Solvang Rotary, Linda Vista Foundation share the same motivation: ‘Service Above Self’
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
Solvang Rotary and Linda Vista Foundation joined forces on Feb. 8-17 for some challenging philanthropic work in Guatemala for the third year in a row.
Solvang Rotarians Linda Johansen, Jan Clevenger, Dr. Art Kaslow, Dr. Bobby Brugnone, and Joe Brown teamed up with Linda Vista Foundation CEO Stu Gildred and his sister Tiffany Enermann as well as his new Director for Latin America Ana Paula Perez Martinez.
“Because there were only five Solvang Rotarians leaving from the Solvang area this year, we had to improvise our round-trip transportation to the LAX airport,” Johansen began. “To the rescue was fellow Rotarian Tresha Sell and Rio Vista [Chevrolet] who offered to provide the group with a van and driver in each direction. We were lucky enough to have Maynard Bentley, a dear friend to some of us, be our driver. We love and appreciate so much our village of helpers as we all pay our own way as well as help to pay for all of the services that we provide in the underserved communities.”
And once the group got to Guatemala it was more planning for transportation.
“We have always flown Avianca for this mission from Los Angeles directly into Guatemala City and stayed there overnight before leaving early the next morning for a long drive to our first destination,” Johan-
sen continued. “We rented two vehicles and divided up our team with Stu Gildred driving in the lead car followed by Dr. Bobby Brugnone and his team members. We communicate between the cars with our high-tech walkie-talkies for directions and entertainment.”
Johansen explained that the group’s
mission was dedicated to projects for the underserved in the remote mountainous village of San Martin Chiquito, particularly the indigenous Mam tribe, who are of Mayan descent. They speak no Spanish, only Mam.
“We all stayed at the nonprofit called Local Hope and Xela Aid Eco
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• Buellton woman arrested for attempted murder
. Pg. 5
• Buellton City Council express skepticism toward speed humps as traffic solutions
Community Pg. 6
• People Helping People of Santa Ynez Valley celebrates milestone
Sports Pg. 8
• Pirates baseball getting ready for Ocean League stretch run
Education Pg. 10
• Dunn School hosts competition for budding entrepreuners
Lifestyles Pg. 15
• Fermented foods the easiest delivery mode for probotics
Arts & Nonprofits Pg. 16
• Muffin Music has the right recipe for musical education
Calendar Pg. 19
• Government meetings and events
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Food & Drink | Pg. 7 Chef celebrates first anniversary at AR Restaurant & Catering
Children gather at the well dig site worked on by volunteers from Solvang Rotary and the Linda Vista Foundation. Photo courtesy of Linda Vista Foundation
NEWS BRIEFS
BUELLTON
Buellton woman arrested for attempted murder
A Buellton woman has been arrested for attempted murder of her boyfriend. On Sunday, March 30, at approximately 1:58 a.m., a deputy came upon a male subject in the roadway on Highway 246 at Valley Station Road. As the deputy attempted to usher the subject from the roadway, he discovered that the man had several stab wounds and lacerations to the shoulder, hip, chest, back and hand. The victim told deputies that his girlfriend had stabbed him and was inside a nearby residence in the 200 block of Valley Station Road.
While deputies were rendering aid to the victim and attempting to control his bleeding, the suspect, 40-year-old Lydia Alicia Gonzales, stepped outside of the residence and threw cans of beer at them. Gonzales was quickly taken into custody and was safely restrained despite being extremely combative. Gonzales was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and domestic violence. She is being held on $1 million bail.
The victim was transported to an area hospital and is in stable condition.
Lagerville 2025 brewers’ event coming April 12
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., located at 45 Industrial Way in Buellton, will be hold its annual Lagerville event on Saturday, April 12. Billed as “The Nation’s Premier Lager Event,” it will feature over 60 breweries from across the country and world, all showcasing the finest lagers! Enjoy exclusive lager-only beers, engage with brewers and owners, and immerse yourself in live music. Experience the excitement of the people’s choice awards, shopping, games, and
much more!
Lagerville 2025 tickets are now available! General admission tickets at the door will be $65 and no VIP tickets will be available for purchase.
Shuttle service is available from Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Goleta. Shuttle tickets available at checkout.
For more information, go to lagerville.beer
VICTORIA BERNARD
Former Buellton resident named National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American
Former Buellton resident Victoria Bernard, a Dos Pueblos High School graduate, is one of six Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, Ohio) women’s wrestling student-athletes and one of 400 total women’s wrestlers across all levels of collegiate wrestling to be named as a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American.
To qualify for Scholar All-American honors, a student-athletes must excel both on the mat and in the classroom by meeting one of the following academic and athletic criteria:
• A top eight placer at nationals and at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average
• Competed in a minimum of 15 matches that are recorded in Trackwrestling and has at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average
• Was a national qualifier and has at least a 3.25 cumulative grade point average
Bernard, who carries 3.56 grade point average in creative writing, garners her first accolade. This season, she won seven matches, tallying three falls and one technical fall.
BW, who was in its inaugural season, finished the 2024-25 campaign with an overall record of 2-1. The Yellow Jackets finished fourth at the NCWWC Region 4 Championships.
SOLVANG
Lawsuit filed against city to stop Wildwood development
The S. Y. Valley Residents Association, a Santa Ynez Valley community group, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Solvang challenging the city’s processing of the application of the Wildwood development near Solvang’s eastern gateway, the corner of Highway 246 (Mission Drive) and Alamo Pintado Road.
SYVRA’s lawsuit contends that the City Planning staff acted improperly: 1) in processing the defective preliminary application for the Wildwood project, 2) in unilaterally revising the full development application, and 3) in ultimately finding the development application complete. The lawsuit asks the court to declare the application void and of no effect and to issue a writ of mandate requiring the city to cease processing the application. It also asks the court to vacate the determination of completeness made by City Planning and to deem the City Planning manager’s actions to unilaterally revise the application a violation of state law.
The Wildwood Project was proposed by developer Joshua Richman/Lots on Alamo Pintado, LLC of Oakland, California, to be constructed both on undeveloped lands northwest of the corner of Alamo Pintado Road and Old Mission Drive and on a portion of the open space area of the Mission Oaks subdivision. The de-
veloper filed the application as a “Builder’s Remedy” project, including a 100-unit multi-family housing development that includes seven buildings, reduced parking, and setback requirements. Current zoning on the site allows up to 56 units, 36 of which are planned for affordable housing.
Applications for Builder’s Remedy projects were permitted to be filed during the period that Solvang was out of compliance with the state’s Housing Accountability Act, whereby the city was required to update the Housing Element of its General Plan to identify affordable housing locations. The city’s Housing Element was out of compliance with state housing laws for eight months, from June 15, 2023, until Feb. 12, 2024. While the city was out of compliance, the developer filed a Builders Remedy “Preliminary Application” on Oct. 6, 2023. Once the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development certified the city’s revised Housing Element in February 2024, no new Builder’s Remedy projects could be applied for, but projects already in the pipeline that were compliant with the Builder’s Remedy law could still proceed.
SYVRA observed that the developer failed to submit a compliant “Preliminary Application” for the Builder’s Remedy project because it failed to include signatures from all of the landowners of the proposed project site, including the owners of the Mission Oaks subdivision lands, which is specifically required by the Builder’s Remedy statute. The city notified the developer of the omission, but the developer did not respond. The Builder’s Remedy law requires the preliminary application to be voided if defects in the application are not corrected within six months of submittal. SYVRA said the developer failed to correct the defective preliminary application in a timely manner, and when the Housing Element was certified, the developer could not amend or resubmit a Builder’s Remedy project application for Wildwood.
HOME CARE IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME
STAR NEWS
Solvang City Council gets statistics, conditions from county fire department
Liquor license modification approved for casino; staff directed to look into tighter ordinance on STRs
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
Aweek before the Solvang City Council chambers would be the site of a Valley-wide community meeting on fire prevention, councilmembers heard the yearly “state of the fire department” report from department officials and also received the Fire Abatement and Brush Removal Program Update.
For the Fire Chief Year in Review Presentation, Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig was joined by Deputy Chief for Emergency Services Garrett Huff and Capt. Lonny Maniscalco of the Solvang fire station, where the council chambers are located.
Huff gave the Year in Review address, beginning with the department new addition, the Regional Fire Communication Center.
“The new communication center opens May 12, which is slightly overdue,” Huff said. “However, it will provide dispatch services for all emergency medical services and non-federal resources on one common operating platform.”
He then recited the statistics for the county in 2024. Overall, the county fire department had 17,082 incidents in 2024, broke down by the following: Rescue/EMS, 9,915; fires, 372; public service calls, 1,416; vehicle accidents, 843; public concern, 3,969.
For Solvang, which had 681 incidents over the year, they broke down as follows: Rescue/ EMS, 412; fires, 8; public service calls, 96; vehicle accidents, 14; public concern, 96. Huff said incidents were up 7.24% from
ard, and the restaurants did not have a sprinkler system or automatic fire detection.
Later in the meeting, the city’s management analyst, Olivia Uribe Mutal presented the item Discussion and possible action to Receive and file the Fire Abatement and Brush Removal Program update.
Mutal said that clearing vegetation near properties is as important as ever.
state as Moderate, High, or Very High fire hazard severity zones. These designations are based on consistent, statewide criteria, including fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other contributing factors — such as wind patterns —t hat influence the likelihood and behavior of wildfire.
2023, although fires were down 33.3%.
After the report, Councilmember Mark Infanti asked about the old ambulances that the city had stopped using, with Huff answering that the county wants to dispose of/liquidate the vehicles and it will be an agenda item for the April 1 county Board of Supervisors meeting.
Mayor David Brown asked what a typical response time was for emergency personnel in Solvang. Huff said he didn’t have the numbers in front of him, but estimated the typical response to be 4 to 6 minutes.
After that, Maniscalco came to the podium to address three well-known fires in Solvang last year, all involving restaurants.
The most recent one was at Solvang Brewing Co. on Mission Drive, which happened on Jan. 25 of this year. The others were the blaze last Oct. 13 at the Fire and Vice in Buellton, and the one in December at the former Sear Steakhouse. Maniscalco said casualties were avoided because Solvang Brewing and Fire and Vice were closed, and the Sear Steakhouse building had been unoccupied for the last six months as it’s up for sale.
The fire captain also noted that the Solvang Brewing and Fire and Vice fires were caused by oily rags left unattended, which is a big fire haz-
“Solvang faces significant wildfire risk, and the burden is on county for fighting fires, but on the city for code enforcement,” she said. “Before the risk was just raised during the spring and summer months; the risk is now almost yearround.”
Mutal did note some things were being done, noting recent vegetation management at Hans Christian Anderson Park, and plans to contract the California Conservation Corps, and even to get goats to graze on some of the park lands.
She also announced the release of the updated fire mitigation maps (see brief below).
In other business:
The council approved an emergency item to approve a modification of the liquor license held by Chumash Casino and Resort. The casino modified the license in order to establish a “happy hour,” which it considered crucial to compete with other establishments.
After a long discussion about local shortterm rentals, council directed Planning Director Rafael Castillo and staff to look into drafting an ordinance and other measures to crack down on STRs.
The next City Council meeting will be Monday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m.
Proposed Fire Hazard Severity Map Update - 2025
Consistent with California Government Code Section 51178, the State Fire Marshal is responsible for identifying areas throughout the
As part of this ongoing process, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for areas under local responsibility, including the City of Solvang. These routine updates incorporate the latest science and data to better reflect current wildfire risk conditions.
The maps classify land according to potential wildfire severity and are used to inform building standards, real estate disclosures, emergency planning, and community safety initiatives. Solvang’s draft map was released on March 10, 2025, and is now available for public review and comment. In accordance with state law, the Solvang City Council must adopt and designate the updated zones by ordinance within 120 days of receipt.
Areas on the map:
• Gray areas: Not zoned for wildfire risk
• Yellow, orange, and red areas: Reflect increasing levels of fire hazard (Moderate, High, Very High)
View or download the proposed map here: https://www.cityofsolvang.com/568/ProposedFire-Hazard-Severity-Map-Update
For more preparedness information: www. readyforwildfire.org
Public Input Welcome
Residents are encouraged to review the map and submit feedback during the 30-day public review period.
Submit comments to planningdept@ cityofsolvang.com
Garrett Huff, Santa Barbara County Fire’s deputy chief for emergency services, gives the Fire Year in Review address to the Solvang City Council during its Monday, March 24, meeting. Screenshot from YouTube
The SYVRA claims that despite being notified of the defects in the proposed Wildwood project’s preliminary application, the city and its planning staff then accepted and began processing the developer’s subsequent full application for the Builder’s Remedy project. The developer continuously refused to supply required information requested by the city and then revised its full project application to reduce the number of affordable housing units to 13, which further disqualified the Wildwood project from processing as a Builder’s Remedy development. The City Planning staff then unilaterally revised the application to conform to the affordable housing requirements of the Builder’s Remedy law, and determined the application for the Wildwood project was complete, a critical milestone in the city’s project review process.
“We are not opposing the project — we are simply asking that it be brought into compliance with the law,” said a SYVRA spokesperson. “We believe in thoughtful development that benefits the entire Santa Ynez Valley and provides needed affordable housing, while respecting our community’s rural character and the integrity of the city’s zoning and land use planning laws.”
City hosts inaugural ‘Solvang Bricks & Builds’ Lego festival and competition April 5-6
Solvang will host its debut Solvang Brick & Builds event this weekend, Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. The new festival will include a two-day, public exhibition in the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, two days of professional brick-building set against Solvang’s fairy tale village backdrops, a scavenger hunt, and special Master Builders appearances during a Saturday panel and Sunday meet-and-greet opportunity.
LEGO®, the iconic Danish building block brand, serves as the inspiration behind the
two-day, family-friendly expo and town-wide building competition, the latter of which will pit some of the top brick builders against each other as they construct their own takes on a handful of Hans Christian Andersen’s most famous tales, all chasing one grand prize.
The weekend-long festival promises to have event all over town from the Veterans Hall to Solvang Park to builders at various locations around town. For a schedule and other information, go to solvangusa.com/solvang-brickbuilds-2025/.
California
Nature Art Museum to celebrate 25th anniversary with event at
Vincent Vineyards
The Board of Directors and staff of the California Nature Art Museum (www.calnatureartmuseum.org) proudly announce their 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser at Vincent Vineyards in Santa Ynez on Sunday, May 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Embracing nostalgia, guests will enjoy an array of scrapbooks, photo collages, and exhibition monographs from the early days of the museum’s founding, staff and board presentations, and a live auction to follow the delicious lunch on the patio which overlooks the vineyard. A springtime-inspired, locally sourced luncheon catered by High on the Hog promises delicious bites accompanied by the award-winning wines of Vincent Vineyard and floral birthday cake from Solvang Bakery. Key donors, board members, and founder and artist Patti Jacquemain will be honored at the luncheon.
Tickets are on sale now at www. calnatureartmuseum.org/news/25thanniversary-celebration.
You can still vote for Solvang in Best Main Street category for 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
Solvang, affectionately known as “The Danish Capital of America,” was nominated again
for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in three different categories: Best Small Town in the West, Best Small Town Food Scene, and Best Main Street.
While online voting for the Best Small Town and Best Town Food Scene closed on May 31 (winner to be announced on Wednesday, April 9), voting for the Best Main Street category runs through Monday, April 7, at 12 p.m. EDT, and winners will be announced Wednesday, April 16.
The travel awards contests and online voting have launched on the USA TODAY 10Best site: 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel. Voting is open to the public (limit one vote per person, per category, per day).
The annual USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice awards feature the top 20 or so nominees in contests covering travel and lifestyle topics such as food, lodging, destinations, travel gear, things to do, seasonal family fun, and more. All nominees are selected by a panel of experts and the 10Best editorial team. The 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest launches new categories every week, revealing each category’s approximately 20 nominees.
Solvang has been no stranger to the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning second-place honors in “Best Small Town in the West” in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. In 2022, Solvang was also nominated 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.
SANTA YNEZ
SYHS Safe + Sober Grad Nite organizers seeking donations
Donations are being sought for the 2025 Santa Ynez High School Safe + Sober Grad Nite to be held May 30-31.
For over 22 years, parents, friends, and the
community have come together to produce an all-night extravaganza for the graduates of Santa Ynez High School following their commencement.
For information on how to donate, visit SYHSGRADNITE.com or follow along on Instagram (@syhsgradnite2025). You can also email syhsgradnitechair@gmail.com.
LOMPOC
ForestWatch launches new Wilderness Table Event series on May 4
Los Padres ForestWatch’s inaugural Wilderness Table event will be held at Groundstar Vineyards on May 4, at 3 p.m. Inspired by the spirit of community and conservation, The Wilderness Table is a new event series which invites guests to indulge in a culinary journey celebrating local flavors and sustainable practices in an outdoor setting. The event will raise funds to support ForestWatch’s work to protect public lands and wildlife along California’s Central Coast.
Guests will enjoy craft cocktails by Rock 12 Distillery, followed a vineyard tour with Chiara Shannon, wine industry expert and owner of Groundstar Vineyard, then experience an exquisite meal prepared by Chef Jake O. Francis perfectly complimented with local, sustainable, organic, and biodynamic wines.
Proceeds from the event benefit Los Padres ForestWatch, a local nonprofit organization with a mission to protect wildlife, wilderness, water, and sustainable access throughout the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument through education, advocacy, and when necessary, legal action for the benefit of our communities, climate, and future generations. To learn more about their work visit lpfw.org.
Tickets for the Wilderness Table at Groundstar Vineyards are $500. Reservations may be made at lpfw.org/wildernesstable or contact Krista at 805-770-8696.
Buellton City Council express skepticism toward speed humps as traffic solutions
City manager introduces Sgt. Travis Henderson as city’s new law enforcement administrator
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
In one of the periodic “Deep Dives” into a city issue, the Buellton City Council in its Thursday, March 27, meeting learned the ins and outs of the “traffic-calming” devices of speed humps (which are different from speed bumps) and the possibility of installing them on Buellton’s city streets.
However, any residents expecting the installation of such humps moving forward anytime soon are going to be disappointed.
In the first Business Item on the meeting agenda, City Manager Scott Wolfe made the presentation on the speed humps as a traffic-calming measure. In starting the presentation Wolfe, pointed out he was doing so as a “non-engineer/non-expert” in traffic engineering in lieu of Public Works Director Rose Hess, who was absent from the meeting. The city manager said Hess would be the best person to answer some of the more technical questions on the humps and other traffic measures.
Wolfe state there has been a lot of talk in town about ways to slow down traffic in Buellton, especially in residential areas.
“There have been questions from neighborhoods about people speeding through their streets; it’s not uncommon, but it’s been coming to a head lately,” he said. “The typical request is for speed bumps, or humps.”
Wolfe explained to begin with, while many call the traffic devices “speed bumps,” actual speed bumps are the kind found generally in parking lots and aren’t permitting on actual roads. They measure 3.5 inches high and 18 inches long. Speed humps, on the other hand, are 3.5 inches high and 12 feet long, enough
“hump”
his
in many case to contain a crosswalk if need be.
Wolfe continued that although speed humps are usually suggested as a solution by residents concerned about speeding, it is one of many, and also not one that’s popular among many cities’ leader and staff members.
“All the cities I have ever worked for have the same disinclination to install speed humps as a general rule,” he said. “While they sound good, the detriments tend to outweight the benefits.”
Wolfe said that if the city should decide to pursue the addition of speed humps, it should make sure to establish a city policy explicitly allowing them to install the humps. He noted that two neighboring cities have had policy allowing them to build the humps.
“Lompoc installed a few back in 2014, I believe, but by 2019 decided not to allow any more to be installed,” Wolfe said. “Solvang still has a policy for them but only installs them on local roads with a 25 mph speed limit.”
Finally, Wolfe point out the policy of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, which he said takes no formal position, but states that before they are installed, jurisdictions must have them approved by traffic engineers, make sure regulations are followed, and establish a resolution allowing them.
During questions and comments, the councilmembers said they were more interested in exploring other options to calm traffic, of which Wolfe said were many. Traffic officers and the “speed trailers” that track the speed of passing cars were two that were mentioned.
Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis was the first to voice opposition to the humps.
“I’m not a fan of bumps/humps,” she said. “I think we should concentrate on getting a motor officer in Buellton. That’s a better deterrent.”
Later on, Councilmember John Sanchez was even more adamant in his opposition to the idea.
“I haven’t talked to anyone who likes speed bumps,” he said. “I’ve read articles on joggers tripping on bumps. I don’t see anything good about this, and I don’t want to waste money on this. I like speed trailers. In fact, I’m willing to make policy prohibiting bumps.”
Councilmember Hudson Hornick, however, reminded his colleagues it’s not necessary to pass any policy against the humps.
“This doesn’t call for us to do anything,” he said. “I’m a fan of properly placed speed humps, but we don’t need to take action now.”
Mayor David Silva said he’s open to speed humps, but only if the city has a policy backing it up; however, he agrees there are other ways.
“I feel humps is the only solution residents seem to be aware of, but there are more creative solutions,” he said. “I don’t want any bumps without policy backing it up, so I guess I’m against them in general. We can just educate public on other solutions; we’re still addressing the issue.”
Listening in on the traffic discussion was an audience member with a vested interest: Sheriff’s Sgt. (and “soon-to-be-Lt,” according to Wolfe) Travis Henderson. Earlier in the meeting, Wolfe introduced Henderson as the person who would be Buellton’s new police chief, replacing the retiring Lt. Frank Valencia. Henderson had a chance to address the council after the Councilmember Comments segment.
“I’ve been with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s for almost 20 years,” Henderson said. “Getting this assignment, I couldn’t be happier. The Valley is my home, and where my heart is. I’m excited to start this next chapter.”
In other business:
• Council approved a 5% Cost of Living Adjustment for city employees to ensure salaries remain competitive and aligned with inflation.
• Council also OK’d a few mid-year budget amendments for the fiscal year 2024-25. The City Council meets next on Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m.
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Buellton City Manager Scott Wolfe displays a graphic showing the difference between a speed “bump” and a speed
during
presentation on traffic-calming measures at the Buellton City Council meeting on Thursday, March 27. Screenshot from YouTube
SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale relocates to Octagon Barn Center in San Luis Obispo for 2025
Event has been held from 2017 to 2024 at Flag Is Up Farm in Solvang
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
After spending the last eight years in Solvang, The 15th Anniversary of the SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale will take place on the weekend of Nov. 1 at the Octagon Barn Center in San Luis Obispo.
SLOPOKE is an annual juried art show that promotes the culture and spirit of the American West. Historic imagery is integrated with scenes of the 21st Century west to tell the ongoing story of the individuality, creativity, and grit of all American people. From 2017-24, the event was held at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang.
SLOPOKE will open on Friday, Oct. 31, with a reception for ticket holders from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2, closing on Sunday night.
“The Opening Reception is on Halloween and it will be very special and lots of fun as we encourage folks to come in cos -
Monty and Pat Roberts. This year Burgher announced that it will be returning to San Luis Obispo County for the much-needed larger facility, ease of access, and increased parking capacity offered by the recently restored Octagon Barn Center.
close to hotels and restaurants. It provides 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, modern restrooms, and parking for 120 vehicles. A portion of the proceeds from the show will benefit the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo.
tume as their favorite western movie star or their favorite historic artist,” said Tom Burgher, CEO of SLOPOKE Events. “All ticket holders are invited.”
Originally launched as the SLOPOKE Western Art Rodeo in Pismo Beach in 2011 through 2016 when founders Tom and Sherie Burgher owned and operated Seaside Gallery. SLOPOKE has since been presented annually from 2017 to 2024 at Flag Is Up Farm in Solvang, a thoroughbred horse ranch owned by
“SLOPOKE has grown in popularity and even national recognition as a quality, annual art event that brings experienced and emerging artists together every year,” said Burgher. “It is designed to benefit artists, who often have a challenge finding a market for their creative product, by keeping the cost of participation low while giving broad reach to their art through traditional and social media outlets. It provides art lovers an opportunity to view and buy professional art without the need to travel to major urban art fairs.”
Located on South Higuera Street close to the 101 freeway, the Octagon Barn is one of only 60 such surviving barns in the United States. Unique to San Luis Obispo, historically the design was cheaper to build than a traditional rectangular barn because a larger area could be covered using less material. Known as The Octagon Barn Center, it was recently restored by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo as a regional event center that is
“Nominally 35 artists are juried into the show based on their artistic skill, imagination, and the marketability of their work whether painting, sculpture, photography, or other media,” said Burgher. “All genres from realism to unidentifiable are considered based on these merits. Original art competes for Best of Show, Best Painting, Best Sculpture, Best Animal/Wildlife Art, Best Figurative Art, Best Depiction of the 21st Century West, and People’s Choice awards determined by an independent Featured Artist/Awards Jurist. Generally, a good mix of experienced and emerging artists are presented to art collectors at reasonable prices and without the need to travel to a large metropolitan area to see new art.”
Artists may apply at slopokeartshow@ gmail. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite.
For more information, call (805) 569-1235 or visit www.the-slopoke. com and Facebook/Instagram @slopokewesternartshow.
People Helping People of Santa Ynez Valley celebrates milestone
Local nonprofit pays off mortgage in speed fundraiser
Staff Report
Santa Ynez Valley People
Helping People (PHP) is proud to announce the organization has officially paid off the remaining mortgage on its longtime headquarters. With an onerous balloon payment coming due on their loan, the board was debating whether to simply meet that obligation or
to attempt to raise the $114,000 that would allow PHP to own their building, located at 545 Alisal Road #102 outright. John Kuelbs, PHP former board president, and his wife, Casey, kicked off the drive with a generous lead gift of $50,000, sparking immediate momentum.
Inspired by the Kuelbs’ contribution, Erica Jane Flores, PHP CEO, took swift action, reaching out to community members to join the effort. Within just six hours, Erica successfully raised the remaining $64,000, reaching the goal by the end of the day.
“This achievement is not just about paying off a mortgage — it’s about ensuring the long-term sustainability of our mission to serve the Santa Ynez Valley community,” said Becky Barieau, PHP board president.
This milestone was made possible by the generosity and dedication of the following donors: John & Casey Kuelbs, Lois & Sonny Brown, Linda Stafford Burrows, Julian & Janice Gangolli, Linda Gordon, Mike & Kathie Gordon, Priscilla Higgins, Ann Foxworthy Lewellen, Carla & Jon Mead, Jan Rome,
and Ike & Lara Zekaria. With this financial burden removed, PHP can focus more resources on its core mission: providing food, housing assistance, and support services to low- and moderate-income residents of the Santa Ynez Valley.
People Helping People offers a safety net to all Valley residents — from infants to the elderly — but their clients are primarily working families who struggle to afford the basics and seniors on a fixed income. Many of their clients work in the local hospitality industry, agriculture industry, or
on ranches. PHP’s objective is to help people reach self-sufficiency, not just by getting them through a crisis, but by taking a holistic approach to help them to stabilize and thrive.
“This is more than a financial achievement — it’s a symbol of resilience, community spirit, and a shared belief in the work we do every day,” said Flores.
People Helping People has served as a lifeline for individuals and families in need in the Santa Ynez Valley for more than 30 years. For more information visit syvphp.org.
This photo illustration shows what the interior may look like at the Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo for SLOPOKE 2025. The event will be held from Friday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Barn. Contributed Photo Illustration
Pirates baseball getting ready for Ocean League stretch run
SYHS boys volleyball team off to a strong start in Mountain League play
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
The Santa Ynez Pirates baseball team has spent the first 11 games of the season trying to figure things out, and second-year head coach Craig Gladstone hopes a little winning streak right before spring break is a good omen for the stretch run of Ocean League play.
“We’ve had our struggles, but I think we’re starting to mesh and winning these last two games has put us in a good mindset for when we pick up play in a couple weeks,” said Gladstone after his team’s 6-3 non-league win over Santa Clara on Friday, March 28.
With the win over the Saints from Oxnard, SYHS improved to 5-6 overall. A day earlier, March 27, the team earned its first Ocean League win, beating Orcutt Academy 10-2.
In the Santa Clara game, the Pirates opened up a 6-0 lead over the first three innings and freshman pitcher Elijah Roberts made it stand up, tossing five scoreless while allowing just one hit and striking out seven.
“We had an extra game this week, so it was a chance to give Elijah a start and he did great,” Gladstone said about Roberts, who also contributed on the offensive side with two stolen bases and a run scored. “It’s my second year and I think we have a good nucleus of freshman and sophomores to build up this program, and Elijah’s a big part of that.”
Meanwhile, the coach can also rely on some senior leadership, especially with catcher Jaxon Glover, who belted his first home run of the year in Friday’s game, and is batting .400 with 10 RBI on the season.
Another couple of seniors stood out for the Pirates in the win over Orcutt Academy as starting pitcher Kurran Kays pitched 5 innings of 5-hit ball for the win, and Tate Minus who’s actually a stalwart on the mound (1-3 record but with a strong 2.28 ERA), had two hits and two RBI.
After taking a week off due to the school’s spring break, the Pirates will return to Ocean League action on Tuesday, April 8 at home against Santa Maria, and then play the Saints again on Thursday, April 10, at the SMHS field.
by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
Each of the last five weeks of the regular season will consist of a home-and-home pair against the same opponent.
Boys volleyball takes first two Mountain League matches
The Santa Ynez boys volleyball team has gotten off to a strong start as its five-set win over San Luis Obispo on Thursday, March 27, gave the Pirates a 2-0 record in the Mountain League and 6-2 record overall
The Pirates defeated the Tigers, last year’s CIF Central Section Division 2 runner-up by
the scores of 25-27, 27-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-7.
Ben Stuerman had 18 kills with 5 blocks, Nate Biron 16 kills with 5 aces ), and Anders Dietenhofer 14 kills. Senior setter Manny Sanchez had 61 assists on the night along with 7 digs, and defensively Will Losson and Nate Biron each had 17 digs.
“We passed well tonight with Will and especially Nate just keeping things really steady,” said SYHS head coach Chip Fenenga. “Both Anders and Ben really rallied after a close first set loss and played so maturely the rest of the way.”
Girls beach volleyball stays undefeated in league
SYHS’s beach volleyball squad picked up wins over Paso Robles (3-0 on March 25) and Morro Bay (2-1 on March 27).
In the sweep over Paso Robles, Scarlett Ollenburger/Jordan Gann (SY) defeated Kai Stoltzfus/Pricilla Utter (Paso) 21-5, 21-11; Arelie Perez/Natalie Bailey (SY) defeated Macoy Sill/Kate Harrington (Paso) 21-8, 21-16; and Helina Pecile/Kailyn Snekvik (SY) defeated Khylan McKee/Presley Hienbach 13-21, 21-9, 16-14.
“The girls played some solid volleyball today!” SYHS head coach Melissa Rogers said. “They did a really nice job of staying in system and executing aggressively. Our offensive game is pretty physical at all three levels, but in order to utilize that physicality, we have to pass and set well. Today we were firing on all cylinders. In addition, Scarlett Ollenburger’s jump spin serve was on fire. She literally took over the game at the 1’s position with her serve.”
SYHS golfer Armenta co-medals at dual vs. Arroyo Grande
The Santa Ynez boys golf team played a non-league 18-hole match March 26 against Arroyo Grande at the par-72 Alisal River Course. Arroyo Grande won the match 388-422, but Cody Armenta of Santa Ynez was co-medalist with Shane Moncrief of Arroyo Grande, both shooting 74s.
Other Pirates on the links that day included Brayden Mlodzik, 79; Seb Perez, 83; Ernesto Suarez, 92; Max Andrade 94; and Elijah Navarro, 94.
Santa Ynez also began Mountain League play, finishing fifth out of six teams in each of the first two league tournaments. In the second league event on March 24, at the par-72 Santa Maria Country Club, the Pirates had a team score of 443, led by Brayden Mlodzik with an 80. The low score of the day was from Nate Tartar of Arroyo Grande with a 67.
Other Pirates golfers were Cody Armenta, 86; Seb Perez, 90; Ernesto Suarez, 92; and Max Andrade, 95.
The Mountain League “tour” will stop off at Alisal Ranch, the Pirates’ home course, next Monday, April 7.
(Top) Santa Ynez High freshman pitcher Elijah Roberts throws a pitch against Santa Clara on March 28. Roberts started and threw five innings of one-hit ball as the Pirates beat the Saints 6-3. (Bottom) Santa Ynez High baseball coach Craig Gladstone (center, in white hat) addresses his team after a 6-3 win over visiting Santa Clara on March 28. Photos
Ben Flores and Mykah Hardy named Santa Ynez Valley Elks Students of the Month
Santa Ynez High School seniors were honored at most recent Elks Lodge meeting Staff Report
The Santa Maria Valley Elks Lodge honored its two most recent Students of the Month from Santa Ynez High School during recent meetings. Ben Flores is the February honoree, while Mykah Hardy is the March honoree.
Ben, the February Student of the Month, has earned recognition for his athletic exploits, having been a three-sport star all four years at SYHS. He was a team captain and co-MVP in football, team caption and two-time all-league in wrestling, and a four-year varsity letter-
man in baseball.
Ben is also strong academically, having completed all his A-G requirements to be eligible for a fouryear school.
He hopes to play baseball at Santa Barbara City College or Allan Hancock College and then transfer to Oregon or Cal Poly SLO. He is considering a major in engineering.
“Ben is such a joy to have on campus,” said Alexa Tomasini, administrative assistant at SYHS.
“His attitude is infectious as well as his smile. I have never seen Ben in a bad mood but I love that I have seen him in a very intense mood. He is someone that gives it all.”
Mykah Hardy, the Elks Student of the Month for March, has distinguished herself with her work in the Santa Ynez FFA. She is currently FFA vice president, partici-
pating in public speaking competitions, raising a lamb for the 2025 Santa Barbara County fair, and attended several conferences with SYHS’s FFA chapter, such as the state conference, where she was a Job interview sectional finalist (public speaking).
Mykah has taken eight college courses and six courses in the A-G pathway. A National Honors Society member, she currently has a 3.5 GPA, and is going to attend Texas Tech University, majoring in prevet and minoring in agriculture. She plans to become a large-animal veterinarian specializing in horses and cattle. She has done ridealongs at Alamo Pintado with Dr. Tyler Stevenson and Dr. Carolina Lopez.
She played varsity softball her sophomore and junior year, serving
as team captain her junior year. She also loves rodeo, especially breakaway and team roping, which she does for fun. Outside of school, she currently works at Pico restaurant in Los Alamos a few days a week, and has worked for Fess Parker Ranch
Beef, marketing/selling wagyu beef at the Santa Barbara farmers markets on Saturdays and Sundays. Both students received a check from the Elks Lodge toward future school expenses. Congratulations to Ben and Myka.
Santa Ynez High students Ben Flores (left photo) and Mynah Hardy (right photos) are presented checks for being named Elks Students of the Month. Photos courtesy of SYV Elks Lodge
Dunn School hosts competition for budding entrepreuners
Diamond Challenge
regional
event offers an array of creative and innovative ideas for a panel of judges
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
On a Saturday last month, Dunn School in Los Olivos hosted a large group of budding entrepreneurs from around the country, who polished their presentation skills pitches for their business and product ideas.
On March 1, for the second straight year, Dunn hosted the regional competition for the Diamond Challenge, a competition billed as “The Ultimate High School Entrepreneur Challenge.”
Dunn Head of School Kalyan Balaven welcomed the competitors and help up the event as an example of what his school and the schools represented are trying to convey.
“This event is the perfect example of how education and innovation intersect,” he said. “The students here are not just dreamers, they are architects of our future.”
Although Dunn did not have any students who competed in the Diamond Challenge, the event matches up well with the efforts of the
school to teach the philosophies and practices of business and entrepreneurship.
Dunn teacher Chad Stacy oversees the program as the Director of Entrepreneurship and explained how it works.
“At the heart of program is our student-run store 24/7 convenience store, where students can get food and snacks and other needs and pay electronically,” he said. “It’s our main revenue producer, and it’s where our new students are put to learn the basics. It’s real hands-on.”
Stacy said as the students get older, they can branch off into different areas.
“We can offer additional entrepreneurial courses, where the students can propose and make their own products and sell them in their own store,” he said. “And we have students invest some of the money they make from the store in the stock market and see how that can grow.”
Meanwhile, the competition offered a wide range of business ideas and concepts for the judges to evaluate. Presentations were made in two “pitch rooms” representing two categories: Business Innovation and Social Innovation.
In the Business room, judges heard pitches for many different ideas including those for The Chess Mate, a service to find willing players for chess that includes the ability to organize tournaments and look at tutorials to become a better player. There was also a proposal for a company called (eye)deal, that can detect eye disease remotely with an online camera. And
there was Fizzle, proposing a device to installed in stoves to keep them from overheating and causing fires.
“I actually had a neighbor in the San Jose area who had his home damaged because his stove caught fire,” said Ishaan Mandala, who teamed with his Silver Creek High classmates Adarsh Sharma and Tanish Srinivas for the presentation. “So I started thinking about how we could help prevent that, and came up with this.”
Over in the Social Innovation room, threat of fire was also the inspiration for a concept called SkyScouts, which was proposed as a system to predict wildfires, so they can be dealt with before they do too much damage. The judges for that part of the competition also heard pitches for MeloSign (with the slogan “Making Music Tangible”), whose creators envision a way for the hearing-impaired to truly enjoy music, with visual cues on a screen and a wearable device on the wrist with hoptic vibrations to allow the person to feel the beat of the music.
Also in the Social category was Rhythmiq, billed as an all-encompassing online tool for professional, amateur, and aspiring dancers that would be a search engine for affordable training and dance studios, and online help to learn dance steps and create your own routines with the help of AI.
David Zheng, Russell Qian, and Suri Li, who all got to know each other through their dance experience were at Dunn to present their idea.
“This presentation and how we did it is kind of recent, but the idea kind of hatched with me about two and a half years ago,” Zheng said. “I was trying to get into auditions for K-pop and while doing that I realized there were so many talented people who just didn’t have a way to get their foot in the door. So I started looking for a way to create something for that, and meeting up with my partners, we tried to find an all-inclusive tool to help dancers and performers.”
After all the pitches were done, the students heard from the event’s keynote speaker Autumn Badelt-Fanning, a Dunn School alumna who created a mobile veterinary business in Paso Robles and now manages a vineyard in that town with her husband. She told the audience about her difficulties getting the mobile veterinary business off the ground before it was successful, and presented it as a lesson to not get discouraged if thing don’t work right away.
At the end, the winners were announced in each category who would advance to the Limitless World Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on May 1-2.
The winner in the Business Innovation category was Soundwave, the creator of an AI accent moderator for foreign call centers to help they and the customers better understand one another. The winner if the Social Innovation category was GradeWithAI, which use AI technology to modernize methods for grading and “empowering educators to educate.”
Vandenberg Space Force Base hosts key events
Highlighting leadership, training, and community engagement Staff Report
Lt. Gen. Robinson visits VSFB for missile maintenance training developments
On Feb. 18, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of the Air Education and Training Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Chad Bickley, AETC command chief, visited Vandenberg Space Force Base. Their visit focused on briefing personnel on missile maintenance training developments and coincided with a Congressional Delegation’s engagement with base leadership. Robinson also toured the 532nd Training Squadron, receiving mission briefings and engaging with students and instructors on the latest advancements in missile maintenance and operations training.
2025 State of Vandenberg addresses mission and regional impact
The annual State of Vandenberg event, held on March 14 in cooperation with the Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley Chambers of Commerce, provided updates on the base’s mission and regional impact.
Honorary commanders tour Firefly and NASA facilities
On March 25, a group of honorary commanders from Vandenberg and Los Angeles Air Force Base participated in a base tour that included visits to Firefly Aerospace and NASA facilities. The program aims to strengthen community partnerships by informing local leaders about the Air and Space Force missions. Attendees engaged with Firefly staff and Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs members to gain deeper insight into Vandenberg’s collaboration with commercial partners.
VSFB honors chief master sergeants in 2025 Recognition Ceremony
U.S. Space Force Col. Mark Shoemaker, commander of Space Launch Delta 30, presented the 2025 Vandenberg Commanders Community Service Award to David Goldy, the 576th Flight Test Squadron Honorary Commander.
Col. Dustin Harmon, commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, high-
lighted the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch mission at VSFB, emphasizing launches scheduled five years in advance. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, Commander of U.S. Space Forces – Space, underscored the base’s strategic importance and future operational goals.
Space Launch Delta 30 hosted the 2025 Chief Master Sergeant Recognition Ceremony on March 28, honoring the newly selected Chief Master Sergeants. The event celebrated their promotion and dedication to upholding the highest standards of excellence within the U.S. Space Force.
As Vandenberg Space Force Base continues to evolve, these key events demonstrate its commitment to excellence in leadership, training, and community collaboration, reinforcing its pivotal role in national security and space exploration.
U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, Commander, U.S. Space Forces – Space and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander, speaks during the 2025 State of Vandenberg at Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 14.
Photo by U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi
AGRICULTURE
Exporters try to navigate impacts of Trump tariffs
Farmers and traders face confusion as fluctuating tariffs disrupt markets, impact pricing, and raise concerns over long-term export stability
By Ching Lee
Confusion and uncertainty. Those are two words being used by California agricultural exporters with farm products caught up in an escalating trade conflict between the U.S. and its biggest trading partners.
President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs in February on China, which countered with tariffs on U.S. goods and other retaliatory measures. Trump’s tariff orders included Canada and Mexico, though he later put those tariffs on hold, restarted them in March, then revised them to exempt certain imports. He also imposed 25% levies on all foreign steel and aluminum, resurrecting a policy from his first term.
Like China, Canada and the European Union imposed reciprocal tariffs, with the EU duties to take effect in April. Mexico said it has planned retaliatory measures, but they have not been implemented.
“I think it mostly still continues to be confusion rather broadly since there are so many moving pieces here,” said Matthew Viohl, a federal policy director for the California Farm Bureau, which has been tracking the constantly changing trade developments.
Ali Amin, a Kern County pistachio grower and processor who also operates Los Angeles-based Primex International Trading Corp., a distributor of tree nuts and dried fruits, described the president’s wavering tariffs on Canada and Mexico as “almost like a ping-pong negotiation.”
“That’s the confusion part,” he said. “Nobody knows how to react to it.”
More immediately, importers who have purchased product that has not yet shipped will have to contend with a higher price due to the tariffs, he said, and they will
have to pass on the increases to their customers, oftentimes retailers.
“That’s a reverberation that goes all the way to the shelf,” Amin said.
The new Chinese tariffs add to existing duties on tree nuts, making the products even more expensive. Amin said he thinks sales of pistachios will take a greater hit in the tariff wars because most pistachios are for snacking, unlike almonds and walnuts, which are often used in products such as candy bars. Product manufacturers have less purchasing flexibility because they need their ingredients, he said.
Though almonds are not on Canada’s retaliatory tariffs list, Robert Rocha, sales manager for P-R Farms, a Fresno County almond grower, packer and shipper, said he’s concerned about souring Canadian sentiments about the U.S. sparked by Trump’s trade policies and his promises to annex the North American ally. He noted recent reports of consumer boycotts of U.S. products and Canadian retailers removing U.S. products from store shelves.
“The consumer is the king,” he said. “Will their buying practices change? They’re the ones that decide.”
With most of the company’s 2024 crop sold, Rocha said his concern is for this year’s crop if trade relations don’t improve, “being that we have to ship and export a lot of our almonds to other countries.”
About two-thirds of the state’s almond crop is destined for foreign markets.
The company used to do more business in China but has had to shift to other markets because of tit-for-tat tariffs between the U.S. and the Asian nation from Trump’s first term—tariffs that the Biden administration continued. Rocha said he’s thankful there were other markets such as India and the EU to move to, but he worries those markets could now be affected.
One saving grace, Rocha said, has been the weakening dollar, which helps American products be more price competitive against other currencies. Looking ahead to the upcoming crop, he acknowledged he may need to pivot again—perhaps by trying to sell more to the domestic market—if export sales dip.
As an importer and exporter of agricultural products and foods, Jim Geller, presi -
dent of Geller International in San Mateo County, said he’s worried about how and what he’ll be able to ship this year to Hong Kong, one of his main markets. The additional Chinese duties on American meat, poultry and other farm products could prompt his buyers to source from Australia and elsewhere, he said.
“We have no strategy because of the uncertainty,” he said. “I don’t know what to do because I don’t know what Trump’s position is week by week and neither do people overseas.”
For California’s wine sector, there was already uncertainty about where the market would land as more growers remove vineyards to try to balance supply with demand. Tariffs now add another layer of uncertainty on top, said Glenn Proctor, Sonoma County winegrape grower and partner of Ciatti, a wine and grape brokerage firm.
Like Rocha, the almond exporter, Proctor said he, too, is concerned about “Canadians saying we’re pulling all the American alcohol off the shelf.”
“Even if the tariffs don’t happen, the threat of the tariffs changes their perception about us,” he said. “I think idle threats can still have negative effects on how people view us.”
Agricultural products affected by Canada’s 25% retaliatory tariff include wine, citrus fruit, apricots, cherries, peaches, melons, fresh tomatoes, milk and dairy products, and poultry.
Proctor said while buyers have not necessarily backed out of deals, the uncertainty created by the on-again-off-again tariffs “has slowed decisions because nobody really knows.” People who were looking to make bulk purchases, for example, have put on the brakes, he said, saying, “it doesn’t make sense for me to make a commitment.”
Because most of the state’s fresh fruits are not yet in season, Caroline Stringer, trade director for the California Fresh Fruit Association, said there has so far not been too much direct impact from the Canadian tariffs.
Canada and Mexico remain the top two export markets for many California fruits, she noted, and any impacts on those mar -
kets “would be pretty serious.” California doesn’t ship much fresh fruit to the EU. China used to be a big market, she said, but many exporters shifted away from shipping to China due to tariffs from previous trade disruptions.
Though association members support the president’s objective of making trade fair and balanced, Stringer said recent discussions of a six-month period for reconfiguring trade would not work for perishable commodities, as “six months is the season” for fresh fruits. She said the association is trying to highlight this point in discussions with policymakers and elected representatives in Washington, D.C.
“There is uncertainty, and growers, packers, shippers like certainty; every business does,” Stringer said. “We’re all waiting to see what’s going to play out.”
With Mexico being the biggest exporter of avocados to the U.S., Charley Wolk, a San Diego County avocado grower, said the 25% tariff on Mexican imports could lead to less fruit coming from the southern neighbor, which would benefit California growers.
Considering less than 1% of the state’s total walnut shipments went to China during the past couple years, the California Walnut Commission in a statement to Ag Alert® characterized the Chinese levies on U.S. walnuts as having “limited impact today.” What’s more, nearly all the 2024 crop has been sold or committed.
Even so, the commission said it does “anticipate that we may have some disruptions, and exporters and importers will have to navigate through these unknowns.”
Though there’s not much left of the old crop to sell, Bill Carriere, a Glenn County walnut grower, processor and shipper, said he’s still uneasy about prospects for the 2025 crop if tariffs remain in place come July or August. There’s also concern about equipment and materials he imports from China, India and Europe, including packaging, bags and sorters, all of which could face import duties if trade issues are not resolved.
“I’m nervous about it, but I’m not panicking yet and not really changing much because I don’t know,” he said. “But we need to get this settled.”
Firestone Walker Releases
‘We
Love LA’
West Coast Pilsner to support wildfire relief
Staff Report
Firestone Walker Brewing Company is giving beer lovers a new way to support wildfire relief efforts with the launch of We Love LA, a West Coast Pilsner brewed with a purpose. This crisp, refreshing beer is now available at Firestone Walker’s Venice Propagator location and will see a wider release across all Firestone Walker locations, including Buellton and Paso Robles, starting March 21.
Crafted with German lager yeast and dry-hopped with Citra, Strata, and Lorien, We Love LA offers a bright, fruit-forward aroma, subtle malt sweetness, and a clean, crisp finish. It is available in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans while supplies last. The initiative began when wildfires devastated the Palisades and Eaton areas, prompting Common Space Brewery in
Hawthorne to take action. Their call for support resonated across the brewing community, inspiring Firestone Walker and over 180 breweries nationwide to participate in the We Love LA movement. Together, they have raised more than $275,000 for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles’s Wildfire Response Fund.
“This is what breweries do—we bring people together,” said Hannah Barnett, Brand Director for Firestone Walker.
“Seeing so many breweries unite for a cause bigger than beer reminds us why this industry is so special. We’re honored to stand alongside our peers to support those affected and help rebuild these communities.”
The We Love LA initiative shows Firestone Walker’s dedication to supporting local communities. With every can sold, beer lovers can take part in aiding wildfire recovery efforts, proving that sometimes, a simple act— like enjoying a great beer—can make a meaningful impact. For more information, visit FirestoneWalker.com.
Firestone Walker Brewing Company supports wildfire relief efforts with the launch of ‘We Love LA’ brew. Photo courtesy of Firestone Walker
FOOD & DRINK
Chef celebrates first anniversary at AR Restaurant & Catering
Alex Reyes developed his passion for cooking by observing his mom’s work in the kitchen
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
Chef Alex Reyes is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the opening of his fusion restaurant, AR Restaurant & Catering, in the Buellton Town Plaza. He is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of his catering business AR Catering, which is located in Lompoc.
“I have always loved cooking, and eating as well,” he said, smiling. “I come from a large family — three brothers and three sisters — so my mother was always cooking. I learned from watching her from a distance, even hiding under the table to learn my mother’s cooking secrets. She would always shoo me out of the kitchen saying that she wanted me to be a lawyer or president of the United States, but my passion has always been cooking.
“She is very proud of me now, even though I’m not in the White House. Come to think of it, I should have named this restaurant The White House, but because my catering business is called AR Catering, I decided to call it AR Restaurant. I think I will name my next restaurant The White House,” he said humorously, with his mother in mind.
Reyes said he started cooking on his own, working in the early 2000s at various restaurants in Santa Barbara. He attended Santa Barbara City College and enrolled in the school’s culinary arts program, but it didn’t offer him what he was looking for.
“By the time I enrolled, I had already three years of cooking experience. Educational experience is different from practical experience,” he said. “I wasn’t learning anything in the classes, so I didn’t finish. I continued to work in different kitchens, and when I thought I’d learned all I needed to know in that kitchen, I’d move on to the next — learning baking, pastries, salads, and steaks — and I developed my own style of cuisine. That’s when I felt I had the tools and the knowledge to venture out on my own.
“So, I started a catering company. I began with a catering kitchen in Goleta and eventually moved to Lompoc. We’ve been servicing customers from Carpinteria to Paso Robles and we have a contract with the Vandenberg Exchange where we go twice a week and we also service Space X employees. But I felt there was a missing piece in the catering business and I wanted to open a restaurant.”
After meeting a woman who owned her own restaurant, an opportunity arose for Reyes and he decided to take the plunge.
“I wasn’t really looking for a space at that time, but I became friends with Francesca Agate, the owner of La Botte Bistro, who’d previously occupied this space,” he said. “She said she was looking to move back to Lompoc and that ‘I was her guy’ to take over the spot. We’ve become close friends and we’re like family now.”
Reyes’s vision was simple and heartfelt: to celebrate the Valley’s incredible bounty by crafting delicious, locally inspired dishes at a reasonable price.
“My goal in opening this restaurant was for it to be a place where locals could come and get a great meal and still have money left in their pocket,” he said. “It also offered me the opportunity of increasing my catering busi-
ness by having a place for potential customers to come and sample my dishes.”
Reyes said that he tries to use organic ingredients, locally sourced, including wines, which can also be paired with his dishes and beer. He also has vegetarian offerings.
“For my birthday, I was treated to a dinner at AR Restaurant & Catering in Buellton,” said Will Ambler, a Buellton resident. “My parents had heard good things from people who had eaten there, so we decided to give it a try. It is a cozy bistro with a friendly staff and an interesting menu. We ordered some wine and a starter to share, (pork belly with a spicey coleslaw). The presentation was great and the taste was even better. The main dish was equally visually appealing, and very tasty (Ahi and blackened salmon tacos). And the dessert did not disappoint (flowerless chocolate cake).
“Since my dinner at AR Restaurant, I have told everyone, if they get the chance, ‘Go try it!’ The prices are reasonable and the food was great.”
Reyes appreciates the support he gets from customers in Buellton.
“During the short time I’ve been here, the locals have been very welcoming and very loyal. Sometimes they just run in to pick up a meal to-go and some come in several times
a week to eat,” he said. “We also partner with DoorDash for those who don’t want to venture out.
“Having been here for a year now, I can say that I am extremely happy I decided to open a restaurant in Buellton. The ultimate goal for any chef is to have your own restaurant and I am extremely happy to be here in this spot. I’m excited to spread the word and share my passion for cooking with the Valley.”
Catarina Agate, owner of Mama’s Café and La Botte restaurant in Lompoc, who dropped by to say hello, said Reyes’s dedication to his job, and his business, shows through.
“You must love what you are doing to have a successful restaurant and cater to the people with love,” she said. “And Alex loves what he does, and he is an unselfish worker.”
AR Restaurant & Catering is at 225 McMurray Road, Suite A, Buellton. Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays. They offer a 15 percent discount, on Tuesdays only, to local residents. AR Restaurant & Catering will also be offering a Mother’s Day Dinner, a three-course meal paired with wine.
For more information, call (805) 697-7337 or visit arrestaurantandcatering.com
(Left) Chef Alex Reyes is shown with his staff, which consists of Veronica Perez and Andrew Rodriguez. (Right) Chef Alex Reyes is shown in his kitchen at AR Restaurant & Catering in Buellton. Photo by Devyn Marseilles
Fermented foods the easiest delivery mode for probotics LIFESTYLE
GOOD MEDICINE
By Dr. Hyun K. Lee
The modern diet is filled primarily with processed foods and medications. Because of this, it is also filled with obesity, digestive issues, and a variety of diseases. The majority of people are also eating far too much food but ironically, not getting nearly as much nutrition as they need — their bodies are actually starving. These processed foods are a major threat to the beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, in your body, and help take you down a very unhealthful road.
Probiotics are an extremely important element of health. They populate your gut, have a profound effect on your gastrointestinal and immune system, keep your weight down, detoxify your system, and improve and maintain your overall health.
You can find probiotics in a lot of foods and in capsule form, but the easiest delivery for your body is within fermented foods which are very easy to make yourself. You can even ferment what you grow organically in your own backyard garden, making it
very low in cost.
Korean Dr. Kuk Moon Park uses the fermentation process to create his own probiotics that he administers to cancer patients and others with serious health problems that are no longer responsive to conventional treatment in hospitals. He ferments the wild plants that grow in the organic fields where he lives in the mountains of Korea. Patients come to his retreat for a seven-day fast, detoxifying their bodies with his seasonal mixtures. He has yielded excellent results with this process.
Eating fermented food is an ancient practice that fell out of tradition for one reason or another. It was very common during Roman times, in ancient Indian society, Asian cultures, and Eastern European countries. Fermentation increases the nutrition in a food source. For instance, if you have one gram of nutrition in one fresh apple, the fermentation process increases the nutrients of that apple 10 times. Because of this, your body is fed as it wants to be fed and requires less food. When you’re eating less food, your organs don’t need to work as hard, and they retain their energy to extend your health and life.
Fermenting is a very creative process as there is no exact recipe for doing so. It can depend on the environment of your home (warmer environments ferment things faster), your preference to sweet or sour, and your personal taste regarding fruits and vegetables. (Seasonal foods are best, but not required.) You can ferment only one fruit or vegetable or a mixture of several different ones. It all depends on what you like best. (Fermenting
animal products like dairy is not recommended for health.)
There are several ways to ferment fruits or vegetables, but Koreans keep it simple by just adding sugar to the mixture. Sugar acts as a pre-biotic — in other words, an immediate and accessible food for the microflora of bacteria. Be certain that the sugar you get is organic from sugar cane (not sugar beets as they are most commonly genetically modified) and as minimally processed as possible. Something like sucanat or muscovado sugar is recommended as it retains the sugar cane’s mineral-rich molasses but is not an absolute must.
It is recommended to use a clay bowl/jar (because the clay is a breathable material, allowing oxygen to travel throughout its walls) for this process, but you can begin with a glass container as you feel your way through the first several tries. You should try small batches at first until you discover a recipe you enjoy, and then you can enlarge the batch to supply your whole family. (Be mindful of the batch. If it tastes toxic, throw it out. It is easily contaminated by flies, extreme weather, and the like.)
In this clay bowl/jar, add fresh, organic (very important), and clean fruits or vegetables that have been diced small. The standard recipe is to use half of the weight of fruits/vegetables of sugar, so if you are using ½ pound of strawberries, use ¼ pound of sugar. Pour the sugar over the fruit/vegetable and mix to incorporate the sugar throughout. Seal the jar with a breathable type of material that keeps flies out, such as a piece of cotton, kept taut on the bowl/jar
with a large elastic band or the like. Leave it on your counter and stir once per day.
You will see the fermentation process in action as there will be a bubbling happening throughout the mixture. After three days you can begin using it or you can taste the brine and decide whether or not you want to leave it out longer. The longer you leave it out, the more sour (like vinegar) it will become. Eventually, it will turn into vinegar. When it is to your liking, strain out the fruit/vegetable matter and preserve the liquid brine in a jar and refrigerate. You can use it as you like. Drink it straight, add it to smoothies or juice, mix it into a salad dressing, etc.
If it is too sweet, lessen the sugar. If it is not sweet enough, add more. Feel free to play around with the recipe until you get it right for everyone in your family.
(It should be noted that this microflora is extremely sensitive to the environment. If its atmosphere is very negative, with bad feelings throughout the house like fighting and negative thinking, it will not taste as good as a home environment that is peaceful and positive.)
Keeping your family healthy can be a fun and inexpensive task that you can share with your children. Allowing them to formulate their own recipe they enjoy will teach them more about health and the wonders of probiotics.
Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles and Paso Robles. To make an appointment call (805) 693-5162 or 310-6668021.
Out with the old and hardly worn, in with the new fashions
By Sue Manning
We’re gearing up for a fashion adventure this season, and what better place than Elna’s Dress Shop in Solvang to lead the way with our glamorous and fabulous take on style for you. Since spring is officially here, take a look at our new arrivals.
We definitely can help with
wardrobe planning, always keeping in mind what is best for you, our customer. Color, size, fit, versatility for work, casual or dressy. What makes a great fashion image?
Proper fit, good color, and great proportion for your age, size and height. For “fashion lovers,” spring cleaning is inevitable — we are ready to put winter dressing away. This is a good time to look over the clothes you didn’t
wear and donate them to a charity. Out with the old and hardly worn, and in with the new seasons pieces.
The classic pairing of black and white adds sophistication to black prints and graphic punch to knits and stripes.
Also, black and gold is a striking combo and can take you from work to an evening get-together. For spring you will be seeing matching floral bouquets, con -
trasting prints and textures, and crayola-bright colors to mixand-match prints. We cannot forget the natural selection of beige and khaki and soft versions of brighter hues for prints, patterns and knits. What can I say about denim?
Denim fabrics go with everything, and have continued for many years. You can’t go wrong with deep shades of indigo and/ or navy denim. When in doubt,
bring in your favorite pieces from home and our staff will assist in helping you build your spring wardrobe. Visit us soon. All sale merchandise is 50% off regular prices. Come in now for the best selection. Elna’s Dress Shop is located at 1673 Copenhagen Drive in the heart of Solvang, and open Monday, closed Tuesday, open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Looking forward to seeing you!
ELNA'S FASHION CHATTER
ARTS & NONPROFITS
Muffin Music has the right recipe for musical education
Local organization teaming up with Dunn School to put on music camps this summer
By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com
Local musician Davis Reinhart can still remember the inspiration that brought his and Sylvia Jiang’s musical collaborative its name.
“When our organization began to take shape, I remembered being in New York City when COVID hit in 2020,” Reinhart recalled. “I saw long lines of people at the foodbank there, and I likened the need for food for a community’s need to experience music and artistic expression.”
And from that, Reinhart came up with the name Muffin Music for the organization’s he started with New Zealand-born pianist and the group’s Artistic Director Sylvia Jiang in 2022. Reinhart had a desire to play music as long as he can remember.
“I learned piano early on and was always heavily involved in that,” he said. “Then going into school I picked up the trumpet and started playing that too. Through Oak Valley (Elementary) and then Santa Ynez High, I was always a band person.”
Reinhart and Jiang met in 2018 while attending the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival and found they both saw a need to provide music education to artistically underserved communities.
“Our vision really took shape thanks to grant from the then-new Arts and Culture Program and I used it for the first-ever Buellton in the Park Festival, held at River View Park,” he said.
The festival was an amazing success, bringing eight hours of free performances to the community of local musicians and dancers, as well as internationally acclaimed musicians, as people celebrated Buellton’s 30th anniversary as an incorporated city.
“Since that event, we’ve continued an annual Residency Program which involves Muffin Music visiting local schools to run music work-
shops and discussions, as well as free community concerts,” Reinhart said. “Just this past year we started a new program that brings instructors and live performances to Hope Refuge, a rehabilitation clinic based in Goleta for young girls from Santa Barbara County in need. Finally, we have our annual M2 Program, offering top notch musical training for young musicians of all musical backgrounds.”
This year, the M2 Program is particularly exciting as Muffin Music will be collaborating with the Dunn School to run the program. The group will be offering both an M2 Camp
for local youth ages 8-18 of all musical backgrounds (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) day camp, and the M2 Piano Intensive for pianists from all over the world (boarding program). Students participating will have a chance to work with each other and learn from working professional musicians and world-class teachers, one of which being Yong Hi Moon, one of the greatest piano pedagogues who currently teaches at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. This program will take place from July 11-20 this summer.
“I was able to get together with Dunn for this thanks to Guy Walker, who’s a graduate of Dunn and on the board of directors,” Reinhart said of the man who is also on the Santa Barbara County School Board. “He and C.J. Jackson, who owns Alisal Ranch, suggested I use Dunn for the camp. It’s got boarding facilities, and students can use that or just come to the day camp.”
Reinhart said that registration for the camps will open on May 1, and scholarships are available to attend.
Meanwhile, Reinhart and Jiang will be holding two community concerts this month, both in Santa Barbara County. The first will be at Unity of Santa Maria (1165 Stubblefield Road, Santa Maria) on Friday, April 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the second at Shepherd of the Valley Church (3550 Baseline Ave., Santa Ynez) on Saturday, April 12, also from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The free concerts are open to the public.
For more information on Muffin Music, and the camps, go to muffinmusic.org.
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Muffin Music co-founders Sylvia Jiang (left) and Davis Reinhart are part of an organization that brings musical education to the Santa Ynez Valley through classes, camps, and musical performances. Contributed Photo
Fossemalle Studio encourages early sign-up for summer camps
Special week for morning and afternoon sessions coming in the fourth week of June
By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer
As the Fossemalle Dance Studio is “bourree-ing” (a ballet term consisting of tiny steps in any direction, and in their case, forward) towards the 40th anniversary of its dedication to teaching the Art of Dance, it is announcing a special week of summer camps starting Monday, June 23, through Friday, June 27.
There will be four different camps to choose from according to age and level of expertise, each being limited to 10 students to provide proper instruction as well as attention to detail.
It will also celebrate the return home for the summer of one of the studio’s 2022 graduates, Miss Camryn Kemp, who will be instructing, as she has done before, alongside Christine Fossemalle, the founder and director of the studio.
“First it was Miss Amanda; it is now Miss Camryn who is returning for the summer to help teach the students who will be attending our summer camps. It makes me feel very content to witness their desire to contribute their talents to
our cause,” said Fossemalle.
There are two camps in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon, one being a Ballet, Tap and Jazz Camp for 7-year-olds and up, taught by Kemp.
The other and most popular one will be the Nutcracker Camp for youngsters 8 years and up with some ballet expertise, which will also be taught by Kemp.
The afternoon camps will be from 1 until 3 p.m., which is a newly created Disney Camp for 5- and 6-year-old boys and girls. This is an educational and fun camp with the famous classical Disney tunes and instruction suited for that age group.
Finally, the Sleeping Beauty camp, taught by Fossemalle requires ballet expertise and is for 12-year-olds and up.
“These are exciting, fun, and educational camps that provide your children with the opportunity to discover the art of dance or enhance their technical and artistic skills, taught with tender loving care and attention to detail. It will be a week of joy, challenges, and camaraderie to celebrate our 40th year of dedication to the Art of Dance,” said Fossemalle. “We encourage prompt registration though as the enrollment is very limited.”
Fossemalle Dance Studio is at 3595 Numancia St., Santa Ynez. For more information, call (805) 688-8494 or visit www.fossemalledancestudio.com
Camryn Kemp, shown on the beach, will be teaching a Ballet, Tap and Jazz Camp for 7-year-olds and up this June, as well as a Nutcracker Camp. Contributed Photo
Guest House facility and worked in the same compound as well,” Johansen said. “For our afternoon arrival at Xela Aid, we were greeted by the staff and schoolchildren who treated us to a dancing performance in their native costume in the inner courtyard. These adorable preschool-aged children were part of a scholarship fund established for 50 students into the Montessori program.”
The group’s projects at Local Hope Xela Aid were the completion and delivery to local families of handmade chicken coops with chickens for a sustaining project for the families, water filter systems, working in the computer lab with students, aid for the special needs classrooms, guitar lessons, and several days of intense dentistry.
“The dentistry was tough as the indigenous adults and children that we saw had received absolutely no dental treatment, so it was a bit like a war zone in there. There were a lot of infections and extractions and it was absolutely heartbreaking to see little children in this condition,” said Johansen.
Johansen provided some impact numbers from 2024 for Xela Aid, which was founded by humanitarian Leslie Baer Dinkel: Health care, 6,362 patients served; safe water, 27,610 served; 23,425 emergency food; 8,626 hot meals for children and seniors; 72,864 Pre-K
learning participant hours; 83,160 Study Center participant hours; computer lab, 64,080 participant hours; and special needs, 94,438 learning, physical and therapy hours. The number of people served in 2024 was 16,626.
The group departed Xela Aid, driving over three hours on marginal roads to their next stop, which was San Jose La Maquina, which is where they stayed for several nights for their well dig project.
“The villages are so remote and have no hotel facilities or ever receive tourists, so we stay as close as possible with the well-digging crew in whatever community that they find with a hotel that is habitable for us all,” said Johansen. “We eat breakfast starting at 5 a.m. with the crew as well as dinner later every evening about 7 p.m., having about 30 minutes to wash up after the day’s well dig. We initiated Jaime and staff after dinner to play Left Right and Center, which is a gambling game at $3 per game, which was fronted for them.”
Johansen explained that they have worked with the same water well company, Asocaviva, and owner Jaimie Torres and his amazing crew, including Carla Castellanos, who teaches the women and children in each remote village they serve.
“They speak only Spanish and we women step up to help Carla with the classes when we aren’t helping with the well dig,” said Johansen. “She has put an incredible amount of time into her lessons, trying to speak English as well so
that they are all exposed to some English vocabulary. We do songs, skits, interactive games and arts and crafts. The lessons are all built around oral and physical hygiene as well as environmental hygiene, trying to teach them about sanitation and bacteria.”
Meanwhile, the well dig wasn’t without its difficulties.
“The unfortunate part of the well dig is the remote villages are at least 1½ to 2 hours’ drive from our hotel location in each direction,” explained Johansen. “The roads are always dirt and the conditions very hash with huge potholes and rocks. As the crow flies, this year’s well community was less than 15 miles from our hotel site, and it took us almost two hours one way to get where we needed to be.”
And the conditions weren’t optimum, either.
“Dusty is the understatement as we followed the well crew truck and another vehicle,” Johansen continued. “You could barely see where you were driving. As is customary in Guatemala, our car rental had no wiper blades so Bobby had to improvise with our car windshield wipers stuffing newspaper, tissue paper, and toilet paper under the wipers so we could see a bit.”
Once the well was completed the group, including the villagers, held a celebration.
“The celebration for the completed water well is always wonderful, with children playing in the fresh water as it shoots out of the pipe,” said Johansen. “We celebrated in their beauti-
ful parish and the village pastor led the service. Stu Gildred from Linda Vista as well as Jaimie Torres from Asocaviva also shared beautiful words to the members of the community.”
Following the well-dig celebration, the group drove four to five hours to Lake Atitlan, where they stayed at the Sacred Tree for a little rest and relaxation before returning home.
“Our hearts are full and our souls fed from another successful trip to Guatemala with the Linda Vista Foundation and the Solvang Rotary,” Johansen said. “Next year’s destination will be Colombia and we are working out all of the details for that trip now.”
If you are interested in helping or joining a possible humanitarian trip with the Solvang Rotary and Impact Adventures and Linda Vista Foundation, contact Linda Johansen at lindyjo2003@yahoo.com.
For those inspired by the group’s recent service trip, Impact Adventure Tours offers the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey to Mexico, Colombia, or Guatemala. Specializing in customized trips for groups of up to 14 people, they combine meaningful service work with immersive cultural experiences. To learn more or to plan a trip, visit impactadventuretours.com or contact Ana Paula Perez at lindavistafoundation@gmail.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a condensed version of the story. The full story can be found at santaynezvalleystar.com
A group of volunteers from Solvang Rotary and Linda Vista Foundation traveled to Guatemala to perform a number of services, including well digs and dentistry, and got to know the local tribes there. Contributed Photos
GOVERNMENT MEETINGS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.
County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara For more info: countyofsb.org
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
BUELLTON PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.
At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton
For more info: cityofbuellton.com
MONDAY, APRIL 7
SOLVANG PLANNING COMMISSION, 5 P.M.
At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St., Solvang For more info: cityofsolvang.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.
Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building, 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria For more info: countyofsb.org
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, 9 A.M.
Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building, 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
For more info: countyofsb.org
LOS OLIVOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M. Los Olivos Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave, Los Olivos
For more info: losolivoscsd.com
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.
At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton
For more info: cityofbuellton.com
MONDAY, APRIL 14
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL,
6:30 P.M.
At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St., Solvang
For more info: cityofsolvang.com
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
EVENTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1
PEASANTS FEAST 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLOCK PARTY, 4 TO 7 P.M.
Come celebrate five amazing years with the Peasants FEAST (plus DELI) family! The public is invited for a day full of delicious food and drinks, live DJ, arcade games and tons of fun with the community that made it all possible. Let’s eat, dance, play, and make more memories together. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
At Copenhagen Drive and Atterdag Road between peasents FEAST and peasants DELI + ARCADE, Solvang
For more info: peasantsFEAST.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
BOUNTY OF THE VALLEY 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, 5 TO 10 P.M.
Santa Ynez Valley Family School will celebrate 50 years of planting seeds in education during our Bounty of the Valley fundraiser. Five generations of alumni and current families alongside community supporters will gather at the SYV Family School campus for an evening of games, silent and live auction and music. Dinner will be provided by Valley Piggery and spirits will be provided by local alumni winemakers and brewers. With an estimated attendance of 350 SYV Family School enthusiasts, this evening promises to be a fun and fruitful
CALENDAR
event supporting this important educational institution.
For more information, to RSVP, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.syvfamilyschool.org/bountytickets or contact our staff at fiftiethanniversary@syvfamilyschool.org or call the office at (805) 688-5440.
At Santa Ynez Valley Family School, 5300 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos (near former Neverland Ranch)
For more info: www.syvfamilyschool. org
VALLEYWIDE SHRED DAY, 8
A.M.
TO 1:30 P.M.
Protecting Privacy: Santa Ynez Valley residents can safeguard sensitive documents during the Valleywide Shred Day on Saturday, April 5. Shred locations in Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez offer a convenient way to dispose of confidential papers securely.
Buellton: 8 to 9:30 a.m. (Buellton City Hall Parking Lot)
Solvang: 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Lawvex, LLP Parking Lot – 595 Alamo Pintado, Solvang)
Santa Ynez: Noon to 1:30 p.m. (The field located across from the Mercantile on Meadowvale St.)
$6 per banker’s box – Cash or Check only
OZOMATLI, 7 TO 9 P.M.
Celebrating 30 years of Ozomatli’s collaborative, energetic blend of multi-cultural music and activism that has earned them three Grammys, four Hollywood Bowl shows, a TED Talk and much more. Since forming in 1995, the Los Angeles-bred lineup has inspired and energized listeners as far away as Burma and Mongolia. Ozo’s messages and music, sung in both Spanish and English, need no translation. Like The Doors, X, Los Lobos, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other L.A.-based artists who take cues from the city and also reflect and unearth its movements, Ozomatli reaches from the curbs to the high-rises.
If the city of Los Angeles had a
soundtrack, it would be Ozomatli’s music.
At Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang
For tickets/more info: solvangtheaterfest.org
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Experience a night of intrigue and suspense
Murder Mystery Experience in the Santa Ynez Valley, as Cloak & Dagger Mysteries offers an Immersive Murder Mystery Experience on April 12 at AJ Spur’s in Buellton. Contributed Photo
AN
IMMERSIVE
MURDER MYSTERY
EXPERIENCE, 5 TO 8 P.M.
Trouble in Tombstone: Experience a night of intrigue and suspense Murder Mystery Experience in the Santa Ynez Valley. Cloak & Dagger Mysteries offers an unparalleled immersive murder mystery dinner experience, where you don’t just watch the story unfold — you live it.
Your ticket includes:
A multi-course themed dinner
Two drinks (beer, wine, themed cocktails or mocktails, soft drinks)
A fully customized character selected just for you
Access to our exclusive web app for clues, notes, and suspects
A night of unforgettable fun!
At AJ Spurs, 350 E. Highway 246, Buellton
For more info: cloakanddaggermysteries.com
A HARD DAY’S NIGHT: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S
#1 BEATLES TRIBUTE SHOW, 7 P.M.
Hard Day’s Night, Southern California’s #1 Beatles Tribute Show, has been thrilling audiences with tight harmonies and flawless note-fornote instrumental renditions of Beatle hits. Hard Day’s Night has honed
their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world. Hard Day’s Night is based in Los Angeles and available to perform throughout North America, Europe and Japan. At Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang
For tickets/more info: solvangtheaterfest.org
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/goleta-valley-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
