Santa Ynez Valley Star - February A 2018 by Santa Ynez Valley Star

February 6 - 19, 2018

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ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE

Couple married for almost 75 years recall a lifetime of love Their secret: Respecting each other and keeping a good attitude even in tough times By Raiza Giorgi

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he secret to a long and happy marriage for Creighton “Jim” Axtell and Phyllis Axtell is having respect for one another and having a good attitude, even in tough times. The Solvang couple, who will celebrate 75 years of marriage in May, took some time to talk about their relationship and how they help one another. Along with celebrating a milestone in their marriage, Jim is also turning 98 this year. As they sat at their kitchen table on a rainy morning, they helped one another communicate, as Phyllis’ eyesight isn’t as sharp as it used to be and Jim has a hard time hearing. “We make the perfect person because I help her see things and she yells in my ear,” Jim laughed. “She always has a great disposition and we have always got along very well, even when times were hard.” Phyllis pulled out two books and laid them on the table. Each was an autobiography of their lives and memories, including childhood photos and memories of what life was like in World War II. Jim was born in Missouri, where his father was a telegraph operator for Western Union and his mother was a clerk.

Photos contributed Left, Creighton “Jim” Axtell and Phyllis Axtell of Solvang will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on May 26. Right, the Axtells on their wedding day almost 75 years ago.

“During those times everyone would gather around their radio sets and listen to FDR’s (President Franklin Delano Being married is a lot Roosevelt) fireside like building a house in speeches. The that things don’t always change in technolgo right, but you work ogy since I was a it out together and get child has amazed it done. — Jim Axtell me,” Jim said. When Jim graduated from high school he moved to Los Angeles to get involved in the war effort. He enlisted in the Air Force and then worked at Lockheed assembling parts. He spent more than 30 years there,

eventually retiring as a manager. Phyllis grew up in North Dakota as a farmer’s daughter and also moved to Los Angeles to join the war effort. “Creighton (as she calls her husband) and I met through a friend and we just knew we wanted to spend time together. We would take day trips together, often to Mount Wilson (a peak in the San Gabriel Mountains). We just love traveling together,” she said as she grabbed her husband’s hand. Phyllis got a job in the stock room at Lockheed and they married on May 26, 1943. The couple decided to go back to school so they spent their nights in classes, eventually earning master’s degrees. “Phyllis is the smart one of us. I am the

muscle,” Jim laughed as he flexed his arm. She rolled her eyes and laughed. When Jim was offered a position at Lockheed with top-secret responsibilities, he was asked if he wanted a good-paying job even though he couldn’t know what the job was until after he accepted. He said sure. “I was taken to an isolated building each day and I couldn’t tell anyone, not even Phyllis, what we were doing,” he said. He was part of a team developing jets that ended up producing the XP-80. The code name for the project was called “Skunk Works,” after a reference in the newspaper cartoon “Lil Abner.” COUPLE CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

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‘BY FAR THE HARDEST RESCUE I’VE DONE’

Community concert raises funds for fire, mudslide victims By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

A Photo contributed The crew of Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Copter 308 consists of pilot Matt Udkow, Bryce Wible and Glen Dupont.

Copter pilot says mudslides were reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina By Raiza Giorgi

20 years in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard flying rescue operations. He was on duty when Hurricane Katrina hit and said the local situaatt Udkow grabbed his night vision tion was reminiscent of that hurricane. “I felt the gravity of the situation in Mongoggles and looked toward the Santecito but I had to wait until daylight, as I ta Ynez Mountains to get a look at the weather conditions as the first calls for the couldn’t put my crew at risk. We opted to take the path through Gaviota (from Santa Ynez Montecito mudslide were coming in at 4:30 Airport), flying very low and slow until we a.m. on Jan. 9. got to the coast. Our first call was for a caving Udkow is a pilot for Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Copter 308, and this was his chest wound that we hoisted from a baseball field and took the patient to Cottage (Santa first call after being hired six months earlier. Barbara Cottage Hospital),” Udkow said. “The clouds were hanging low, which to His crew is a joint effort of the Santa Barbara me meant there would be no visibility, and I County fire and sheriff’s departments with a suggested we contact our friends at the Coast Guard out of Point Magu to see if they could get fleet that includes three Huey helicopters and two OH-58 helicopters typically used for law in first, as there were so many calls coming in enforcement operations. Both crews worked in and the victim count was going up. They were actually able to get the first two burn victims out coordination with crews from Ventura County and the Coast Guard, spread out over the Montefrom the fires that started,” Udkow said. cito area. That day the crews combined to rescue Udkow had been training for this situation the 131 people, 42 dogs, 11 cats and three birds. day before, doing water hoist rescue drills with “It was an honor to do it, and by far the his crewmates Glen Dupont and Bryce Wible. CREW CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 Before joining the county crew, Udkow spent news@santaynezvalleystar

n effort by local country singer Dylan Ortega and others has raised nearly $90,000 for the United Way’s Thomas Fire Fund and intends to reach its goal of $100,000 by the end of February. With the constant news reports about the devastation left in the wake of the Thomas Fire, Ortega gathered a team of local people and arranged a fundraiser to help those in need. “Dylan … has been very involved with fundraisers in the community before,” said Patricia Scouten. “We both had family members directly affected by this fire. As we watched the coverage and witnessed the severity of the situation grow, we had no intention of doing nothing. Dylan drafted a handful of people, got us together for a quick meeting to brainstorm some ideas, and from there the ‘Fight The Fire’ committee was created.” On Jan. 13, everything came together at Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton. Hundreds of people attended the free event, which included live and silent auctions, food, beer and wine, raffles, and live entertainment by local artists Amanda Mar, Too Little Too Late, and The Shine Box Boys. “Flying Flags donated the venue, Rooney’s Irish Pub donated the food and drinks, Firestone, Lucky Dog Winery, Casa Cassara Winery helped donate and pour, as well as multiple other vendors. SBR Signs helped create the T-Shirts and donated the awesome banners. Not the least, the amazing volunteers who donated their time to help make this event a successful one. We are beyond grateful to everyone for their kindness and generosity,” Scouten said.

Photo by Raiza Giorgi Country musician Dylan Ortega and Flying Flags RV Resort General Manager Lydia Thomas were excited by the outstanding turnout for Fight the Fire, a fundraiser for victims of the Thomas Fire and resulting mudslides.

“So many families have lost their homes, belongings, and suffered damage to properties, and even in some cases lives were lost. It has been catastrophic,” Ortega said. “With your help, we can continue to raise more funds and together give these families some hope and help to get them back on their feet.” The organizers said the event raised $89,000, all of which was given directly to the Thomas Fire Fund via the United Way of Ventura County. To raise the final $11,000 to reach their goal, they will continue to hold open their GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/fightthe-fire to accept donations through February. Those who wish to receive a portion of these funds must first register with United Way. Visit www.unitedwayla.org/ventura_ county_thomas_fire, or visit or call either Santa Barbara or Ventura County United Way, 320 East Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, 805965-8591; 6307 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, 805-965-8591; or 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Suite E, Camarillo, 805-485-6288.

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Emotional gathering focuses on acts of heroism

Emergency responders, residents share moments of sadness, admiration and resolve to overcome mudslide tragedy

Staff Report

By Brooke Holland Noozhawk

community meeting Jan. 16 in Santa Barbara served as a stage for emergency responders, county officials and community members to exchange stories of heroism in the aftermath of the prior week’s devastating flooding in Montecito. Standing on the La Cumbre Junior High School auditorium stage — in front of a couple of hundred residents — Santa Barbara County Fire Department Battalion Chief Matt Farris, a Santa Ynez Valley resident, described the steps taken in preparation of the Jan. 9 storm and his personal experience driving and working during the deadly flash flooding. Helicopters crews were on standby, the U.S. Coast Guard was on call, and California National Guard units were deployed

Tribe helps stranded students, staff return home

Zack Warburg / Noozhawk photo At a community meeting, Matt Farris of the Santa Ynez Valley, a battalion chief with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, described the steps taken in preparation for the Jan. 9 storm and his personal experience with the deadly flash flooding.

with high-water vehicles for evacuations before the heavy rains hit the Thomas Fire’s burn area, he said. “We had a plan,” Farris said. “I spent Monday (Jan. 8) implementing that plan and putting people in place to be the most effective it could be.”

An emergency responder Farris spoke with made eight trips, carrying 30 people each time to safety from the disastrous debris flows and mud that devastated parts of Montecito. “It shows the number of people that had HEROISM CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Many people were stranded by the closure of Highway 101 between Santa Barbara and Ventura last month, including 60 Solvang School fifth-graders, teachers and several high school student counselors who were in Malibu for Outdoor School. The school usually makes the short trek to Camp Allegre near Lake Cachuma, but after the Whittier Fire closed the camp last summer, the school booked a popular outdoor-school program in Malibu. However, despite having solved the problem created by the Whittier Fire, Solvang School was faced with an obstacle from the Thomas Fire. The bus company that had been contracted to bring the students home had no Plan B, so school administrators called several other bus companies, both above and below the freeway closure. Principal Pam Rennick said that other companies and even Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District were willing to help but, she said, “We didn’t want kids to have to ride school buses for what we knew would be a much longer trip back home on some windy roads.”

o STRANDED CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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your views In pain and grief, we can move forward By Pastor Chris Brown

I get amidst such tragedy is how to move forward – and I’ll be honest, a lot of the time, I don’t know. I’ve studied the faces of those A doctor who performed surgery on countwho’ve lost their lives, I’ve read their stories, less people in our community; his 22-year old I’ve seen the pictures of the devastation in daughter, a college student pursuing fashion; Montecito and the surrounding areas, and a young father looking for new opportunity they are so overwhelming. How do you move in America and his two small children; a fireforward in the midst of all that? fighter who leaves behind a wife, a 2-year old Truth is, I don’t have a magic answer that daughter, and a second on the way. covers all of the pain and loss of such events. These are glimpses of some of the people There’s nothing I can say, no scripture I can who lost their lives in the Thomas Fire and quote, no semblance of wisdom I can offer mudslides that have rocked Ventura and Santa that will make everything okay again. Yet, I Barbara counties. You don’t have to look far to feel in that sad truth there is a glimmer of light find someone connected to the 25 people who that can at least point us in the right direction died or are still missing. Their deaths, but most and allow us to move forward. We — to our own chagrin — often deal in especially the effect of their lives, can be felt absolutes. We are either completely overcome throughout our community. In my role as a pastor, a consistent question by grief and loss or we expect, at some point, Bethania Lutheran Church

to be completely recovered from it. And so I think part of my role is to highlight that life doesn’t operate in absolutes, and we can hold, in tension (or balance), the non-dual existence of both tragedy and hope, of dark and light, at the same time. While I don’t have an answer that takes away all the pain or grieving – no one does – I can say that in the midst of such devastation that hope and love and the will to rebuild and the joyful, loving memories of those who lost their lives are all still present. I can’t remove the pain and I can’t promise that it’ll ever be gone, but I can promise that people can come together, that communities can rally, that even if it happens slowly and with mourning and with anger, and pain, and grief, we can move forward. And that’s what we’ve witnessed. Right in the middle of such darkness and

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tragedy we’ve seen our firefighters, police officers, emergency response men and women, accompanied by volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, work tirelessly through the night, sludging through mud and debris looking for those who were missing. We’ve seen workers of all types put in 48-hour days to get our roads open and enable people to rebuild. We’ve seen hundreds of thousands of citizens of different socio-economic, religious, political, and ethnic backgrounds come together to raise money for our neighbors who have lost everything. These are all those glimmers of light that shine through and show us that our spirits will not be completely crushed, that humanity is still good, and in moments of tragedy people will come together and will love, and support, and cry, and pray, and share, and work, and rebuild, and lift up, and start to move forward. 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.

Public vote needed before any annexation

Solvang City Council will soon consider annexation and possible new land uses for 17 parcels to the west on Highway 246, where hayfields are, and to the northeast on Alamo Pintado Road where there are now row crops and a pumpkin patch. The first hearings on a sphere of influence/annexation report are Feb.5 for Solvang’s Planning Commission and Feb. 26 for the City Council. Solvang would be almost 30 percent bigger if the 450 acres are annexed to its existing 1,550 acres. The 17 parcel owners were told there could be potential for retail, commercial, parkland and residential development on their land. Solvang residents will have no vote on increasing the size of the city. Only council, LAFCO and the parcel owners will make the decision for Solvang’s 5,000 residents. A few hearings and three minutes each to make comments is not enough for this major decision; we need a vote. Both the Valley Blueprint and the SVY Com-

munity Plan make preserving agricultural land and the rural character of the valley a priority. Many Solvang and Valley residents oppose annexation due to: n traffic on Highway 246 in Solvang exceeding capacity with impatient bypass drivers endangering residential neighborhoods n our already stressed water supply n loss of prime ag land and greenbelts that protect our rural character We will be carefully studying the report when it is released and attending hearings. We urge you to do the same. Susan Belloni Solvang

Annexation of land creates local control Action such as a sphere of influence can

protect a city from unwanted development that would be detrimental to the businesses and residents of the city. It puts control with the local jurisdiction and allows the city to protect its gateways and control impacts on its infrastructure. Santa Barbara County is now in control of the parcels within this study. What happens in the future? The county is in dire financial condition. They have over a billion dollars in unfunded liabilities and around $300 million in deferred maintenance. One of these days this must be addressed, one way or the other. One way is for the county to, in a sense, declare bankruptcy. The other would be to take a new philosophy and encourage development in order to raise taxes and fees. As the population in the North County grows, the balance of power will move that direction — perhaps in 2020 or certainly in 2030, unless the South Coast has a change of heart and increases development significantly.

Many of the parcels in question are currently in the “Williamson Act” and produce little income to the county. It wouldn’t take much for a future county government to allow these parcels to go out and be developed in order to balance the books. The ideal place to take advantage of this would be parcels such as these that are adjacent to an urban area. Why would anyone want to have Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc and Goleta make decisions on Solvang’s future? There is also threat from within the valley. The community services district in Santa Ynez has identified one of the parcels on Alamo Pintado Road as a possible site for a future wastewater treatment plant. A sewer plant would be lovely next to Sunny Fields Park, wouldn’t it? Another site identified is east of the Duff Ranch next to the golf course. Solvang needs a parallel economic driver POSTAL CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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Solvang ‘State of City’ compares past, present By Victoria Martinez

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olvang’s Chamber of Commerce brought city leaders, staff members, business owners and residents together to hear about the state of Solvang’s finances, projects and plans for the upcoming year at the annual State of the City luncheon at Root 246. Susan Houghton, Hancock College’s executive director of college advancement, gave the keynote address, where she discussed Hancock’s history, its current focus on launching the Hancock Promise program, and its renewed focus on agriculture, viticulture and enology education. Despite some technology problems, City

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Manager Brad Vidro was able to keep the crowd entertained with an impromptu Q & A session before describing things that have changed and others that have remained the same in the city over the past decade. When asked what the driving force and biggest obstacle for the city were, Vidro responded, “They’re sort of the same thing — tourism,” he said, noting that while tourism drives the economy and brings in almost half the city’s income, it brings problems for residents such as high traffic volume. During the presentation, Vidro noted that the city’s goals have remained mostly the same since 2008 except for the addition of “future growth” to the list by last year’s City Photo by Victoria Martinez Council. Solvang City Manager Brad Vidro compared Solvang’s past to its present and discussed plans for 2018 during the annual SOLVANG CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 State of the City luncheon.

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business

Tourism group promotes executive director Shelby Sim to lead Visit SYV as president and CEO Staff Report

isit the Santa Ynez Valley (VisitSYV) has announced the promotion of Executive Director Shelby Sim to president and CEO of the organization. “I am in complete awe of the accomplishments of our organization. Shelby Sim, with his expertise, leadership and charisma, has positioned VisitSYV as a leading tourism organization not only in the county, but throughout the country,” said Board Chairwoman Linda Johansen. VisitSYV is the official destination marketing organization for the Santa Ynez Valley, formed in 2010 to promote tourism in

Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Los Olivos and Los Alamos. Sim was hired as executive director in 2014. “It is my honor and privilege to lead the charge in promoting the paradise we know as the Santa Ynez Valley. The support, cooperation and participation we receive from our board, hoteliers, tourism partners and community is humbling,” Sim said. Under Sim’s leadership, VisitSYV has strengthened its relationships and cooperation with communities across the county and state; regularly hosted press and media representatives and other “influencers” from around the world; and implemented a free, valley-wide, customer-focused workshop series. In 2017 alone, VisitSYV participated in the New York City Wine & Food Festival, Sundance NextFest and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. According to Visit California’s latest im-

Staff Report

Photo contributed Shelby Sim has been promoted to president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

pact report, travel-related spending in Santa Barbara in 2016 totaled $2.1 billion, resulted in $183.7 million in county tax revenue, and brought 20,000 jobs to the region.

Casino wins governor’s award for waste reduction 7.2 million pounds per year to an estimated 2.3 million pounds in 2017, while total visitahe Chumash Casino Resort was one tion rose from 2.8 million patrons to a projectof 13 California organizations to re- ed 3.75 million during the same time period. ceive the state’s highest environmen“We are honored to be recognized by tal honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Governor Brown’s office, once again, for our Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), in a efforts in waste reduction at the Chumash Caceremony Jan. 17 at the California Environsino Resort,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth mental Protection Agency in Sacramento. Kahn. “Our team members have excelled in The resort was recognized in the category upholding our tribe’s environmental values of Waste Reduction “for dramatically reduc- while maintaining our goal to become a zero ing its waste stream and lowering recycling waste facility by 2019.” costs even as casino visitation increased.” The finalists were chosen by a panel of Since 2006, with the use of innovative rejudges that included the Governor’s Office cycling programs, the total waste stream at the and the secretaries of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency; Chumash Casino Resort has gone from Staff Report

the California Department of Food and Agriculture; California Environmental Protection Agency; the California Government Operations Agency; the California Health and Human Services Agency; the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency; the California Natural Resources Agency; and the State Transportation Agency. In addition to the Chumash Casino Resort, the tribe also owns Hotel Corque, Root 246 and Hadsten House Inn & Spa in Solvang and two gas stations in Santa Ynez. It employs more than 2,000 people, making it the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley. For more information about the awards, visit calepa.ca.gov/awards/geela.

Community Action Commission gets new leader Staff Report

atricia Keelean is the new executive director at the Community Action Commission. She brings 27 years of nonprofit management experience, having worked in a variety of environments including community action, early intervention and prevention services, child welfare and therapeutic foster care, community-based services, substance-abuse prevention, and youth services. “We are excited about what the future holds for CAC,” said Bob Freeman, CEO of CenCal Health and chairman of the CAC board. “I am so honored to join the CAC team, an organization with a long, rich history of providing exceptional services to low-income people in the community,” Keelean said. “Moving forward, we want to contin-

ue focusing on building community partnerships — finding new ways to work together to I am so honored to lift people out join the CAC team, an of poverty by organization with a giving them the long, rich history of education and providing exceptional skills they need services to low-into find a job, come people in the manage their community. — Patricia Keelean lives and support their families,” she said. Keelean, who has moved from Florida, has a track record of implementing innovative, results-oriented initiatives, the commission said. She holds a master’s degree in counseling from Clemson University, is a national certified master trainer for the

SBA offering low-interest loans for disaster relief

Results-Oriented Management and Accountability process for community action agencies, and is a Pathways to Excellence peer reviewer. Keelean said she is excited to build on the legacy of former executive director Fran Forman, who served the agency for five years as the Children’s Services director and another 12 years as executive director before leaving to move closer to family. During Forman’s tenure, CAC expanded its Head Start program, created new programs for at-risk teens, expanded facilities for seniors, and increased program services to families in crisis, and those supporting first generation-college bound youth. CAC has also assumed the operation of 2-1-1 Santa Barbara County, a helpline for anyone seeking information on health and human services.

ow-interest federal disaster loans are now available to California businesses and residents as a result of President Trump’s major disaster declaration, according to U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon. The declaration covers Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and San Diego counties as a result of wildfires, flooding, and mud and debris flows directly related to the wildfires that began Dec. 4. “SBA is strongly committed to providing California with the most effective and customer-focused response possible,” McMahon said. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.” Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future. For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Interest rates can be as low as 3.385 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.75 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. To be considered for disaster assistance, survivors must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.disasterassistance.gov. As soon as federal-state disaster recovery centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

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spotlight

BIRD VS. BIRD: HAWKS WIN

Falconer and friends chase grackles from El Rancho parking lot

Photos by Victoria Martinez Above, in the three months that David Roth has been bringing his hawks to El Rancho Market, the store has gone from 50 to 60 grackles filling the parking lot daily to only a handful. Below, Roth uses two Harris hawks to alleviate El Rancho Market’s recent problem with nuisance birds.

No, they haven’t flown south for the winter By Victoria Martinez

reportser@santaynezvalleystar.com

ustomers of El Rancho Market may have noticed fewer birds in the parking lot in the past few weeks, and it’s not because the birds have flown south for the winter. Falconer David Roth has been keeping the grackles away with the help of two Harris hawks, Grumpy and Eddie. Roth, who has been involved in falconry since the age of 13, started doing falconry-based bird abatement seven years ago. About three months ago, El Rancho Market owner Alfred Holzheu contacted Roth to see if his hawks could alleviate the store’s problem with grackles, which are black birds that are taller and longer-tailed than a typical blackbird, with longer, more tapered bills and glossy-iridescent bodies. The store was seeing 50 to 60 grackles in

the parking lot daily, and customers were starting to complain. “It wasn’t until the grackles showed up

to safely prevent a variety of birds from being a nuisance. The captive-bred hawks were trained from the time they grew feathers to chase rather than kill. Roth hadn’t tried to use Grumpy and Eddie for grackle abatement before Holzheu called him, but he found out quickly that the hawks would be the right solution for the store’s problem. Roth started bringing Grumpy and Eddie to El Rancho six hours a day, six days a week. After a couple weeks, he transitioned to four hours a day, three days a week, and now can be found at the market for about four hours just two days a week. Holzheu says the hawks are doing their job well. “No one has complained at all” since Roth started bringing the hawks, Holzheu said. Roth said that the demand for falconry-based bird abatement is growing because it doesn’t involve poisoning and killing nuisance birds. “It’s a golden age of falconry right now,” that we had any complaints,” Holzheu said. he said. Roth takes his hawks to a number of locaFor more information, email David Roth tions each week, including Tajiguas Landfill, at drothphoto@aol.com.

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star lifestyle

Chorale providing ‘singing Valentines’ in SY Valley Feb. 14. The deadline to reserve a time slot for the singers is 5 p.m. Tuesday, eople who want to surprise loved Feb. 13. Make a reservation online at ones for Valentine’s Day can considwww.syvchorale.org or call 805-688er “hiring” the Santa Ynez Valley 4565. Master Chorale to sing for them on Sunday, “This group is full of people who just Feb. 11, and Wednesday, Feb. 14. love to sing. During December the Chorale members are ready to a sweetChorale performed two concerts with an heart, mother, father, grandmother, grandorchestra, sang at the Elverhoj Museum father, or any other special person within holiday party, performed at the Founder’s the Santa Ynez Valley. Day event at La Purisima Mission and Photo contributed serenaded a group of fire fighters taking a Singers will come to homes, workSanta Ynez Valley Master Chorale members are ready to serenade your sweetheart, mother, father, grandparent, or any places, nursing homes or the hospital. In break from fighting the Thomas Fire,” other special person within the Santa Ynez Valley. addition, members of the chorale’s Youth said Chorale President Shannon Casey. and a gift of Hershey’s chocolate kisses. Singing Valentines can be “delivered” Ensemble will serenade people over the “A singing Valentine provides a truly The event is a fundraiser for the chorale, a from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, and phone. memorable gift from you to share with from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, your loved ones on this special day.” The cost is $50 for a three-song serenade non-profit organization. Staff Report

Business owners learn about serving Chinese tourists Staff Report

ith the Chinese New Year approaching in mid-February, expect to see an increase in Chinese visitors throughout the month as they get a long holiday, according to Robert Ayres, a Santa Ynez Valley native who pursued a 35year career in China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. “Their Chinese New Year is like our Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year all rolled into one. The Chinese love to take advantage of their holiday, and our area can do more to make them feel welcome,” Ayres said. Ayres, with his wife Guifen Wen, gave an informal talk to about 25 business owners and community members about the importance of basic Chinese cultural knowledge and language skills that can be used to attract Chinese visitors and create sales opportunities. “When people visit foreign countries, they gravitate towards places that are comfortable and have information in their language, so think about that as business owners. What you would want the Chinese customers to see? They appreciate the signage and gestures that make them feel at home,” he said. California was the top U.S. destination for Chinese visitors in 2015, according to Visit California, and the Solvang Chamber of Commerce wants to ensure that local business owners are aware of all the opportunities to increase their business by learning who is visiting. Typically the Chinese New Year, a day to celebrate harvest and honor ancestors, is celebrated at the end of winter in preparation for the spring. This year the holiday falls on Feb. 16. It is also referred to as the Lunar New Year because Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam also celebrate this time of year. Several business owners expressed interest in learning how to market their products

Hospital celebrates milestones at 55th Holiday Gala Staff Report

Photo contributed This year’s Chinese New Year begins a Year of the Dog, which symbolizes wealth.

ager for Solvang Conference and Visitor’s Bureau. The Solvang CVB is looking into several ways to help increase the welcome for Chinese visitors, especially during the Chinese New Yea, Lahr added. According to Visit California, Chinese visitors stay an average of 12.5 nights in the state, spending an average of $2,090. The gross domestic product of China increased 6.7 percent in the first half of 2016, with an additional 6 percent expected for 2017-18. In Photo by Raiza Giorgi addition, VisitCA is seeing people under 35 Robert Ayres and his wife Guifen Wen spoke to about years old outspending their elders as China’s 25 business owners and community members about middle class grows rapidly. the importance of basic Chinese cultural knowledge in “China is an economic powerhouse as attracting Chinese customers. disposable income and consumer spending effectively and how to increase Chinese continue to soar. The market remains a crititourists’ visit time. cal focus for Visit California, which operates “Robert and Guifen provided valuable infive offices across the region in Shanghai, sight to the Chinese visitor and how to make Beijing, Taipei, Chengdu and Guangzhou,” their experience in Solvang and the Santa according to VisitCA’s economic report. Ynez Valley exceed their expectations,” said To learn more about Chinese New Year, Daniel Lahr, sales and special programs man- visit www.chinesenewyear2018.com.

sold-out crowd of 295 guests attended the 55th annual Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Holiday Gala on Dec. 2, raising more than $18,000 for the hospital to support community services. “Not only do we celebrate 55 years of the founding of the hospital’s auxiliary, it’s also the 55th anniversary of the Holiday Gala, known back then as the Christmas Ball,” SYVCH Vice President Wende Cappetta remarked at the event, which was held at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton. “It’s a testament to this community to have 295 people at the gala, including donors, employees and auxiliary members to celebrate this milestone with a silent auction, dinner and dancing. “We are so proud of all that the auxiliary has accomplished,” she added. “The 55th anniversary theme of this year’s gala refers to the fact that starting in 1962, Santa Ynez Valley Hospital was funded through a grass-roots community effort spearheaded by 68 women who formed the Auxiliary Charter Members,” added auxiliary president Barbara Anderson. “Over a two-year period, $352,391 was raised to make the vision of a hospital based in Solvang a reality. The hospital opened on November 9, 1964, and has been in continuous service since then. “Today, we have more than 200 women and men in the auxiliary who volunteer their time, treasure and talent to the hospital,” she added. Auxiliary volunteers provide more than 18,000 service hours annually to the hospital. Among other tasks, they operate the “New to You” thrift shop at 1689 Oak St. in Solvang, where all money earned supports the hospital. To get more information about the auxiliary, or to volunteer, call 805-691-9509.

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Wilderness Basics Course starts Feb. 7 By John Hankins Contributing Writer

T Photo contributed The Livestrong program for cancer survivors resumes this month at YMCAs in Santa Ynez and Lompoc.

Program for cancer survivors returns to Gildred YMCA Staff Report

ivestrong at the YMCA, a free 12-week program for adult cancer survivors, will return for its 10th session at Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA beginning Feb. 20 and at the Lompoc Family YMCA beginning Feb. 26. Cancer takes a tremendous physical and emotional toll on those affected, but YMCA officials say by focusing on the whole person and not the life-changing disease, this program helps people move beyond cancer. “We focus on the whole person: spirit, mind, body,” said YMCA Regional Wellness Director Nicki Marmelzat. Trained wellness coaches work with each

participant as they transition from treatment to regaining their physical and emotional strength. Participants will receive a threemonth membership and will participate in a two-day-per-week, instructor-led class. Each class includes a support group, cardio, strength training, and balance and flexibility exercises. Marmelzat said past participants have made significant improvements and gained strength and have developed friendships and connections that last long past the program’s end. The program will run at the Gildred Family YMCA from Feb. 20 to May 10, and at the Lompoc YMCA from Feb. 26 to May 17. For more information, contact Marmelzat at 805-686-2037 or nicki.marmelzat@ ciymca.org.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Santa Ynez Valley Star!

Enjoy this craft you can cut out and give to your valentine!

he local Sierra Club’s annual Wilderness Basics Course beginning Feb. 7 promises adventure, friendships, confidence, beauty, inspiration, knowledge, tasty food and hardy health. The club’s ethic is showing people local forests, open spaces, mountains and rivers in a safe and comfortable manner, and club membership is not required to participate. Now in its ninth year, the program runs from Feb. 7 to March 28 with conditioning hikes, car camp and backpacking in prime locations in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Classes are Wednesday nights at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road in Ventura. Outings are on weekends. The course is geared to a wide variety of experiences, ranging from novice to knowledgeable, out-of-shape to out-of- sight. It’s for everybody, from teens to seniors, singles, couples and family members. Last year’s classes had a Camarillo woman sign up with her daughter; a Santa Barbara student; a hiker who “wants to take it to another level;” an empty-nest couple; retirees; a man who wanted to follow his backpacking son; another who “wants to get to know the area;” and many who cited simply getting outside in the fresh air. Teresa Norris took the club’s WBC course in San Diego and became so enthusiastic she went on to become a leader. Then when she

Photo contributed by Cara Peden Wildflowers are sure to be out this spring along the Aliso Trail loop above the Santa Ynez River and Upper Oso Campground.

moved to Ventura County in 2004, she volunteered to help create the popular class there. “Taking WBC helped me update my gear and lighten my load. When I did that, my trips became more enjoyable and I could hike faster too,” she said, and perhaps most important, “I made some of the best friends of my life.” Course content chairwoman Alisse Fisher said that all WBC hike leaders are trained in first aid and have knowledge of local flora and fauna; the speakers are experts in gear, safety, food, fitness; and the club’s new outdoor book has the latest information. Early bird prices are available until Jan. 24. More information and registration are available at www.lospadreswbc.org or www. Facebook.com/lospadresWBC, by emailing lospadresWBC@gmail.com, or by calling 805524-7170.

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FEBRUARY EVENTS AT THE SYV LIBRARIES All events are free to the public, thanks to financial support from the Friends of the Library of the Santa Ynez Valley and the Buellton Friends of the Library. All county libraries will be closed Feb. 19 for President’s Day. For more information, go to SBPLibrary.org.

FEBRUARY EVENTS Tuesday, Feb. 6: 6-7 p.m. “The Purple Marble” PCPA Outreach Tour’s musical adaptation of young local author Alyssa Antoci’s book by the same title. Alyssa will be at this performance for a Q&A and book signing after the show. Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Thursday, Feb. 8: 7:30-8:30 p.m. “The Wonder and Natural Resources of San Nicholas Island, a lecture by William Hoyer” A naturalist’s view of the most remote and mysterious of the Channel Islands. Hoyer, the natural resources manager of San Nicolas Island, will review the island’s botanical, animal, and biosecurity programs as well as some of its land-use history. Co-Sponsored by the SYV Natural History Society. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Friday, Feb. 9: 4-5 p.m. “ReadAloud” A play-reading group for adults, teens and children 9 and up. Not a performance- everyone participates. All are welcome, please call or email to reserve a spot. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Saturday, Feb. 10: 2-3 p.m. “Maker Workshop: How the Body Works” The heart works like a pump and beats 100,000 times a day. It works with our lungs to move oxygen through our body. Come learn how it works, and make your own stethoscope to take home! Register online at SBPLibrary. org. Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805688-3115

Puzzle Club” Come play Gone Fishin’, No Stress Chess, Blokus, Yahtzee, and Connect Four! OR join us in putting together a few puzzles. Stay all day or pop in to contribute at any time. Puzzles will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-3115 Friday, Feb. 23: 4-5 p.m. “ReadAloud” A play-reading group for adults, teens and children 9 and up. Not a performance- everyone participates. All are welcome, please call or email to reserve a spot. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Saturday, Feb. 24: 1-2:55 p.m. “Movie: Victoria and Abdul” Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim. 2017 drama, Rated PG-13, 112 minutes. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Wednesday, Feb. 28: 10:30-11:30 a.m. “Music Together” A music participation program for you and your baby/toddler/preschooler. Diane Byington of Solvang Conservatory shares songs, instrument play, rhythm chants and movement in a relaxed, playful setting. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

CONTINUING EVENTS Every Monday, 11 a.m., “Preschool Storytime” Bringing your preschoolers to storytime will help get them ready to read! Stay for a craft or play session afterward and make a new friend. Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-3115 Every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., “Preschool Storytime” Bringing your preschoolers to storytime will help get them ready to read! Stay for a craft or play session afterward and make a new friend. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

Saturday, Feb. 10: 3-4:30 p.m. “Investors’ Roundtable: Investing in 2018.” Helping individual investors since 1995, the Investors’ Roundtable welcomes both novice and veteran investors to informal presentations and discussions. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

Every Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., “Wiggly Storytime” Short stories, songs, rhymes, and activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Be ready to participate with your child, and spend some time being silly together. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

Thursday, Feb. 15, 12-6 p.m. “Board Game Day” Drop in to play one of our games, or bring one of your own. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

Every Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., “One-on-One Tutoring: E and Audiobooks on your Mobile Device” Drop in for a free 20 minute session with volunteer Bethany C., and start accessing the library’s free online materials. Bring your device (E-reader, tablet, laptop, or smartphone). Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-3115

Thursday, Feb. 15, 4-5 p.m. “Pokemon/Magic the Gathering Card Club.” The group meets at 4 p.m. on monthly Board Game days to both trade and Battle! Beginners are welcome. Don’t have a deck? You can borrow one for the afternoon. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Friday, Feb. 16: 4-5 p.m. “ReadAloud” A play-reading group for adults, teens and children 9 and up. Not a performance- everyone participates. All are welcome, please call or email to reserve a spot. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Saturday, Feb. 17: 2-4:30 p.m. “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” 2005 Adventure, Family, Fantasy. Rated PG Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-3115 Saturday, Feb. 17: 4-5pm “Coding Club” Come learn about code, and what you can create! All ages welcome. Meets twice monthly, once at Buellton and once at Solvang. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Wednesday, Feb. 21: 10:30 a.m. “Zoomation” A non-live animal 3-dimensional animated zoo presentation with additional animal puppets and songs, featuring American Sign Language (ASL) that together bring to life animals (birds, reptiles, and land and sea mammals) from oceans, deserts, mountains, jungles and forests of the world! Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214 Thursday, Feb. 22: “Bear Essential? The Past, Present, and Potential Future of Grizzlies in California, a lecture by Dr. Peter Alagona” Co-Sponsored by the SYV Natural History Society. Los Olivos Library/Historic Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos; 805-688-4214 Friday, Feb. 23: 12-5:30 p.m. “Family Board Game Day/

Every Other Wednesday, starting Feb. 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m., “Reading with Dogs:” Our Tail Waggin’ Tutors help young readers practice reading skills by reading aloud to the kindest, least judgmental listeners around. Drop in for a 10-15 minute individual session with a “tutor.” Buellton Library, 140 W. Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-3115 Every Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m., “Reading with Dogs:” Our Tail Waggin’ Tutors help young readers practice reading skills by reading aloud to the kindest, least judgmental listeners around. Drop in for a 10-15 minute individual session with a “tutor.” Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; 805-688-4214

LIBRARY INFORMATION BUELLTON 140 W. Highway 246, 805-688-3115, BuelltonLibrary@ santabarbaraCA.gov; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon-5:30 p.m. SOLVANG 1745 Mission Drive, 805-688-4214, SolvangLibrary@ santabarbaraCA.gov; Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.5 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. LOS OLIVOS Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave.; Saturday, 10 a.m.1 p.m. SANTA YNEZ 3598 Sagunto St.; Saturday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

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Multi-talented retailer makes her busy life work

tasting room at our vineyard, so by next year we should be ready to welcome guests to our vineyard to try the wines. How do you balance being a mom of young children, running a store and everything else? What’s your secret? I absolutely love being a mom! My kids bring me so much joy but they do keep me By Robbie Kaye busy. I would say flexibility is my secret. I try not to be too hard on myself if I can’t be the hristina Larner grew up in Southern perfect boss, mom, wife — I just do the best I California and graduated from UCSB, can. I am lucky and grateful to have three awewhere she fell in love with the Santa some employees at my store and tasting room Barbara area. When a job opportunity came — not to mention a loving husband, motherup, she was thrilled to move to the Santa Ynez in-law, and babysitter to help when needed. Valley, where she has lived for the past 14 What is your favorite part about owning years. the LO General Store? What drew you to the valley? Making customers happy and being part The wine industry … . I began working of the Los Olivos community are my favorite for Sunstone Winery in 2002 and a year later parts … . When people have a good experiPhoto by Robbie Kaye Sunstone opened Artiste Winery, and I worked ence and give us positive feedback it fuels my Christina Larner is a multi-talented store owner, winemaker, mom and artist. there until 2008. Artiste was a great fit for desire to continue to find unique merchandise me since I had both a strong artistic backwe had ourselves a great spot in the center of Yes! I currently have my work on display in and ultimately succeed as a small business. We ground and an art degree from UCSB. Prior to town. Our wines weren’t quite ready to sell so Santa Barbara at SB Wine Therapy and in Big sell shirts that say “Happy Place Los Olivos,” Sunstone and Artiste, I worked for a couple of we decided to open the Los Olivos General Bear at Barrel 33. I am hoping to have an art and it really is a happy place. There is somewineries in the Temecula wine country. Store and focus on retail until the wine was show at the General Store in the spring. thing wonderful about a small town — a place Tell us a little about how you came to labeled and ready. How did you get into growing grapes and where every day you can say hello to people open the Los Olivos General Store. Tell us more about you as an artist. making wine, and what plans do you have you know. My husband Michael and I started makMy passion for wine led me to explore it for your vineyard? What is your process for curating the ing wine for our family wine brand, Larner products in your store? as an art medium. While working at Artiste I My husband’s family purchased a ranch in Winery, in 2009. Our plan was to open a I would say my store is eclectic. I buy came up with an idea for an event where we Ballard Canyon in 1997 and planted 34 acres tasting room at our vineyard but the permit things I like or that are useful or interesting to would use wine as paint. I figured it would of vines in 1999. At the time they purchased process was taking longer than expected. We me. In addition, my talented store manager, be like using watercolor, so I gathered all of the land, my husband switched careers from began looking for an alternate location to sell Judith, is great about staying up to date on the paper and brushes but instead of paint we geologist to winemaker and vineyard manager. our wine in Los Olivos. With a little luck, trends and spotting artisan products on social used various types of wine … and it’s been my After we were married in 2008, I joined we found out that our friend — who owned a media. We work together to decide on new the family business and now help with the gift store in the location we are in now — was medium of choice since then. lines to bring into the store. Do you have plans to share or show your winemaking and wine sales. We recently planning to move to Napa. He recommended LOV CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 us to the landlord and the next thing we knew, work? received a permit to build a small winery and

NatureTrack FILM FESTIVAL Igniting Passion for Nature Through Film Over 50 films from around the world Exhilarating Adventures • Compelling Stories

March 23–25, 2018 Los Olivos, CA • Santa Ynez Valley Passes/punch cards onsale now

www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org 805.886.2047

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Pool supporters seeking $500K by March 1 By Raiza Giorgi

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

he Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation needs to raise $500,000 by March 1 to keep construction on schedule, according to Bruce Porter, a foundation board member. Raising the money by that deadline will allow pool construction to coincide with Santa Ynez Valley Union High School bond improvements, which saves money on inspectors and construction costs, Porter said. “Doing the work while the high school is doing their repairs will save so much money and time,” Porter said. The Aquatics Foundation was established to replace the 50-year-old, crumbling and undersized pool at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School with a new full-sized pool. “The new aquatics complex will ensure the community will have far greater access to water-related activities even during the school day, with opportunities for programming from city recreation departments, the YMCA, and others,” Porter said. He added that the current pool isn’t up to size requirements for regulation meets for the high school swim teams and water polo teams, but with the new facility the pool could host a wide variety of events, from water aerobics to Junior and Special Olympics. The pool has been purchased by the foundation as modular components from the manufacturer that installed one of the pools at the last summer Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha. It will be installed in the parking lot between the Old Gym and Refugio Road, and another smaller pool will be installed on the site of the current pool.

Photo by Devyn Marseilles The Boar’s head holds the place on honor on the altar.

Boar’s Head Festival is the bow that wraps up Christmas Photo contributed Olympic champion Kami Craig is co-chair of the fundraising campaign for a new pool and sports medicine center at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

Funding of $7.1 million has been secured through donations, matches and pledges. The total cost is projected at $11.2 million, with the remainder to be raised by June 2019. “If any community can get this done, it’s ours,” Porter said. The foundation also projects that the two pools will use less water than the current pool and will generate revenue from rental use, fees and concessions. Solar panels also will be installed to offset heating costs. Projected capacity is for up to 1,500 participants and spectators, a family play area, a sports medicine and science building, modern scoreboard, expanded parking and changing rooms with lockers. Gary Hall Jr., a five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist who lives in the Santa Ynez Valley, and valley native Kami Craig, an Olympic water polo gold medalist, are the co-chairs of the capital campaign. “The Santa Ynez Valley community will

be forever changed when the Olympic-size pool is installed at the high school, and I am so excited that it will give everyone the opportunities to use it, and bring water athletics in the valley to another level,” Craig said last year at the welcoming event for the pool components. Also involved in the project is the LA84 Foundation, which was created with a share of the surplus funds from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. LA84 began operations in 1985 as a grant making and educational foundation that supports hundreds of nonprofit youth sports organizations throughout Southern California, trains coaches, commissions research, and convenes conferences. “We also have Sansum Clinic involved with their Diabetes Center to launch a health and wellness program,” Porter said. For more information about the planned community pool, including ways to volunteer or donate, visit www.syvaquatics.org.

PCPA presents Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ A masterpiece where an invisible enemy unleashes a dangerous hysteria Staff Report

e afraid, be very afraid. Pacific Conservatory Theatre will present Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” from Feb. 15 to March 4 at the Marian Theatre, 800 S. College Drive, on the college’s Santa Maria campus. In Miller’s searing masterpiece, an invisible enemy unleashes a dangerous hysteria. As Artistic Director Mark Booher observed, “From time to time, we human beings have

periods of moral panic that overtakes us.” “The Crucible” is a timeless telling of one such period. While focused on literal witch hunts, it is also an allegory for any number of misguided crusades through the ages, including ominous opinions against select groups of people currently. Under the direction of Roger DeLaurier, the design team includes Scenic Designer Jason Bolen, Costume Designer Eddy L. Barrows, Lighting Designer Tim Thistleton, Sound Designer Andrew Mark Wilhelm, Fight Choreographers Mark Booher and Peter S. Hadres, Voice and Dialect Coach Kitty Balay, and Movement by Katie Fuchs-Wackowski. The stage manager is Ellen Beltramo. The cast of nearly 30 includes resident actors Don Stewart as Rev. Samuel Parris,

Karin Hendricks as Ann Putnam, Erik Stein as Thomas Putnam, Andrew Philpot as John Proctor, Peter S. Hadres as Giles Corey, George Walker as Rev. John Hale, Polly Firestone Walker as Elizabeth Proctor, Brad Carroll as Francis Nurse, Leo Cortez as Ezekiel Cheever, Mark Booher as Deputy-Governor Danforth, Katie Fuchs-Wackowski as Sarah Good, and guest artist Rosh Wright as Rebecca Nurse. Second-year acting student Skye Privat plays Abigail Williams. Tickets cost $34.50 - $46.50 with discounts for seniors, students, children and military members, and for preview performances Feb. 15 and 16. A “Pay What You Can” performance is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18. For more information, visit www.pcpa.org or Facebook.com/pacificconservatorytheatre.

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

t. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church celebrated Epiphany, the close of the Christmas season, with its annual Boar’s Head Festival and Feast on Jan. 6. The festival opened with pageantry and song while members of the Central Coast Pipes and Drums marched up the main aisle of the church playing bagpipes, followed by Christmas Sprite Daphne Urquidez carrying the Yule candle ahead of Father Christmas John Wrench. The Rev. Dr. Randall Day, priest and rector of St. Mark’s, explained the meaning of the festival and welcomed the audience, which filled the sanctuary to capacity. “We gather this evening for an enjoyable celebration of the birth of Jesus at the end of this Christmas season, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany. The traditional English boar’s head dates back to the 1300s in Queen’s College, Oxford. Boars menaced villagers in Norman England; the serving of the boar symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The festival is held this year on The Feast of the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, the day the Three Kings are said to have arrived in Bethlehem,” Rev. Day said. Rev. Day then went on to tell the story of the origin of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, a real fourth-century bishop and Saint, Nicolas of Myrna. “Father Christmas is here to remind us that the real Santa Claus was a saint who loved Jesus and did good and unusual things, because of this love,” he said. As the congregation sang “Angels We Have Heard on High,” about a dozen little angels, sheep, and shepherds walked up the aisle and seated themselves on the altar. Rev. Day then read from Matthew, telling the story of the three Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem. As the congregation sang “We Three Kings,” the three kings played by Ted Young, Evan McVicar and Brooks Firestone arrived, carrying their gifts. BOARS CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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Deadline near for zoo, Wildling photo contest Winning photographs will be featured in an exhibit that opens in April Staff Report

nimal-loving photographers are invited to submit their photos of animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo as part of a new “Wild Things” contest sponsored by the zoo and the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang. The winning photographs will be featured as part of their “Wildling at the Zoo” collaboration in an exhibit that opens in April at the Zoo’s Discovery Pavilion. The deadline for entries has been extended to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. For entry addresses, forms, and rules, visit www.wildlingmuseum.org/ wild-things-photography-competition. “Wild Things” has two categories, one for adults (18 or older) and another for children (17 or younger). It is a juried

exhibit with prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in both age groups. Prizes include memberships and passes to both the zoo and the Wildling, gift cards and gifts, artwork created by zoo animals, and passes to zoo attractions. “The aim is to have photographers of all ages and skill levels capture the character and individuality of the animals that live at the zoo, from large to small, and to have fun doing it,” said Wildling Museum Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate. “Focus on your favorite animal or simply explore. We are looking for images as wild as the zoo itself.” The “Wild Things” exhibit will open on Monday, April 9, including the award winners and other entries selected by the judges. Many of the photographs will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting the artist, the zoo, and the museum. “It makes perfect sense to partner with the Wildling,” said zoo Marketing Director Dean Noble. “Both our missions are to connect people with animals and nature, either in person or through artwork. We look forward to more collaboration and more great art.”

2018 COMMUNITY AWARDS NOMINATION To Our Community Members: It is our great pleasure to call for NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2018 COMMUNITY AWARDS. Red Carpet “Juble” Night in Solvang, “Grown Your Community Think Solvang First” is the 2018 theme, selected for its enthusiastic message that reflects the growth within our Chamber and in our generous community. You can help by identifying volunteers and businesses you consider worthy of these tributes. We ask that all nominations be kept confidential. Nominations must be received at the Solvang Chamber office by February 2, 2018. The volunteers and businesses selected to receive these honors will be announced in the Santa Ynez Valley Star after the Awards Banquet. The Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2018. Thank you for your time in nominating our community’s outstanding volunteers and businesses.

2018 COMMUNITY AWARDS - NOMINATION FORM Please print legibly. Deadline for entries Feb. 2, 2018. Candidates will be considered BASED ON INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE ABOUT THEIR VOLUNTEER/BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS. Nominee’s Name: ________________________________________________________ Tel: __________________________ Email Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Photo contributed For the past 22 years, People Helping People has opened a “boutique” in donated retail space to help families celebrate Christmas.

PHP fulfills Christmas wishes for 76 families Staff Report

From a storefront donated by the Richmond Family at Valley Plaza in Solvang, People Helping People furnished Christmas toys, clothing, and housewares to 76 families, including 190 children, valued at $20,000 on Dec. 18-19. New this year, PHP joined forces with the Buellton Rotary Club to collect and furnish warm coats. PHP also distributed 10,000 pounds of food, including turkeys, hams and chickens, to 250 families in need in the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys through its biweekly food distribution program. Justin Wilkins, PHP’s Fulfill-A-Wish Program Coordinator, said that toy and other donations dipped this year. He speculated that the Thomas Fire and resultant poor air quality kept local people from shopping prior to the holiday. “Normally we are able to carry over a number of toys to start off the new year. This year we have none, but we were still able to

accommodate all of our qualified families,” Wilkins said. Dean Palius, PHP’s Chief Executive, said that the majority of families who were helped work in the hospitality, tourist, and agricultural industries. Wages in these industries just do not keep up with the costs of living here, he added. “Consider that rents increased 43 and 17 percent, respectively, in Buellton and Solvang during the past three years to an average of $1,470 per month and that the majority of these working-poor families earn a little more than the federal poverty level. For a family of four that income is $2,789 per month. So, they are barely able to make ends meet. Frequently, they are forced to make difficult choices each month regarding which bills to pay: rent, food, utilities or prescriptions. For these hard-working parents, Christmas gifts are a luxury and are not even on their list,” Palius said. To learn more about PHP, its programs, and ways to help, visit www.syvphp.org or call 686-0295.

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Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominated by: __________________________________________________________ Tel: __________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ (Services as part of employment are ineligible)

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February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 15

Wild West coming to Granada Theatre Staff Report

n acrobatic adventure set to the music of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and others will fill the stage when Cirque Éloize brings “Saloon” to the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. Eleven members of the French-Canadian cirque troupe perform jaw-dropping physical feats, including “a chase worthy of the greatest Western,” while backed by live music. A driving force in the circus-art reinvention movement, the Montreal-based circus troupe has been creating award-winning cirque shows for nearly 25 years and ranks among the world’s leading contemporary circuses. “We borrow from the world of the Wild West, which we have so much in common with: a fundamental commitment to moving

forward, toughness and the survival instinct, a tendency for irreverence, and a sharing sense of community,” said Jeannot Painchaud, president and artistic director of Cirque Éloize and creative director of “Saloon.” “Saloon” mixes country music with more festive, folk-inspired compositions. There are four musicians and singers on stage, and all the artists sing or play instruments. A trailer for the show is posted at www. youtube.com/watch?v=QXQZma-68ig. Tickets for the show, presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures, are $40-$65, or $19 for students, plus a Granada facility fee. For tickets and more information, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at 805-893-3535 or visit www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu, or contact The Granada Theatre at 805-899-2222 or granadasb.org.

Set in a Wild West saloon, the troupe’s show is full of athleticism and showmanship. Photo contributed

BOARS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Then Rev. Day spoke of the Good King Wenceslas, Nadine Glinski, who along with the Page, Olivia Glinksi, recognized the need of a poor person, played by Bryant Glinski, and responded to that need. The time had arrived for the feast to begin, but not before The Ruler of Misrule, played by Barbra Mousouris, interrupted the festivities with wild comments and questions, shaking her bell and causing havoc. She was unceremoniously dismissed but invited to dinner nonetheless. Then the Steward of the Feast, Linda Burrows, was called to attend and the Boar Bearers, Stacy and Kirby Cannon, carried the boar’s head down the aisle as the congregation sang the “Boar’s Head Carol.” Everyone then proceeded to Stacy Hall to enjoy a feast of pork, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, apple sauce and salad along with wine or beer and a plethora of desserts. “This was the first time I have actually sat down at a table as a guest of the feast,” said Pat Crawford. “I started doing the cooking for the Boar’s Head feast when Father Stacy was at St. Mark’s and I have been doing it so long I honestly can’t remember when I started. I was in charge of cooking everything, including the pork. I like to cook and years ago I used to cook for large groups. But it was time for me to hang up my hat, and it’s time for the younger people to take charge. I want them to take charge. So it was wonderful being on the other side of the kitchen. This was great fun.” “We’ve lived in the valley for 19 years and have been members of the church for all that time and I have rarely missed the Boar’s Head Feast,” said Rinda Brown. “It is the

Photo by Devyn Marseilles Father Christmas, John Wrench, lights the Yule candle along with Yule Sprite Daphne Urquidez.

only event in the valley that ends Christmas so beautifully. There are many events leading up to Christmas, but the rest of Christmas is forgotten. This event is a great send-off to the season. It’s lots of fun and we get to meet new people.” The traditional singing of “The 12 Days of Christmas” was acted out by each table of guests, and the evening closed with the annual singing of “Silent Night.” More than one person was overheard lamenting that Elida Ambler’s red cabbage was sorely missed this year, but kudos to those who worked for days cooking and arranging this event. And a special shout-out to whoever made the persimmon pudding with velvet sauce. Recipe, please?

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16 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018

Valentine’s Day is here!

for other local causes and international needs. The time-value of its members’ volunteer hours add up to the tens of thousands of additional dollars. Tickets are available at www.SolvangRotary.com and www.eventbrite.com (type “Solvang Rotary” in the search box). For more information, call 805-688-1122.

managed and diverse natural resources but is controlled by the U.S. Navy and is not accessible to the public. The island is classified as uninhabited, but Hoyer has spent four days a week on the Island for the past five years. San Nicolas supports three endemic vertebrates, including the San Nicolas Island Fox, a host of endemic mollusks, three native plant communities, and important seabird colonies. The island is surrounded by a spectacular marine and intertidal environment teeming with harbor seals, California sea lions, southern sea Photo contributed otters and northern elephant seals. Hoyer, a Santa Barbara resident, also serves on the board of directors for the California Invasive Plant Council and is a member of the California Botanical Collaborative. He spends his free time outdoors and practices wildlife The Robert Hart Project, a six-member band Photo by William Hoyer photography. performing jazz, rock, pop, standards and orig- A lecture on San Nicolas Island’s natural resources will be Before his career with the Navy, he earned inal compositions, will plan for the Solvang given at Solvang Library on Thursday, Feb. 8. a bachelor’s degree in plant science from Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser on March 10 Cornell University and served in the Peace at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building. Corps in the Republic of Vanuatu, working on The event beginning at 6 p.m. will include sustainable agriculture and marine resources dinner and both silent and live auctions. Net projects. proceeds will support the club’s activities Admission is free to the lecture sponsored during the following Rotary year (July 1, 2018, by the library and the Santa Ynez Valley NatuA naturalist will give his view of the most through June 30, 2019). Funds raised will diremote and mysterious of the Channel Islands, ral History Society. rectly benefit youth programs and scholarships San Nicolas Island, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, For more information, go to www.syvnature. as well as meals and transportation services for at the Solvang Library. org, send email to synature@west.net, or call local seniors. William Hoyer of the U.S. Navy, the island’s 805-693-5683, or call Carey McKinnon at the Through its foundation, the Solvang Rotary natural resources manager, will review its library, 805-688-4214. Club has provided more than three-quarters of botanical, animal and biosecurity programs as a million dollars since 2000 in scholarships for well as some of its land-use history. students in the Santa Ynez Valley and grants San Nicolas Island is filled with carefully

ART/NONPROFIT ROUNDUP

Robert Hart Project to play Rotary fundraiser

Naturalist to describe ‘mysterious’ island

Photo contributed Gary Pace, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee, and his wife, Ruth, present a $25,000 check to 1st Sgt. Soledad Kennedy and Commandant George Moran.

Chumash benefit raises $25k for Toys For Tots

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The popularity of country music star Clint Black helped fill the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom to help the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians raise $25,000 at its 14th annual Toys For Tots benefit concert. The funds go toward the Central Coast Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys For Tots campaign, which serves families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through partnerships with local agencies such as Unity Shoppe, People Helping People, the Salvation Army, Community Action Commission, Tribal TANF Program and the Boys & Girls Club. “We’re proud to support local organizations that make the holidays a little brighter for families that are facing tough times,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn. Gary Pace, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee, along with his wife, Ruth, presented the check to 1st Sgt. Soledad Kennedy, the Marine Corps League 1340 Toys For Tots Coordinator for Santa Barbara County, and Commandant George Moran. To find out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visit www.santaynez chumash.org.

February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 17

ag & equine

Emergency Preparedness Expo brings horse community together By Victoria Martinez reporter@santaynezvalleystar.com

tion Team), Santa Barbara Animal Services, Backcountry Horsemen, Santa Barbara Equine Evacuation and Assistance team Inc., the Halter espite last-minute presenter cancella- Project, and others provided a variety of pretions and the closure of Highway 101 senters and demonstrations throughout the day. due to the Montecito mudslide, more Dr. Troy Herthel from Alamo Pintado than 75 people packed the Santa Ynez Valley Equine Center encouraged horse owners to Equestrian Center on Jan. 20 for the first local “err on the side of caution” when dealing with Equine Emergency Preparedness Expo. animals during disaster and to always prepare “I’m most excited about seeing the turnout to evacuate during a voluntary order rather and people learning,” said one of two event than waiting for a mandatory one. organizers, Julie Monser. John Albin, vice president of event sponsor Monser and Dawn Perrine, two women heav- Santa Ynez Valley Riders, noted how wonderful ily involved in the local equine community, it was to see so many people coming together organized the event because they believed there for this type of emergency preparedness event. was a local need for more organization and “I love it,” Albin said. “I think it’s really training to safely help animals during a crisis. important.” “I think this is really good to get people Monser and Perrine both believe the event will planning,” Perrine said. be the first of many in the Santa Ynez Valley. Though Cal Fire and Santa Barbara County For more information, visit the Equine Emergency Preparedness Expo group on Photo by Victoria Martinez Fire Department were not able to participate due to the Montecito disaster efforts, San Luis Facebook or call Monser at 805-264-3422 or People attending the Equine Emergency Preparedness Expo were able to see the Anderson Sling Harness in action. The sling is used to air-lift horses in a crisis. Obispo HEET (Horse Emergency EvacuaPerrine at 805-245-6727.

Nature Conservancy buys historic Bixby Ranch

CARING FOR CANINE RESCUERS

After $165 Million Gift, the new preserve is named for donors Jack and Laura Dangermond By April Charlton Noozhawk

pristine and rare stretch of California’s coastline in Santa Barbara County will be protected forever from bulldozers thanks to a $165 million donation allowing the privately held swath of land near Point Conception to be permanently preserved. The Nature Conservancy announced Dec. 22 the purchase of the 24,000-plusacre Jalama Cojo Ranches, also known locally as the Bixby Ranch. The land spans eight miles of undeveloped coastline and represents one of the state’s most iconic pieces of property. Home to two working cattle ranches, the site features “a confluence of ecological, historical and cultural values across Native American, Spanish and American histories that have co-evolved for millennia,” according to the Conservancy. Visible from space as the exact point on the coast where California bends inward, the property will be renamed The Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, and join the portfolio of protected lands owned and managed by the Conservancy.

Photo contributed Veterinarian Shana Schank of Vet’s Here packs supplies to donate to search and rescue dogs. Nature Conservancy photo The 24,000-acre Jalama Cojo Ranches, known as the Bixby Ranch, at Point Conception will remain a working cattle ranch while The Nature Conservancy plans for the property’s long-term use.

“This is an incredibly rare, ecologically important place with eight miles of coast and centuries-old coastal oak woodlands,” Dangermond said. “This deserves to be preserved and managed by an organization like The Nature Conservancy.” “Conservation isn’t just being nice to animals or plants, it’s investing in the continued life support systems of humans and all other species on the planet,” he added. “We need more people to step up to protect our last great places.” Dangermond, president and co-founder of mapping and spatial-analysis tech-

nology company Esri, along with his wife, Laura, donated $165 million to the Conservancy, enabling the organization to purchase the ranch land that’s also home to at least 39 species of threatened or special status. Their donation is the largest in the organization’s history. “There’s no place like it. It’s where Northern California and Southern California meet,” said Mike Sweeney, executive director California Chapter, The Nature Conservancy, about the property. “Stand-

o RANCH CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Local vets donate to help search dogs Staff Report

fter heavy rains triggered catastrophic mudslides in Montecito, Vet’s Here donated supplies to help care for the search dogs that were working to rescue victims and clear roads.

o VET CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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RANCH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

VETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

ing there in the oaks, looking west across the ocean, you understand why this has been a spiritual place for millennia.” The Nature Conservancy plans to immediately undertake an 18-month study to determine all of the resources on the property, while also developing a comprehensive plan for the long-term use and management of the new preserve. In the meantime, the land will remain a private working cattle ranch. “The vision is to first and foremost preserve these last-of-their-kind resources,” said Mark Reynolds, The Nature Conservancy senior scientist. “Longterm, the plan is to create a premier nature preserve for education, preservation and research, with carefully managed public access to areas that don’t jeopardize the ecological and cultural values A gate bears the sign for the Jalama Cojo Ranches. of the land.” Reynolds said the land is important to Over the years, the property has been under preserve because it’s “a bastion of last-of-its the threat of development several times, and kind habitats, essential wildlife corridors, and former ranch owners were subject to a yearscultural and historical values that need to be long enforcement action brought against them preserved and protected.” by the California Coastal Commission. Adjacent to a marine protected area, the Resolution in the case was reached in Noproperty also connects the coast to the mounvember, with ranch owners, in part, agreeing tains and contains critical wildlife corridors. to transfer 36 acres of the coastal land to It also provides habitat for endangered speSanta Barbara County for possible addition to cies, including the snowy plover, red-legged a 23-acre county-maintained park on property frog and Western monarch butterfly. at Jalama Beach. “Part of The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Commissioner Erik Howell said planning period is to explore a path forward the acquisition was nothing short of fantastic. through partnerships, to allow managed Howell grew up visiting Jalama Beach with public access on the property to educate and his grandmother. inspire the public about the importance of “The fact that the whole ranch doesn’t ever protecting our natural world, while ensuring face development is a huge win for the people preservation of the ecological and cultural values of the land,” Reynolds said. of California,” Howell said. “I thought the

Search and rescue dogs worked 12hour shifts in Montecito and Summerland to recover missing people. Vet’s Here, a mobile veterinary practice in the Santa Ynez Valley donated a variety of antibiotics, bandage materials, eye ointments and disinfectants. Many Vet’s Here customers also donated to these efforts. “We hope these supplies help rejuvenate the rescue dogs,” said Dr. Autumn Fanning, president and CEO of Vet’s Here. “Rescue missions like this can take a toll on the dogs, and we want to do everything we can to help care for them.” Volunteer veterinarians have been checking the dogs twice a day to ensure they are still in good health and able to continue to work. The dogs suffer from ailments such as contact dermatitis, eye irritations and lacerations.

PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR

Nature Conservancy photo

possibility of adding to the park was great. This is fantastic.” Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, who worked with The Nature Conservancy during the final phase of the acquisition, said she could hardly believe “this day would actually come.” “The cultural and ecological value of the newly named Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve is unparalleled in California, the county and the world,” Hartmann said. “This is a breath-taking act of foresight and generosity that will define the Central Coast from this day forward. It offers the most wonderful reason to celebrate this holiday season.” Noozhawk contributing writer April Charlton can be reached at news@noozhawk.com.

Photo contributed Vet’s Here donated a variety of antibiotics, bandage materials, eye ointments and disinfectants to care for search dogs.

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February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 19

food~drink

MOTHER HUBBARD’S

For the owners, their Buellton restaurant is a love story By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

oniece Parson knows the history of Mother Hubbard’s in Buellton very well, since its opening in 1978. Much of it is her own story. “Ed Andrisek built Mother Hubbard’s from the ground up, and he would not only greet customers when they came in, he’d turn around and go to the kitchen to cook up their breakfasts,” she said. Her own history with the restaurant began when she happened to go into Mother Hubbard’s one Monday morning after spending the previous Sunday afternoon at Cold Spring Tavern with friends. She had no idea that a chance meeting at the tavern would lead to her sharing ownership of the restaurant some 20 years in the future. “On that Sunday afternoon I met a few new people, including Jon McDermott, who bought me a couple of beverages,” Parson said. “I found him to be a kind, intelligent man that was very motivated to be successful in his life. We parted ways and I almost forgot about him until I put up a one-line post on the Internet about how “a blue margarita sure sounds good right now!” “This was almost 20 years after our chance meeting at Cold Springs Tavern and the Internet was in its infancy,” she continued. “At that time, people were very cautious about their identities and locations. Within a day a response was left, ‘You must be from Santa Barbara.’ “It scared the heck out of me that someone could be that close to the truth, and that led to a few emails being shared where he admitted that he had only had that drink at Cold Springs Tavern, when he was a Harley-riding UCSB student. “After several months of getting to really know each other through emails, I knew that this was the same man that I had met so long ago. I learned that he had been very focused, and successful at his career and had moved around the U.S. a great deal for business. He had chosen not to have children, and I really thought it was over before it began, when I told him I had four sons. He was living between Dallas and Albuquerque, and I was here in Buellton.” But as fate or destiny would have it, McDermott’s company sold and he decided to move to California. He wanted to start the next stage of his life with Parson and her boys. If their chance reunion after 20 years was not enough, destiny had even more surprises in store, as both their lives would shift in yet another interesting direction. They bought a home in Buellton and settled in at a pace that was very different for

Photo by Raiza Giorgi The staff at Tower Pizza (including owner Monica Dunn, at rear) were busy making hundreds of pizzas for restaurant’s 25th anniversary on Jan. 18.

Photos contributed On Oct. 1, husband and wife Jon McDermott and Doniece Parson, above, will celebrate their 20th anniversary of owning Mother Hubbard’s in Buellton. Left, owner and chef Jon McDermott loves to create dishes based on the holiday seasons.

McDermott, Parson recalled. She knew he needed to do something; he had told her that he had always planned on retiring in Mexico and opening up a small restaurant. “Jon never really believed that we had met that Sunday afternoon so many years before, which annoyed me to no end,” said Parson “Finally, one day we drove up to the tavern and when he walked in, he remembered even where we were standing and talking. To this day there is a picture of Cold Springs Tavern hanging in the restaurant. Few people know why.” Soon after their trip to the tavern, Parson saw a one-line ad in the local newspaper that read, “78-seat restaurant for sale in Buellton.” It was Mother Hubbard’s. “We met with Ed, wrote a check and shook hands, and on October 1, 1998, we were the proud owners of our own business. Even though neither of us had ever cooked for a restaurant, or even waited tables, we somehow made it work,” Parson said. “Our boys were old enough to work there,

and it quickly became a dream come true — an amazing local, family business, one that perhaps one day, the boys could own and raise their own families here in paradise. The boys are fifth-generation Buellton family and very proud of it.” On Oct. 1 this year, Parson and McDermott will celebrate their 20th anniversary of owning Mother Hubbard’s. “At first, I fretted a bit about living and working with this man who I loved so much, but there has not been one day that I would have wanted to change a thing about us. Our customers are our family. We have shared in engagements, marriages, and the births of many new souls who keep coming back. Watching them grow and their families expand has been a slice of heaven for us. “We have mourned the loss of some customers and have many stories to tell about things that happen within the walls of Mother Hubbard’s, such as our resident ghost, Joe,” Pearson said with a twinkle in her eye. “But those stories are for another time.” “The staff at Mother Hubbard’s are the greatest men and women in the business,” she continued. “They love our place, as if it was their own. They get to know and care deeply about so many of their customers, and that only comes with long-term service. Our customer base is around 85 percent local, and without them, there would be no future stories to tell. “Being able to support our community MO HUB CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Pizza parlor serving up success after 25 years The best thing about owning Tower is doing various fundraisers By Raiza Giorgi

news@santaynezvalleystar.com

t Tower Pizza, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, Torey and Monica Dunn have been focused on both providing good food to their customers and on creating a community-focused space and attitude. They have owned the restaurant for four years, after taking it over from Torey’s side of the family. “The best thing about owning Tower is doing various fundraiser events for local organizations, and sponsorships of youth recreation,” Torey Dunn said. The place was packed on Jan. 18 as customers waited patiently in line to get a pizza for $9.99 and listen to music. “We love coming to Tower and supporting their business, and it was an excuse not to cook tonight, which is always nice,” said local resident Justin Rodriguez. Rodriguez was hosting his co-worker, Eloy Cazarez, who lives in Oxnard and would have had to commute for hours as the two asphalt workers got to a job on the north side of the Highway 101 closure. “I’d rather host Eloy and give him a break from having to drive, and now we can enjoy a beer and pizza after work,

o PIZZA CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018

Bell Street Farm sold; new restaurant to open soon By Pamela Dozois

I was able to conceive and launch a cozy place where people could come for yummy food, a glass of delicious wine, and a hug. amie Gluck has sold his Bell Street The community of Los Alamos, where we Farm restaurant in Los Alamos to purown a home, for 10 years now, has been so sue opportunities in Los Angeles, and supportive and embracing. It feels like the local residents Daisy Freitas-Ryan and right time to harness our current success and Greg Ryan, both experienced restaurateurs, see what’s out there. plan to open a new eatery in the landmark “It will be hard to move on and hand over location this spring. the keys, but these keys are going into the Gluck launched Bell Street Farm Eatery hands of a remarkable couple with restau& Market nearly seven years ago. He rant résumés that impress and intimidate recently announced that he had sold the me,” he added. “Daisy and Greg, with Photo by Devyn Marseilles experiences at terrific restaurants in Austin, building and restaurant contents and will Daisy Freitas-Ryan, left, and Greg Ryan, right, have pursue potential opportunities for the Bell New York and Los Angeles, make me feel bought the Bell Street Farm building and business from Street Farm brand in other locations. so comfortable that my customers, and John An “Appreciation Party” was held on Jan. Jamie Gluck and John Wentworth. and I, will have an amazing place to eat in 20 to bid adieu and to introduce the new Los Alamos,” he added. restaurant owners to their patrons. The event for their incredible work during this intense and “We have come home to the Santa Ynez also raised money for the Santa Barbara Valley, where Daisy attended Dunn School arduous fire season. Firefighters Benevolent Fund. and where her parents, Brent and Suzi, have Bell Street Farm opened its doors in More than 300 people attended the farelived for over 25 years. We recently had a August 2012 in Los Alamos, where Gluck well party, where wine and hors d’oeuvres son, Henry, and knew that we wanted to and Wentworth had previously bought a were overflowing. There was barely room return to where Daisy grew up and set down weekend home. Within a couple of years to move, both inside and on the patio, as the eatery ranked No. 6 on Yelp’s list of Top roots,” Ryan said. well-wishers spilled out onto the sidewalks “We have always loved Bell Street Farm 100 U.S. Places to Eat after making the list on both Centennial and Bell streets. for four consecutive years. Bell Street Farm and after getting to know Jamie and John, The outpouring of affection for Gluck and also received national and international we appreciate and love the impact and his husband, John Wentworth, was palpaindelible mark that they have made on the attention from The New York Times Magble. Everyone seemed to want one last hug community and food scene in Los Alamos azine, Food & Wine, Oprah, Rachael Ray, and to wish them the very best in their new and the Valley,” he added. “We bring with The Los Angeles Times, Sunset Magazine, adventure. us a combined 25 years of restaurant expeWestways and more. The party started at 3 p.m., and by 4:30 rience and we will continue the passion for “I could not be more grateful to my cusp.m. more than $5,000 had been raised for the great food and hospitality that Jamie helped tomers, far and wide, for making a restauFirefighters Benevolent Fund with 2½ hours left rant kid’s dream come true and exceeding establish in Los Alamos. We will soon be in the event. Guests extended their gratitude to announcing our name, concept, and opening my expectations at every level,” Gluck the firemen and women who were in attendance said. “With a talented and dedicated staff, date.” Contributing Writer

Corner House Café Announces the addition of

PIZZA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 which is great,” Rodriguez said. The Trieger family of Buellton came in to celebrate their daughter Taylor’s 12th birthday with a few close friends. “With the closure of Highway 101 we want to support our friend’s business and celebrate their anniversary,” said Cheri Glimp of Solvang. Almost all of produce Tower uses is fresh, local, and even organic when possible. Their dough is prepared and cheese grated daily. Tower Pizza is at 436 Alisal Road. For more information, call 805-688-3036 or go to Towerpizzasolvang.com.

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education

NatureTrack Film Festival to debut March 23-25 in Los Olivos

live-action and animated, from around the world were submitted to the festival in catehe NatureTrack Film Festival will gories of Student, Adventure, Conservation, debut March 23-25 in Los Olivos Kids Connecting With Nature, and “Outdoors with more than 50 films dedicated to and Out of Bounds.” outdoor themes, wildlife and nature content. Juried awards will be given for audience Passes and punch cards are on sale now at favorite, best student film, best in category www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org. (feature or short), best depiction of children Films will screen at three venues: the Santa connecting with nature, and overall best in Ynez Valley Grange, the Gates Foss Comfestival. munity Center at Los Olivos School, and St. NatureTrack is a nonprofit organization Mark’s In-The-Valley Episcopal Church. that provides free, curriculum-coordinatThe festival kicks off on Friday, March ed field trips for Santa Barbara County 23, with an opening reception at the historic school-age children, using trails and beaches and newly reopened Mattei’s Tavern prior to throughout the county. screenings that day. NatureTrack aspires to instill students with Photo contributed A full slate of films will be offered on leadership skills, attitudes and habits for lifefree family movie night. Saturday, and the festival will conclude on long learning, inspiring them to be respectful NatureTrack will also offer docent-led Sunday with a half day of programming and a stewards of the natural world. closing reception at The Bear and Star restau- hikes for those wishing to take advantage of Since its founding in 2011, more than the valley’s abundant natural beauty, and the rant at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn. 14,000 students have had the opportunity to festival also includes a falconry demonstraFilmmaker “meet and greets” are planned experience a NatureTrack field trip. for local food and wine establishments, along tion. For information on the festival, visit www. More than 1,500 long and short films, both NatureTrackFilmFestival.org. with special bonus screenings and an outdoor Staff Report

GIVING NEWBORNS THE BEST POSSIBLE START

County board honors donors to WEB nursing program WEB Nurses have visited more than 10,000 families in SB County Staff Report

andra Schoolfield and Jon Kechejian, who donated $18,000 in September to the Welcome Every Baby (WEB) program of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, were recognized Jan. 4 by the county Board of Education. The gift enabled four nurses to undergo training and certification in the Family Connects model at the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy in North Carolina. “Research shows that the single best predictor of positive outcomes for children is the coping ability of significant adults,” Schoolfield and Kechejian said. “We’ve followed WEB over the past four years and have been particularly inspired by the dedication of their small staff to this personalized, post-partum home visitation program and their tireless perseverance to keep this important program funded.” WEB began in 2001 and since becoming an SBCEO program, the WEB Nurses have visited more than 10,000 families in

fund WEB in January 2012. WEB nurses visit families in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, the Santa The program is Ynez Valley, and designed to help all Lompoc as early newborns get off to the as three days best possible start in after the baby is life and aims to support born. families’ efforts to enhance maternal The program and child health and is designed to wellbeing. help all newborns get off to the best possible start in life and aims to support families’ efforts to enhance maternal and child health and wellbeing. “I’m glad I signed up for WEB,” said one mother who recently received a home Photo contributed visit. “I’m a first-time mom and really inexperienced. The WEB nurse gave me A nurse from Welcome Every Baby visits a new mother lots of tips and information. She also proand her baby. vided me with a lot of local resources.” Another mom added, “Despite having Santa Barbara County, serving approxione older child, the WEB nurse told us mately 1,000 newborns and their families many new pieces of information about annually. baby care, juggling siblings, and local In partnership with the Santa Barbara resources.” County Public Health Department and Families interested in learning more Dignity Home Health, all families are about WEB can contact Registered Nurse offered a free, individualized home visit. Cottage Health System also began helping Traile Eastland at 805-729-1593.

GENEALOGY

Knowing the family’s story requires proof By Sheila Benedict Contributing Writer

enealogical research requires time, patience, perseverance, and a lot of understanding of small details. The one thing that it is not is connecting families through hearsay and without documentation to back up those family connections. Without documentation, the family story is an “alleged” family history. It has to be proven. I can allege someone was born in Cook County, Illinois, but need a birth certificate to verify it. I can allege a marriage took place in Colorado but need a marriage record to prove it. My mother told me her father, my grandfather, died when she was around six years old and his death certificate proved she was correct. My aunt told me a distant grandfather rode with Napoleon when he invaded Russia. I have no proof he did and, without it, I cannot assert it is fact. If I find a roll of soldiers, or some type of compensation roll for the soldiers and his name is listed, or proof he was even in France at that time, that would begin to make a difference. It would give me some proof to work with – a beginning! How much proof is needed? One piece of evidence? Two, three, five? What if you have five and something comes along that disputes all the others? Do not disregard it. Return to research mode and try to find more proofs to determine what is accurate. And do not think that everything on the federal census returns is factual. Who gave the information to the enumerator? Think about the miles one might have to travel taking the 1900 census, for example. Would the person giving the information be knowledgeable and accurate? Where do you find information? Where are the sources that hold the information? Once found, is the evidence reliable? More and more source materials are being digitized and put online, but that is not enough. Research requires going to visit a town, a library, a cemetery, historical or genealogical society, or talking to older relatives to find out what their memories might be. Yes, the latter may turn out to have a lot of fiction, but buried within the fiction could lie some important information. A walk through the local cemetery might find a family plot with relatives buried there that no one ever told you about. One final point: It is wise to research laws that were enacted in the locale where

o GENEALOGY CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

22 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018

EDUCATION ROUNDUP

School plans language immersion program

RD File Genealogical research requires going to visit a town, a library, a cemetery, historical or genealogical society, or talking to older relatives to find out what their memories might be.

GENEALOGY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 your research is focused. In the next column, I’ll discuss repositories such as the national archives regional centers, California state library and archives, local vital records offices, county courthouses, genealogical and historical societies. Research in California is not just for Californians. Records kept here are from all over the country and the world. If you have questions, send them to news@santaynezvalleystar.com so they can be answered in future issues. 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 Society’s “Research in the States” series.

Solvang School’s Board of Trustees has approved the development of a dual language immersion (DLI) program that could begin as soon as the 2018-19 school year. Further work on the proposal, which is still in the development stage, was approved Jan. 9. Implementation of such a program would require further board approval. “These programs are so in demand,” Solvang School Superintendent Dr. Steve Seaford told the board. According to the district’s DLI planning draft, the program would begin with one kindergarten classroom made up of both English learners and English speakers. The program would expand by one grade level each year until fifth grade is included. The goal of the program would be dual literacy in both English and Spanish, not just language exposure for students. “It does require a commitment,” Seaford added while seeking the board’s approval to move forward with plans and development. Seaford said that a committee of administrators, teachers and staff would be meeting weekly to work on the program, and a final DLI proposal will be brought back to the board for approval.

Chumash youth raise money for foundation Youth from the Chumash Learning Center held a gift-wrapping fundraiser in mid-December at the Santa Ynez Tribal Hall to benefit the Lompoc-based Certain Sparks Music Foundation. The youth raised $500, and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians provided a dollar-for-dollar matching grant to create a $1,000 donation to the nonprofit group

Photo contributed

Campers thank firefighters with banner During the YMCA’s Winter Camp in late December, campers made a thankyou banner for firefighters who were working on the Thomas Fire. It hung facthat has taught them how to play musical instruments over the past year. Tribal Education Director Dr. Niki Sandoval said the Certain Sparks Music Foundation has provided “hands-on music and character education” to more than 35 Chumash students with continuing lessons. Mic Singh, the director of youth music programs for Certain Sparks, has taught the Learning Center students the basics of guitar, drums and ukulele while promoting the values of acceptance, courtesy and respect. “It’s been a pleasure to come to the Learning Center to help the kids learn music,” Singh said. “This donation will help pay for music lessons for kids who can’t afford them and will also help with developing other music programs to better serve the community.” For more information on the Certain

ing Refugio Road until it was taken down due to sun fading. The campers used red, orange, yellow and blue handprints to show a fire hose putting out a fire. Sparks Music Foundation, visit www.csmusicfoundation.org. To find out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visit www.santaynez chumash.org.

Local student named to Dean’s List at Biola Tenley Force was one of about 1,500 students named to the Dean’s List at Biola University for spring term 2017. The list honors students with a grade point average of 3.60 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credit units and whose cumulative grade point average is at least a 3.20. Biola University is a private Christian university in Los Angeles, founded in 1908.

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February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 23

Chris Nielsen elected Theaterfest board chairman

his 20th anniversary in the military, and wanting them to grow up in the Santa Ynez Valley, Nielsen retired in 2006 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Nielsen’s professional transition was almost serendipitous. After settling back in the valley with his family, he met with a financial advisor who suggested that this could be the ideal second career for the retired Marine. Staff Report “I’d always been interested as a personal investor, and I had a lot of management he Solvang Theaterfest board has and budget experience from the military,” elected Chris Nielsen as its new Nielsen said. chairman. In addition to Solvang Theaterfest, he A financial advisor and certified finanserves on the boards of the Vikings of cial planner with Edward Jones, Nielsen Solvang, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s joined the board in 2013. Benevolent Posse, Solvang Lutheran The Solvang native’s local ancestry Home Endowment Fund, and Solvang goes back 100 years. His grandfather Lutheran Home Inc. C.V. Nielsen founded Nielsen Building Knowing the impact the theater has Materials in 1948. add on his community for the last four Chris Nielsen graduated from Santa decades, Nielsen called his board “enerYnez Valley Union High School in 1980 Photo contributed and earned a bachelor’s degree in engiSolvang native Chris Nielsen has been elected to chair the gized” about the future. “We’re taking steps to insure we have another 40 years,” neering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Theaterfest board of directors. he said. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Solvang Theaterfest is a nonprofit 501 in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1985. He met wife Diane while stationed at (c)(3) corporation that owns, operates and His domestic assignments included Camp Pendleton in the mid-1990s. They maintains Solvang Festival Theater. California, Texas, Virginia, North Carohave three children, twin sons Kyle and For more information, contact Execulina and Florida. Internationally, he saw Ben and daughter Gillian. With his chiltive Director Mary Ann Norbom at 805active duty in Operation Desert Shield 686-1789 or theaterfest@verizon.net. dren of pre-school age as he approached and Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, and

The Solvang native is a financial advisor, certified financial planner with Edward Jones

February Trivial History: All the things you never wanted to know! 1790 - First session of the U.S. Supreme Court, New York City. 1851 - Evaporated milk was invented by Gail Borden. 1893 - Thomas A. Edison finished construction of the first motion picture studio, the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey. 1913 - Grand Central Terminal opened in New York as the world’s largest train station. 1953 - “You Are There” premiered on CBS radio. 1964 - “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles was number 1 on the Billboard music charts. 1978 - Director Roman Polanski fled the United States to France after pleading guilty to

charges of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. 1982 - “Late Night with David Letterman” debuted on NBC. 2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107 disintegrated during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere over Texas, killing all seven astronauts aboard. 2004 - Facebook launched as “TheFacebook.com.” 2009 - Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was made a knight of the Légion d’Honneur, which is France’s highest civilian award. Source: popculturemadness.com

Photo contributed Mother Hubbard’s house-made corned beef hash is a fan favorite that is often photographed.

MO HUB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 through fundraising events like our ‘Tip a Kid’ dinners can be exhausting, but oh so much fun! It’s hard for me to turn our business over to young people for a night, but the life lessons they learn and the money they raise is worth every fast-paced minute. We have been holding ‘locavore dinners’ the last Saturday of every month for the past eight years. They are really fun and there is no corkage fee. “We also do benefit dinners to support organizations in need, for example the armed forces overseas care packages program. With all the recent changes and growth in Buellton and the valley, one thing remains true. Community is everything. We support each other any way we can when needed. “I really don’t know how the last 20 years have blown past us so quickly. Four young teenage boys have grown into husbands and fathers. Five beautiful grandchildren have joined the family, and we hope that even though Buellton is growing at a rapid-fire pace, with new restaurants opening each year, that locals will remember the old days and continue to enjoy a meal or two with us so that the destiny that began over 40 years ago can continue for at least one more generation. “Owning and operating Mother Hubbard’s isn’t just a business to us, it’s our own personal love story,” she said with a quiet smile and wet eyes. “We are so very grateful for our simple lives, and a business that brings us so much pure joy and love.” Mother Hubbard’s at 373 Avenue of Flags is open daily, with hours posted on their Facebook page. For more information, call 805-688-3912.

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POSTAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

for its tourism that will be fully compatible. The city is dependent on 1.5 million visitors to generate income to fund services enjoyed by its residents. We all saw what a twoweek closure of Highway 101 did. Business was down significantly. The flood clean-up was a relatively easy task as compared to what a major earthquake could potentially do. New roads and overpasses would take months. This second economy with higher-paying workforce would not necessitate an influx of visitors. The products or services could be sent out of the area to the customers. By keeping the wage earners from commuting north or south for employment, there would be less commuting, less traffic and less tax leak to other communities. And most importantly, the city and its residents would have complete say in what it would look like, how it would work and how it would create opportunities for younger families to remain at home. Hans Duus Former Solvang City Councilman Santa Maria

LOV CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 What do you do for rejuvenation? I try to work out at least three times per week. It’s a great stress reliever and improves my energy level. What hurdle have you had to get over? I was somewhat of a retail rookie when we opened the General Store five years ago. I remember the fear I had prior to opening, wondering if the store would succeed. Owning a business has its challenges and frustrations, but I’ve learned a lot since opening in 2012. I am proud of our little store and what we have accomplished. Can you tell us one thing about you that most people don’t know? My most impressionable life journey was backpacking through seven countries in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. I still can’t believe I lived out of a backpack for five months! What advice do you have for people who want to start their own business? Have a solid business plan, patience, flexibility and a positive attitude. The Los Olivos General Store has rotating art exhibits, trunk shows with featured suppliers, and open houses throughout the year. Get more information on Instagram @losolivos generalstore or on Facebook /losolivos generalstore, or by sending email to Christina @losolivosgeneralstore.com Robbie Kaye is a photographer, fine artist and the author of “Beauty and Wisdom.” She is working on a Ladies of the Valley documentary. Follow her @ladiesofthevalley or @robbiekaye on Instagram or at www. robbiekaye.com.

BETHANIA ENDOWMENT SUPPORTS LOCAL NONPROFITS

Photo contributed Staff Report

ethania Lutheran Church and its Endowment Fund recently presented a check for $5,000 to the SYV Cottage Hospital Foundation in response to the admonition “I will bless you, so that you might be a blessing.” The congregation also has distributed

funds to Circle V Ranch Camp and the Rancho Alegre Boy Scout Camp, which were severely damaged by the Whittier Fire. Pictured, from left to right, are Caro Stinson, Pastor Chris Brown, President C.J. Jackson of the hospital foundation, Foundation Administrator June Martin, Carolynn Petersen, John Jones and Donna Hinsbeeck.

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February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 25

Solvang, Buellton welcome new police chief Staff Report

t. Eddie Hseuh, a 31-year veteran of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, is the new chief of police services for Solvang and Buellton. The two cities contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police services. The majority of Hseuh’s time with the Sheriff’s Office has been on patrol in the North County. “I’ve worked assignments in the central stations as a deputy, a corporal on patrol, a community resource deputy and as a Photo contributed sergeant on patrol. I’ve overseen the North County rural crime unit in the past and the Lt. Eddie Hseuh is the new chief of police services for mounted unit years ago. Solvang and Buellton.

COUNTY REVISES ‘VICIOUS DOG’ ORDINANCE

Officials giving tips to prevent dog attacks steps to prevent a dog attack or fight, which could lead to people or animals being serifter a recent increase in dog attacks, ously injured, impoundment of the dog, and the Santa Barbara County Board a hearing with fees and restrictions. of Supervisors has revised the n Spay or neuter your dog. An altered county’s “vicious dog” ordinance to provide animal is less likely to run away to seek a more options for hearing officers to set remate, less likely to engage in violent alterstrictions on owners or deem a dog vicious. cations with a human or other animals, and The ordinance became effective in Noless likely to have hormonally motivated vember. aggression if they do escape from their Dog attacks arise from inattention or irre- yard. sponsibility on the part of dog owners, who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and take must ensure they are fully in control of their measures to prevent any accidental escapes. dogs at all times, county officials said. n Ensure that your yard is securely They also encourage steps to prevent dog fenced and that gates are latched at all attacks, such as socialization of puppies times. from a young age and taking a dog of n Walk your dog on a leash no longer any age to training classes as soon as it is than 6 feet (as required by law) and mainacquired. tain control of your dog at all times. Dog attacks can injure or even kill a n If a door to your home is a possible person or dog. A dog involved in the attack point of exit for your dog, install a stormis usually impounded, pending a vicious type screen door with a self-closer. n Ask family members and visitors to dog hearing. The outcome of the hearing help ensure your dog is kept confined. can include restrictions and/or fines for the n Maintain a current license on your dog, dog owner or an order that the attacking dog as required by law, and have the dog wear be euthanized. the tag. County officials recommend these other Staff Report

“I’ve had many collateral assignments in special units and have developed programs for the department, such as programs for community youth … to the crisis intervention team to provide better services … for community members suffering from mental illness. As a lieutenant, I have overseen criminal records, warrants, the courts and civil bureaus,” Hseuh said. Lt. Shawn O’Grady, who has served as police chief for the two cities since July 2013, has been assigned to the Human Resources Bureau. O’Grady was formally thanked for his service by both Solvang and Buellton City Councils during their first January meetings. Hseuh brings a continued focus on rela-

tionships with the community to his new assignment. “Quality of life in my community is the number one priority for me. I believe in partnerships with the community because it is ours together and the community should have a voice in what their police does. Collaboration is important to me because your police department can’t solve every challenge without help from the community. “I am happy to be serving the community in the Santa Ynez Valley once again and happy to be working with the quality law enforcement officers who are dedicated to serving their communities,” he added. For more information, visit www.sbsheriff .org.

COUPLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The XP-80 flew before the end of World War II, but it wasn’t used in combat until later. “While I was in the Air Force we ended up as the first squadron that went to Hiroshima after they dropped the bomb. I can tell you, that is something I will never forget, just the utter destruction for as far as the eye could see. It was heartbreaking,” he said. While at the company the couple and several others moved to a newly constructed neighborhood and they all decided to build their own houses on empty lots there. “We all helped one another build our houses. Phyllis was up on the roof shingling it while I was inside working on the electrical stuff. Being married is a lot like building a house in that things don’t always go right, but you work it out together and get it done,” Jim said. In 1959 the Axtells moved to Solvang when Jim accepted a position with Lockheed at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Phyllis decided to use her degree in education and became the principal at Ballard Elementary School for a few years. Then she went back to Lockheed as a technical editor for another 11 years before retiring in 1987. In retirement they have literally traveled the world, exploring Europe several times and enjoying an African safari. They also loved being part of local hiking groups and volunteering. “The Axtells are such great neighbors, and they are the epitome of the Greatest

Photo contributed The Axtells in front of their first home together in Los Angeles.

Generation. They are lovely people,” said neighbor Chris Elmerick. Since they can’t get around very well now, they enjoy meals brought to them each day by Atterdag Village of Solvang’s Meals on Wheels program. “Seeing our family and beautiful grandchildren are always a delight. We know we have led a great life together. It’s not perfect, but I think as close as you can get,” Jim said as his lunch was arriving.

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26 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018 “As we hovered above them there was rain like I have never seen. It was leaking in the top of hardest rescue I’ve done,” Udkow said. the helicopter, and … our radios died. I couldn’t After their first rescue, Udkow said, the rain see 100 feet in front of me. The firefighters were was coming down so hard that they had to from Montecito Fire Department and stuck up to wait 10 minutes to take off again. Their next their waists in mud,” Udkow said. call was a woman frantically waving from her Once they unloaded those passengers, they rooftop. After she was hoisted she told the crew were grounded again because the water had her neighbor had broken his leg. Her daughter damaged the helicopter so badly. However, was also missing, but ultimately was found and they were able to dry out and take off again reunited with her mother, Udkow added. after a frustrating hour. As they unloaded and refueled at Santa “At this point there was a strange smell, Barbara Airport, the husband of mudslide and doing hoists are risky enough as it is. victim Rebecca Riskin was being unloaded on a We ended up flying to Van Nuys, where our stretcher. Udkow remembers Riskin taking his helicopter is now being repaired. I just thank hand, with a far-away look in his eyes, and tell- my crew for getting us through it and all the ing Udkow that his wife had been swept away. joint operations coming together to get the job “He said it so matter of fact, and that really done,” Udkow said. took me by surprise. Then a paramedic friend The crew is now using another helicopter to pulled me aside and said it was a sign of fly geologists, hydrologists and county inspecshock,” Udkow added. tors over the disaster area to survey what is left As the crew got back into the air, another and what needs to be done. call came in of an elderly woman and two “There is still a lot of debris and boulders and firefighters stuck in the mud. the potential for another event,” Udkow said.

CREW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Photo contributed “At some points the only way I could distinguish where we were was using the fires as landmarks,” said Copter 308 pilot Matt Udkow.

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6 die of flu in 2 weeks in SB County Staff Report

ix people, all 65 or older, have died from the flu in Santa Barbara County in the past two weeks, according to the county Public Health Department. By comparison, three people died during the entire flu season last year. “The current numbers exceed where we were at this time during the 2009-10 H1N1 pandemic. What we are seeing is unprecedented compared to the last 10 years of influenza seasons,” said Dr. Charity Dean, Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer. The predominant strain this season is H3N2, which causes more severe disease, more hospitalizations and more deaths, officials said. However, most people with the flu will have more moderate symptoms and will recover within about a week without medical treatment, by resting and drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. To prevent the spread of flu and preserve more time care for patients who are experiencing extreme illness and life-threatening conditions, Cottage Hospital is asking people to avoid coming to the emergency department unless they are suffering from serious symptoms or complications. A Cottage spokesman said the emergency department may have long wait times due to the high volume of patients. The risk of life-threatening flu is especially great for the very young and the elderly. Pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions are also at higher risk. People in a high-risk group are ad-

vised to call their primary-care doctor or clinic at the first sign of flu symptoms to determine whether they might benefit from antiviral medication that can shorten the duration and severity of the flu. It is important to consult a pediatrician before providing any medication to young children. Severe flu symptoms include: n Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath n Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen n Sudden dizziness and confusion n Severe or persistent vomiting n Flu symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough n Bluish skin For children, additional symptoms of serious flu include: n Breathing fast n Not drinking enough fluids n Not waking up or interacting n Irritable to the point of not wanting to be touched or held n Not shedding tears when crying, having significantly fewer wet diapers than normal Cottage officials also say it is not too late to get a flu shot, which is the best protection against the flu. Other precautions include washing your hands often with soap and water; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and avoiding contact with sick people. People who become sick should stay home from work and school to avoid infecting others. People with flu-like symptoms should not enter the hospital if they are not in need of emergency care. Find more information on preventing and treating flu at www.cdc.gov/flu.

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February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 27

Impact of secondary trauma is real; here’s help The work we do, the news we watch, the stories we hear can affect us profoundly By Alana Walczak For Noozhawk

am tired. It has been an absolutely horrible month. Like all of you, I have been glued to the local news and my Facebook feed for weeks now. First, I was obsessively seeking out news of the fire. I worried about the well-being of friends and colleagues, monitored air-quality levels, juggled the p hysical and emotional needs of two very scared daughters, evacuated or helped others to evacuate, all while trying to continue to do as much work as possible. It was intense. Then, just as firefighters heroically saved our beautiful community, and life was starting to get back to normal with the dawn of a New Year, we’ve been hit with unimaginably devastating mudslides and debris flows. Again, I am glued to Facebook, press briefings and news stories. I’ve emailed and texted and called everyone I can think of who lives in Montecito. I’m hearing the harrowing stories on the news, and also directly from friends and colleagues. And because we are a community of only “one degree of separation,” even though I haven’t been personally impacted, I know way too many people who are. I feel helpless. I’m tearful and heartbroken. I feel overwhelmed. And, of course, my children are equally overwhelmed. They hear and feel my anxiety, sadness and worry. They feel it at school from friends and teachers. They carry it in their little bodies all day, every day. And I’m struggling too. At times, I feel numb and at others, I feel agitated. I find myself distracted and unable to focus. And,

STRANDED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 One bus company offered luxury buses, but at a steep price. After a long day of searching for solutions, officials called the Chumash Casino Resort’s general manager Bill Peters, who offered help

although this may seem strange, I’ve felt uncomfortable feeling happy. I notice that I almost feel guilty if I smile or laugh with a colleague. It feels wrong — disrespectful, maybe — to enjoy the clear, blue skies and sunshine we’ve had these past few days. It feels incongruous that when I wake up in downtown Santa Barbara, the sun is shining, there is no traffic, children are back in school, and I’m back at work. My routine is back to normal, my family and immediate circle of friends are secure, and I am not in danger. So, why do I feel so fragile? Because we are all suffering from secondary or vicarious trauma. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network: “Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the first-hand trauma experiences of another. Its symptoms mimic those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” At CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation), we concern ourselves with secondary trauma every day. Our counselors hear horrible stories, and it is incumbent upon us to think about how they care for themselves so they can continue to do their work. We practice mindfulness and encourage self-care in order to combat the insidious effects of secondary trauma. We must be whole and healthy before we can help others. Right now, everyone in Santa Barbara County is experiencing some form of primary or secondary trauma. It’s an epidemic. Fortunately, there are some things we can do to help mitigate the effects of trauma. I would like to share some valuable suggestions adapted from “Transforming the Pain: A Workbook on Vicarious Traumatization for Helping Professionals who Work with Traumatized Clients.” It is important that we become aware of how the work we do or the news we watch or the stories we hear can impact us in profound ways. Achieving and maintaining a sense of balance and connection in our lives can prevent us from experiencing secondary immediately. “Mr. Peters was incredibly gracious. Right away I knew he understood our dilemma; he immediately went into action,” Seaford said. The tribe ultimately provided two buses, for free, that were full of snacks and drinks for students and staff.

trauma or can help to mitigate its harmful effects. Here are several ways in which we can reduce the impact of secondary trauma:

positive coping skills included in your selfcare list.

Awareness

n Avoid isolation. Now is the time to talk to and connect with one another. n Listen to feedback from colleagues, friends and family members. Ask a family member or close friend to check in on you. n Remember your spiritual side. A spiritual practice or a faith community can provide calm and connection. n Strengthen support systems. Gather with friends over a potluck dinner. Find a meaningful way to volunteer. Seek out a mentor, or be a mentor to someone else. We are all still coming to terms with what we have experienced over the past five weeks. There has been so much fear, anxiety and stress. And now, we are moving into disbelief, sadness and profound grief. I believe our community will pull through this tragedy and come out stronger and more connected. We are resilient, and I encourage all of us to care for ourselves as we care for one another.

n Acknowledge your own history of trauma and be aware it can affect how you respond to new traumas. n Inventory your lifestyle choices and make necessary changes. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you exercising? Are you allowing yourself downtime? n Take care of yourself. Create a selfcare list and post it prominently in your home or office. This list may encourage you to be creative, get outside and appreciate the weather, take a weekend get-away, read a book, cook a meal, spend time with friends, or just have fun — however you define it.

Balance n Give yourself permission to fully experience emotional reactions. Do not keep your emotions bottled up and don’t judge yourself for the range of feelings you feel. Let them come, and then let them go. n Set realistic goals for yourself. Know your limits, accept them, and honor them. n Seek out a new leisure activity or reconnect with one you enjoyed in the past. n Recognize negative coping skills and avoid them. Substitute with the more

Connection

Alana Walczak is CEO of the nonprofit CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation), a leader in developing programs and services that effectively treat child abuse and promote healing, as well as programs that help prevent abuse through family strengthening and support.

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To help storm victims, give to verified recipients Staff Report

irefighters and other first responders are asking people not to bring donations to their Incident Command Post, but to donate to disaster relief organizations such as the American Red Cross or Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, as well as to any of the several accounts that have been established to help the victims of the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslides. United Way of Santa Barbara County is a lead agency for the region to accept cash donations. Law enforcement officials urge caution for anyone donating financially because con artists often take advantage of an emergency situation by setting up false GoFundMe websites and other types of illegitimate fundraising accounts. United Way of Santa Barbara County and Ventura County have joined forces to directly support people through the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund. To donate online, log onto www.unitedwaythomasfirefund.org; you can also text UWVC to 41444 or call 805-965-8591. Used clothing, bedding and toys are not being accepted, but nonperishable food, new clothing, toiletries and monetary donations are being accepted at these agencies: n American Red Cross: Monetary donations are accepted at www.redcross.org. Text “redcross” to 90999. n Foodbank of Santa Barbara County: Monetary donations, nonperishable foods, and fresh produce accepted at 4554 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara, 93110; 1525 State St., Suite 100, Santa Barbara, 93101; 490 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, 93455. n Salvation Army: Unopened and canned food, and monetary donations, accepted at 423 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, 93101. n Unity Shoppe: New clothing, shoes, blankets, toiletries and monetary donations accepted at 1401 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, 93101. County officials also urge all residents to register to receive emergency alerts by signing up at www.AwareAndPrepare.org. For ongoing updates, visit www.CountyofSB.org, follow @countyofsb on Twitter and Facebook, or call 211 from the 805 area code or 800-400-1572 outside of 805, or text your

Photo contributed Lauren Cantin, 14, was pulled from the wreckage after the mudslide swept away her home. Her father Dave died, and her brother Jack is missing.

zip code to 898-211. Officials at GoFundMe have sent out fundraisers specific to the tragedies, but county officials urge people to confirm what they are donating to. n The Sutthithepa family had an account created to help survivors: www.gofundme. com/pinitsooms-family-recovery-fund n Multiple accounts have been created for the Benitez family, which lost several family members in the mudslides including Marilyn Ramos, 27, Jonathan Benitez, 10, and Kailly Benitez, 3. Faviola Benitez Calderon, 28, is missing. They are www.gofundme.com/The-Benitez-Family, www.gofundme.com/4zuaupc, and www.gofund me.com/benitez-family-mudslide-fund. n Friends have established a fund to help Ralph Barajas after the mudslide killed his longtime partner Peter Fleurat and destroyed their home: hwww.gofundme.com/rose-cafe montecito-mudslide-loss n Marin Carbrera-Munoz fund was established to help with funeral expenses. www. gofundme.com/services-for-our-brother n The Corey family established a fund for funeral expenses for their daughters Morgan and Sawyer, who both died in the mudslide: https://fundly.com/morgan-sawyer-and-summer-corey-fund The Cantin family lost their father, Dave, and their 17-year-old brother Jack is missing: www.gofundme.com/cantinfamilyfund.

and utility infrastructure improvements. Vidro said that the state’s new reguThe city’s popular program for nonprofit lations on storm water systems will cost grants has dramatically expanded, going the city approximately $1.5 million to $2 from $82,000 being allocated for three million in upgrades to the system. The local organizations to more than $277,000 possibility of a storm water tax was also being allocated for 15 organizations. mentioned. The city is also spending $825,000 more In 2018, the city plans to complete on tourism than it did in 2008 and has seen Mission Drive crosswalk improvements, large increases in revenues from sales taxes the sidewalk for North Alisal Road, Well and transient occupancy taxes (the hotel 22 upgrades, Second Street drainage im“bed tax.”) provements, parking lot updates, and other The completion of the Skytt Mesa repairs. housing development was also mentioned. The city’s financial reserves are about In 2008, the model homes for the develop- $26.1 million compared to $17 million ment had just been completed. in 2008. Though the increase is positive, Though more than 10 businesses closed Vidro noted that capital improvements are last year, even more business opened, spread over a 10-year period and would cost $30.5 million if they were all combringing more wine, olive oil, food, and pleted at one time. Also, he said, the city business to the city. is facing large unfunded pension liabilities Some of the city upgrades last year inthat are expected to increase from the curcluded a fire station addition to accommorent $2.8 million to $5.7 million over the date a new ladder truck that should arrive next seven years. in the city soon, new radar speed trailers,

SOLVANG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 29 actions taken by all people who have been out there. Many rescues took to evacuate,” Farris said. place.” Farris woke up around 3 a.m. on The attendees, some teary-eyed, sat Jan. 9 and drove southbound. He had been silently while Farris spoke. sleeping inside his vehicle at the incident “A person had no clothing, and she command headquarters at Earl Warren (a firefighter) took the clothing off her Showgrounds. back and gave it to someone,” Farris Before he arrived at the Olive Mill Road said. “She was standing in the mud with exit in Montecito, Farris said, he drove into no clothes on to protect this person. “deep water.” We flew her out with several other people “I called our dispatch center to have and the Coast Guard, in the pouring the freeway shut down at that point — I rain.” continued and was talking to the chief on “We spent the first week in rescue mode the phone — and saw a giant flash in the — and for firefighters, it’s hard to transiair,” Farris said. tion from that,” Farris said. “Rescue mode He thought it was lightning. to recovery mode is something firefighters “That flash turned out to be the homes are not equipped to do, but that’s someon fire,” Farris said. “I could still see the thing we are doing because we are all a glow.” community. We want to see closure just On Jan. 9, there was a report of a large like everyone.” natural gas fire in the area of El Bosque His remarks received loud applause from Road, and a report of a natural gas excommunity members. plosion and structure fire on Via Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Mañana. Brown described working under hard con“I ordered more equipment and deployed ditions during the storm. all resources,” Farris said. “We have slogged through the mud, He continued traveling toward Carpinte- rescued the living, cared for the dead and ria and pulled over to make another phone assisted those in need,” he said. call. Anthony Stornetta with the Santa Bar“I was hitting deep water at every low bara County Fire Department said helispot on the freeway,” he said. copters were first dispatched early on Jan. 9. Debris flows were barreling down the Visibility at the time was difficult though hillsides when he was traveling north on heavy rain and fog. Highway 101. “Under any other state, those helicopters “I don’t know how I made it through wouldn’t have been launched,” Stornetta that,” Farris recalled. “It was a miracle. I continued on my way. My car was totaled, said. “Due to the number of rescues and people that were trapped, we launched the but somehow I was able to drive.” Farris headed to East Valley Road in his helicopters.” Stornetta said the helicopter crews had to mud-covered vehicle and parked along use night-vision goggles. Highway 192 at San Ysidro Road. “When they landed on Cottage HosAt that time, it was pouring rain outside. “I opened up the back of my car and ran pital, the fog rolled in, and they couldn’t get off the pad,” Stornetta said. “As soon the incident from that location,” as the fog cleared, they dropped under the Farris said. “That’s just one story. There clouds and took off again. This is unrealisare many more stories and more heroic

HEROISM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

tic. We usually don’t do missions like this.” Ten helicopters responded from the Ventura County Fire Department, Santa Barbara County, the U.S. Coast Guard, and five National Guard Blackhawks. Eighteen hoist rescues were conducted a few hours after the storm hit, Stornetta said. “It was dynamic and dangerous,” he said. “We picked people out of waterways, off rooftops, and anywhere. We grabbed them.” Within the first 14 hours, crews conducted 102 air rescues and transported patients to the Santa Barbara Airport, where the injured were met by an ambulance. One helicopter had water enter from the top of the aircraft, Stornetta said. “During that time, they lost all communication in the cockpit, and they continued to fly,” Stornetta said. “They kept going with more hoist rescues and smelled burning — that was time to set it down.” The Santa Barbara County air unit helicopter made an emergency landing at the Birnam Wood Golf Club. “The status of that helicopter is unknown, but I think it will be down for some time,” Stornetta said. Stornetta said a pilot, who has 11 years experience in the Navy and spent nine years in the Coast Guard, described the air rescue mission as “the most difficult situation he has ever flown” and “he’s one of our most experienced pilots.” Stornetta said rescue crews are asking about updates on the progress of those they saved from rushing waters and thick mud.

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“There’s a huge emotional attachment, and all they want to know if their patients made it,” Stornetta. “This has been an emotional time.” The meeting also provided the following information: n FEMA expanded the recently approved Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in the areas affected by the December 2017 wildfires to include damage incurred from flooding and mud and debris flows. n Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido said Jan. 16 marked the first day that all 20 school districts in the county were open to serve students since the Thomas Fire in December and the flash flooding event. n No reports of thefts or looting had been made to the Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Bill Brown. n County officials stressed the importance of keep roadways clear due to heavy equipment and excessive vehicle activity working to remove mud and water from Montecito to disposal sites. n The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management is working on plans in case another powerful storm prompts future evacuations. n Anyone interested in volunteering can visit www.redcross.org/volunteers. n CHP Capt. Cindy Pontes said those looking for their abandoned vehicles on Highway 101 or county roadways can call 805-477-4174, with their license plate number or vehicle identification available.

805.331.3053

30 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018

events

upcoming

IT’S TIME TO ‘SHOUT’

Isley Brothers to perform at casino Staff Report

Photo contributed The Grammy Award-winning group broke through with “Shout,” which sold more than 1 million copies.

he Isley Brothers, whose career has spanned pop, R&B, soul and funk throughout more than 50 years of entertaining audiences worldwide, will bring their latest tour to the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16. The Grammy Award-winning group, which began as a sibling gospel quartet in 1954, evolved throughout the years to compile seven No. 1 R&B hits, four Top 10 pop hits, 13 albums certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum, and an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From Cincinnati, the group first consisted of brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon Isley, and they performed gospel music until Vernon’s death in a bicycle accident shortly after the group’s formation. The remaining Isley Brothers moved to New York City in the late 1950s and experienced modest chart success. In 1959,

they became known for their fourth single, “Shout,” which eventually sold more than 1 million copies. The group recorded with a variety of labels, but they hit it big when they formed their own label, T-Neck Records, and won a Grammy Award for the single “It’s Your Thing” in 1969. In 1973, the group added younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper. For the next decade, The Isley Brothers recorded top-selling albums such as “3 + 3,” “The Heat Is On,” “Harvest for the World,” “Go For Your Guns,” and “Showdown.” This era included hit singles such as “That Lady,” a cover of Seals and Crofts’ “Summer Breeze,” “Fight the Power” and “The Pride.” The Isley Brothers’ current lineup features Ronald Isley, who has been the lead vocalist since the group’s inception, and lead guitarist Ernie Isley. Tickets for the show are $65, $75 & $85, available at the casino or at www.chumash casino.com.

Kirby Brown to open Standing Sun’s season He has since toured across America, headlining shows, playing alongside inger-songwriter Kirby Brown will friends, and sharing bills and festivals with open the concert season at Standing artists including Willie Nelson, Sun LIVE in Buellton at 7:30 p.m. The Flaming Lips, Leon Russell, and Friday, Feb. 9. The Avett Brown’s Brothers. formative years The theme were spent on a of his upcomfarm in Arkaning album, sas where he “Uncommon was exposed to Prayer,” is gospel, bluegrowing up and grass and the adjusting to classic country change, searchhis grandfather ing for light in would strum in dark places, the evenings. and redempAfter the tion in the death of his mundane repetigirlfriend and tion of everyday his best friend, life. Brown began to Standing Sun Photo contributed write songs and Growing up in rural Arkansas, Kirby Brown was influenced by many Winery is at 91 moved to Dallas, styles of music and the poetry of Walt Whitman, Robert Frost and his Second Street where he began father. in Buellton. For his musical more informacareer by writing and releasing his first tion or tickets, log onto www.standingsun album, “Child of Calamity.” wines.com. Staff Report

Wine & Dine join us for a romantic dinner at Mad & Vin this Valentine’s Day featuring food & drink specials book your reservation today!

call 805.688.3121 or visit www.opentable.com/mad-and-vin

February 6 - 19, 2018 H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H Santa Ynez Valley Star H 31

To submit an event for publication, email the information to news@santaynezvalley star.com. To see more information online, go to www.santaynezvalleystar.com.

February 6

Free Classes and Weight Room – Now through Feb. 16. Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton. Restrictions may apply. Call 805-688-1086.

February 7

Montano de Oro and Spooner Ranch House Trip – 9 a.m-5 p.m. Depart Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. $20. To register, visit www.cityofsolvang.com.

February 8

The Natural Wonders of the “Lone Woman’s” Island; Lecture presented by the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society and Solvang Library – 7 p.m. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. Free.; www.syvnature.org or 805-688-4214.

February 9

The Garagiste Festival – Feb. 9 through 11. Features wines from “small-lot” wine makers. Buy tickets at www.californiagaragistes.com. Detox Diets Deciphered Seminar – 12-1 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431. Kirby Brown Performance – 7:30 p.m. Standing Sun Wines, 92 2nd St., Buellton. $12; www. standingsunwines.com.

February 10

A Party to Celebrate 10 Years – 1-3 p.m. Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton. Enjoy cake, a bounce house, hotdogs, face painting, demonstrations, giveaways and prizes. Call 805-6881086. The Kitchen’s 1-year Anniversary – All Day-Food Specials; 5 p.m.-Cask Release; 6:30-9:30 p.m.-Live Music. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., 45 Industrial

Way, Buellton.; 805-694-2252.

calendar

February 11

Fastelavn – 5:30-8:30 p.m. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. The traditional Danish carnival fundraiser features children and adults in costumes, traditional treats, dinner and drinks, and a Danish-style piñata game. $8/person. Pancake breakfast — 8: 30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., SYV Presbyterian Church, Troop 41 fundraiser, $5 for kids 10 and under, $7 for everyone else.

February 12

Conquering Diabetes Complications Seminar – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431.

February 16

Getting on Board with Healthy Eating Habits Seminar – 12-1 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-6886431.

February 17

Every Tuesday Knitting, 9 a.m.; computer class, 9:30 a.m.; bridge and poker, 1 p.m.; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805688-1086.

Every Wednesday Yoga, 9:15 a.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.: Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-6881086.

Knit and Crochet - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Every Saturday Junior Golf Clinics – Zaca Creek Golf Course, 223 Shadow Mountain Drive, Buellton; free; 805-698-6224 or bob@oldeschoolgolf school.com.

Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; 805688-4515 or www.sbparks.org.

Solvang Farmers Market - 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Street between Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive, Solvang.

KidKraft – 2-2:45 p.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511 Mission Drive, Solvang; monthly art class for kids of all ages; $5/child, adult admission included.

Trivia Night – 7-9 p.m., Naughty Oak Tap Room, 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez; www.naughtyoak .com.

Every Monday

Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley - 12-2 p.m., Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center offers a support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers; www.jodihouse.org.

Senior T’ai Chi, 9:15 a.m.; Arthritis Class, 10:15 a.m.; Creative Coloring, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Senior Issues, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805- 6881086.

Home School PE - 2:45-3:45 p.m., and Itty Bitty Sports, 4-4:45 p.m., Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA, 900 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; 805-6862037.

After School Wednesdays – 2-5 p.m., Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop, 252 E. Highway 246, Unit A, Buellton. Pre-registration and fee required; 805-693-0714.

The River’s Journey Art Exhibit Special Event– 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511 Mission Drive, Solvang. Enjoy artwork by the Rose Compass artists, a group of 6 local women who have explored the impact of the Santa Ynez River. Enjoy appetizers, wine poured by Flying Goat Cellars, and the opportunity to meet all 6 artists. $75 Admission for 1 person, 1 catalog and a chance to win artwork. Guest Ticket: $10 Admission for 1 person; katie@wildlingmuseum.org.

Weight Room - 6-8 a.m. and 1:30-8 p.m., Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton, $3; 805-688-1086.

Bingo - 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Every Thursday

Chair Exercises - 10 a.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571. Arthritis Class, 10:15 a.m.; poker, 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Coming Up Log onto www.cityofsolvang.com or www.buelltonrec.com to see the full schedule of programs and events from adult sports to youth sports, teen dances, field trips and excursions.

Every Friday

Pilates - 10 a.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

WHAT’S MISSING? YOUR AD! TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CONTACT

Shana Deleon ads@santaynezvalleystar.com 805-350-3148

32 H Santa Ynez Valley Star H www.santaynezvalleystar.com H February 6 - 19, 2018

$14,000,000 | 3235 Roblar Ave, Santa Ynez | 56± acs Sharon Currie | 805.448.2727

$5,995,000 | Shoestring Winery, Solvang | 60± acs Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929

$2,950,000 | 4150 Tims Rd, Santa Ynez | 5BD/5½BA Carole Colone/Claire Hanssen | 805.708.2580/680.0929

$1,895,000 | 1125 Ladan Dr, Solvang | 5BD/4BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500

$1,695,000 | 2750 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3½BA Claire Hanssen | 805.680.0929

$1,175,000 | 930 College Canyon Rd, Solvang | 3BD/3BA Nina Stormo | 805.729.4754

$989,000 | 3050 Samantha Dr, Santa Ynez | 4BD/3BA Suzy Ealand/Ken Sideris | 805.698.9902/455.3159

$839,000 | 175 3rd Street, Solvang | 4BD/2BA Laura Drammer | 805.448.7500

$829,000 | 1210 Deer Trail Ln, Solvang | 4BD/2½BA David & Marlene Macbeth | 805.689.2738

$749,000 | 2081 Rebild Dr, Solvang | 3BD/2BA Rhoda Johnson | 805-705-8707

$649,000 | 545 Meadow View Drive, Buellton | 3BD/2BA Sharon Currie | 805.448.2727

$599,000 | 129 Sharon Pl, Buellton | 3BD/2BA David & Marlene Macbeth | 805.689.2738

$599,000 | 746 Hillside, Solvang | 3BD/2½BA Carole Colone | 805.708.2580

$375,000 | 123 Highway 101, Gaviota | 2 acs commerical+12 acs ag Bill Grove | 805.350.3099

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©2018 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. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information. CalBRE 01317331