Senate objects to Biden’s vaccine mandate
Concert to benefit Grace Fisher Foundation
Lawmakers say requirement shouldn’t be imposed on private employers - A3
Orchestra to perform Grace Fisher’s original compositions, and vocalists include ‘Voice’ and ‘American Idol’ contestants- B1
Our 166th Year
75¢
f r i day, de c e m be r 10 , 2 021
National Llama Day
El Capitan Canyon welcomes visitors to celebration; two llamas join the herd By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The llamas that prance, sunbathe and stretch along Highway 101 in Gaviota are typically only accessible to El Capitan Canyon guests and those involved in partnership programs, such as 4H. But the resort opened pastures Thursday, National Llama Day, to the public. Richard Good, general manager, hopes this year will set a tradition for more Llama Day celebrations with the community. Two additions to the herd arrived just 48 hours before the Big Day: a female and male llama each around eight months old. Community members, guests and staff are submitting name suggestions for these young llamas. When El Capitan Canyon bought the land (which Mr. Good describes as having a “million dollar view”) in 2000, the staff inherited 30 female llamas from the previous owner. In captivity, llamas live to be about 20 years old. There are 30year-old llamas lounging in the resort’s field. Mr. Good thinks resident farmer and maintenance manager Larry Miller — often called the “Goat Whisperer” — has something to do with the herd’s longevity. One such senior llama, Oreo (perhaps named for her cookiesand-cream, freckly face), resides with the sheep in the smaller pasture. She can’t walk far, so Mr. Miller placed her with the sheep. He didn’t want her to feel the pressure to keep up with the llamas. Mr. Miller came from Ohio in 2005, where he worked in agricultural education, to take care of the resort’s animals. He enjoys working with Santa Ynez 4H, the Waldorf School — and anyone who is curious enough to learn about animals. Sometimes, interested guests witness an animal’s birth. Mr. Miller has many stories where families staying at the ranch became involved in the birthing process. He brings bottle-fed baby goats to the Waldorf School, where the students learn to nurture the animals. A Waldorf preschool student arrived at the Llama Day celebration Thursday, smiling as she handed hay to docile sheep. The wool sheared from the
COURTESY PHOTOS
Music stars Brad Paisley and Kenny Loggins will co-host Unity Shoppe’s telethon Sunday on KEYT-TV, Channel 3.
Unity Shoppe prepares for annual telethon Nonprofit helps families in need By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Volunteers will be honored when Unity Shoppe hosts its annual telethon from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday on KEYT-TV, Channel 3. The telethon, which marks the Santa Barbara nonprofit’s 35th annual Holiday Celebration, is Unity Shoppe’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year’s theme is “Honoring Our Community Of Volunteers.” Last year, due to COVID-19, the nonprofit had to navigate hosting the fundraiser without any volunteers. So this year, telethon organizers felt inspired
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Two young llamas join the herd at El Capitan Canyon above Highway 101 near the Gaviota Coast. They are awaiting names.
animals is used for fiber arts at the Waldorf School. As Mr. Miller fed the llamas, a particularly rambunctious goat named Lily stood up on the fence, looking at the small group that pooled around the new arrivals. Lily was bottle-fed by a thirdgrade class at Waldorf School that helped raise her. Now she loves attention, Mr. Good said. He said she didn’t like being Please see LLAMAS on A3
Unity Shoppe helps families with basic needs such as food.
Holiday parade to grace Goleta on Saturday By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Above, resident farmer and maintenance manager Larry Miller — often called the “Goat Whisperer” — carries a baby goat while its mother follows. Below, visitors from the resort and the general public watch a variety of animals.
Stella Purcella catches the attention of sheep as she holds hay and waits to feed them.
FOLLOW US ON
66833 00050
3
The Goleta Holiday Parade is back. The procession will go down Hollister Avenue from Orange Avenue to the Goleta Valley Community Center, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday. The popular Old Town Goleta tradition includes community organizations, schools, nonprofits, youth sports teams and more marching down the street. The Goleta Lions Club is partnering with the city of Goleta and other community sponsors to present the parade, which was canceled last year because of the pandemic. “We feel it is important to the citizens of the community for the recovery from the COVID
debacle,” Ed Holdren, the parade chairman, told the NewsPress in November. “People have enjoyed the parade in the past, and so we stepped up to continue it as a tradition for Old Town.” The parade started five years ago, and it has impressed people such as Goleta City Council member Roger Aceves. “Throughout the duration of my involvement as councilmember, I have rarely seen an event that warmed the hearts of all our community members as much as the Goleta Holiday Parade,” he said. “It is important to generate continued support for this event and keep spirits and cheer alive this Holiday season.” For more information, go to goletaholidayparade.org. email: kzehnder@newspress.com
LOTTERY
i nsi d e Classified.............. b4 Life..................... b1-2 Obituaries............. a4
6
to honor their volunteers, after experiencing what it was like without them. “This was absolutely the year to showcase our volunteers and offer our gratitude for their undeniable impact, especially coming out of COVID when their absence was felt so markedly by all of us at Unity, “ remarked Pat Hitchcock, the nonprofit’s donor relations director. The telethon will be hosted for the 35th year in a row by Kenny Loggins, who is a longtime supporter of Unity Shoppe and the rock star behind the “Footloose” theme and the song Please see TELETHON on A2
Sudoku................. b3 Weather................ a4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-6-23-41-46 Mega: 4
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 9-8-0-9
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 1-7-40-43-68 Mega: 1
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 4-7-12-13-14
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 04-11-02 Time: 1:44.85
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 3-7-33-50-69 Meganumber: 24
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 4-3-6 / Midday 8-6-7