Tribal clinic to give kids a smile

The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic will provide free dental care for local children during its third annual Give Kids A Smile event on Feb. 2.

Located at the clinic on the reservation (at 90 Via Juana Lane in Santa Ynez), the event provides children, ages 1-12, with exams, cleanings and more. It will last from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This is one of the clinic’s biggest events of the year.

The Dental Department will provide dental care for any local child, regardless of income or insurance status. Children will receive a comprehensive oral examination (including X-rays when appropriate), teeth cleaning, oral health education and dietary recommendations. Any treatment that is diagnosed during the exams will be completed at follow-up visits throughout 2023, according to a news release.

The event will be staffed by clinic dentists, registered dental assistants and dental hygienists.

During last year’s event, nearly $10,000 of dental services were provided to 27 children at no cost to their families.

“Our dental department looks forward to this event every year because it gives us an opportunity to shine a light on the importance

Blood oranges

Ranging from a variegated orange hue with a swirl of red to such a deep red that they appear to be purple, fresh blood oranges are now readily available from several local growers at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets.

Whether squeezing them to make a fresh glass of juice or enjoying the individual sections in a salad or grain bowl, the dynamic tangy-sweet citrus notes with hints of berry is quite pleasing. Reduce the juice in a pan and serve over seafood and roasted vegetables or incorporate into a host of baked goods. This week I prepared grilled blood orange chicken as the Fix of the Week, below right.

Blood oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, thiamine and the antioxidant anthocyanin that gives these oranges their signature color. Price averages $3 per pound.

Honeydew radish

The bottom third of these elongated radishes yields a cream color and the top third, a light green, reminiscent of the top of a honeydew melon. Honeydew radishes are crisp, of pediatric oral health and to hopefully make a positive and lasting impact on our young patients,” said Dr. Mike Savidan, dental director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“It’s an honor to be able to be able to hold this annual event that moist, a little peppery and subtly sweet. They’re ideal for slicing into rounds and adding to a salad or incorporating into soups and stews.

These radishes have a very pleasing aroma and refreshing finish, and they’re ideal as a palate cleanser.

Grown by Her Family Farm, they can be found at the Saturday Santa Barbara and Sunday Camino Real farmers’ markets. Price is $2.50 per pound.

Rosalba radicchio

This is one of the prettiest winter greens I’ve encountered this season. They standout of their light pink hue across the main leafy portion, with some light variegated green splashed in, and the white connected ribs toward the central portion.

This bitter winter green will make quite the splash on the table. Used as a leaf lettuce in has no out-of-pocket cost to our patients,” said Richard Matens, chief health officer for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“Give Kids A Smile gives parents an opportunity to provide their children with dental care that they otherwise might not get each year.” email: cbeeghly@newspress.com a salad, the natural bitterness pairs well with acidic dressings, flavorful cheese and sweet root vegetables.

Give Kids A Smile is a national program launched in 2003 by the American Dental Association, with the goal of providing no-cost care for thousands of children.

With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, each year during the first week of the month, dental offices across the country partner with the ADA and celebrate with their own GKAS event, providing muchneeded free dental treatment to underserved children in their local communities.

Registration is required to participate, and openings are limited. If you are interested in your child participating in the Give Kids A Smile event, call the clinic at 805-688-7070.

More delicate than some of the other radicchio varieties you will encounter, it is more suited for raw preparations but can also be sauteed, grilled, or used as a braising green.

Also commonly referred to as rosa radicchio, pink chicory or pink lettuce, rosalba radicchio is native to northern Italy.

Grown organically by both Roots Farm and The Garden Of…, both in Los Olivos, rosalba radicchio can be found at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Wednesday Solvang farmers’ markets. Price averages $3 each.