Inaugural Bricks and Builds event celebrates creativity and connections involving famed Danish product
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
The City of Solvang was awash in multi-colored plastic bricks on the weekend of April 5-6 as Solvang Park, the Solvang Veterans Hall, and a few other locations hosted the inaugural Bricks & Builds event, celebrating all things Lego.
Solvang, known for its deep Danish roots, was an appropriate site for the event, as the Lego company was started in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund, Denmark, who began making wooden toys in 1932. Two years later, his company came to be called “Lego”, derived from the Danish phrase “leg godt,” which means “play well”. In 1947, Lego expanded to begin producing plastic toys, and soon created the interlocking blocks we all know so well. The company is still based in Billund.
The Lego craze has resulted not only in countless playset and products, but conventions and expos all over the country where Lego builders and fans gather to build and meet up with others who
share the passion.
However, such events have been few and far between in California, something that Bricks & Builds organizer Allyson Gail wanted to rectify.
“I really wanted to get something going here, because we haven’t had
any Lego event in California after the Bricks LA event stopped a couple years ago,” said Gail, who was on the reality show “Lego Masters” and actually helped organize a similar Lego event in Solvang in 2022. “I just wanted to give somewhere for the Lego builders to go to. We have
people from the Bay Area down to San Diego, and from Long Beach, Orange County and LA.”
Gail pointed out the different things going on with the event.
“We have all the builds displayed here, we have vendors in
Briefs .
Pg. 2
• Candidate filing opens May 5 for Buellton’s vacant City Council seat
. Pg. 4
• SYV residents participate in nationwide ‘Hands Off’ protest of president’s policies
Sports Pg. 10
• Pirates boys volleyball stands atop competitive Mountain League
Arts & Nonprofits Pg. 13
• SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale announces featured artist, awards jurist
Arts & Nonprofits . . . . . . . Pg. 15
• Mary Kay West’s art excels in beauty, harmony, order, and completeness
Arts & Nonprofits Pg. 17
• Solvang Voted as ‘Best Small Town in the West’ in USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards
Food & Drink Pg. 19
• peasants FEAST restaurant celebrates five years with block party
Events . . . . . . .
. . . . . Pg. 21
• It’s that time of year again at Cachuma Lake — Fish Derby set for April 26-27
Calendar Pg. 19
• Government meetings and events
Miguel Zuniga, who owns the Bricks and MiniFigs store in Lomita, shows off some of his products in the vendor section at the Lego Bricks & Builds event April 5-6 at Solvang Veterans Hall. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
NEWS BRIEFS
BUELLTON
Candidate filing opens May 5 for Buellton’s vacant District 4 City Council seat
The City of Buellton will begin accepting candidate applications on Monday, May 5, for the District 4 City Council seat, left vacant following David Silva’s election as Mayor on Nov. 5, 2024.
Eligible residents of District 4 who are registered voters and interested in serving the remainder of the four-year term may obtain and file nomination papers between May 5 and May 30.
A Special Election to fill the seat will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and will be conducted exclusively by mail-in ballot. Ballots will be sent to all registered voters in District 4 beginning Monday, July 28. Voters may return completed ballots via the official drop box located in front of City Hall at 107 West Highway 246. All ballots will be securely collected by county election workers.
Election results will be certified by Sept. 25.
Residents interested in filing to run for the seat should contact City Clerk Linda Reid at lindar@cityofbuellton.com to schedule an appointment during the filing period.
For more information, visit: cityofbuellton.com/government/special/Mail-InBallot-Special-Election.
Easter Eggstravaganza returns to River View Park April 19
The 33rd Annual Solvang & Buellton Easter Egg Hunt is hopping back to River
View Park in Buellton on Saturday, April 19 — the day before Easter Sunday. Known as the Santa Ynez Valley’s largest egg hunt, the festive event kicks off promptly at 10 a.m., so families are encouraged to arrive early. In addition to the egg hunt, kids can enjoy games, Easter crafts, and more springtime fun. At River View Park, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton.
April’s Featured Art in Buellton: “Exploring the Ocean”
The City of Buellton continues its yearlong community art project, Exploring the Ocean, with April’s featured artwork now on display. Sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, this month’s selection includes vibrant pieces by local artists Lauren O., Alex H., and Olivia Uribe.
To view their original creations, visit: buellton.art/2025-april-ocean-art-feature. This initiative is part of Buellton’s Art & Culture Program in partnership with the California Nature Art Museum, made possible through monthly sponsorships and strong community support.
SANTA YNEZ
Kahn, Business Committee
Reelected to Santa Ynez Chumash Leadership Team
Kenneth Kahn has been reelected as Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, marking his fifth consecutive full term leading the tribe’s governing body. The recent election also reaffirmed the leadership of Business Committee members Mike Lopez, Maxine
Littlejohn, Gary Pace, and Raul Armenta, who will each continue serving two-year terms.
The Chairman and Business Committee oversee the legal, business, and policy affairs of the tribe while working to ensure the economic well-being of its members. Kahn, 48, was first elected to the Business Committee in 2003 at age 25, making him the youngest member ever elected to the board. Over the years, he served as Secretary-Treasurer and Vice Chairman before being elected Chairman in a 2016 special election. Beyond his tribal leadership role, Kahn serves on the California Truth and Healing Council and as Vice Chair of the Native American Rights Fund.
Returning as Vice Chairman, Mike Lopez enters his sixth consecutive term on the Business Committee. Lopez, who served a decade on the Santa Ynez Gaming Commission, also holds leadership roles with the California Nations Indian Gaming Association and the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County.
Maxine Littlejohn, reelected to her sixth term, continues as Secretary-Treasurer. A Business Committee member since 2000, she briefly left to serve on the Gaming Commission before rejoining the board in 2015.
Gary Pace, a longstanding figure in tribal leadership, begins his 12th consecutive term. He first joined the committee in 2004 following a special election and has helped guide the tribe through two decades of growth.
Raul Armenta returns for his sixth consecutive term after first joining the committee in 2016. Prior to that, he served
nearly 20 years on the Gaming Commission.
Since the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act in 1934, federally recognized tribes like the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians have operated under self-governing constitutions. These governing systems, rooted in tradition and cultural identity, enable tribes to manage their own affairs while preserving their heritage.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, located in Santa Barbara County, remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the United States. Its reservation was officially established in 1901.
Chumash Foundation’s Technology in Schools Grant deadline approaching April 30
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Technology in Schools Program, which provides grants to Santa Barbara County schools seeking to enhance classroom technology. The deadline to apply for funding for the 2025–2026 school year is April 30, and all applications must be submitted online at chumash.gov/ foundation. Launched in 2015, the program has awarded more than $550,000 in grants, helping schools purchase new hardware, upgrade infrastructure, integrate high-tech resources, and enrich their curriculum.
The most recent 2024–2025 recipients include Vista Del Mar Union School District, which received $8,255 to upgrade
Buellton City Council puts in a little overtime
After hearing United Way presentation in regular meeting, councilmembers discuss budget priorities in Saturday session
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
The Buellton City Council put in a little extra time in the first full week of April, conducting its regular meeting on Thursday, April 10, before holding a special meeting on Saturday, April 12, at the Buellton Library to discuss future budget priorities.
In the regular meeting, for which Mayor David Silva was absent, the council listened to a presentation by the United Way of Santa Barbara County on its Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative, a program designed to improve access to childcare for low- and middle-income families in the Santa Ynez Valley. Later, in the meeting’s first business item, Steve Ortiz and Rose Levy of the United Way of Santa Barbara County gave a presentation explaining the organization’s Brighter Futures Childcare Initiative. Having the United Way come to explain the program was something suggested by Councilmember Hudson Hornick, who has two children in the Zaca Preschool in Buellton, and said he has seen the difficulty that some have had in getting affordable childcare.
“I’ve talked with Shelley Grand, the executive director of the preschool, and she told me she has a waiting list of 100 to get into the school,” Hornick said. “This is just a staggering obstacle for families to get proper care.”
Levy said the city can also help by looking at its land-use policy to make it less restrictive for preschool and childcare facilities to open. In response, Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis said she could direct staff to look at Buellton’s land-use policy, while Councilmember John Sanchez suggested the city could incentivize future housing project to include a building or facility for childcare. Hornick, who has already joined a county coalition on the issue, said he would like to explore the possiblity of partnerships with the United Way to help the process.
operating with a surplus for the rest of its 10year forecast, Hornick said the discussion was probably unnecessary as the forecast now did not show a future deficit, thanks to, among other things, an expected spike in the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT).
The councilmembers still decided to go over the budget priorities that were listed in an earlier meeting.
Among the listed items included in the projection:
In her presentation, Levy pointed out that the county has a child-space deficit (people waiting to get in to childcare) of 9,371, and their are over 1,000 on waiting lists in the Santa Ynez Valley alone.
Levy said the issues facing families trying to get their kids into childcare include high tuition rates, difficulties of running a childcare facility, lack of providers, and inability of parents to fully participate in the workforce.
The Brighter Futures Initiative tries to narrow the gap with scholarships for the “missing middle” (middle-income families), and programs to encourage more childcare, among other things.
Levy suggested ways for Buellton to engage would be create revenue sources to help strengthen the childcare sector, and gave examples from elsewhere in the county.
“In Goleta, they have the Measure B sales tax; in Aspen, Colorado, they use a real estate transfer taxes; and in Hood River, Oregon, they use [transit occupancy tax] to fund childcare opportunities,” she said, naming just a few of many.
In other business, the council agreed to install signs at the transit stop near the Buellton Library on Valley Dairy Road. In the March 13 meeting, staff was directed to find a solution other than a red curb to prevent parking at the stop.
Director of Public Works Rose Hess recommended signs prohibited parking while the transit buses were still in operation, which Hess said would be from approximately 6:49 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday. After agreeing to keep a red curb in front of the fire hydrant just before the Dairyland Road intersection, the council voted 3-0 to approve the signs.
On Saturday, April 12, the City Council convened in a conference room at the Buellton Library for a special meeting to discuss budget priorities, one that City Manager Scott Wolfe said would be an “informal discussion” on the city’s budget needs. Hornick had suggested the meeting at previous regular meetings because he believed the council would have to deal with a deficit in future years.
However, after Finance Director Shannel Zamora gave her presentation, which had new numbers that showed the city would be
Willemsen Property Parking Lot: Cost given at $2.6 million which will be split between separate fiscal years. Sanchez voiced his opposition at a stairway up to the library, but Wolfe assured that they would be looking to build a ramp instead.
Highway 246 Safety Improvements: To cost $2 million, to be split between fiscal years.
Motor Officer add to Sheriff Contract: Listed at $270,200 per current contract proposal.
Median 3 (Avenue of Flags) design/improvements: Listed at $3 million — $850,000 paid in FY 2024-25 and $2.15 million paid in FY 2025-26.
Children’s Museum: City has agreed to partner up with museum on Willemsen property, projected as $800,000, with a $350,000 start-up contribution, $150,000 per year in years 1 and 2, with a $150,000 match at 2 for 1 in year 3.
Two items on the list not projected included a splash pad (thought to be part of Children’s Museum budget), and a shade canopy at the River View Park playground (deemed not feasible due to frequent high winds at park).
The City Council will meet next on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m.
The Buellton City Council and City Manager Scott Wolfe discuss city budget priorities during a special Saturday meeting April 12 at the Buellton Library. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
SYV residents participate in nationwide ‘Hands Off’ protest of president’s policies
Demonstrators gather on sidewalks in front of Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall on Mission Drive
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
On a busy weekend in Solvang, a number of Santa Ynez Valley demonstrators gathered along Mission Drive in front of the Veterans Memorial Hall to participate in a national day of protest on Saturday, April 5.
The protest, referred to as “Hands Off,” was against the recent policies of President Donald Trump, including newly imposed global tariffs, cuts to government agencies and federal workforce, and raids to round up undocumented immigrants, among other policies made by the president after his reelection in 2024.
According to the Associated Press, demonstrations were organized for more than 1,400 locations in all 50 states, with an estimated 3 million participating.
Among the ones on the Central Coast was the one in Solvang (there were also demonstrations in Santa Barbara and Lompoc) spearheaded by Solvang resident Christine Pickavet, with help from Santa Ynez resident Leslie Churchfield.
“I wanted to go to Santa Barbara, and I saw there was one in Lompoc, but I knew we had a strong presence of people here in Solvang to do one,” Pickavet said. “So I contacted Leslie, and we got the word out.”
Pickavet said she organized the demonstration mainly to give people a voice, and there was no one issue over the others that prompted her to protest.
“We wanted something here in Solvang for local representation for our voices, because I think it can lean the other way sometimes,” she said. “I just wanted everyone who
shares our perspective to know that they’re not alone here in the Valley, and I knew it could gather even if it was just Leslie and I on the corner.”
Plans for the protest were curtailed somewhat by the Bricks & Builds weekend-long event, which was an inaugual convention for Lego builders and enthusiasts. Organizers had reportedly sought to use Solvang Park, but the Bricks & Builds already had activities and entertainment set up there. The protesters gathered instead at Mission Drive in front of the Veterans Hall, which was the main location of the Lego event.
Most demonstrators had handmade signs that they held up for passing motorists to see, many playing off the “Hands Off” idea, and others referring to more specific subjects, like the tariffs, governmental cuts, immigration, and LBGTQ+ issues. Motorists could be heard sounding their horns, presumably in support, as they passed the protesters.
“The reactions from people passing by has
been very positive,” Churchfield said. “We’re getting a lot of honks.”
While the more than 100 protesters had a few issues to protest, Nancy Dale of Solvang said it all stemmed from what she thought the federal government was becoming.
“With who’s in charge now, I feel the government is becoming autocratic, and that really scares me,” she said.
Amy Derryberry of Solvang, who came to the demonstration with Dale, agreed, saying, “I think it’s become a power grab that’s unconstitutional and with all of [Trump’s] that are completely not qualified for any of the offices that they’re at.”
Ultimately, for Churchfield and other protesters, it was the satisfaction of being a part of something bigger, and letting her voice be heard.
“We’re taking part here, but it’s the National Day of Protest, and we’re standing strong with apparently two and a half million other Americans, and that feels good,” she said.
(Left) Christine Pickavet (left) and Leslie Churchfield were the organizers of the Solvang “Hands Off” protest, one of an estimated 1,400 protests held on Saturday, April 5, the National Day of Protest. (Top right, from left) Pickavet, Churchfield, and Phil Merritt display their flag and signs during the “Hands Off” protest. (Bottom right) People protesting against the policies of the Trump Administration line up on Mission Drive. Photos by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
County, city leaders host community meeting on wildfire safety
Supervisor Joan Hartmann urges neighborhoods to get together and form action plans
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
With the recent devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Pasadena still fresh in everyone’s minds, the steps to protect one’s home and property from wildfires becomes more and more important.
With that thinking, Santa Ynez Valley residents attended a public meeting to address fire safety and preparedness, co-hosted by Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, Buellton Mayor David Silva. and Solvang City Councilmember Elizabeth Orona on March 31 at the Solvang City Council chambers.
With other local leaders from the Valley present, the meeting had fire personnel and county evacuation experts on the panel to give presentations and answer questions from the audience on fire safety and prevention.
Orona opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and noting that the meeting was held for local residents to be “more aware, more informed, and more prepared” for potential wildfires in the area.”
“Not that we weren’t already conscious of it, but it is important for intercommunities to be coordinated and planning our reponses,” Orona said. “Fire safety and fire abatement is most effective when we work together and follow programs.”
Silva then spoke and urged to practice preparedness for not only fires, but other emergencies.
“Even smaller emergencies can cause havoc,” he said. “Buellton’s
a commuter city, and if an emergency happens here at the wrong time, you could be miles away. That’s why you need to be proactive in the neighborhood; emergencies aren’t always going to be with a FEMA element attached to it.”
Hartmann then spoke and delivered a message that would set the tone for the evening: “Resilience is built on relationships, and having social connections gives you a better chance for survival.”
She then introduced Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Fred Tan, who said that the key for residents is to maintain fire mitigation by keeping vegetation clear around one’s property, and that the county is doing its part in that.
“We take a lot of action in this county, my deputy fire marshal, Vince LaRocco, is the backbone of the mitigation,” Tan said. “We’ve conducted the Spalding-Midland burn, a roughly 1,600-acre project that creates about a 10-year buffer to protect the communities and next year we’re planning the Sedgewick burn, which should help clear more vegetation and keep us safer from wildfires.”
After Tan spoke, Hartmann then introduced Anne-Marie Parkinson, the executive director of the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, for which Hartmann is a board member. The Fire Safe Council works with fire agencies to reduce risk, and also with neighborhoods, encouraging them to collabarate on fire prevention and mitigation.
Parkinson spoke to the audience about Firewise USA, a program that provides collaborative framework to help neighbors, get organized, understand risk, and work together to decrease wildfire risk. She began her presentation by showing a video of actor James Woods recounting how he saved an elderly neighbor after authorities lost track of him during an evacuation.
“I got chills seeing that, because that is the whole point of Firewise,” Parkinson said. “That man was rescued because the neighbor [Woods] knew him, knew where he was, knew his son’s number, and the man is alive because of that.”
She then went on to say the county had 30 Firewise communities in Santa Barbara County and were looking for more, hoping to have the whole county under the program. The Firewise program promotes creating a committee, identifying boundaries and risk assessments, and putting together an action plan.
Hartmann then proposed a Firewise community be formed in the Santa Ynez Valley and eventually link it to others in the county.
“We’re working on a Firewise community in Lompoc, and we just finished one on the Gaviota coast,” she said. “Having one in Santa Ynez Valley can help bridge the effort to be ready for fires.”
The next speaker was Sara Aguilar, director of animal ser -
vices for Santa Barbara County, who advised on the evacuation of animals during a fire.
Emergency time is short options shrink immediately,” she said. “You can’t just load your animals in a car, or take them to a hotel. Saving animals can be risk to human lives. The key is to have a plan for evacuation.”
Aguilar also provided a QR code for a livestock registry that can be used so those with the county who are evacuating your animals know the particular and eliminate any confusion at your property. She also suggested an evacuation practice at night to make sure you can load your animal and get out quickly. She said if you can do that at night, it will be much easier during the day.
After the speakers were done, the floor was opened for questions and comments from the audience.
The first audience member pointed out that air support is important for fighting fires, but that the county is currently working with “Vietnam-era helicopters” that need to be upgraded.
“It cost money, but the investment is important, and we have people in this area with money,” the man said. “If the chiefs bring the proposal forward, we’ll support you.”
That speaker also proposed more night capabilities for aircraft, when the conditions were better, and also said partnering with the Chumash Fire Department could also be beneficial.
Another audience member pointed out the shortage of roads to get out of Valley towns during a fire or other catastrophe.
“We have one road in and one road out: I don’t get how it can work,” she said. “We can’t get out on the 4th of July, how will we get out if there’s a fire? where’s the infrastructure?”
To that end, Tam urged an early warning notificiation, and for the people to be self-aware and leave early if they feel they need to instead of waiting for officials to order them out.
“We’re phasing in an evacuation plan,” he said. “It’ll be a challenge, but with early detection, we should do OK.”
Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann speaks during a community meeting March 31 in Solvang to address wildfire safety and preparedness. Screenshot from YouTube
Chromebooks and its uninterruptible power supply; College School District, awarded $9,173.96 for a 3D printer and interactive whiteboard; Los Olivos Elementary School, which received $10,136 for MacBooks and AppleCare; and Santa Barbara Unified School District, which received $10,000 for digital projectors. Additional recipients include La Colina Junior High School, Orcutt Academy High School, Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School, San Marcos High School, Lakeview Junior High School, and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, which used grant funds for tools ranging from robotics kits and laptops to interactive display boards and Esports equipment. The program was born from the success of the tribe’s 2015 charity golf tournament, where proceeds were donated as technology grants to four local schools. Inspired by that impact, the tribe established an ongoing initiative through its foundation to support the evolving technological needs of classrooms across the county. For more information or to apply, visit chumash.gov/foundation or call (805) 688-7997. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $30 million to schools, nonprofits, and organizations locally and across the country, continuing a long-standing tradition of community giving.
SYHS Safe + Sober Grad Nite Organizers seeking donations
Organizers of the 2025 Santa Ynez High School Safe + Sober Grad Nite are seeking donations to help fund this year’s event, set to take place the night of May 30–31. For more than 22 years, parents, friends, and the local community have come together to host an all-night celebration, providing a safe and sober environment for graduating seniors to enjoy after commencement.
To support this meaningful tradition, visit SYHSGRADNITE.com, follow @ syhsgradnite2025 on Instagram, or email syhsgradnitechair@gmail.com for more information.
LOMPOC
Mini Quilt Auction at Gaviota Coast Wines set for May 4
Quilters Etc., the quilt guild serving the Santa Ynez Valley and Lompoc area, will host a Wine and Mini Quilt Auction on Saturday, May 4, at Gaviota Coast Wines in Lompoc.
Guests are invited to enjoy a relaxing afternoon sipping local wines by Steve Escobar while browsing and bidding on stunning handcrafted mini quilts. The event will also feature artist Dora Cary of orangedotquilts.com.
The tasting room, located at 236 North F St. in Lompoc, opens at 1 p.m., with a quilt preview, followed by the live auction at 2 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit Quilters Etc. For more information, visit quiltersetc. org.
Kristine Kelly’s ‘Painting with Glass’ on display in May at Cypress Gallery
The Lompoc Valley Art Association’s Cypress Gallery is excited to feature “Painting with Glass,” a stunning new show by artist Kristine Kelly. The exhibition will be on display from May 1 through May 25.
Kristine Kelly’s passion for art has been a lifelong pursuit, and in 2016, she began creating landscapes using fused glass, a technique she quickly fell in love with. Through classes with outstanding instructors, Kristine was able to explore various styles and methods, each instructor leaving a unique mark on her work. She thrives on experimenting with new techniques and adding her personal touch, creating vibrant, dynamic pieces that blend the
precision of glasswork with the fluidity of landscape painting.
The public is invited to view the exhibition and meet the artist at her reception on Saturday, May 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Kristine’s creative process and explore the intricate beauty of her glass art.
The Cypress Gallery is located at 119 East Cypress Ave. in Lompoc, directly across from the Lompoc Museum. The Lompoc Valley Arts Association (LVAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. The LVAA hosts a variety of arts programs and events that support local artists while benefiting the community.
For more information on the arts in the area, visit lompocart.org, and don’t forget to Like their Facebook page, “Cypress Gallery.”
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
New Clean Air Express route offers free rides in April
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) has launched a new midday bus service designed to provide more convenient and frequent transportation options for commuters traveling between North County and the South Coast. The new service, dubbed the “Midday Connector”, officially kicks off this month and offers free rides throughout April.
In celebration of Earth Month and to promote public transit, the “Midday Connector” is available to riders at no cost from 7:15 a.m. to 3:24 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. This new addition to the Clean Air Express network connects Santa Maria, Lompoc, Buellton, Goleta, and Santa Barbara, with more flexible daytime travel options to accommodate residents’ varying schedules.
“For the first time, commuters can enjoy
easier travel between North County and the South Coast,” said Marjie Kirn, executive director of SBCAG. “We’re thrilled to introduce this new midday bus service in response to the many commuters requesting more flexible daytime transportation options.”
The “Midday Connector” began as a soft launch in November, offering a demonstration service that has already garnered positive feedback from local residents. Aaron Bonfilio, director of multimodal programs for SBCAG, shared one story of a local resident with a disability who now has the ability to independently travel to Santa Barbara without waking up at dawn. “This new service is making a real difference,” said Bonfilio. “We’re excited to see how the more flexible schedule is helping riders run errands, attend appointments, and reach their destinations at times that work best for them.”
The “Midday Connector” will continue after April as a demonstration service, allowing SBCAG to assess ridership and gather community feedback. After the free fare period, one-way fares will be $7, with a reduced rate of $3 available for seniors (65+), individuals with disabilities, and Medicare recipients.
This new midday service is part of SBCAG’s biannual service adjustments to the Clean Air Express, which also include updated schedules and infrastructure improvements at various bus stops across the region. Riders will notice new bus stop signs and informational displays at locations throughout the county.
Funded by Measure A, a half-cent countywide transportation sales tax, and the State of California’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program, the “Midday Connector” is aimed at increasing accessibility and reducing traffic congestion while promoting sustainability.
For more information on the “Midday Connector” and other Clean Air Express services, visit cleanairexpress.org or sbcag. org.
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Kacy Caplan chosen Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Queen for 2025
Santa Ynez High junior will preside over Youth Rec’s Kick-off event on April 27 at Buellton’s River View Park
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
Kacy Caplan has been chosen as Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Queen for 2025. She will represent the Santa Ynez Valley and perform the various duties that the title Queen requires.
Caplan is the daughter of Robyn and Brian Caplan and her grandmother is Paula Albrecht. She also has an older sister, Boe, and a twin brother, Cole. She is currently a junior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Caplan says she is looking forward to raising funds for the youth in the Valley so that they can experience the same outstanding programs and facilities that she has benefited from and has had the opportunity to enjoy. She believes in giving back to the community that has given her so much.
“Growing up in the Valley, I have had the opportunity to experience so much, such as raising turkeys and pigs in Lucky Clover 4-H, playing in a variety of sports, dancing, and spending time with my friends at our local parks,” stated Caplan in her application letter. “In high school, I took on leadership roles such as FFA President and ASB class officer. I am also a varsity athlete in girls’ golf (for three years) and track (for two years). The incredible sports facilities in our community, many of which have been built and maintained by SYV Youth Recreation, have had a lasting impact on student athletes, just like me.
“Beyond school, I am also an active member of the National Charity League, where I have volunteered at numerous community events, including the Youth Rec Queen events in years past. I have seen first-hand how much SYVRC has
lot with the auction part of the events: asking businesses and people for donations, picking those donations up, setting up baskets for different items, making sure it is all organized, and, of course, showcasing the items during the live auction,” she said. “All the money made at the auction goes to the Youth Rec, and they use this money to help the youth in our Valley. For example, they have built several facilities at the high school, including the weight room, supplying all the weight systems, the swimming pool, the softball diamond, the tennis complex, rebuilt the baseball complex and built the Ag Barn for the FFA. They also built the enclosure for the paint booth at the auto shop and continue to help the various teams and clubs at the high school. Amazingly, I have been chosen to help run these events, because I want to give back to the community that has blessed me with so many great things.”
Caplan is looking forward to attending college after she graduates from SYHS next year.
“We chose Kacy based on her interest in our program and her outstanding success as a student at Santa Ynez High School,” Kelsey said. “For the last several years she has attended and helped at all of our events. Kacy is an athlete, an ASB officer, and president of the SYFFA.”
The events which Queen Kacy Caplan will preside over are as follows:
• The Kick-Off event will be a barbecue and auction held at noon on Sunday, April 27, at River View Park in Buellton.
• The second event will be held on Monday, May 5, at Gainey Winery in Santa Ynez. It will feature a luncheon and an auction.
• On Friday, May 16, New Frontiers Market will be donating 5% of its sales to the Santa Ynez Valley Rec Queen Campaign. Come shop, meet Queen Kacy Caplan, and help her with this fundraising event.
provided for local youth, and I am grateful for the excellent opportunities it has given me, and many others.”
Caplan said she is proud of serving SYV Youth Rec, whether or not she is Queen.
“Ever since I started volunteering at the youth Rec Queen events, I have had people ask me if I wanted to become queen. I would always respond with a ‘maybe,’ to not seem like the only reason I was volunteering was to become queen, because that was not the case at all,” said Caplan. “However, the more people asked (which was not a ton) the more I saw it as a great opportunity and something I would love to do. I was really surprised when I became Rec Queen, and I am very honored to be given this position.”
Caplan explained what some of her duties are, now that she has been chosen Rec Queen.
“A lot of my duties revolve around the three main events. For instance, I help a
“After graduation, I plan to attend a four-year college outside the state. I want to major in ag communications,” she said. “I have a few schools in mind, such as Texas A&M and Kansas State.”
Caplan realizes the work that is involved with being Rec Queen, and is honored to be a part of it.
“I was really surprised when I became Rec Queen. However, after the initial feelings wore off, I was very honored,” she said. “Getting closer to the events, I realize that it is going to be a lot of work, but it is also going to be a lot of fun. These events are really fun to attend and volunteer at. Knowing that these events are helping raise money for the youth in our Valley makes all the work worth it in the end.”
SYV Youth Rec got a fitting and deserving individual to take the Queen’s crown (which in this case is embroidered on a 10-gallon hat), according to Frank Kelsey, the executive director of Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation.
• The final event will be held on Friday, May 23. A dinner and auction will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Solvang.
“I look forward to raising funds for the youth in our Valley to experience the same outstanding programs and facilities that I have,” Caplan said. “We are ready to start the 2025 Queen’s Campaign and I would greatly appreciate your support! Please save these dates for upcoming events — I cannot wait to celebrate with my family, friends, and all of you!”
SYV Youth Rec was started in 1955 to raise money to build a pool at the high school. It was completed in 1965 and SYV Youth Rec has raised over $4 million for local youth programs and facilities and has funded many projects at Santa Ynez High School, fields at local elementary and middle schools, and the volleyball, baseball, and soccer fields at Sunny Fields Park, among other accomplishments. For more information on SYV Youth Rec, or information on attending the events or donating to Caplan’s campaign, visit www.syvyouthrec.org.
Kacy Caplan has been chosen as Santa Ynez Valley Youth Rec Queen for 2025. Photo by Mike Mesikep
Vandenberg teen wins U.S. Space Force Military Child of the Year Award
Daughter of Space Launch
Delta 30’s senior enlisted leader honored by Operation Homefront
By Elaina Siler Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs
Military readiness isn’t just about the individual in uniform; it’s about the strength and resilience of the entire family. This year, Natalia Serna, daughter of Space Launch Delta 30’s senior enlisted leader Chief Master Sgt. Jay Harris and Maria Tapia, embodies this crucial connection as the U.S. Space Force’s Military Child of the Year, recognized by Operation Homefront.
This prestigious award, presented annually for the past 17 years, recognizes the resilience, leadership, and commitment of military children across all six branches of the armed forces.
“I was completely shocked. Being nominated was an incredible honor, but finding out I had won felt surreal,” said Natalia. “I immediately thought of my family, my peers, and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.”
Natalia paved her path to this remarkable achievement with courage, adaptability, and unwavering spirit. Throughout her father’s deployments, she faced the challenges inherent to military life with grace, grit and determination.
“Military life isn’t easy — TDYs, long separations, and frequent moves require constant adjustment. Our daughter has handled each challenge with remarkable strength,” said Chief Master Sgt. Harris. “This award is an incredible honor and truly reflects the hard work, sacrifices, and heart our daughter has poured into her community and our family. For our family, it’s a moment to pause and celebrate not just her accomplishments but the journey it took to get here.”
Natalia’s story resonated deeply with the judges throughout the multi-stage selection process. Her compelling essays and insightful interviews showcased not only her personal growth but also her passion for supporting other military youth and solidified her belief in the power of community and the importance of supporting one another.
“Natalia has great social skills,” said Tapia. “She is constantly embracing new experiences that cultivate connections that enrich her life.”
Tapia credits their time in Germany as a pivotal experience for Natalia, familiarizing herself with the culture of six nearby countries local to Germany.
“She developed a strong desire to explore, travel, and seek new information and experiences that have helped her become a well-rounded teen,” said Tapia.
After attending seven schools in 11 years, the family says youth programs that support military kids as well as mentors who understand the constant changes that come with military life were highly impactful for this achievement. For Natalia, she is just getting started.
“Being named Military Child of the Year for the Space Force motivates me to amplify my voice and use it to support other military children,” said Natalia. “Whether it’s advocating for and creating spaces where military kids feel heard and supported, I want to be part of the solution.”
Natalia’s story serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of military children across the globe. Her message to current and future military children emphasizes their inner strength.
“You are stronger than you realize. Constant moves, deployments, and the uncertainty can be tough, but those challenges also shape you into someone resilient, adaptable and capable of achieving incredible things,” said Natalia.
She stands as a shining example of resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to community – values that will undoubtedly guide her toward a bright and impactful future.
“This award solidifies my passion for leadership and pushes me to find new ways to give back,” said Natalia. “Not just within the military community but beyond.”
The Harris family, with Military Child of the Year Natalia Serna (with dog) poses for a family photo on March 28. Contributed Photo
Pirates boys volleyball stands atop competitive Mountain League
SYHS golfer Brayden Mlodzik shoots career best in Pirates dual match against Sierra Pacific
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
The Santa Ynez boys volleyball is on a great run in the middle of its Mountain League schedule and hopes to put itself in good shape for the upcoming CIF Central Section playoffs.
After a three-game sweep over non-league opponent Cabrillo (25-12, 25-14, 25-9) on Tuesday, April 8, the Pirates stood at 4-0 in the Mountain and 13-3 overall. SYHS has won seven straight regular matches; it’s only recent blemish was the Bishop Diego Tournament in Santa Barbara on Saturday, April 5, where the Pirates won four (two-out-of-three-sets) matches before losing to host school Bishop Diego, 25-22, in a one-set final.
The success shouldn’t be all that surprising: SYHS is in the second year of the return of Hall-of-Fame coach Chip Fenenga, who actually established the boys volleyball program in 1992 and won seven CIF Southern Section championship in his first stint coaching the boys. He recently won his 500th as boys coach, and also won 199 in a previous stint as girls volleyball coach.
“Oh, I’ve had good players,” Fenenga said with a laugh after the Cabrillo game. The coach said the key with this year’s team is its defense.
“We’re very good defensively,” he said. “We are just able to force teams to get out of their game and make mistakes.”
Sophomore outside hitter Nathan Biron agrees.
“Our defense is like no other on the Central Coast,” he said. “It’s our backbone. It allows us to get our setters to pitch it out to our hitters.”
According to senior team captains Manny Sanchez and Ben Suerman, a pair whom Fenenga calls “the backbone and heart of the team,” has been a team that been very in sync.
“Our communication is how we’re doing so well,” Sanchez said. “We’re better this year at talking and making sure everyone knows what they’re doing.”
Suerman said that extends outside the court.
“The morale on this team is amazing,” he said. “It’s the closest team I’ve ever been a part of.”
The Pirates played at Templeton on April 10, and will close out its regular season with three home games, against San Luis Obispo (April 15), Atascadero (April 17), and Arroyo Grande (April 17), all starting at 6 p.m. After that, the team will find out where it will be placed in the CIF Central Section playoffs; the Pirates were placed in Division at the season’s start, but could be moved up to Division I.
“We have great expectations for CIF wheth-
er or not we go Division I or II,” Sarumen said. “We’ve scouted the teams up in the Central Valley in the Fresno and Clovis area; they’ll be tough, but were excited about playing some heavier-hitting teams.”
SYHS golfer shoots personal-best score in dual match
Santa Ynez senior golfer Brayden Mlodzik shot a career-low one under par 71 as the Pirates boys golf team defeated Sierra Pacific 403-458 in a non-league dual match on April 9 at the Alisal River Course in Solvang.
Mlodzik’s score beat his previous low by one stroke, and he has had a solid scoring average of 77 through 12 rounds this season, according to head coach Sara Ovadia.
Mlodzik also shot 78 for the Pirates’ low score in the fourth Mountain League tournament of the season, this one hosted by SYHS on the Alisal course. The Pirates shot a team low in league with a 426, with placed them fourth on the day.
San Luis Obispo was low team with 386, one stroke Arroyo Grande, who had the medalist in Ned Tarter with a score of 70.
Beach volleyball squad loses tough one to Arroyo Grande
The SYHS girls beach volleyball squad lost another tight one to Arroyo Grande, whom they lost to in the CIF Central Section final last year.
In this matchup, on April 1, the Eagles beat
the visiting Pirates 2-1. Arelie Perez and Natalie Bailey teamed up for the Santa Ynez win, defeating Bixby Hardy and Diana Sorondo 21-14, 21-18.
The Pirates’ Scarlett Ollenburger and Jordan Gann won their first game against AG’s Bella Strickland and Grace Kennedy 21-13, but lost the second game 21-16, and the decided third game, 15-8. Helina Pecile and Kailyn Snekvik also went three games, with Elizabeth Trimble and Isla Smith, as AGHS took the first game 23-21, SYHS won the second 21-15, and the Eagles’ duo won the decider 15-10.
“AG has great ball control and does a really good job of limiting their errors,” said SYHS head coach Melissa Rogers. “In addition, they are a tough serving team. Our 1’s and 3’s struggled today with their serve receive and as a result did not get into system consistently enough to pull out a win.”
However, Rogers had praise for her winning duo.
“On the 2’s court, Arelie Perez and Natalie Bailey cruised to victory, playing a very solid match,” Rogers said. “They are playing very dominant volleyball right now. Their strengths and weaknesses really complement one another.”
The Pirates (4-1 in league, 12-5 overall) followed up that match with wins over San Luis Obispo (2-1) and Bishop Diego (5-0). They will end the regular season with a home game against AGHS, and then await their first CIF opponent.
(Left) Santa Ynez High outside hitter Anders Dietenhofer goes up for a spike during the boys volleyball game against Cabrillo on April 8. The Pirates would sweep the Conquistadores to go 13-3 on the season. (Right) Santa Ynez High boys volleyball coach Chip Fenenga addresses his players between sets of the Pirates game against Cabrillo. Fenenga is in his second season back coaching the program he started back in 1992. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club welcomes back ‘Polo in Paradise’ on May 4
Matches can be viewed every Sunday into October
The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is thrilled to announce the opening day of the 2025 polo season on Sunday, May 4, marking the beginning of another exhilarating season of world-class polo. With top-tier teams and elite players from around the globe set to compete, this year promises unforgettable moments both on and off the field. Tickets are available now and can be purchased at sbpolo.ticketsauce.com.
“The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club continues to be a premier destination for polo players and fans alike,” said David Sigman, general manager of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. “Our stunning location, stellar facilities, and competitive atmosphere make this a truly unique polo experience. Each year, we welcome both returning and new players to take part in one of the most exciting seasons in our club’s history, and we can’t wait to share this experience with our spectators.”
The 2025 season schedule can be found at sbpolo.com/web/pages/weekly-polo-schedule. The season kicks off with the 12 Goal Series (May and June), followed by the prestigious High Goal Series (July and August), and concludes with the 8 Goal Series (September and October).
Spectators can enjoy polo all weekend long, starting with the Friday Happy Hour match at 4 p.m., and culminating with the highly anticipated Sunday Polo at 3 p.m (and 4 p.m. for July and August). The Club also offers polo lessons and clinics at its Polo Academy and will host a variety of social events throughout the season.
“We strive to create an unparalleled polo experience for our guests, whether they are seasoned enthusiasts or first-time visitors,” continued Sigman. “From the thrill of the matches to the vibrant social scene, the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is a place where tradition meets excitement. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another incredible season.”
SUNDAY POLO
Join us every Sunday from May through October for an unforgettable day at the polo fields! The 2025 Polo Season kicks off on Sunday, May 4, with the Pope Challenge Cup. Gates open at 11 a.m., allowing guests to enjoy pre-match festivities and lunch at the Polo Grill. At 2:30 p.m., fans gather for the Pony Parade, the national anthem, and team introductions, all leading up to the 3 p.m. ball throw-in. Sunday Polo is open to the public, with
general admission tickets starting at $35 and a variety of premium seating options available.
For those looking to elevate their Sunday Polo experience, luxury cabanas and fieldside tents are available for reservation, offering a premium way to enjoy the match with friends, family, or colleagues. For groups of 10 or more, the Club offers customized VIP accommodations to ensure a truly special day at the polo fields. Please contact tickets@sbpolo.com.
FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
Kick off your weekend at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club! Every Friday at 4 p.m., guests are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to the Friday afternoon match, featuring Happy Hour drink specials and a relaxed, social atmosphere.
POLO GRILL
The Polo Grill offers a front-row seat to all the action with a menu featuring California cuisine, a curated selection of local wines, craft beers, and signature cocktails. Open Fridays at 2 p.m. for Happy Hour Match, and Sundays at 11 a.m. for the main match. For more information, call (805) 617-0808.
POLO BOUTIQUE
The Polo Boutique will reopen on Friday, May 2, offering a curated selection of stylish apparel and accessories. Open on Fridays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., the boutique is the perfect place to find chic, sporty fashion, logowear merchandise, and, of course, plenty of hats perfect for Sunday Polo.
The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club’s 2025 season sponsors include atōst, Palm Tree, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Folded Hills, Grey Goose, Lalo, Montecito Luxury Group, Norman’s Nursery, US Polo Association, and Whittier Trust. For more information about 2025 corporate partnership opportunities, please click here. View the full season schedule by clicking here.
About The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club
The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is the premier destination for polo on the West Coast. Located on the beautiful American Riviera, the Club offers three high goal fields, a Polo School, boarding facilities, polo lessons and country club amenities including eight tennis courts and a fitness facility, all alongside the Pacific Ocean. The 2025 season opens May 4 and runs through October 12. For more information about the Club and to purchase tickets please visit sbpolo.com.
(Top) The 2025 polo season will begin Sunday, May 4, at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. (Bottom) Female spectators take in the action and atmosphere at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. Starting Sunday, May 4, the polo matches are open to the pubic, with general admission tickets starting at $35. Photos by David Lominska
ARTS
SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale announces featured artist, awards jurist
Santa Barbara resident Derek Harrison, featured in Southwest Magazine, to preside over show in SLO
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
Tom B. Burgher, the CEO of SLOPOKE Events, recently announced Derek Harrison as the featured artist and awards jurist for the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale, which will be held Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at the Octagon Barn Event Center in San Luis Obispo.
“We are pleased to announce that Derek Harrison is our Featured Artist and Awards Jurist for SLOPOKE 2025,” said Burgher. “He joins an august group of professional artists serving as awards jurist and featured artists. He is a fulltime realist painter residing and working in Santa Barbara, a juried member of the California Art Club, and he was featured by Southwest Magazine as one of the 21 artists under 31 collectors should watch.”
After studying at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, Harrison continued learning at workshops, seminars, and mentoring with well-known Western artists Jeremy Lipking and Morgan Weistling, as well as popular figurative painter Sean Cheetham.
“Derek’s work focuses on the human form in western landscape settings with a nod to 19th-century painting but with a 21st-century flare,” Burgher explained. “He has received significant recognition as a young artist in print, film, and social media. Typically creating 10 major works a year, he has shown in numerous art fairs and gallery exhibitions worldwide, has had his work featured in several magazines and books and has won awards for his portrait and figurative pieces. An adjunct professor at Westmont College, he also teaches at the Los Angeles Academy of Fine Arts, the Scottsdale Artists
School, and his own workshops in southern California.”
Harrison is eager to be a part of the event.
“I’ve always heard wonderful things about SLOPOKE,” he said. “It is my honor to be the featured artist and awards jurist of this year’s SLOPOKE. I love San Luis Obispo and many of my recent pieces were done from that wonderful location.”
SLOPOKE 2025 is set for the weekend of Nov. 1-2 with the Opening Reception for ticket holders from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Octagon Barn Event Center in San Luis Obispo. It is the event’s first year in SLO after spending the previous eight years being held at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.
The Octagon Barn Event Center is at 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo. For more information, call 805-569-1235 or visit www.the-slopoke.com and Facebook/ Instagram @slopokewesternartshow.
Santa Barbara artist Derek Harrison will be the featured artist and award jurist for the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale to be held in San Luis Obispo in November. Contributed Photo
Rancheros Visitadores shatter fundraising record
Donations more than $1.73M to Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara
Staff Report
As the spring hits its peak, the Rancheros Visitadores will continue their annual tradition of parading through the streets of Solvang to old Mission Santa Inés on Saturday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. Community members will gather to witness a blessing of the riders and a check presentation to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. More than 750 Rancheros from 37 states and six countries typically gather for this annual event.
Since 2012, in conjunction with their annual ride, the Rancheros Visitadores, in partnership with Wrangler, have raised funds for the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. As the largest contributor to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara funds a variety of research and supportive care programs at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, both in Santa Barbara and Solvang, to help residents on their journey with, through and beyond cancer.
Starting under the initiative and leadership of member Steve Beneto, Rancheros Visitadores have donated more than $1.73M to the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara over the last 12 years.
This year the Rancheros Visitadores raised more than $200K, breaking previous annual fundraising records on their way to surpassing $2M by May of 2027. Steve Beneto believed deeply that Rancheros Vistadores should support the Santa Ynez community that has been so welcoming to the annual parade and ride.
Corky Ullman, El Presidente of the Rancheros Visitadores, explains, “Many of our members know first-hand the challenges a cancer diagnosis brings. Our collaboration with the Cancer Foundation ensures our local members, their family, friends and neighbors have access to a host of services to support them during their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. We are pleased to support this community that welcomes us back each year.”
“Our partnership with the Rancheros Visitadores provides important funding for programs such as oncology nutrition, genetic counseling, and oncology social work both in Solvang and Santa Barbara. The donations from the members of the Rancheros Visitadores are critical to helping patients navigate a period of uncertainty in their lives, often helping them to reduce stress, manage side effects and focus on healing,” shares Lori Willis, Executive Director of the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara is tremendously appreciative for the continued support of the Rancheros Visitadores and looks forward to furthering our shared goal of making
a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients in Santa Barbara County.
About the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara
The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara works to deliver superior cancer care to everyone in Santa Barbara County and provides significant philanthropic support to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center. To learn more, visit the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara at cfsb.org.
Unveiling the Deepwater Diving Monument
Honoring the birthplace of deepwater diving
Staff Report
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) proudly unveiled the Deepwater Diving Monument—a long-overdue tribute to Santa Barbara’s rich heritage as the birthplace of deepwater diving — during a special ceremony on Saturday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m., next to the Santa Barbara Harbor and SBMM.
The monument depicted a professional diver from 1982, wearing a Kirby Morgan® Superlite® 17 Diving Helmet, a revolutionary design that set the world standard for commercial divers. This iconic figure stood as a symbol of Santa Barbara’s pioneering role in shaping the global diving industry. The project was funded through the sale of Limited Edition, Certified, Fine-Art Bronze Statuettes sculpted by California-based artist Greg Polutanovich, as well as charitable donations made through SBMM. In the 1960s, local abalone divers transitioned to deepwater oxy-helium diving, revolutionizing commercial and military diving by enabling safe
exploration of much deeper waters. This transformation was sparked by Hugh “Dan” Wilson’s historic 400-foot dive off Santa Cruz Island on November 3, 1962. Conducted in secrecy, Wilson’s groundbreaking achievement—using mixed gas instead of air—launched what became known as the “Santa Barbara Helium Rush.”
Santa Barbara quickly became a hub for innovation in diving technology. Companies like DIVCON, California Divers (Cal Dive), and Oceaneering International emerged, with Santa Barbara Harbor serving as their operational base. These pioneers, along with Santa Barbara-based Kirby Morgan Dive Systems®, whose helmets became the international standard, cemented the city’s global impact on the diving industry.
SBMM Past President and co-chair of the Deepwater Diving Monument Committee, Don Barthelmess, said: “This stunning and highly detailed public-art sculpture will educate both residents and visitors to our city about the importance of commercial diving to society and the substantial infrastructure that began here decades ago. This dream was brought to reality thanks to the support of hundreds of donors and SBMM.”
“This magnificent Monument is a worthy
and lasting testament to the ongoing vision and ingenuity of the Santa Barbara diving community, whose revolutionary contributions have been vital to the advancement of international deep-water exploration. An inspirational sculpture for the whole maritime community,” added Leslie Leaney, SBMM Founding Trustee and co-chair of the Deepwater Diving Monument Committee.
The Deepwater Diving Monument now stands as a gift from the local and international diving communities—honoring the visionaries who transformed diving into the sophisticated practice it is today. It serves as a lasting reminder of Santa Barbara’s legacy and enduring influence on the maritime world.
About Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM), which is located in the Waterfront Center Building (formerly the Naval Reserve Building), opened its doors to the public in July 2000, with the unique mission to interpret the rich and diverse maritime history of the Santa Barbara Channel. SBMM is an interactive museum – a place where the public can experience maritime culture without leaving the harbor. For more information, visit sbmm.org.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum unveiled the Deepwater Diving Monument—a long-overdue tribute to Santa Barbara’s rich heritage as the birthplace of deepwater diving. Photo courtesy of SBMM
Rancheros Visitadores parading through the streets of Solvang to old Mission Santa Inés. Photos courtesy of Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara
Mary Kay West’s art excels in beauty, harmony, order, and completeness
The paintings in North Carolina native’s portfolio display just one of her many talents
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
Anative of Asheville, North Carolina, artist Mary Kay West has been on a journey of discovery since she was born. Accomplished as an artist, adept as a practicing yogi, learned as a psychologist, and elegant in style and carriage, West has a knowledge of self that emits an aura of beauty and peace from within and without.
She discovered her innate talent as an artist in 2003 when she was admitted to the Fine Arts League of Asheville with master artists Benjamin Long III and John Mac Kah. She completed studies in classical drawing and painting in 2007 and moved to the Santa Ynez Valley to paint full-time. West specializes in sharp-focus still life, birds, and, more recently, trompe l’oeil. Her work has been described as timeless, vibrant, and masterful, earning her the designation of Associate Living Master by the Art Renewal Center. She currently lives and works in Guadalupe and teaches painting classes in Los Alamos and Santa Barbara.
“I sold my first painting at 12,” said West. “A neighbor commissioned me to do a portrait of her dog. My mother was a well-known artist in the area, so I used to accompany her to her art shows. She was a watercolorist, but she taught me the basics of color and drawing. My father built me an arts and crafts station in my home, and both my parents encouraged creativity.
“My father also encouraged critical thinking and to develop an inquiring mind. He didn’t teach me things, he taught me how to learn, and there’s a critical difference. I had an ideal childhood, but adolescence kicked in, and I left home at the tender age of 16. I was in love and pregnant, and in North Carolina at that time, that would have disgraced my parents.”
West decided to flee for freedom, and the free spirit in her would not be curtailed, even though the police were looking for the runaways.
“My boyfriend and I drove from North Carolina straight through to Santa Barbara in his little Austin Healey, with the police looking for us. We rented an apartment, got married, and my daughter was born. We remained there for
about a year, telling no one where we were,” she said. “That is my one regret. At the time I didn’t realize the pain it would cause my parents. But I was a free spirit and needed to venture out on my own.”
Realizing it was time to go home after reconnecting with her parents, the couple returned to North Carolina where West attended college.
“I attended the University of North Carolina and the University of Tennessee and received a degree in clinical psychology,” she explained. “I worked for the state as a clinical psychologist for 14 years, all the while wanting nothing more than to be able to express myself creatively.”
“On an existential level, I have always questioned the reason for being, what is the purpose of life, and I knew that being a psychologist wasn’t it,” she said emphatically. “As we mature, we hopefully realize the difference between living an authentic life or putting on an act. That’s what we are taught as kids — to do what we should do versus following our own inner drive.”
West decided to take up yoga because her job was not fulfilling,
“I started doing yoga as a clinical psychologist because I was so depressed,” she admitted. “What I discovered was that Western psychology was missing the boat. Western psychology
focuses on dysfunctional behavior, while the higher yogic practice addresses the root of the problem, which is identification with the ego — our ego is the source of all our suffering. So, I quit psychology and started teaching yoga fulltime and creating wearable art, which was sold at Macy’s. I then divorced my husband after a 14-year marriage. A year and a half later I remarried.
“A few years later I learned that master artist Benjamin Long III moved to Asheville from Italy. He started an atelier and I studied with him for four years. My second husband and I divorced after a 15-year marriage, and I subsequently moved back to Santa Barbara to be closer to my daughter, Lia. She had grown up in North Carolina but went to college at the University of California Santa Barbra. She has her doctorate in political science.”
West continued to focus on her art, painting daily, teaching yoga, and eventually began teaching painting.
“I continued to do my art, and by then I was displaying my work in Portico Gallery, and at Classic Art Gallery in Carmel,” she said. “I also continued to teach yoga, having done so for 40 years. I stopped teaching classes about eight years ago and have been focusing on my art ever since, although I still practice yoga on a personal
basis. I have been teaching art for the past 18 years, once a week in Los Alamos, to carry on the classical realist tradition.”
West has recently been designated as a signature member of the California Art Club, a significant accomplishment.
“I am honored to represent the premier organization for artists in California,” she said. “Now my art can be seen at American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena.”
West’s art can also be viewed at Classic Art Gallery in Carmel, and Portico Gallery in Santa Barbara, as well as the permanent collection at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin.
Recently, her students from Central Coast Art League (CCAL), West’s atelier, held an exhibit at Café Joy at PARc PLACE in Solvang. The opening was extremely well attended and featured the art of some of her students: Nicole Burnett, Diane Connors, Michelle Feldman, Sally Jones, Pamela Macall, Karen Tuttle, and Rachelle Witt. West’s art was also on display. This impressive group of women meets once a week in Los Alamos under the guidance of West. The exhibit will remain at Café Joy until the end of June.
For more information, visit marykaywest. artspan.com or email mrykywest@yahoo.com
Mary Kay West, holding Tommy the Studio Dog, is shown with her art students at her atelier (French for “studio” or “workshop”) in Los Alamos. Photos by Devyn Marseilles
Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series continues
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum welcomes Dr. Erin Satterthwaite Staff Report
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is proud to host Dr. Erin Satterthwaite as the featured speaker for April’s Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series. Her compelling presentation, “Beneath Pacific Tides: Tales from Over 75 Years of Ocean Observations in California,” will take place on Thursday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. This special evening includes a pre-lecture reception for SBMM members from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., offering members early access and a chance to engage with fellow ocean enthusiasts before the main event.
Dr. Satterthwaite’s talk will delve into the fascinating and critical work of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), the longest-running integrated marine ecosystem observation program in the world. Founded in 1949 after the dramatic collapse of the Pacific Sardine fishery, CalCOFI has become an essential scientific resource, documenting the ocean’s physical, chemical, and biological changes for more than 75 years.
“CalCOFI is our eyes and ears under the water,” said Dr. Satterthwaite. “It provides us with essential information to make informed decisions that ensure thriving coasts and ocean ecosystems.”
California’s coastal waters are among the most biologically diverse and productive in the world, supporting vibrant marine life, recreation, and economies. But these ecosystems are
under increasing pressure from climate change and human activity, making long-term ocean monitoring more vital than ever. Dr. Satterthwaite will take attendees on a journey through the history of CalCOFI, its key scientific discoveries, and its role in shaping sustainable fisheries and marine conservation policies.
“Our oceans are changing rapidly, and CalCOFI is an essential tool in helping us understand these shifts,” said SBMM Education Coordinator Jason Statucki. “This program has provided decades of insight into marine conservation and sustainable fisheries, and we are
thrilled to bring Dr. Satterthwaite to SBMM to share this invaluable knowledge with our community.”
From monitoring ocean chemistry to tracking shifting fish populations, CalCOFI’s extensive research has provided scientists and policymakers with the tools to understand and respond to environmental changes in the California Current Ecosystem. Dr. Satterthwaite’s presentation will bring to light the incredible scope and impact of this ongoing scientific effort.
Currently a sustainability researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a
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California Sea Grant Extension Specialist, Dr. Satterthwaite serves as the Coordinator for CalCOFI. Her research spans marine biodiversity, ecosystem oceanography, and sustainable offshore ocean industries, with a focus on knowledge co-production and collaboration across scientific and policy communities.
Her work bridges the gap between research and real-world impact, collaborating with local, state, national, and international partners to promote informed ocean stewardship. Attendees of the lecture can expect an engaging and enlightening experience as Dr. Satterthwaite shares stories from decades of ocean observation and discusses the future of ocean sustainability in California and beyond.
The event is part of SBMM’s ongoing Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series, which brings leading voices in marine science, conservation, and history to the local community. The series is generously sponsored by Marie L. Morrisroe and continues to draw ocean lovers from across the region.
Tickets for the event are free for SBMM Navigators Circle members, $10 for all other SBMM members, and $20 for the general public. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis, with overflow viewing in the museum’s Munger Theater when needed.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is located in the historic Santa Barbara Harbor and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about visiting the museum or to reserve tickets for the lecture, visit sbmm.org or call (805) 962-8404.
Join SBMM and Dr. Satterthwaite for an evening of exploration, discovery, and deep appreciation for the dynamic marine ecosystems just beneath California’s Pacific tides.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is proud to host Dr. Erin Satterthwaite as the featured speaker for April for its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series. Photo courtesy of SBMM
Solvang Voted as ‘Best Small Town in the West’ in USA TODAY
Choice Travel Awards
Solvang, affectionately known as “The Danish Capital of America,” has been voted as the number one “Best Small Town in the West” in the 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, the results for which were publicly announced on Wednesday, April 9. Solvang finished ahead of secondplace Astoria, Oregon, and third-place Healdsburg, the only other California town to finish in the top 10 Solvang also came in at spot number five in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards category of “Best Small Town Food Scene.” Solvang was the sole California town represented in that category’s top 10, as well as the only Western town represented among the list’s top 10 winners. In 2025, Solvang was nominated by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors before being voted on by the public in three different Readers’ Choice Awards travel categories: “Best Small Town in the West,” “Best Small Town Food Scene,” and “Best Main Street.” The travel awards contest and online voting launched for the “Best Small Town in the West” and “Best Small Town Food Scene” categories on Monday, March 3, and online public voting ran through Monday, March 31. (Results for the “Best Main Street” awards category, for which Solvang is also competing, will be announced on Wednesday, April 16).
No stranger to the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Solvang, with a resident population hovering around 6,000, was one of the 10 Best Historic Small Town winners in the 2018 travel contest. Solvang was also one of the 10 Best winners for the same award category in 2016. In 2017, USA TODAY named Solvang as one of “10 great places to enjoy global Christmas traditions in the USA.” More recently, Solvang was nominated for the 2022 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in two different categories, “Best Historic Small Town” and “Best Small Town Cultural Scene,” securing seventh place in the 2022
winners’ listing for the latter category. In 2024, Solvang was voted second “Best Small Town in the West” in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The fourth through tenth place winners in 2025’s “Best Small Town in the West” category are: Cody, Wyoming; Grants, New Mexico; Sedona, Arizona; Bigfork, Montana; Breckenridge, Colorado; Jackson, Wyoming; and Moab, Utah.
Dog-friendly and ideal for kids, Solvang, known for its Danish-American vibe, architecture and design details, pastries and bakeries, and array of wine tasting options, also boasts dozens of unique boutiques,
restaurants, and gourmet food purveyors. Solvang’s foodie destinations offer everything from elevated street cuisine — like locally-sourced fish tacos on hand-made tortillas, and comforting ramen noodles — to European-style pretzels and sausages, to Italian standbys or iconic Danish dishes, to elevated new-Californian fare in the form of MICHELIN-honored menus. Solvang visitors sip small-batch, locally-roasted coffee, shop for exotic, hand-bottled spice blends, or enjoy Tiki cocktails and craft beer, all part of a playful, indulgent, and one-ofa-kind, year ‘round shopping and playing escape.
A bird-eye’s view of Alisal Road in Solvang is shown. Solvang has been voted “Best Small Town in the West” in 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com
Rising wages test targeted grazing sector
Sheep and goats help tame wildfire risk by grazing flammable vegetation in highrisk areas
By Caleb Hampton
Sheep and goats, deployed to graze flammable vegetation in targeted areas, have become a key part of California’s efforts to reduce wildfire fuels and prevent future infernos like those that have devastated parts of the state during the past decade.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has in recent years awarded millions of dollars in wildfire prevention grants for projects involving targeted grazing. By acreage, the practice ranks third in the state’s wildfire resilience activities, trailing only mechanical fuels reduction and prescribed fire, and outpacing tree planting and timber harvest, according to the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.
But California’s targeted grazing sector, which depends on a viable sheep and goat ranching industry, may be in jeopardy due to a steep rise in the minimum wage ranchers must pay the herders who look after their animals around the clock.
Since 2019, that wage has more than doubled. Meanwhile, from 2022 to 2024, California’s sheep inventory declined 13%, compared to a national decline of 3%, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“It’s just become untenable,” Andrée Soares, president of Star Creek Land Stewards in Merced County, said of the skyrocketing herder wages.
The rising wages are the result of a combination of state labor laws and regulations applied recently to herders. The workers, almost all of whom are hired from Peru through the H-2A guestworker program, typically live out of mobile trailers and stay with their herds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, tending to them on an on-call basis. Herders look after the animals, providing water and looking out for predators. They also take care of guard dogs and move fences, but otherwise spend much of their time on standby.
Historically, herders were exempted from overtime laws and paid a minimum monthly wage. But in 2016, California adopted Assem-
bly Bill 1066, entitling farmworkers to overtime pay when they work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. In 2019, when AB 1066 began to be phased in, state regulators determined the law—which applied to anyone employed in an agricultural profession—overrode herders’ longstanding overtime exemption.
Ranchers can still opt to pay a monthly wage set by the California Department of Industrial Relations. The formula used to compute that rate, however, is now tied to both the state’s minimum wage, which has increased yearly since 2017, and to the overtime law that was phased in from 2019 to this year.
As a result, the monthly wage for sheep and goat herders in California increased from $2,189 in 2019 to $4,820 this year, with employers also required to provide food and housing. The federal minimum monthly wage for H-2A herders this year is $2,058.
Separately, a bureaucratic oversight could disqualify goat herders—but not sheep herders— from the monthly wage option, causing their minimum pay to soar to more than $15,000 a month if a legislative fix is not passed this year.
“It’s blown a hole in our business,” said Dan Hay, who has raised sheep in Kern County for 50 years. “It’s been terrible.”
Hay and other ranchers have done their best to adapt.
The Kern County rancher laid off one of his herders. To keep his business afloat, he asked the remaining herders to take on more responsibility.
“The wage increase took most of the margin out of the business,” he said. “I’m trying to mitigate it by running more sheep with fewer guys.”
Sheep ranchers typically move their animals to graze on pasture around the state on a
seasonal basis and bring them back to a home ranch each year for lambing.
Soares, the Merced County rancher, said she has begun breeding fewer sheep so that she can send her herders back to Peru earlier than she used to each year to save on labor costs. She said she is doing whatever she can “to reduce labor as soon as our season changes come fall,” adding that it cuts into her business either way.
“If I’m reducing the number of animals I am raising every year, that means there are fewer animals that I have to sell,” she said.
Soares and Hay said they don’t know if they will break even this year.
Soares said the family-run business gets about 60% of its income from targeted grazing and the rest from selling meat and wool.
Initially, Soares was able to pass along some of the wage increases to her grazing clients, which include government agencies and private landowners. But even for local grazing contracts, there’s a limit to what she can charge. “I feel like we’ve reached the threshold,” she said.
When it comes to selling meat and wool into a global market, “we are price takers, period,” Soares said.
With just one major lamb processing facility in California, most of the state’s lambs raised for meat are sent out of state to be slaughtered and sold. In a global marketplace, California ranchers struggle to compete primarily with imported lamb from Australia.
“We don’t have any control over that side of it,” Hay said.
California ranchers said staying competitive in the commercial lamb sector is essential to sustaining the state’s targeted grazing business. That’s because the lamb market helps sustain a critical mass of local infrastructure and services such as trucking, shearing, supplies and veterinary care.
“Targeted grazing can’t exist by itself,” Hay said. “You need the whole industry to make it work.”
Since 2019, California sheep and goat ranchers have cautioned that applying the overtime law to on-call herders could bankrupt the sector.
In January, the Kern County Wool Growers Association held a press conference to raise alarm. “Unless the governor or the state Legislature intervenes, California sheep and goat producers will be forced out of business,” the group said in a statement.
Some members of the Legislature have listened.
State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, met with sheep ranchers in the San Joaquin Valley earlier this year.
In February, Hurtado introduced Senate Bill 801, which would exempt sheep and goat herders from California’s agricultural overtime law.
Another proposed law, SB 628, authored by state Sen. Shannon Grove, would create a tax credit to offset the cost to farmers and ranchers of paying overtime wages.
That bill, which is co-sponsored by the California Farm Bureau and California Association of Winegrape Growers, would allow sheep and goat ranchers to recoup the overtime portion of herders’ wages, scaling the amount employers would be responsible for paying down from $4,820 to just less than $3,000 a month. What constitutes a fair wage for round-theclock herders, who often spend weeks at a time in remote locations, remains a subject of debate in California.
The state’s inclusion of herders in the overtime wage protections enacted through AB 1066 was intended to benefit them. Ranchers say the end result may be more complicated. The huge pay raise hasn’t helped the herders ranchers laid off to balance their expenses, Hay said, adding that he has employed some of the same herders for more than two decades.
“If we decide we just can’t make this work anymore, I’ll shut the whole thing down, sell the sheep, and they’ll have to go back to Peru,” he said. “That doesn’t solve any problem for anybody.”
Many of California’s sheep and goat ranches have operated for multiple generations. “These businesses are cultural and economic forces,” the KCWGA said. “Once lost, they will never be replaced.”
“They are on the verge of bankruptcy,” Hurtado said of the ranchers. “They’re literally in fear that they’re going to just go out of business and not continue to do what they’ve done for so many years.”
For some, the family ranching legacy is what has kept them going as they hold out hope for legislation that might make raising sheep and goats in California profitable again.
“If you owned this business, you wouldn’t do this,” Hay said. “But I’ve put my lifetime into it.”
Caleb Hampton is assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at champton@cfbf.com.
A herder watches over sheep as they await being loaded into a truck at Tahoe National Forest in California.
FOOD & DRINK
peasants FEAST restaurant celebrates five years with block party
Large crowd joins owners
Chef Michael and Sarah Cherney for party on Copenhagen Drive in Solvang Staff Report
On Tuesday, April 1, Chef Michael Cherney and his wife, Sarah Cherney, owners of Solvang restaurant peasants FEAST celebrated their first five years in business with a downtown Solvang block party on a closed-to-traffic section of Copenhagen Drive. At the family-friendly afternoon event from 4 to 7 p.m., friends and fans of the Cherney Hospitality group joined in
full force for food from some of peasants FEAST’s culinary colleagues, craft beers and local wines, and party-appropriate activities and entertainment.
Hundreds of community members gathered between the Cherneys’ two downtown Solvang eateries, peasants FEAST and peasants DELI & ARCADE, to “feast” on what amounted to 200-plus smashburgers from Santa Barbara’s Third Window Brewing Co.; more than 100 gyros from Motley Crew Ranch; quesabirria tacos, elote cups, and more from The Birria Boyz; sweets of all sorts from Lindsay’s Little Bakery; and a special “birthday” sheet cake from peasants FEAST Executive Pastry Chef Taylor Tate, delicately adorned with in-season flora.
Local beers from Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. and Third Window Brewing Co., and wines from Future Perfect, filled guest’s cups, while Santa Barbara County’s DJ Peetey spun tunes that had partiers — of all ages — literally dancing in the street. The arcade at peasants DELI was open for gaming fun, Buzzle Bee Face Painting decorated long lines of little faces, and 805 Camera Bus captured moments and memories from within their vintage Volkswagen.
“Our main goal with peasants FEAST was to create a community-focused restaurant, a place for our colleagues to showcase their produce and products, and to join us at the table,” said Michael Cherney. “Turns out, we’re well on our way to -
ward that goal. And that community? We can’t believe the love that they’ve shown us these past five years, and it was on full display this past Tuesday night. We are beyond honored and were so happy to celebrate with everyone who has made peasants FEAST what it is.”
peasants FEAST is located at 487 Atterdag Road, in downtown Solvang (at the corner of Copenhagen Drive). peasants DELI & ARCADE is at 473 Atterdag Road, #104, across Copenhagen Drive from peasants FEAST. peasants FEAST and peasants DELI & ARCADE are currently open for take-away service, indoor or outdoor dining, Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. To reach peasants FEAST directly, call (805) 686-4555.
(Left) Some attendees at the peasants FEAST’s 5th Anniversary Block Party did some break dancing on Copenhagen Drive next to the restaurant. (Top right, from left) peasants FEAST Executive Pastry Chef Taylor Tate, owners Sarah and Chef Michael Cherney, and Executive Sous Chef Dylan Bradley are shown April 1 at the block party celebrating the restaurant’s five-year anniversary. (Bottom Right) The peasants FEAST restaurant hosted a block party at Copenhagen Drive off Atterdag Road to celebrate its fifth anniversary. Photo by Randy De La Peña
BRICKS & BUILDS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the other room selling Lego stuff,” she said. “We have our town-wide building competition, where we have builders at different locations putting together a build based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, to give it a connection to Solvang.”
One of those builders, John Cooper of San Diego, was set up at Solvang Park, near a public “brick pit” where kids and their parents could build things out of random Lego pieces, various vendors, and a live band playing at the gazebo.
“I guess I’m just a hardcore fan of these,” said Cooper, who was assigned “The Ugly Duckling” for his Andersen work. “I used to do monthly competitions at Legoland [in Carlsbad] with both my daughters.”
One of Cooper’s daughters, Juliana, accompanied him at the table, and said she’s dabbled in Legos herself.
“My dad and I will do some mass-market
kits,” she said. “And we enjoy doing the architectural models that they have.”
The time was well spent for John Cooper as he took his completed work to the Veterans Hall on Sunday and won the popular vote over the other town-wide contestants.
Visitors to the Veterans Hall on Saturday and Sunday got to take a look at a number of finished Lego projects, as well as talks with a number of Lego Master Builders, and those who run the Lego community website, Bricklink, a website that has products for sale, but also a designer program where you can design a build online and even enter a contest where one’s design can be picked as a set to be marketed and sold.
“Bricklink is a very fan-centric portion of the Lego community,” said Alex Kastelic, who is the Bricklink Designer Program Lead at Lego. “We are the community space for the most passionate Lego fans, and we pretty much cover the whole world.”
Like many adult Lego enthusiasts, Kastelic can go back to his childhood as his
start at building with the plastic blocks. Also like many, there was a period where his building waned, but the interest came back.
“I got interested in other things as I got older, but then I got back into right before COVID,” he said. “It was in 2019 and it was the 20th anniversary of the Star Wars sets, which were the last ones I had as a kid. When they brought them back, it was nostalgia for me; I started doing those and never looked back. And now I’m working for the company.”
Many attendees expressed their gratitude that the Bricks & Builds event has happened in Solvang, among them Jesse Gros of Venice Beach, who won the Lego building contest at Solvang’s Danish Days last September.
“I love it; it’s my favorite new Lego event,” said Gros, who won the category for space/steampunk creations. “We haven’t had any events in California for a while, and it’s good not to have to travel so far.”
At the end of the event on Sunday, the winners for the various categories:
• Town-wide Lego Build: John Cooper (The Ugly Duckling). Also entered (with each basing his work on a Hans Christian Anderson story): Riley Blissmer (The Snow Queen), Tim Heinderich (The Emperor’s New Clothes), Conard Scoley (The Little Mermaid), and Tyler Strampp (Princess and the Pea).
• Best Solvang-themed build: Lia Von Damm (Solvang stamp and others)
• Best Space/Steampunk build: Jesse Gros (The “Aetherhive” from Magic: The Gathering)
• Best Lego City/Train build: Bruce Heller (Brentwood Sunshine Preschool)
• Best Castle/Fantasy build: “Shy” (Original castle/battle scene)
• Public vote winner for inside the Veterans Hall expo:
• Scott Thomas (coral reef)
Many talented Lego Builders came to the Bricks & Builds with some beautiful creations, while other attendees got to play in the “brick pit” at Solvang Park. Photos by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
It’s that time of year again at Cachuma Lake — Fish Derby set for April 26-27
The annual event is the main fundraiser for the Neal Taylor Nature Center by the lake Staff Report
Anglers of all types and all ages are expected to come to Cachuma Lake the weekend of April 26-27 for the Neal Taylor Nature Center 28th Annual Fish Derby. The lake is expected to have 16,000 pounds of trout alone up for grabs at the lake, with cash and merchandise prizes to be awarded.
The Fish Derby, which will take place rain or shine, is the major fundraiser for The Nature Center at Cachuma Lake, a nonprofit organization. Last year, an estimated 600 anglers took part, taking advantage of a lake that was fuller than it had been in many years.
This year’s Fish Derby will again include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, bass, catfish, trout, and carp. The prize pool has been increased this year which means everyone has a chance to win great cash prizes, fishing gear, and more!
Anglers of all ages are encouraged to enter the derby on April 26 and 27. Registration fee for adults is $40 if sent in advance or $45 if paid on-site Friday, April 25, to Sunday, April 27, and Youth Registration for ages 4-15 years old is always $10. Registration forms are available at Cachuma Lake Park entry gate, store, marina, Nature Center, and local businesses. To receive information and a registration form in the mail, leave your name and address on the hotline (805) 693-8381 or visit www.TROUTDERBY.org
Cash prizes amounting to more than $5,000 plus thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise
prizes will be awarded in many categories and to anglers of all ages. Certain prizes are designated for children and for teens.
All anglers 16 years and older must have a fishing license, which may be purchased at the marina.
Free arts and crafts activities will be offered to children Saturday afternoon of Derby weekend and the Nature Center will also host a special Books & Treasure Sale on Saturday.
The Derby fishing begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, and ends at 12 noon on Sunday, April 27. Contestants must fish in Cachuma Lake during the tournament hours and may fish from shore at any time during the Derby, including Saturday night. A flare will be fired at the harbor to start the Derby on Saturday and to end the Derby on Sunday. Due to the threat of quagga mussels, Cachuma Lake has a 30-day quarantine and inspection of all boats except those with a Cachuma Lake Tag and kayaks/ canoes.
Please check for updates to the inspection protocol at www. sbparks.org
Other Fish Derby activities include:
Visit the Neal Taylor Nature Center:
Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission: Donations welcomed.
Children’s Activities will be on the lawn in front of the Nature Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Donations welcomed.
Purchase raffle tickets (open to general public) for valuable prizes starting at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 25, and throughout the Fish Derby. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Sunday Awards Program, which begins at 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 27, at the Fireside Theater. You need not be present to win the raffle.
Books and Treasures Sale: At the Nature Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Awards Program at the Fireside Theater on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m.
To make reservations for cabins, yurts, individual campsites, or full hook-up sites go to www.sbparks. org/reservations or call (805) 686-5050. For other camping information, call (805) 686-5054.
About the Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake
The Neal Taylor Nature Center (NTNC), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit
organization, is located within Cachuma Recreational Area in a picturesque old ranch house. Developed and operated by a corps of committed volunteers, it offers exhibits on the local valley and mountain environment for all ages, emphasizing hands-on exhibits for children of all ages. There is also a Native Garden behind the Nature Center.
Fishing aficionados of all ages can angle for a multitude of fish at Cachuma Lake on April 26-27 during the Neal Taylor Nature Center 28th Annual Fish Derby. Photos courtesy of Julie McDonald/Neal Taylor Nature Center
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD, 5:30 P.M.
Board Room, Administration Office, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, 2975 Mission Drive, Solvang For more info: www.syvuhsd.org
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, 9 A.M.
Betteravia Government Center, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
For more info: countyofsb.org
SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.
At Community Services District Building, 1070 Faraday St. For more info: sycsd.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
SOLVANG DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE, 5 P.M.
At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St., Solvang For more info: cityofsolvang.com
BUELLTON PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.
At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton For more info: cityofbuellton.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
LOS ALAMOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M.
At LACSD Board Room, 82 Saint Joseph St., Los Alamos
For more info: losalamoscsd.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.
At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton
For more info: cityofbuellton.com
MONDAY, APRIL 28
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30 P.M.
At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St., Solvang For more info: cityofsolvang.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, 9 A.M.
123 East Anapamu Street, Room 17, Santa Barbara
For more info: countyofsb.org
EVENTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
COTTAGE HEART & VASCULAR CENTER
VIRTUAL MEET THE DOCTOR, 4 P.M.
Cottage Heart & Vascular Center presents a free Virtual Meet the Doctor event on Thursday, April 17, from 4 to 5 p.m., featuring cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Dr. Michael Paulsen, who will lead a conversation on advances in cardiac surgery have improved in the diagnoses, treatment and quality of life for heart disease patients. The event will also feature a Q&A session.
To register for this free virtual event, go to cottagehealth.org/ heartmtd
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
HIGH TEA GARDEN PARTY, 3 TO 5 P.M.
Join us for a delightful afternoon of high tea in the garden, where spring comes alive in full bloom! Dress in your finest florals and chic hats to embrace the season’s charm. Savor a selection of delicious drinks and bite-sized treats, all while being surrounded by the serene beauty of our garden. This special event supports our local botanic garden, offering the perfect setting to relax, connect, and celebrate nature’s vibrant colors. Admission is $50 for members and $100 for non-members.
At Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden (in River View Park),
This legendary show is traditionally held the last Saturday in April each year in Solvang. Nearly 100 Datsun Roadsters descend the town for a get-together on Friday night and the day-long show and shine on 1st Street with Datsun Roadster enthusiasts attending from all over the world. Raffle proceeds go to the American Diabetes Association. To register, go to ww04. elbowspace.com/secure/20161029130157801040
At 1st Street in Solvang
SOLVANG KNIFE SHOW, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. (FRIDAY); 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
(SATURDAY)
A must see – the 2025 Solvang Custom Knife Show happens beginning Friday, April 25, and continues on Saturday, April 26, in Solvang.
One-day and two-day passes are available for purchase at the door on the days of the event. One-day passes will be $20 and two-day passes will be $35. Preserving the tradition started in 1985 by Nordic Knives, we are continuing this highly prestigious custom knife show. Meet the artists and find out the process and history of their work. Artist from various parts of the world come together to display some of the finest and most collectible knives ever created.
At Craft House at Corque, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang
For more info: solvangcustomknifeshow.com
SATURDAY, MAY 3
BUELLTON BREW FEST, 11:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M.
Join us for the annual Buellton Brew Fest. Taking place on Saturday, May 3, at River View Park, this event promises an exciting lineup of craft breweries, wineries, ciders, kombucha, and spirits — over 55 in total!
Don’t forget your Star Wars costumes for our costume contest, with prizes awarded on stage! Enjoy live entertainment by DJ Peete and Will Breman, alongside delicious food trucks, merchant vendors, and fun activities like mega-sized beer pong and cornhole.
Presented by the Buellton Chamber of Commerce, this event offers VIP and General Admission
tickets, with VIP entry starting at 11:30 a.m. and General Admission at 12:30 p.m.
Shuttle transportation options are available from various locations for your convenience.
At River View Park, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton
For more info:
RANCHO VISITADORES PARADE, 12 TO 3 P.M.
Mark your calendars for one of Solvang’s most cherished traditions, the Rancheros Visitadores Parade! On Saturday, May 3, the charming streets of Solvang will transform into a celebration of history, culture, and the cowboy spirit. While the exact parade time is to be announced, the festivities promise a day filled with excitement and community spirit. The Rancheros Visitadores is a longstanding tradition that brings together horseback riders from near and far. Clad in classic Western attire, riders proudly parade through Solvang, celebrating camaraderie and the enduring legacy of the American West. The parade features beautifully adorned horses, wagons, and riders. The picturesque backdrop of Solvang’s iconic windmills and half-timbered buildings sets the scene.
At Alisal Road to Mission Santa Ines in Solvang
ONGOING
TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS STORYTIME AT SOLVANG LIBRARY, 10:30 A.M., TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
Join us indoors on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Come to enjoy songs, stories, movement, and a warm welcome. Please make a reservation at cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/goletavalley-library
At Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang
For more info: Solvang Library (805) 688-4214
WEDNESDAYS SOLVANG FARMERS MARKET, 2:30 TO 6 P.M.
Each week, the farmers in the marketplace display a colorful bounty of agricultural products grown right in our backyard. Seasonal diversity is available year-round rain or shine. Come. Shop. Socialize. Certified — the only way to buy! Join us in downtown Solvang every Wednesday on First Street, between Mission Drive (Highway 246) and Copenhagen Drive.
WINE WEDNESDAYS IN BUELLTON, 4 TO 8 P.M.
Please join us for an evening out with family fun for all in Buellton, hosted by Esfuerzo Wines and The Birria Boyz. This event will take place each Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Each week we will have guest food vendors, live music and much more to be announced. We hope to see you there! At 140 Industrial Way, Buellton For more info: info@esfuerzowine.com
MONDAY, MARCH 31
COMMUNITY MEETING:
PREPARING THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY FOR THREAT OF WILDFIRE, 5:30 P.M.
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann, along with Buellton Mayor David Silva and Solvang City Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, will be holding a community meeting on the threat of wildfire in the Santa Ynez Valley. Also on hand will be fire prevention experts and community leaders on the topics of fire risk assessment, firewise community program,
large animal evacuation, and a community wildfire protection plan.
At Solvang Veterans Hall, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang
SPORTS AND RECREATION
DROP-IN ADULT BASKETBALL, YEAR ROUND, MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS 6 TO 7:15 A.M.
Start your day with a pick up game of basketball with friends.
At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton
BALLROOM DANCING, ONGOING, TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, 6 TO 8 P.M.
Have you ever wanted to learn to dance ballroom or just brush up on your skills? Join Instructors David and Jo for an evening of fun. No partner needed and dropins are welcome! Adults only. Held in Room B.
At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton
AEROBIC TAP FOR SENIORS, MONDAY’S 10 TO 11 A.M.
Tap dance to Broadway show tunes and get a great aerobic workout. Bring your tap shoes and level of experience! Each 75-minute class will include a preview, warm-up, aerobic workout and cool down. Held in Room A.
For info on these and other programs, go to buelltonrec.com
