recommendations for improvement of operations. Service on the Grand Jury is for a period of one year, running July 1 through June 30, and usually involves about 25 hours per week. Service on the Grand Jury is a big sacrifice of time; however, it is an excellent opportunity to learn about the inner workings of government, while providing a valuable service to the community. Applications for the 2020-21 Grand Jury can be obtained from the court’s Jury Services office in Santa Barbara, 805882-4530, or Santa Maria, 805-614-6464, or downloaded from the court’s website, www.sbcourts.org. Applications should be submitted to: Santa Barbara Superior Court, Jury Services, 1108 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 no later than Friday May 1. The new Grand Jury will begin July 1 and serve through June 30, 2021.

4 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

County Employee Retirement System takes big pension hit COVID-19 economic downturn causes 13 percent loss, but fund said to be secure By Joshua Molina

Noozhawk Staff Writer

he Santa Barbara County Employee Retirement System’s pension fund has taken a significant financial hit as a result of the devastating financial impacts of the coronavirus. The investment portfolio lost about 13 percent of its value between Jan. 31 and March 16, dropping from about $3.3 billion to about $2.87 billion. The losses are about 10 percent going back to the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, 2019. “Just like everybody else in the country right now, there is a significant impact to the value of our investments,” said Greg Levin, chief executive officer for the Santa Barbara County Employees Retirement System. “A lot of it depends on what is going to happen in the next six months.” Levin said the county’s retirement system is in good shape despite the steep decline in the investment market in recent weeks. In order to pay the current benefit load, the retirement system must draw about $30 million annually, and there’s about $2.87 billion in the plan.

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“There’s nothing that I am worried about right now in terms of taking care of my members and beneficiaries,” Levin said. Levin said the value of the retirement fund only reflects about 60 percent of the funds that were immediately available as of March 16, and the full amount of losses won’t be known until later in April. “I don’t think anyone can predict what can happen in the financial markets,” Levin said. Despite the unpredictability, Levin explained that the county learned a lot from the 2008 recession and diversified its investments. The county expects a 7 percent annual return. “We tried to create a portfolio that is able to withstand a more specific downturn,” he said. County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato also planned during last year’s budget cycle for an economic recession within the next three years. Levin said any losses will be amortized

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over the next 20 years and the county will absorb and pay it. “We let it work and do its thing over time,” Levin said. Steve Lavagnino, Fifth District Santa Barbara County supervisor, has been a vocal critic of the pension fund and its investment strategy, but said he has confidence in how the retirement system is handling investments. “I think that the fact that we have only lost 13 percent is a testament of how well we do things,” Lavagnino said. Lavagnino said “we’re in it for the long haul” with the pension fund. “We are going to have a bad year this year,” Lavagnino said. “We have had a couple of good years. The economy was strong before all this happened and if we are lucky we’ll get a bounce back. It is a long game.” The county isn’t making investment decisions, he said, based on the next six months. Investment always involves risk,

he added. “Sometimes when you expose yourself to risk you are going to get caught but everyone is in the same boat,” Lavagnino said. “I am very confident that the pension fund will be able to stay solid.” Gregg Hart, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said the county built in a long-range fiscal model that assumed an economic downtown. “The economy is suffering from a significant shock and our retirement system has also taken a hit,” Hart said. “But because we have diversified our portfolio and learned lessons from the last economic downtown, this downturn’s effect is much less than what other systems may be experiencing right now. “The full financial hit will be felt over time and that will give us an opportunity to adjust our budget to accommodate,” Hart said. The city of Santa Barbara was less specific about its losses. City Administrator Paul Casey said the city will get an update April 8. “We don’t have any numbers from CalPers on what the impact will be or how they will address it long term,” Casey said. Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com.

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 5

Santa Ynez Valley has resilience in spades By Scott Cory

members of the community, struggle to find balance with new realities at home and work, and the overarching stress of our new reality. I offer a special acknowledgement to the SYHS senior class of 2020: I know that the impact of this closure is uniquely tough on you. My heart goes out to you for the loss of the final quarter of your year and all that comes with it. How I wish we could provide you with all the traditional, in-person senior-year experiences. Know that we are working on a graduation ceremony alternative. But this is only one version of tough. I’ve talked with a lot of you. Each person reading this has their own challenges to cope with at this unique point in time, some more so than others, but we all share a common anxiety in a journey that still has some distance yet to travel. Community, resilience … the valley has this in spades. We’re going to need a whole lot of both before this is over. Reach out and then reach out again to someone in need. I am deeply grateful that I get to, figuratively of course, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of you in the days to come. We’ll need each more than ever.

Superintendent of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District

felt compelled to write a letter to the Santa Ynez Valley on the heels of a decision to close the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School campus for the remainder of the school year. This was such a previously unthinkable announcement and, unfortunately, one of many such closure announcements being repeated hundreds of thousands of times across our country. It’s tough for students, tough for parents, tough for our community. That being said, the buildings are closed, but school and learning are not. Thanks so very much to our staff that is putting together a distance-learning program with virtually no notice and no time to prepare. Simultaneously and certainly, great things are already happening, and challenges exist. We will do everything within our control to get even better every day at this new instructional reality. Our students are worth it. Educators across the valley are demonstrating an amazing amount of commitment to this effort, even as they, along with so many other

Letters to the editor should be no more than 300 words in length. Send letters to: Raiza Giorgi, PO Box 1594, Solvang, CA 93464 or email to: news@santaynezvalleystar.com Please include your name and address and phone number.

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6 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Emergency Food Pantry helps people in need Los Alamos Foundation expects to continue service for at least two months By Pamela Dozois news@santaynezvalleystar.com

os Alamos is a community that thrives by caring for one another in good times and bad. That much was evident April 4 when the Los Alamos Foundation sponsored the first Emergency Food Pantry at the Los Alamos Valley Senior Center. The Emergency Food Pantry is a by-product of that community spirit. While it operates under the banner of The Los Alamos Foundation, it really represents a much broader coalition of service providers and neighbors. The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will be making weekly deliveries for the foreseeable future. These drop-offs are supplemental to the bi-weekly food distribution sponsored by People Helping People. Veggie Rescue, a nonprofit that gleans fresh produce from local farms and vegetable distributors, has been making produce deliveries two to three times a week. To keep everything fresh they have donated the use of their one of

Photo contributed Volunteers, spearheaded by Debra and Brad Vidro, made sure all the tables were neatly filled with all the available food, and bags ready to be filled quickly so as not to keep the people outside waiting for too long.

These masked and gloved volunteers distributed food to 67 Los Alamos families in two hours. One member from each family was given a list of available products for the day to fill out so people would be given only what they would use. The bags were then fill by the volunteers with exactly what that particular family requested.

a kind solar-cooled trailer. Debra and Brad Vidro are spearheading the food drive and the pantry. Debra Vidro wanted to do something to help and she graciously accepted the role of Pantry Lead. Volunteers who also helped with the Emergency Food Pantry distribution are program assistant Laura Beas-Diaz, Yasmin Alvarado, Janet Olivera, Leida Torres, Manuel Ante, Alex Ante, Gloria Castaneda, Carole Bloom, Peter Diffenderfer and Martin Diaz. They served 67 families in a two-hour period. “Many families in Los Alamos struggle in the best of times to put meals on the table and to meet the nutritional needs of growing children or aging parents and grandparents,” said Monna Dingman, executive director and trustee of The Los Alamos Foundation. “In fact, U.S. Census Bureau data from 2017 (the most recent available data) shows that 38 percent of Los Alamos children 18 and younger live below the poverty level.” These are the children of agriculture and service industry workers. In many of these families both parents work and still find it difficult to put meals on the table. The current coronavirus pandemic has left too many without even these low paying jobs. FOOD CONTINUES TO PAGE 22

County seeking volunteers for COVID-19 projects Utility implementing measures amid pandemic Staff report

anta Barbara County is in search of community members who would like to utilize their wisdom and talents by volunteering for various COVID-19 related projects. Volunteer assignments will be based on the skills, knowledge, and abilities of each individual volunteer and may include supporting emergency shelters, food distribution call centers, alternate (medical) care sites or other emerging needs. All volunteers are subject to a background check and will be required to provide their full name, date of birth, address, driver’s license or California Identification number, and social security number. All volunteers who are not currently employed as a government worker

must also be sworn in by an approved Disaster Service Worker (DSW) appointing authority of the County of Santa Barbara. Being sworn in as a DSW provides full coverage by the State of California Worker’s Compensation system. Community members interested in volunteering can sign up by completing the Volunteer Registration Form found on the Santa Barbara County Public Health portal at https://publichealthsbc.org/ resources/ and emailing the completed form to EOCLogistics@santabarbaraca. gov or by contacting the Santa Barbara City CERT Spontaneous Volunteer Center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 805-564-5782 to sign up over the telephone.

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 7

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SANTA YNEZ VALLEY BROKERAGE | 2900 NOJOQUI AVENUE | LOS OLIVOS, CA 93441 | SIR.COM © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. DRE License Numbers for All Featured Agents: Mike Testa: 1934044 | Mike Brady: 825140 | Jennifer Nation: 1217818 | Patty Murphy: 766586 | Micah Brady: 1219166 | Jennifer Nation: 1217818 | Patty Murphy: 766586 | Lauren Daniels: 2015901 | Jennifer Nation: 1217818

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8 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Humane Society urges pet owners to create plan Recommendations released to protect furry friends from COVID-19 Staff Report

OVID-19 impacts the country and the world with daily changes that leave people feeling uncertain about the future. In times of crisis, having a plan of action to protect loved ones, including pets, will eliminate some worry and stress, and ensure preparedness for keeping families safe. Because pets are family members, someone close to the family should be identified to care for pets in the event their caregivers require hospitalization or need to tend to an ailing friend or family member. Besides finding pet care, the teams at the Santa Barbara Humane Society and Santa Maria Valley Humane Society have put together some recommendations. The agencies urge all pet owners to implement steps now to be ready in the event COVID-19 afflicts them or a loved one. Having a proactive preparedness plan ensures that pets are not impacted from undo stress, such as being placed in an unfamiliar surrounding like a shelter. Additionally, when pets are safe with family or friends, local shelters can provide essential care for homeless and at-risk dogs and cats in the community. Downloadable graphics with these tips, in English and Spanish, can be found at https://www.sbhumanesociety.org/knowledgebase/covid-19-tips/. The following recommen-

dations can help ensure families and their pets remain safe: n Identify someone who can care for your pet if you become ill. n Keep two weeks of supplies such as carrier/leashes, food, medication, bowls and bedding on hand. n Document important items like your veterinarian’s contact information and last vaccines. n Document feeding and medication schedule and any special needs to help your pet feel at home. n Go to: www.petmicrochiplookup.org or call your veterinarian to ensure your pet’s microchip is up to date. n Order an updated metal tag. Type “pet tags” into a search engine to have one delivered. n Send something from home with your scent to help your pet feel at home. n Identify three people who can update your pet’s caregiver while you are away. n No family local? Use Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Nextdoor partnership, Neighbor-Neighbor to find people willing to help. For more information about both Santa Barbara Humane Society campus locations and operations during COVID-19, visit www.sbhumanesociety.org or www. smvhs.org.

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Coronavirus news anxiety: Here’s how to manage it Staff Report

f coronavirus news in recent weeks has made you feel more anxious and fearful than normal, you’re not alone. News about COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, can take an emotional and psychological toll – causing anger, worry, insomnia and a desire to isolate. While COVID-19 should be taken seriously, there are ways to manage anxieties and fears. Most people recover well from COVID-19, just as with a cold or flu, without requiring medical care. Here are several methods to help manage increased anxiety and stress: 1. Keep things in perspective and don’t panic. Use your judgment to determine your risk level based on the number of cases in your immediate area and your health status. 2. Take a break from the news, but get the facts. Limit your time with news updates and check reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov and www. cottagehealth.org/about/newsroom/2020/coro-

navirus-covid-19/. 3. Do what you can to prepare. Wash your hands with soap and water regularly. Cover a cough or sneeze. Don’t touch eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Stay home if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Call your healthcare provider if you have severe symptoms. 4. Take care of yourself by getting plenty of sleep, exercise and healthy foods. 5. Talk to your children. Discuss the news with honest and age-appropriate information. 6. Stay connected. Maintain social networks to express your feelings and relieve stress. If you choose to limit in-person interactions, use technology to keep in touch. 7. Seek additional help. If you feel overwhelmed or have other reactions that effect job performance or personal relationships, consult with a trained and experienced mental health professional who can help you manage the stress and adversity. From Cottage Health, www.cottagehealth.org

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CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES

Stay well at home order clarified by county

Policies for selected businesses, including food facilities, updated Staff report

o provide clarity to select Santa Barbara County businesses regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s March 19 “stay well at home” executive order, County Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg has issued a Health Officer Order. It became effective starting at 5 p.m. April 5 and will be in effect until 5 p.m. May 4 unless it is extended.

The new order stipulates the following for its duration: n Food facilities must offer food to go only and comply with hygiene and social distancing standards or be subject to permit suspension and mandatory closure. n Food Facilities: Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and coffee shops may only remain open to offer food for pick-up, delivery or drive-thru. n All food must be in containers. n Food must be consumed off-site. No provision for on-site dining allowed. n All food workers must wear facial covers (covering nose and mouth) supplied by the employer and maintained in a clean, sanitary manner. n Six-foot spacing must be maintained between customers.

n Workers may not work while ill. n Food facility employees or volunteers who have had symptoms of COVID-19 shall return to work only when they have been free of symptoms for at least 72 hours without medication AND at least seven (7) days have elapsed since the onset of symptoms. n The Health Officer recommends that food facility operators actively screen all workers, volunteers and outside vendors for COVID-19 symptoms upon each individual’s arrival at the food facility. Individuals who exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as defined by the Santa Barbara County Health Officer shall be immediately excluded from the facility.

n The following businesses are ordered to close without exception: n Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food n Movie theaters, live performance venues, bowling alleys and arcades n Gyms, fitness centers and aquatic centers n Wineries, breweries and tap rooms that provide tastings n Trophy shops or trophy businesses n Tattoo parlors, tattoo businesses, tattoo artists and body art facilities n Barbers, hair salons and hairstylists n Campgrounds and RV parks, public and private. Only those who certify that the RV is their primary residence may be

permitted to stay in the RV park n Nail salons, manicurists and pedicurists except for medical necessity e.g. medical treatment for diabetes n Day spas and massage parlors, except as required for prescribed medical treatment. n In addition, the following must close: n Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, saunas, steam rooms (except those in a single-family residence or medical setting, with medically prescribed therapy carried out with individuals 6 feet apart) This order is intended to reduce the likelihood of exposure to COVID-19, thereby slowing the spread of COVID-19. Violation or failure to comply may constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $1000, imprisonment, or both. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including fines or civil penalties per violation per day, injunctive relief,and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Health Officer Order can be viewed at the Santa Barbara County website: countyofsb.org. Additionally, a Health Officer Order was issued this past week stating requirements for all individuals entering certain licensed facilities and other agencies to be temperature screened, require a self-evaluation, and prohibited entry to facilities as needed. You can also read the full order on the county website.

Fixing the ultimate baked potato

By Vida Gustafson

ometimes you don’t have a fully stocked pantry to cook from, but when ingredients are low, the deficit can be made up with technique. A properly baked potato is the perfect example. Crunchy, nutty and perfectly seasoned on the outside and light as air and buttery on the inside, nothing beats it for comfort and simplicity. No foil, poking, parboiling or special ingredients needed. You can dress it up as fancy or as rustic as you like. Potato purists will want to serve it with only butter, salt and pepper. I like sour cream and onion myself, but you can truly go wild with potato toppings. Carne Asada or El Pastor is really popular as baked potato toppings in Southern California or try bechamel sauce and ham for a twist on a Croque Monsieur!

Ingredients

n Large Russet Potato(es) n Olive or Vegetable Oil n Coarse Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

Method

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Wash and dry your potatoes. Once they are thoroughly dried (putting them near the heating oven or an open

Photo by Vida Gustafson Potato purists will want to serve it with only butter, salt and pepper. I like sour cream and onion myself, but you can truly go wild with potato toppings.

window works well), place them in a large bowl and pour one to two tbsp oil over them, enough to coat them lightly, tossing them to spread the oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss a couple more times to distribute the seasoning. When deciding how much salt to

use, don’t be shy. I once heard an online chef remark that an unseasoned potato is an evil potato. I think he might be right. Once the oven is ready and the potatoes prepared, place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. If you wish to place them

straight on the rack, you will get good results, as long as they are not too heavily oiled or you have placed something on the rack underneath to catch any stray drops. A 7-10 oz. potato will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Most russets fall in this size range. If you have a monstrous potato, bigger than a pound, cook for 2 hours at 400 ° F. If you have russets smaller than 6 ounces they will be done in 50 minutes. You will know they are ready when the skin is crisp to the touch but yields to pressure. There is a small gap that forms between the skin and flesh of a cooked potato that you can feel with an infinitesimally brief poke, with any handy kitchen tool you value less than your finger. You will also know that your potato is baked to perfection by the heavenly aroma filling the kitchen and the hungry glances from family and/or pets. *You can bake any potato. A starchy potato, such as Russet, Idaho or Yukon Gold will yield a fluffier inside. While red and yellow potatoes are not usually recommended for baking, they will still turn out delicious! Just be sure to adjust your expectations.

10 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

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Yoga a passion and a calling for instructor Barbara Laux teaches several classes a week in the valley By Pamela Dozois news@santaynezvalleystar.com

arbara Laux had been teaching Iyengar Yoga for 20 years in Silicon Valley, where she taught 26 yoga classes a month. She is also a registered nurse. After moving to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2015, Laux has been involved in teaching Yoga to all who wish to learn, young and old alike. “When I was very young I was attracted to a way of working with my mind/body in a way that offered me peace, such as meditation, yoga practice, and exercise,” Laux said. “I surrounded myself with positivity in nature and being around good people.” Laux had a lot of professional opportunities in nursing, but she felt they did not resonate with her. “They didn’t feed my soul or even allow me the time to teach Yoga on the side, which is my passion and my calling,” she said. “When I moved to the valley from the Bay Area to be closer to my children, I was fortunate enough to have an ‘in’ at the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA as I had worked at the YMCA in Saratoga, California, for many years. It was easy for me to transfer over to our local YMCA.” Laux is a very busy Yoga teacher. She teaches five classes a week: Monday and Wednesday at noon; Thursday classes at 6:50 and 9:15 a.m. and a Saturday morning class at 8:15 a.m. at the YMCA, which is for members only. She also teaches one class a week at Bloom Yoga at 4 p.m. on Thursdays, at Performance Fitness at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, and at the Buellton Rec on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Fridays at 1 p.m. She teaches Yoga at the Solvang Senior Center on Mondays at 9 a.m. and Chair Yoga on Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. She also teaches the residents at the Atterdag Village of Solvang several times a week and at the Alisal Guest Ranch for their

Photo by Pamela Dozois Barbara Laux is correcting the Yoga posture of one of her students at a Yoga class at the Buellton Rec Center.

guests as well as teaching privately. “The seniors seem to really enjoy Yoga, they are really popular classes,” she said. “I like to teach people who need me. “I’ve always looked at Yoga as more than one thing. It’s a way to take care of the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga has given me a deep inner strength, a tool to navigate through life’s many challenges.” It is said that “when the student is ready the teacher will appear,” and that adage has proven to be true in Laux’s case. At a particularly difficult point in Laux’s life, she felt in need of an outlet and happened upon a Yoga teacher who taught Iyengar Style Yoga. Iyengar is a style of Hatha Yoga. It is a form of exercise that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance

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of yoga postures. “I knew immediately that Iyengar Style Yoga was for me and that I wanted to learn and teach it to others,” Laux said. “I’m a Yoga teacher today because of my teacher, Linda Bostrom, who came into my life just at the right time. She inspired me. She had the quietness of a teacher that resonated with me. She was a teacher who inspired me to be the best that I could be and I like to pass that gift along to my students. “A body which is aligned is one that will serve you well for a lifetime. Illness and disease are often the result of energetic blockages and through simple practices these energetic blockages can be freed up and prana or chi can then proceed uninterrupted throughout the body, resulting in a happy and healthy

body, mind, and spirit,” Laux explained. There are many styles of Yoga, but anyone can do Iyengar Style Yoga, Laux said. She uses props to achieve correct positioning. Someone who is out of condition can benefit from this style as well as a very physically fit person. “My style is to bring back the health of a joint while other styles can stress the joints,” Laux said. “I love to teach Yoga to anyone who is interested. I use different themes every week. I want my students to get a workout, I want them to learn something about Yoga and I want them to learn something about their bodies and themselves, so that when they leave the class, they refreshed and informed.” Leslie Franklin has been following Laux since she retired from working as a speech pathologist for Santa Barbara Education Office. “I always thought that being physically fit meant cardio workouts and strength training, but I realized there were two other pillars to fitness, flexibility and balance. I’ve found both of those taking Barbara’s classes, which I do four times a week,” Franklin said. “It’s with the use of props -- the wall, the bar, chairs, poles, blocks and bolsters, straps and foam rollers -- that I corrected some bad habits I had developed over time. “Barbara gives detailed instruction about your positioning, she uses many more visual aids than a typical instructor and she takes the time to correct the postures. I attend four classes a week and I learn something new in every class. Barbara always has a different focus for the day. I like the variety and the layers of information I’m learning in each of her classes. I wish I would have discovered this style of Yoga and Barbara 30 years ago.” “All I can say is that Yoga is my passion and my calling, and I invite anyone who wants to join me in improving their mind, body, and spirit to come to my classes,” Laux said. For more information, email barbaralaux@yahoo.com

12 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

Remembering the past, escaping Russia for Solvang Author Karen Jensen recalls family’s story in ‘Never Come Back’ By Pamela Dozois news@santaynezvalleystar.com

any of us recall stories that our parents told us as children about family history. One of the stories author Karen Jensen recalls is about her mother and her mother’s family escaping from Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution, which she has written about in her first book, “Never Come Back.” Although Jensen no longer lives in the valley, she grew up in Solvang with her mother Agatha R. Larson and her father H.G. “Swede” Larson, attending kindergarten through high school in the area. She was planning to visit Solvang from April 22-28 and attending the 59th annual Santa Ynez Valley High School reunion luncheon on April 27; however, the COVID-19 has postponed this event to a later date. “Never Come Back” tells the story of Jensen’s mother, who, at the age of 4, left Petropavlovsk, Siberia, with her family to move to their ancestral village in southern Ukraine, and then, at 6, moved to Russia. “Growing up, I repeatedly heard an absolutely amazing story about my grandfather giving a loaf of bread to some prisoner he couldn’t see behind the bars of the window in a train box car. Much later when he, as a German Mennonite pacifist who had become a White Russian soldier, then had to surrender to the Reds, to the Bolsheviks, he ended up surrendering to the same person to whom he had given that loaf of bread,” recalled Jensen. “That Red officer was so grateful for that loaf of bread saving his life, he made my grandfather a high-ranking officer in the Red Army and gave him the papers he needed to safely take his family from their home in Siberia back to their native village in Ukraine. It not only saved my grandfather’s life, but saved the lives of his family members, including my mother, who had been born in Siberia. The story intrigued me and I wanted to know more. “Over the course of my early adult married life, I audiotaped multiple times interviews of my mother, my grandmother, my mother’s oldest sister and her

Photos contributed Folk dancing in the streets of Solvang are Karen Jensen, in a blue dress, and Sharon Madsen (maiden name) wearing a red dress as seen on the postcards sold in Solvang.

Pictured is the house that “Swede” Larson built for his family located behind the Solvang Elementary School, next door to Bethania Lutheran Church pastor’s home on Laurel. The gymnasium now sits on the site.

husband telling their remarkable story, over and over again,” continued Jensen. “Also, I did extensive research into the historical and cultural background of those events: memoirs, biographies, diaries, histories, even atlases, and cookbooks. My goal in this biography, was to present my family, warts and all. They were a fairly godly people, but not a perfect people. And some were less perfect than others.”

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“We need to know history, so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. History presented in context of stories full of drama and pathos makes for more compelling reading,” she said. “‘Never Come Back’ is the factual account of my mother’s family during those terrible times of the Bolshevik Revolution, the same time period as ‘Dr. Zhivago.’ Jensen goes on to explain that most people today do not realize that under

the progressive farming techniques of the Germans living in Ukraine, before World War I, Ukraine was very prosperous. “It was the No. 1 food producer providing all the best wheat for the best bread in all of Europe, and for the best pasta throughout the Mediterranean,” she said. “Ukraine has never recovered its food production or its remarkable prosperity, since the Bolshevik Revolution, under Communism.” Further, Jensen said that most people do not realize that there were actually three armies involved in the Bolshevik Revolution: a White Army fighting for the czar, the Red Army of Bolsheviks or communists, and the Black Army of anarchists, “lawless bandit groups that were left unchecked.” “Although I had been collecting family memoirs on audio tapes and scanning pictures throughout my life, it took me about a decade dedicated to digitizing those audio tapes, transcribing them, organizing them into a timeline,” she said. “I also read extensively regarding the cultural and historical background to flesh out the full story and write the finished manuscript.” Sharing a little of her history, Jensen explained that her father built their first home in Solvang behind the Solvang Elementary School, next door to the Bethania Lutheran Church pastor’s home on Laurel, and the family moved there in time for her fourth birthday. She attended nursery school in a little home on Alisal Road, carpooled to kindergarten at College School in Santa Ynez, since Solvang had not yet established a kindergarten. She walked to Solvang Elementary School when there were only four classrooms at first, then attended Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, graduating with the Class of 1961. The family’s home was purchased by the Solvang School in 1953 for use as a kindergarten until it was demolished and the gymnasium was built in its place. “My dad built our next home in Solvang at 2517 Janin Way, the 10th home to be built in Janin Acres,” Jensen continued. “My mother, Agatha, known by her Russian nickname Gonja in the book ‘Never Come Back’ became the teacher and principal at Ballard’s Little Red Schoolhouse in the late 1950s into ESCAPE CONTINUED TO PAGE 22

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 13

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Isolation can be great opportunity for family research Sheila Benedict

Contributing Writer

n these anxious times everywhere, many people are feeling overwhelmed by being alone and not being able to leave home except for some basic reasons, such as grocery shopping. If you ever thought you might want to do your family history/genealogy, it is guaranteed to take more time than might be needed to fill the days, even weeks, and who knows, maybe months and years. If you are a regular reader, you know I asked for people who would like to share some generic family background but given what we as a city, a county, a country and a world right now are experiencing, it is time to change course. Consider using the time to go through all the old papers you might have hidden under the bed, in a box in the garage, up in an attic, or even in the Cloud on your computer. Ask a sibling, a parent, a grandparent, or other family members what papers they might have and ask them to let you make copies. They can drop them off, without contact of course, on the front porch. Just tell them to text you so they are retrieved immediately. By taking the time to go through everything, which may be minimal or a lot, you are actually using this horrible time in all our lives to some advantage and it may take your mind off other things as well. Being safely home does not mean you cannot be productive. Once you have gathered the papers, start sorting them out and make a list or a chart of items, document log or whatever works for you. As with all genealogy, start with yourself:

birth certificate, social security, military, land and tax records, legal records (such as a will) and whatever else you might have. Once that is done, go to the next generation – your parents. Same process. There are several good genealogy programs for purchase at reasonable prices to use on your computer: Legacy, Roots Magic, Family Tree Maker and others. You can also create one in a word processing program. Most important is that every document, book and other source materials should be listed and cited immediately. You begin with pedigree charts that will take you back many generations, family group sheets that list not only you but siblings as well. There are some free forms online and you can use Google or another search engine to look for them. I suggest Cyndislist.com as there are dozens of hints and charts there. Those sources you locate are the basics for a good beginning. There are many books available to help but to repeat, as you work, make a source citation list – footnotes or even a bibliography. Over time, you will need to compare and contrast what you have and that will be discussed next time. Most of all be safe, follow the guidelines, stay home, and be well – your ancestors and descendants need you. Sheila Benedict is a professional forensic and family genealogist. She is the author of Research in California, which she wrote in 2015 for the National Genealogical Societies Research in the States Series and writes articles in a variety of genealogical society newsletters and magazines.

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14 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

New regional climate collaborative launches Staff Report

ollowing the Thomas Fire and 1/9 Debris Flow incidents, a group of local agencies have launched the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative and are inviting other stakeholders to participate. These incidents highlight Santa Barbara County’s acute vulnerability to climate change impacts like wildfires and sea level rise, and have awakened the region to the real dangers climate change poses. The collaborative seeks to bring political leaders, practitioners and stakeholders together to coordinate and accelerate solutions to addressing the region’s climate challenges. “The idea of a collaborative has been in the works over the past two years,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors and 2nd District Supervisor Gregg Hart. “We have been working closely with our local government and local agency partners for a long time and want to bring in other sectors and stakeholders.” The Board of Supervisors has provided startup funds for two years to form the collaborative for the purpose of developing more regional approaches to advancing climate mitigation and resiliency efforts and to update the county’s Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP) to meet aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. The county, which is serving as the collaborative’s manager, is seeking to establish a steering committee that will formalize the collaborative by approving its governing document and membership structure. Subcommittees will specialize in identifying and developing specific solutions

to regional challenges. Interested stakeholders can apply to participate on the steering committee or on a subcommittee at countyofsb.org/ collaborative. Increased temperatures coupled with a projected decrease in annual rainfall will continue to challenge water use and groundwater management. Sea level rise that could reach almost 2 feet by 2050 already threatens most of the South Coast’s iconic beaches and bluffs. “These challenges are regional in nature and require a coordinated, regional approach to be addressed,” said 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann. “We invite all agencies, organizations, and businesses to join us in creating an equitable and climate-resilient Santa Barbara County.” The collaborative builds on existing collaborations. In 2019, Santa Barbara County and the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria prepared Strategic Energy Plans to increase energy efficiency and local renewable energy. The county is also supporting the Community Environmental Council in hosting a series of Climate Resilience Roundtables, covering the six primary climate hazards identified by the California’s Fourth Climate Assessment. The new collaborative will also enable the region to attract additional investments as California state agencies turn their attention to regional approaches. The Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative joins eight existing regional climate collaboratives in California, including the Central Coast Climate Collaborative that spans from Santa Cruz to Ventura County.

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Internal temperature a factor in how you should exercise By Dr. Hyun K. Lee

n my previous column, I talked about the four types of constitutions in Korean Constitutional Medicine. Each of these four types have differing internal temperatures. Keeping this degree at its ideal point will help balance the chi in your body’s organs and lead to better health. Proper exercise is also important in keeping the organs Dr. Hyun K. Lee functioning at their best and important for the body’s core temperature balance, so different constitutional types require different types of exercise. Some constitutional types are more temperature sensitive than others. While Tae Yang In and So Yang In individuals typically have stronger constitutions that balance themselves properly where temperature is concerned, So Eum In and Tae Eum In (types of Yin) individuals have a more difficult time. So Eum In types require heat, while Tae Eum In types require cool. For the So Eum In type, they need to insulate themselves as their systems have a difficult time maintaining an ideal temperature. Their digestive system can be compared to a pot on the stove. The pot needs heat to cook the food. Without heat, the food in the pot remains uncooked. The uncooked food will cause stomach aches, gas and pain. So Eum In types may find when they eat or drink cold foods, digestive problems will soon occur. They cannot drink large amounts of liquids quickly, especially cold liquids, and, as a rule, prefer warmer weather. These types of people benefit from showers or cold/lukewarm baths, because they do not allow for sweating, thereby making for a better internal temperature balance. Sweating, the body’s natural cooling system, is not good for So Eum In types. Heat needs to stay in the body, so an activity like swimming, where their pores are closed and sweating does not occur, is their most ideal form of exercise.

(It is of note that this constitutional type tends to store fat in their midsection. This is the body’s way of insulating that area. If the midsection is kept warm, fat will be less inclined to gather there, assuming you subscribe to proper diet and exercise.) Tae Eum In individuals function oppositely: Their internal system is overheated and needs to expel the heat to balance the temperature. For these types, very active forms of exercise, where the body can sweat, are better, i.e. running and aerobics. Swimming is the worst form of exercise they can take part in, not only from the sweating aspect, but the chlorine in pool water further weakens an already weaker lung chi. Tae Eum In types also benefit from hot baths, saunas, hot tubs and the like because it causes the skin to soften, the pores to open, and sweating to occur. This constitution tends to take in a lot of negative energy throughout the day. Being active and sweating expels this energy, helping to balance the body. Both types need to watch their water intake. Too much water will cause an imbalance, as they have enough water energy in their constitutions. The key is to listen to the indications your body gives you. Don’t over-water yourself, or deny yourself hydration. Drink however much water makes you feel the best. For the other two types, Tae Yang In, and So Yang In, (yang types) they both need well balanced forms of exercise. So Yang In types tend to have a naturally stronger upper body, so exercises to strengthen the lower body is ideal to balance the body. Walking, running, lunges and bicycling are some beneficial exercises for this type. All forms of exercise are beneficial for Tae Yang In constitutions. Taking exercise and body temperature into consideration in addition to eating the proper foods will help move your body to balance and lead you to a happy, healthy way of life. To make an appointment with Dr. Hyun K. Lee in the Solvang office, call 805-6935162. His office is located at 2030 Viborg Road, Solvang. The clinic is held every Wednesday only. He also has offices in Los Angeles, and Atascadero.

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15

Rotary Club assembles kits for the Days for Girls program Solvang organization teams up with Direct Relief on project Staff Report

embers from the Solvang Rotary Club, in coordination with local humanitarian organization Direct Relief, participated in a Days for Girls program on Feb. 24 as part of a peacebuilding project to support maternal and child health. Through this effort, Solvang Rotarians helped to improve the health and lives of young women in many countries with environmentally friendly, sustainable kits, each hand sewn by a local sewing group.

Jan Clevenger, Solvang Rotary Club member, and Ellen Albertoni, Solvang Rotary Club president, assemble kits for Day of Girls.

Photos contributed Solvang Rotary Club members are shown together after assembling Days for Girls kits.

Jan Clevenger, Solvang Rotary Club member, and Ellen Albertoni, Solvang Rotary Club president, assemble kits for Day of Girls.

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WEB-FC continues newborn, family support with telehealth visits Staff Report

Alyssa Spanier The 2019 - 2020 Solvang School media and yearbook class is shown at the school.

Wildling exhibit to feature Solvang School students’ work

photography, it’s already an incredible achievement,” said Wildling Museum Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate. The Wildling Museum is grateful to former Los Angeles Times and NFL Staff Report professional photographer George Rose, who judged the students’ work hile the Wildling Museum is and awarded the top three works, currently closed due to curalong with honorable mentions. rent COVID-19 restrictions, “These students presented a great the museum is pleased to announce diversity of subject matter with the online exhibition “Inspired in Nathoughtful captions all capturing their ture,” featuring works by 29 Solvang assigned theme,” said Rose. “I was School yearbook and media students. impressed to see The seventh- and black and white eighth-graders photography were inspired by included in the American tranexhibit, as it’s ofscendentalist ten the most difwriter and philosoficult to transfer pher Henry David to print. These Thoreau’s quote: students should “All good things be commended are wild and free.” for their photogStudents were raphy skills.” tasked with the Rose awarded challenge of First Place to applying their phoItzel Medina for tography skills to a black and white develop an image portrait among that captured the the trees titled, essence of Tho“When Serenreau’s quote. Speity Calms the cifically, students Storm.” Second focused on color Place went to “A and contrast, symSettled Leaf” by metry, and depth Sophia Delacruz, of field in planning and Third Place and executing their Solvang School student Itzel Medina’s “When Serenity Calms the Storm” won First Place in judging for the was awarded to individual visions. Wildling Museum’s “Inspired by Nature” exhibition. Naomi Ferguson The students Courtesy Itzel Medina for “A Walk to turned their lenses Peace.” Honorto nature, many finding inspiration able mentions were awarded to Amy in their own backyard, with subjects Rodriguez Buenrostro for “Be Fearranging from pets and family memless,” Shannon Morehouse for “Bebers to local landscapes and sunsets hind the Clouds,” and Addie Shelly captured in both color and black and for “Growing Wild and Free.” white. The students’ instructor, Alyssa “Natural beauty can truly be disSpanier, has been teaching for five covered anywhere, and if this show years at Solvang School, and this is helped students discover the outdoors WILDLING CONTINUED TO PAGE 22 and ignited their creativity through

“Inspired in Nature” shows off photography from seventh-, eighth-graders

ven in normal times, the first few months of a newborn’s life can be both joyous and overwhelming. However, these unprecedented circumstances are affecting everyone, and can be particularly taxing for new parents. Welcome Every Baby Family Connects (WEB-FC) services such as postpartum visits with nurses and lactation consultants are now offered through telehealth visits. Although not the preferred method of connecting with families, this protocol is an acceptable alternative to provide crucial support for families in our community. In addition to telehealth visits, WEB-FC will be offering two online Mothers Support Groups to support new mothers of infants birth to four months, one focusing on lactation support, and one with a broader focus on care of the mother and newborn in the first four months. Topics include health, nutrition, parenting, self-care, newborn development, etc. These online groups will be led by the WEB-FC Nurses and include special guests, including pediatricians and other experts to support new families.

New parents and parents-to-be are encouraged to inquire about eligibility for free WEB-FC Nurse telehealth “visit(s)” either at Cottage Health Hospital or Lompoc Valley Medical Center prior to being discharged after delivery or by calling the WEB-FC Line. A mother can register for the Mothers Support Groups by either contacting her WEB-FC Nurse or by calling the WEB-FC Line at 805-729-1593. Space is limited. WEB-FC’s evidence-based model includes four key areas of assessment and support: maternal-newborn health and lactation, caring for the baby, community safety, and emotional/behavior health. It also provides information, linkages, and referrals to community resources. WEB-FC has been providing free postpartum home visits in Santa Barbara County since 2001.

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April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17

Local farmers, ranchers see shift in produce buyers during COVID-19

By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

mong the list of essential services from first responders, doctors and nurses, there is another subset that is imperative to keep going, and that is our local farmers and ranchers. Farmers markets are scarce with people afraid to venture into public, which is a large source of revenue for a lot of farmers like Carolyn Givens of Something Good Organics on Santa Rosa Road just outside Buellton. “Our outlet via farmers market which we rely heavily on has decreased dramatically,” Givens said. However even with decreased farmers market sales, Givens said she is grateful as their farm stand, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes and wholesale to grocery stores has increased. “It’s been almost too much to manage, but we are so thankful,” she added. Finley Farms in Santa Ynez has also said because of their diverse farm they are also staying afloat. “While farmers markets and wholesale are Photos by Daniel Dreifuss scare, our farm stand is busier than usual as Johanna Finley of Finley Farms in Santa Ynez has said they are staying afloat as more customers are coming to their stand. everyone is home and cooking more,” Johanna Finley said. She suspects because their farm stand is open air and sold directly to the consumer, her customers feel a bit safer than entering a grocery store. “We encourage hand washing and trying to do more Venmo as people then don’t have to handle cash. We notice that customers are being extremely respectful of one another and grateful for our produce. We are grateful for these customers,” Finley said. Their spring produce from strawberries, peas and potatoes are nearly in season and they are looking forward to those items being available. Some farmers like Ed Seaman at Santa Barbara Blueberries are looking ahead to modify their U-pick process as they are uncertain how long the social distancing and stay at home orders will last. “We are directly off the 101 and we rely heavily on tourism traffic,” Seaman said. “We also don’t know what tourism will look like in a month or two from now as people will be recovering from the economic impacts of being Johanna Finley prepackages produce from her family’s farm to help limit the amount of touching. laid off or furloughed.”

His farm is only open for select weeks of the year because blueberries ripen for only so long, and then late season berries like raspberries and blackberries are more towards the end of summer. “The year-round crop farmers I think will survive this just fine, but what about us seasonal crop farmers,” Seaman said. He said there are ideas for a pick-up or drive-thru, where people can preorder online and then drive around the farm store and the sellers can hand over prepicked blueberries and other goods. “We are also thinking of setting up social distancing picking areas and cordoning off six-foot sections,” Seaman said, laughing. “We have 18 acres so we can technically fit 7,360 people on the farm.” Seaman said they have already practiced good sanitary behaviors from wiping buckets down after each use and they are going to put out more tables (with distance) and have more hand-washing stations available. Seaman said they are applying for every program and grant they can think of during this time as well. The Payment Protection Program is available to farmers and ranchers regardless of revenue, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The PPPL provides $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay employees and keep them on the payroll. These loans are open to most businesses under 500 employees, including nonprofits, the self-employed, startups and cooperatives. The PPPL will provide to eligible businesses loans of up to $10 million to cover 2.5 times the average monthly payroll costs, measured over the 12 months preceding the loan origination date, plus an additional 25 percent for non-payroll costs. For more information visit https://www. fb.org/market-intel/update-ag-and-pppl. “Empty shelves can be frightening, but empty fields and barns would be devastating,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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18 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

Santa Maria Fairpark announces dates for new fall festival

USDA unveils tool to help rural communities address COVID-19

Yet-to-be-named event slated for October Staff report

fter having to cancel the Santa Maria Strawberry Festival because of the COVID-19 outbreak, officials at the Santa Maria Fairpark announced on April 3 the addition of a new festival to the fall schedule. The event isn’t yet named, but officials wanted to get the word out about it so that people will have something to look forward to, according to Fairpark CEO Richard Persons. “It’s a tough time everywhere right now, and we wanted to give people something positive to look forward to,” Persons said. “We’ve secured a carnival and set the date for a new festival in the fall, to take place the weekend of Oct. 23 through 25.” Persons went on to say that the new event will feature some great rides, plus all the food, games, attractions and other fun people love about the Strawberry Festival and the Santa Barbara County Fair. In the meantime, officials encouraged the public to continue to be vigilant about their health by staying home as much as possible and washing their hands. Planning for events beginning in June, as well as preparations for the Santa Barbara County Fair, scheduled from July 15-19, continues. According to Persons, expectations are that the fair will proceed as planned. Any changes to that event will be announced via social media, and the public is encouraged to check the Fairpark’s Facebook page regularly at Facebook.com/ SantaMariaFairpark.

Staff report

Photo contributed The event isn’t yet named, but officials wanted to get the word out about the fall festival at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (PDF, 349 KB) is a first-of-itskind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities preparing for and impacted by COVID-19,” Perdue said. “This resource guide will help our rural leaders, whether they are in agriculture, education, health care or any other leadership capacity, understand what federal assistance is available for their communities during this unprecedented time.” USDA has taken many immediate actions to assist farmers, ranchers, producers, rural communities, and rural-based businesses and organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on these actions, visit www. usda.gov/coronavirus.

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April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19

FINAL HOMES! Photo contributed Staff members at the Santa Barbara Zoo must now wear personal protective equipment while interacting with animals.

SB Zoo seeking donations

s the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our area, the Santa Barbara Zoo made the decision to close its doors mid-March. However, the zoo announced that the closure has led to the loss of 97 percent of their operating budget which is made up of earned revenue from normal zoo functions. “Closing our doors creates challenges greater than any we have experienced in our 57-year history, and the loss of revenue will not be recovered. As a nonprofit organization, the Zoo is currently relying on cash reserves to continue to operate,” the zoo’s COVID-19 recovery page explains. “Despite these challenging times, the Santa Barbara Zoo remains dedicated to the more than 500 animals who reside here, the safety of the employees caring for those animals, and continued efforts in the field

to save local endangered and threatened wildlife.” The Santa Barbara Zoo provides constant care for more than 500 animals while also educating residents and visitors alike about the importance of taking care of the environment. It also now requires staff to wear personal protective equipment when caring for the animals after a tiger tested positive for COVID-19 in a New York zoo. Amidst all this, the zoo remains a nonprofit organization. While zoo staff continues to care for animals and engage the public on their social media, they are asking for the public’s support during this difficult time through donations. If you are interested in donating or learning more about the Santa Barbara Zoo, you can visit their website at www.sbzoo.org.

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20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

SYV Charter shows up for school virtually By John Dewey

SYV Charter Superintendent

ELP! I’m floating in space!” cries teacher Lara Schmeiser to her second graders, as her helmeted figure floats across a red planet. “Quick! Make me a Mars habitat. Make it out of Legos, or cardboard, or 3-D print it. Then, make a Flipgrid and tell me all about it.” Over in fourth grade, teacher Michelle Mortensen puts on her panama hat and sunglasses as she prepares to take her students on a field trip to Rio de Janeiro using a green screen, iMovie, and Google Classroom. Even with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of public school closures for the remainder of the academic year, school must go on, and these Charter school teachers are responding to the challenge of not having their classrooms and their students in front of them. “I just wanted to keep having fun with my students and make sure they were connected during this difficult time of closure,” says Schmeiser. “I made a green screen with a $1 table cover from Walmart, and now I can record myself floating in space, or in a science lab ...or wherever I want to drive the kids’ imagination. I created a Flipgrid account so that students can record themselves giving answers and send it back to me. It’s amazing how they’ve responded!” Mortensen’s goal was to get engaging lessons up on a virtual platform as quickly as possible after the school was closed on St. Patrick’s Day, just over three weeks ago. “I set up a ‘studio’ in a spare room at home with my cellphone camera, a microphone, a green screen, and some random props. It wasn’t complicated to get it together. My students have enjoyed being able to see and hear me. I also think the contact relieves some of the stresses around having to be home all day, it’s

Photo contributed SYV Charter School teacher Lara Schmeiser gives virtual lessons to her second graders

good to maintain a schedule for them.” Teachers at Santa Ynez Valley Charter School have been meeting regularly via Zoom, a video conferencing app, to keep in touch, share and plan ahead. “From the beginning, we agreed to be reasonable with our expectations, seeing as this was unchartered territory and a steep learning curve for all of us,” explains Dr. John Dewey, Executive Director. “We had a lot of anxiety in the beginning with so many unanswered questions. Gradually, we are finding the resources and establishing routines to maintain a steady pace of instruction.” All the teachers at SYV Charter have regular Zoom classroom meetings with their students. Time in the “Zoom Room” is not used solely for academic work either. Students are also given

time for “virtual recess” - to just hang out and chat with their peers. “One of the things we have tried to focus on in the last few weeks is making sure our students and parents have access to social time. We want to make sure no child is left behind. Our staff has committed to contacting every parent by phone to ensure all our students are involved in learning in some way. At Santa Ynez Valley Charter School, we provide the resources that they need - whether it’s a chromebook or some assistance getting online. In addition, we have offered to mail paper packets if that is something parents want for their children,” says Dr. Dewey. Since Santa Ynez Valley Charter School provides learning for students from TK through eighth grade, the teachers have used a wide vari-

ety of online resources depending on the age of the students. These resources have included Quizlet, YouTube, Flipgrid, Kahoot, Hoopla, Epic, and more. “It’s amazing to see what technologies we can access - so many companies are offering free services to schools. In a time like this, we realize just how resilient and resourceful we can be as teachers and learners,” reveals Dr. Dewey. So far, the turnout is very high for the new normal of remote learning. In some grades, teachers are seeing close to one hundred percent participation. In a recent fifth grade Language Arts Zoom class, every student was present. After Spring Break, Dewey plans to work with the staff to set daily morning assemblies online, led by students and facilitated by teachers. Additionally, there is a remote learning webpage on the school’s website, with links to activities, photos, and stories - all with the aim of keeping kids connected with each other. Furthermore, the school has a weekly PTSO-sponsored coffee morning that anyone can join via Zoom. Amy Tagles, the PTSO President, appreciates the way the school has come together during this crisis. Tagles states, “Parents aren’t used to being ‘teachers’, so for some families this has been an extremely trying time. Being able to connect and share is just one way to lighten the burden. We will get through this, and we’ll come out stronger as a school community.” Santa Ynez Valley Charter School is now in its 20th year as a public school of choice serving families across Santa Barbara County. The school was founded as a collaborative enterprise of parents and teachers, providing an innovative and challenging educational environment that is student centered.

Now accepting enrollment for students for the 2020-21 school year. www.syvcs.org

Buellton teachers parade through neighborhoods to cheer up students

By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

he teachers and staff of Buellton Union School District paraded through the various neighborhoods on Monday, April 13, to honk and wave at their students they miss during the COVID-19 situation. “It was heart-warming to see all of the families showing support. I was moved by the homemade signs saying that they missed their teachers too. I am grateful to work in such a caring community,” said Andrea Babcock, first grade teacher. Governor Newsom announced April 1, his expectation that all school districts and charter school classrooms in California will continue with distance learning and other essential supports through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Local school officials and educators are trying to embrace this new idea of distance learning in this unprecedented situation. “Teachers inspire the smallest hearts to grow

Photo by Mercedes Diaz Students lined the streets of Buellton to wave at their teachers who paraded through the various neighborhoods.

big enough to change the world, and these teachers did just that! Thank you so much for the drive by. That meant so much to all of us! We miss you all,” said parent Jenn Matsukas. The parade was organized by teacher Heather McPherson and roughly 35 vehicles drove

around Buellton, assisted by local law enforcement officers. “My children were so happy to see their wonderful teachers pass by today! I got very emotional, though, grieving the sweet moments they’re missing out on in these last few months

of Kindergarten and first grade,” added parent Allison Firey. Districts throughout Santa Barbara County are also continuing to provide meals for youth while maintaining social distancing. Santa Barbara County’s schools are committed to ensuring students have the resources and services they need to continue their learning and engagement despite the closure of our school facilities. The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) will continue to work with the California Department of Education and school partners on important topics including grades, credits, and graduation requirements. Specific questions should be directed to the respective school districts.

See our slideshow of the Buellton Teacher Parade on our YouTube page!

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 21

Amy tried to trade her cookie for Andy’s apple.

Dexter traded his yo-yo for Natasha’s comic books.

Before money was invented, people traded with each other for goods and services. But trading wasn’t always easy. Imagine if what you had to trade was milk. On a hot day your milk could spoil and you would be out of luck.

Or, what if you had rocks to trade? They could be very heavy to carry around the market.

If you were a doctor and all your patients wanted to pay you in eggs, you could end up with more eggs than you could ever use.

ver the years, people tried using different kinds of things as money such as shells, feathers and beads. Small lumps of metal such as gold and silver became popular because they were easy to carry. But they had to be weighed every time they were used. Around 700 B.C., King Croesus of Lydia (present day Turkey) had the idea of stamping metal into coins. About 500 years later, the Chinese invented paper money.

Lulu traded her kite for Lexie’s crayons.

Can you divide this grid into four parts in which each part has the same amount of money? 20

10 5

1 5

5 5

5 20

Standards Link: Mathematical Reasoning: Solve problems using logic.

You have $1.50 to spend. You need to save 50¢ to buy the newspaper on the way home. Circle all the treats you could buy at the bakery. (There’s more than one way to do this.)

Throughout history, coins have come in many different shapes and sizes. Only two of these coins match. Can you find them?

PENNIES MONEY TRADE CROESUS LYDIA GOLD TOWER SILVER EGGS SHELLS BEADS PATIENTS EASY TURKEY WORD

Find the words by looking up, down, backwards, forwards, sideways and diagonally.

E P E N S D A E B J

O A S Y R I T S H E Y T S E D E G S C E E I R Y I G W R M S

K E L A E N O O M L R N O N D E N L T L

U T E R S E Y E D E

T S O U Y G A M P H E W S I L V E R S S

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Standards Link: Economics: Students know that different countries use different currencies to exchange goods and services.

Rounding Off

Find items for sale in the newspaper that are advertised for more than $100 but less than $1,000. Paste them on a paper. Round the figures to the nearest $100 and write each new number by the pasted figure.

Each picture below represents a slang word for money. Can you guess what each one is?

Ever hear “A penny saved is a penny earned”? Well, to become a millionaire, you’d have to save lots of pennies! In fact, a stack of pennies equaling a million dollars would rise 95 miles high! If you stacked all of the pennies made in the U.S. in one year, you would get a stack more than 6,000 miles high!

Look for the price of the newspaper on the front page. Draw the coins you need to pay for the newspaper. How many different combinations of coins could you exchange to pay for the paper? Standards Link: Measurement: Solve real world problems involving computation with cents.

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Standards Link: Number Sense: Use specific strategies (e.g., rounding) to estimate computations.

Write Words Wonderfully

Write a sentence in which all the words, or nearly all the words start with the same letter. Example: The gentle giant greeted the green gobblers

22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

pooled their money together to create nine opportunities for residents to get a $250 gift card to a local grocery store. Thank you to Signa, Karin Aitken, Patty Castillo, Carole Ann Colone, Danielle Elam Crystal, Marilyn Elam, Gigi Gerritsen, Michelle Glaus, Claire Hanssen, and Coast General Contractors Aaron and Katie Wright. Karma Specialty Painting also gave away four $50 gift cards to Valley Fresh Market. On Facebook, Bethania Lutheran Church Pastor Chris Brown created the SYV Coronavirus Community Advocacy group as a resource for people to ask for assistance, volunteer for grocery or other errands and where people can get free food. Little free libraries placed around the valley last year have also become Little Free Pantries where people place food instead of books. St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church created a free meal program for residents of any age in need to either pick up, or they will also deliver to seniors, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday, beginning March 28. They are located at 2901 Nojoqui Avenue on the corner of Alamo Pintado Avenue. Visit www. smitv.org for more information. The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is also providing home food delivery for seniors; anyone who is interested can call 805-967-5471 extension 305. Recovery Outreach Inc., with volunteers from

o SYV STRONG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Photos contributed The Little Free Pantry located outside Bethania Lutheran Church offers people of any circumstance to help themselves or leave food for others.

Ranch Hands and Recovery Ranch, have also set up a free hot meal service for anyone needing a meal. They are running daily from 4 to 7 p.m. at Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy, located at 691 north Refugio Road in Santa Ynez. With the news that people are being asked to

o ESCAPE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

All dressed up for Danish Days are, from left, Karen Jensen’s sister Greta, Jensen, best friend Linda Moorman, who still lives in Solvang, and her sister’s twin brother Gilbert.

the 1960s. Gonja’s hobby was taking oil painting lessons from the Brandt-Erichsen’s at Elverhoj. “Some of my fondest memories of the Valley are participating in the Danish folk summer school at Atterdag College, and participating in Viggo Tarnow’s gymnastics, and folk dancing during Danish Days,” she recalled. “I even appeared on a couple of postcards sold throughout the valley and in the July 1963 issue of Women’s Day Magazine, page 25, as a folk dancer during Danish Days.” Jensen’s aspirations are to write an abridged version to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great Race of

ships filled with immigrants into New York Harbor, trying to beat the filling of the quota of immigrants from their country of origin on July 1, 1923. She would also like to write a child’s version of “Never Come Back” and a sequel to her new book “Beyond Hope, Those Who Were Left Behind.” Jensen lives with her husband of 53 years and three cats in Arizona and loves the history of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp and hiking among the beautiful scenery in the area. “Never Come Back” can be ordered through Dorrance, the publisher, Amazon, or your favorite bookstore.

wear masks in public settings, local sewers have been putting together orders for hundreds of fabric masks for anyone needing them. Masks have been donated to local hospitals, grocery store workers, restaurants and everywhere in between. Dawn Farrier at the Creation Station in Buellton

put a video together on her packaging system, as she is immunocompromised herself, she is doing most of the work herself and asks people to be patient with her. The fabric and elastic is flying off the shelves as people are placing online orders to make masks. Jacob Grant, Roots Organic Farm, is preparing boxes of fresh organic veggies for pick up at The Lucky Hen in Santa Ynez and at Flatbread in Los Alamos. Each box is $30 and will feed a family for a week. This is a way to get vegetables without going to the market and without coming in contact with a lot of people. You can pay with Venmo or cash in the box. The MOXI just launched MOXI@Home (http://www.moxi.org/athome) and are sharing activities inspired by their exhibits and programs daily on their Instagram and Facebook profiles @moxisb. The SYV Marriott is available to use their rooms as a work from home office space from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a daily rate of $75. All rooms offer free wifi, local calls, room service and public areas are cleaned and sanitized throughout the day. Call or come by and we’ll take immediate care of you: 805-687-1000 or e-mail us at: AYS@syvmarriott.com. This promotion will go through April 30, or extended if need be. If you want to share positive stories with us, please email news@santaynezvalleystar. com, and we will update the page online!

o WILDLING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 her third year as the media and yearbook advisor. “Solvang School is very excited about our partnership with the Wildling Museum to create this exhibit and share our students’ work with the community for the second year in a row,” she said. In the media and yearbook class, students learn through individual and group projects about various media forms including print, digital, video and audio. They also explore photography and the elements of design to develop the school yearbook. A full online gallery of all Solvang School student work featured in the “Inspired by Nature” exhibition is available on the Wildling Museum’s website at www.wildlingmuseum.org/ news/inspired-in-nature-2020. Additional digital resources are available at www.wildlingmuseum.

org/virtual-visit, including online galleries from all current exhibitions, links to art activities, videos, and more to help online visitors find engaging art escapes to pass the time while staying safe while practicing social distancing. The Wildling Museum of Art & Nature, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, and education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations. For more information, and to volunteer or join as a member to support this important local arts and nature institution, please visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.

o FOOD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

In addition to families with children, many Los Alamos seniors live on fixed incomes that are stretched every month to meet essential needs like rent, medications, dietary supplements and nutritious meals. Trips into town for necessary medical appointments, prescriptions and groceries are an added health risk for seniors, not to mention more time-consuming and frustrating than before with longer lines and empty store shelves. The Los Alamos Foundation expects to continue the Food Pantry for the next couple of months at least. The pantry will be open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Los Alamos Valley Se-

nior Center unless otherwise announced. The Foundation also accepts cash donations for the purchase of needed items. Seniors in need of food outside of pantry hours should call 211. Those calls will be directed to the Los Alamos Foundation and the Foundation will deliver a bag to your doorstep. Families and non-seniors should call Laura Beas-Diaz at 805-714-2390. The Los Alamos Foundation has also partnered with the Buellton Senior Center to bring Meals on Wheels to Los Alamos. Interested seniors should contact Beas-Diaz at 805-714-2390 or laura@thelosalamosfoundation.org

April 21 - May 4, 2020 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23

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

24 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H April 21 - May 4, 2020

TA K E A V I R T U A L T O U R T O D AY

©2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Info is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. Sellers will entertain and respond to all offers within this range. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

AT B H H S C A L I F O R N I A . C O M

3471 WOODSTOCK RD, SANTA YNEZ 6BD/5½BA • $6,250,000 Claire Hanssen, 805.680.0929 LIC# 00887277

800 E HIGHWAY 246, SOLVANG 1BD/1½BA; 60± acs • $4,995,000 Claire Hanssen / Brett Ellingsberg, 805.680.0929 LIC# 00887277 / 01029715

7055 FOXEN CANYON RD, LOS ALAMOS 3BD/3½BA+office; 100± acs • $3,975,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

3169 MONTECIELO DR, SANTA YNEZ 4BD/3½BA • $2,995,000 Brett Ellingsberg, 805.729.4334 LIC# 01029715

2075 STILL MEADOW RD, SOLVANG 5 ± acs • $2,475,000 Carole Colone, 805.708.2580 LIC# 01223216

2879 TAPADERO RD, LOS OLIVOS 4BD/3BA • $1,999,999 Nina Stormo, 805.729.4754 LIC# 01341678

2601 BASELINE AVE, BALLARD 4BD/4BA • $1,995,000 Nina Stormo, 805.729.4754 LIC# 01341678

3025 BOX CANYON RD, SANTA YNEZ 4BD/3BA 8.11±acs • $1,545,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

2550 GRAND AVE, LOS OLIVOS 3BD/3BA • $1,185,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

1135 EDISON ST, SANTA YNEZ 3BD/3BA • $1,174,995 Glynnis Mullenary, 805.705.5206 LIC# 01748187

2626 JANIN WY, SOLVANG 4BD/3BA; 1±acs • $999,000 Laura Drammer, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580

2570 WILD OAK RD, LOMPOC 3BD/2BA • $995,000 Brett Ellingsberg, 805.729.4334 LIC# 01029715

869 ALISAL RD, SOLVANG 3BD/2½BA • $925,000 Karin Aitken, 805.252.1205 LIC# 00882496

2770 CANADA ESTE RD, SANTA YNEZ 20.03±acs • $895,000 Claire Hanssen, 805.680.0929 LIC# 00887277

2415 CEBADA CANYON RD, LOMPOC 20± acs • $565,000 Brad Berch, 805.680.9415 LIC# 01244576

136 SIERRA VISTA, SOLVANG 2BD/2BA • $385,000 Karin Aitken, 805.252.1205 LIC# 00882496

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