Santa Ynez Valley Star • April 4, 2023

Solvang Event Recognizes Vietnam Veterans Day

Aptly named Veterans

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

When Pam Gnekow was looking for another venue for this year's Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day event, an aptly named facility was made available.

And so it was that the second annual Veterans Memorial Day event found itself being held at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall on Wednesday, March 29.

"I had planned on having the event in Buellton on Avenue of Flags, but with the recent weather, we really couldn't risk it," said Gnekow, CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Outreach, which put on the event along with the Cloverlane Foundation.

However, Gnekow had an ally in Alvin Salge, commander of the VFW Post 7139, who was able to secure the Veterans Hall for the event. And on Wednesday, there was a nearly full house in the hall for the ceremony.

"We've had a great turnout, and this year we're ready for it," Gnekow said. "This is actually the sec-

ond year we're doing it. Last year, there was no real ceremony; we just organized a barbecue and let people know about it, and 145 people showed up. We weren't suprised this year."

The event was held to observe Vietnam Veterans Day. In 2017,

the The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The date is significant: According to the vietnamwar50th.com website, it was chosen to be ob-

served in perpetuity as March 29, 1973, was the day United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished and also the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, on and around this same day

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Spotlight | 10 ‘Dr. Cathy’ Celebrates 30 Years of Dental Practice in Solvang

The band Bill Agin & Territorial Law play for the audience Wednesday, March 29, during the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day event at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall. Photo by Mike Chaldu

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

NEWS BRIEFS

Flags and Santa Rosa Road onramps as the California Highway Patrol investigated the crash scene.

The closure caused heavy traffic through Buellton and Solvang on the way to Highway 154 before Highway 101 was re-opened at about 12:30 p.m.

The early-morning crash was just the first of multiple incidents to be reported on Highway 101 Wednesday.

Eligino have both been charged with two misdemeanor counts of violations of Penal Code section 484 subdivision (a), Petty Theft and one misdemeanor count of a violation of Penal Code section 422.6 subdivision (b). Violation of Civil Rights.

Two firefighters among eight injured in early-morning crash on 101

Two firefighters were among eight injured when a minivan ran into first responders tending to a minor accident at the Highway 101, Highway 1 junction near Gaviota early Wednesday morning (March 29), Santa Barbara County Fire said.

Public information officer Scott Safechuck tweeted that the two firefighters were hit by the minivan while tending to a minor non-injury crash just before 5:30 Monday morning. They were among eight injured in the crash and taken to local hospitals: The firefighters, with major injuries, and one other person with minor to moderate injuries, were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and five others were taken to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria with minor injuries.

Later on, Safechuck said one of the firefighters, a captain, was moved to ICU in serious but stable condition, and the other, an engineer was released to recover from his injuries at home.

Because of the crash, authorities closed southbound Highway 101 at the Avenue of

Safechuck later reported of an crash on Highway 101 just north of the Gaviota Tunnel at about 6:30 p.m. The vehicle was said to have major damage with extrication of the lone female driver/occupant required. The patient was transported to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital ER by ground ambulance. Her condition was unknown.

Two accidents were reported at 8:30 just south of Jonathan Park in Buellton. The first accident had the car going into the center divider, with the driver/sole occupant coming out uninjured.

The second accident involved three cars with drivers only, all uninjured. A guardrail road clearing by Santa Barbara County Fire resulted in temporary #1 lane closures in both directions. That accident is under investigation.

LOS OLIVOS

Two individuals charged in 2022 pride flag theft, burning

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savmoch announced on Thursday, March 23, that two individuals have been charged in connection with the theft of two pride flags and the burning of one of them in the Santa Ynez Valley in July 2022.

Avi Stone Williams and Joshua Jerome

On July 28, 2022, the flag, which was flying in front of St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos along with those of the United States, California, and Ukraine, was allegedly stolen and burned.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies spent several days investigating the report, including collecting physical evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, and tracking down a video of the burning of a pride flag before identifying the suspects.

In accordance with the Victims' Bill of Rights, the District Attorney's Office has met with the victims and members of the community and received input on how they have been impacted by these events.

Williams and Eligino are set to be arraigned in Department 9 in the Santa Maria courthouse on April 19.

SANTA YNEZ

Kahn, Business Committee re-elected to Chumash leadership team

With his re-election, Kahn, 45, continues his 20 years of service in tribal government. He was first elected to the Business Committee in 2003, becoming the youngest person ever, at age 25, to serve on the tribe’s board. He would be re-elected in seven consecutive terms, with stints as secretary-treasurer and vice chairman, before winning a special election in 2016 to become chairman.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chairman for my tribe, and it’s an honor to work alongside this dedicated group of leaders who are committed to ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for our tribal community,” Kahn said.

SANTA BARBARA

SB Humane Launches New Revamped Volunteer Program

After a three-year hiatus, Santa Barbara Humane is welcoming volunteers back to their Santa Maria and Santa Barbara campuses.

Both Santa Barbara Humane Society and Santa Maria Valley Humane Society had bustling volunteer programs before merging to become Santa Barbara Humane in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization had to make the difficult decision to pause all volunteering at both campuses to ensure the health and safety of staff.

At the helm of the volunteer program is new Manager of Volunteer Engagement Dana Bushouse. Bushouse plans to roll the program out in phases; the first step will be recruiting volunteers to help with dogs. Opportunities for volunteers wishing to work with cats or help out in the clinic will be coming shortly.

Kenneth Kahn was elected to his fourth term as tribal chairman while Mike Lopez, Maxine Littlejohn, Gary Pace, and Raul Armenta were also re-elected to their seats on the Business Committee following a recent vote by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to select its governing body.

The tribe’s chairman and Business Committee members each serve two-year terms and are responsible for establishing policies and overseeing the legal and business affairs of the tribe while providing for the economic well-being of its members.

Responsibilities for dog volunteers will include dog walking, basic manners training, kennel cleaning, and sanitation. To better serve the animals, volunteer opportunities are currently limited to those 16 years or older who can commit to a minimum of two hours per week for 4-6 months. Shift times are 7 to 9 a.m., 12 to 2 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. Volunteers at Santa Barbara Humane Society or Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, will need to apply.

To apply, community members can visit sbhumane.org/volunteer to fill out an application and sign up for a brief interview.

KENNETH KAHN

Gov. Newsom Eases Drought Restrictions

State now expecting to deliver 75 percent of requested water supplies

CALIFORNIA — On Friday, March 24, Gov. Gavin Newsom met farmers in Yolo County to announce his move to ease drought restrictions.

Newsom rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience. Amid climate-driven weather whiplash, the state has taken action to boost water supplies through groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, and more.

The action comes as the state announced increased water deliveries to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians, now expecting to deliver 75 percent of requested water supplies — up from 35 percent announced in February, and the highest since 2017.

While recent storms have helped ease drought impacts, regions and communities across the state continue to experience water supply shortages, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies that have been severely depleted in recent years. Today’s order is responsive to current conditions while preserving smart water measures:

• Ends the voluntary 15 percent water conservation target, while continuing to encourage that Californians make conservation a way of life;

• Ends the requirement that local water agencies implement level 2 of their

drought contingency plans;

• Maintains the ban on wasteful water uses, such as watering ornamental grass on commercial properties;

• Preserves all current emergency orders focused on groundwater supply, where the effects of the multi-year drought continue to be devastating;

• Maintains orders focused on specific watersheds that have not benefited as much from recent rains, including the Klamath River and Colorado River basins, which both remain in drought;

• Retains a state of emergency for all 58 counties to allow for drought response and recovery efforts to continue.

When announcing the restriction change, Newsom said, “We’re all in this together, and

this state has taken extraordinary actions to get us to this point. The weather whiplash we’ve experienced in the past few months makes it crystal clear that Californians and our water system have to adapt to increasingly extreme swings between drought and flood. As we welcome this relief from the drought, we must remain focused on continuing our all-of-the-above approach to future-proofing California’s water supply.”

According to the state's fact sheet, since Newsom announced the 15 percent voluntary conservation goal, Californians conserved 600,000 acre-feet of water — representing 1.2 million households’ yearly usage.

Last Friday, Newsom visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County, where he highlighted the state’s

work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. California is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of its water supply strategy.

Leveraging the state’s long-term water supply strategy and more than $8.6 billion committed by Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, California is taking aggressive action to prepare for hotter and drier conditions driven by climate change that could reduce the state’s water supply by up to 10 percent by 2040. In the 2023-24 state budget, Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought-related actions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County on March 24, where he highlighted the state’s work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. Contributed Photo

March 2023: The Month of Bank Failure

California's Silicon Valley Bank one of four worldwide to suffer huge failures

By Doug Stewart Guest Columnist

The month of March has seen four of the largest bank failures on record, including a global Swiss bank. To many people, their confidence in the U.S. banking system has been shaken. This is not a new issue as troubled banks and difficult economic times have often gone hand in hand. Ask anyone who remembers the holiday movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This is the story about depositors all wanting to take their money out of their local bank at the same time. This was the typical “run on the bank.”

Keep in mind that, unlike the movie, today most bank customers’ money is safe as there is federal insurance of $250,000 on deposits at all banks and credit unions. Your own bank may even assist you to have an even higher amount that is covered by insurance.

State law requires banks that hold government deposits to backstop/guarantee those deposits with U.S. bonds valued greater than the amount on deposit. The city treasurer has recently verified this in place and the city’s funds are protected.

But what just happened? Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in California and Signature Bank in New York have been taken over by their bank regulators and two other regional banks in the US and a major bank in Germany are often mentioned as being “troubled.”

In the case of SVB, the story takes a twist probably never seen before. SVB did not have the typical bad loans that cause bank failure. Instead of loans, SVB was holding a huge portfolio of what is probably the safest and lowest-risk debt security in the world, U.S. government and related bonds and notes. They did not go bad; they just lost part of their value for accounting purposes. For SVB, this was a loss mostly on paper.

The run on the bank was not typical either. Instead of standing in front of the locked door wanting cash as in the movie, the money flowed out digitally via cell phones and laptops. What no doubt made this even more disappointing from the bank’s point of view was that these exiting deposits were from many of their best clients with the largest but uninsured deposits. The day before the bank closed, $42 billion was withdrawn, nearly a quarter of the bank’s deposits. This was preceded by ever-increasing withdrawals in the days beforehand. On Friday the 10th, when SVB was closed by the regulators, they were out of cash.

How quickly the loss of depositor confidence took place is evidenced by only a week earlier Goldman Sachs being confident they could support a proposed new stock offering for SVB. In a matter of days, SVB went bankrupt.

We may never really know the match that lit the fuse for the run on the bank, but it was likely the concern that SVB had taken major paper losses (not cash losses) on these government bonds. As interest rates rose starting in 2022, the market value of the 2021 and earlier bonds dropped con -

siderably. The two-year Treasury note in 2021 paid 0.25 percent. At the time SVB failed, this same note paid nearly 5 percent. The difference in value, only on paper, had a theoretically significant impact on the reported bank shareholder equity. When the major depositors decided the bank had the potential to become a failed bank due to these potential paper losses they hit the fund transfer button on their computers. Then social media spread the concerns to clients, partners, investors, and fund managers to do the same. The run was on.

What went wrong will be the subject of many autopsies and pundits, but here is my quick take. In 2021 when the federal government stimulated the economy with major stimulus programs, the high-tech world was suddenly awash in cash. This money flowed into SVB and quickly nearly doubled the size of the bank to over $200 billion. Loan demand could not keep up with the inflow, so the SVB deployed the money to the safest place they could, U.S. government bonds and agencies. Historically, the U.S. banking system has used “stress testing” models for changes in interest rates to help prevent risk management failures such as what just happened at SVB. The typical benchmark in the models was rate movements up or down by 2 percent annually for one year and then two years. No one ever envisioned a nearly 5 percent movement of rates by our government in just one year. The war on inflation does cause casualties.

The Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury are now faced with what to do to protect banks and depositors both in the U.S. and even globally. From these March

bank failures comes the question of how to maintain the depositors’ confidence in the over 4,200 community and regional banks that are not designated as too big to fail (B of A, Wells, Citi, and Chase). The banks other than these big four are truly the backbone of the nation’s banking system providing local consumers, businesses, farmers, and industry the banking system they need for our economy to operate. To meet this critical need, the full guarantee of all deposits by the FDIC, at least in the short run, is highly likely. Higher CD and savings rates for depositors are likely, too, as banks seek to hold onto the deposits they already have.

While the depositors are protected in this expansion of bank deposit insurance the concern will quickly move to those who need financing to run their business each day, plant crops, finance business expansion, or manage their consumer needs. Borrowed money will continue to cost more with the Prime Lending Rate already at 8 percent today which is far above the 3.5 percent it was just 12 months ago. Problem loans will likely increase at banks as the higher cost of borrowing negatively affects borrowers of all types and their cash flows. Financing will also become harder to obtain as banks will tighten lending standards to keep more cash reserves and deal with the increase in problem loans.

The American economy will make it through all this. History shows we always do, but expect at least a bumpy road ahead.

Doug Stewart is the CEO of an LAbased Asset Management Company, and Board Member of a National Bank.

Esther Jacobsen Bates to Retire as Executive Director of Elverhoj Museum

ured of our past directors, Esther has guided Elverhoj to new levels of accomplishment and recognition.”

“The Spirit of Solvang,” a comprehensive 220-page book documenting the history and evolution of Solvang.

The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art has announced that Executive Director Esther Jacobsen Bates will retire after nearly 20 years at the Solvang museum.

Bates is the museum’s fourth leader and was appointed to the role in fall of 2003. She will retire this summer, but will continue in her position through a transition process that has started with a formal search for her successor.

“On behalf of the board of directors, we want to recognize and thank Esther for her extraordinary personal commitment and passion,” said Dennis Bales, Elverhoj Museum Board president. “By far the longest ten-

The museum’s Board of Directors is fully engaged in a search for new leadership. The Search Committee is focused on finding an experienced leader to build on existing strengths and lead Elverhoj into a promising future.

“We are so happy to know that Esther will be available to support the incoming new director. We very much appreciate her many contributions,” added Bales.

Bates has led the museum through a period of significant growth and expanded public engagement while sharing Solvang’s history and heritage. Her work with the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C., has brought ambassadors, musicians, performers, athletes, educators, and members of Denmark’s royal family to Solvang. The Santa Ynez Valley na tive worked with Ann Dittmer for more than a decade of exhaustive research to co-author

During her tenure, Bates has elevated and expanded the museum art gallery offerings, curating a broad spectrum of exhibitions ranging from contemporary national and international artists as well as renowned historical artists, including Rembrandt.

Bates was instrumental in the transfer of ownership of the museum to the nonprofit organization and led the effort to renovate and update all interior and exterior spaces. Her guidance has been invaluable in maintaining fiscal stability and long-term sustainability, especially while coping with the impacts of COVID.

“During the museum’s 35th anniversary year, it seems an opportune time for Elverhoj to transition to the next generation of leadership,” Bates stated. “Serving the com

and have had the support of a dedicated and talented team of volunteers and staff. I take great pride in the museum’s role in the community and feel it is positioned for a successful future.”

After her retirement, Bates plans to spend more time playing with her grandkids, hiking and traveling, and expanding on her

Her nearly 20-year term is the longest tenure of any director at the museum

ESTHER JACOBSEN BATES

By Lee Pitts Columnist

One of my commandments is never write about politics and/or religion. To which I would add a third subject. Speaking from experience it's generally journalistic suicide to write about manure. I know this because I once wrote a story called 'The Many Sides of Manure'. The blowback from readers was almost as bad as the time I pulled an old loaded manure spreader with a cab/free tractor with a gale force wind blowing from directly behind me.

We're all uncomfortable talking about this

OPINION

Nature Stinks

byproduct of digestion, so much so that we've worn out a thousand dictionaries coming up with words that sound more hygienic. Feedlot scrapers and lagoon builders are sanitary engineers and manure composting companies are called Environmental Services, Organic Inc. or The Green Corporation. You'd never know by their names what their gross profit really was.

I've always taken great pride in the fact that I'm a hard guy to gross out. I wasn't even fazed back in college when we had to dissect cow pies to determine the effectiveness of dung beetles. (Talk about a creature that's hard to offend!)

I once judged an FFA public speaking contest where an ill-advised FFA member chose manure as her topic. It was a good speech but my fellow judges, a home ec teacher and a banker, turned white during the talk that left no cow pie unturned. I'm told many students have done their doctoral dissertations on the subject of manure management, which I'd think would be hard to brag about in a job interview.

The former opera singer Mike Rowe starred in a reality TV show called "Dirty Jobs" in which he tried to make our unattractive jobs look sexy. Mike looked great scooping pig

poop but most of us are not that photogenic. So we hold our collective nose and clean water troughs, drain lagoons, load manure, drive tallow trucks, gut animals in packinghouses, and run the hot line behind a row of show cattle at the county fair. And who amongst us while working ringside or chuteside hasn't had their mouth open at the wrong time when a cow on washy feed swished her mop-like tail?

Just for the fun of it, if you really want to make a city slicker turn green go into detail about how we get up close and personal with the reproductive tract of farm animals. Just the thought of sticking ones arm into the rear end of a cow is enough to make any urbanite have nightmares. The only thing worse than describing the preg checking or artificial insemination process is to inform them how a bull's semen is collected! (I won't go into detail here for obvious reasons.)

There really is a big double standard going on about what grosses out city folks. While they faint at the thought of sticking ones arm into the fistulated stomach of a steer they turn around and pick up their pooch's poop with a plastic bag. Don't give me any of that phony

nasal sensitivity nonsense when they hold your nose every time they pass a feedlot but don't clean their multi-user litter box in the kitchen for a month. And there's not a wet feedlot or chicken coop in America that smells worse, or is more gross, than a bus stop bathroom, a broken septic tank, an unkempt parakeet's cage or a jar of stink bait.

The fact is, nature stinks. And it's not just animals. A bale of moldy alfalfa smells far worse than a feedlot after two inches of rain and the most my olfactory senses have ever been assaulted was when I drove through a town, that shall go nameless, that turned tomatoes into tomato paste. I swear, it was almost enough to make me give up pizza.

This is not to suggest that we don't do some things in animal agriculture that come close to grossing even me out. Please don't remind me of the time in high school when I had to castrate a lamb with my pearly whites. I almost had to go into therapy as a result and I'm still haunted by the memory. Now that was gross!

Lee Pitts is an independent columnist for; Santa Ynez Valleys tar you can email him at leepitts@ leepittsbooks.com.

Pirates Girls Beach Volleyball Continues Winning Streak

Perez (48), and Cole Henrey (55) rounded out the performance for SYHS.

The Pirates go north today (April 4) for a Mountain League tournament hosted by Templeton at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles.

Boys Tennis

Santa Ynez split its first two games of a busy week.

On March 27, the Pirates edged St. Joseph 5-4 in a Mountain League match. No. 1 Bryce Wilczak (6-3, 6-2), No. 5 Tyler Rose (6-4, 6-4), and No. 6 Cooper Haws (6-2, 6-4) swept their opponents, as SYHS won eight of the 12 singles matches against the Knights.

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

The Santa Ynez High girls beach volleyball team won its fourth straight match and in the process stayed undefeated in the Mountain League, sweeping Mission Prep 3-0 on March 28.

Gianna Pecile and Kaki Allen (21-14, 2110), Hannah Allen and Cailin Glover (21-6, 21-7), and Sadie Lishman and Helina Pecile (21-11, 21-12) got the individual match wins for Santa Ynez, who are 4-0 in league and 8-4 overall.

Pirates head coach Melissa Rogers had praise for all of her players after the win over the Royals.

“Gianna Pecile and Kaki Allen continue to play dominantly against some very strong 1’s teams," Rogers said. "Hannah Allen and Cailin Glover are playing the most consistent volleyball that they have ever played as a team. Their growth in their partnership on the court has been fun to watch. Sadie Lishman is my crafty veteran, leading and supporting a young and talented Helina Pecile at the 3’s."

And it doesn't stop there, according to the coach.

"I am fortunate in having some depth this season. My 4’s pair, Ashley Martin and Halle Swanson are undefeated in duel play this year. They have been neck and neck with my 3’s, which just make them and the pro-

gram that much stronger. I am super proud of these young ladies and the work that they continue putting in.”

After a match against league rival Arroyo Grande on Wednesday, March 29, and another against Mission Prep on Monday, April 3, the Pirates are back in action Tuesday, April 4, against San Luis Obispo at Sunny Fields Park.

Track and Field

The Pirates athletes competed at the Central Coast Spring Classic, held in Arroyo Grande.

Chase Sylvia provided the best moment on the day for Santa Ynez, setting a school record in the triple jump with a leap of 45'1" to grab first place in the event.

Sylvia also placed first in the long jump (22'1"), as did Jessi Rae Flynn in the discus with a toss of 100'5".

Daulton Beard in the high jump (5'8") and Kate Mazza in the 1,600 meters (5:27.5) earned second-place finishes for the Pirates.

Gabriela Robles had two third-place finishes, in the pole vault (10') and the long jump (15'5.5"), while the 4 x 100 relay team of Beard, Rafael Beleski, Vincent Casey, and Ikenna Ofiaeli (45.95) also earned a third.

Boys Golf

The Pirates came in second at the fifth Mountain League tournament of the season March 27 at the par-72 Santa Maria Country Club, posting a team score of 412, just one shot behind the top finisher St. Joseph.

Rye Winans was the top golfer on the day for SYHS, shooting a 3-over-par 75. Other golfers for the Pirates were Von Gordon (81), Owen Hirth (85), Jackson St. Denis (85), and Marcelo Andrade 86.

Two days later, on March 29, Santa Ynez traveled down to Soule Park in Ojai and defeated Nordhoff 227-249 in a nine-hole match.

Winans again led the way for the Pirates with a 39, and Gordon was just two shots behind with a 41. Cody Armenta (44), Seb

The next day, the Pirates fell to Mission Prep 7-2. Wilczak and Hawes got the singles wins in that match.

The boys tennis team continued through the week with matches on Thursday (San Luis Obispo), Friday (Orcutt Academy), and Monday (St. Joseph), before facing off against host Paso Robles today, ending a stretch of six matches in nine days.

Baseball

Santa Ynez split a doubleheader at Paso Robles on March 25, winning the opener 12-6 and dropping the nightcap 4-3.

In the first game, Nick Crandall went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Dallas DeForest went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Pitchers Tate Minus and Taylor Koopmans combined on an eight-hitter, striking out eight and allowing just four earned runs.

In the second game, Crandall stayed hot, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Adam Stephens went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Pitcher Ryan Henrey threw a complete game, scattering eight hits and allowing just two earned runs.

With a record of 4-6-1 (1-3 in the Mountain League), pending a doubleheader Saturday at home against St. Joseph, the Pirates have a home-and-home with Arroyo Grande this week, playing at AG Tuesday and then the Eagles coming up to Santa Ynez to play Friday, April 7.

Contributed Photo

In track and field, Chase Sylvia sets school record in the triple jump

Cyclists Dodge Raindrops in Latest Solvang Century Ride

Event organizers to launch a 'Sequel' in November

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

The winter storms were able to take a relative break for cyclists in Santa Ynez Valley March 4 as the latest edition of the Solvang Century Ride drew riders, both local and out-of-own. While there were a few drops of rain here and there, as well as some dark clouds, the stormy weather that had been prevalent through the previous month held off for the event that was stressed to be "a ride, not a race," according to the event's website solvangcentury.com.

The ride consisted of three different routes: The 52-mile Half Century route, the 68-mile Metric Century route, and the 101-mile Century route. Each route used portions of Highway 101, and State Routes 154 and 246, and sent the riders into the Lompoc and Orcutt areas before coming back to the Valley.

Riders began and completed their "laps" at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott parking lot, with event volunteers ringing custom-made cowbells to welcome them back. This was the second year the event ran under the banner of Project Ultra, a nonprofit based in St. George, Utah.

"It hadn't been hosted since 2019," said Deborah Bowling, co-owner of Planet Ultra. "I had taken part in the ride before and I enjoyed it. We planned to do so again in 2020 but it got canceled at the last minute because of COVID."

It was then that Planet Ultra decided to acquire the event for a 2022 relaunch.

"We just didn't want it to die," Bowling said. "So we started it up again this time last year, and we ran into some bad weather and it was challenging, but everyone was happy to have it back."

For 2023, demand grew even stronger.

"We had to cap [the number of entries] at 1,000, and we got 1,000," Bowling said. "There was just a lot of pent-up demand.

Despite the overcast skies and threat of rain, the ride seemed to be enjoyed by all the participants, many of whom came from out of town.

Kevin Affolter and Catherine Isham of Danville came down to participate. Af -

folter had been in the ride before.

"I've been coming down for a long time to do this," he said. "I like to support this race and the area."

Isham said she enjoyed the scenery as she was pedaling.

"It really is beautiful, and with the recent rains, it's very green," she said. "I especially liked biking down Foxen Canyon Road."

The good news for riders is that Planet Ultra will also be bringing back the November event, which had previously been called the Prelude.

"We wanted to do the ride in November, but we were thinking 'it's not really a prelude, because it's the second event of the year," Bowling said. "We figured it would be the sequel to this event, so we're calling it the Solvang Sequel and it will

take place on Nov. 4."

Bowling said the course would be a little different.

"The routes in this one went through Lompoc to begin, but in the fall we're taking it through Santa Ynez, Happy Canyon and through Solvang," she said.

For more information on Planet Ultra and its cycling events, go to solvangcentury.com.

Two riders reach the start/finish line of the Solvang Century Ride in the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott hotel in Buellton. The Century Ride was held on March 4. Photos by Mike Chaldu

Cowbells were rung by Solvang Century Ride volunteers whenever the participants returned to the start/finish line.

(Left)Deborah Bowling is co-owner of the nonprofit Project Ultra, which revived the Solvang Century Ride and will be putting on the November event, Solvang Sequel. (Right photo) Cyclists Kevin Affolter (front) and Catherine Isham turn into the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in Buellton during the ride.

Formerly

SPOTLIGHT

'Dr. Cathy' Celebrates 30 Years of Dental Practice in Solvang

Born and raised in the Philippines, she dreamed of becoming a dentist since she was a young girl

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

Catherine Streegan, DMD, celebrated 30 years of practicing dentistry in the Santa Ynez Valley last October with a picnic at Sunny Fields Park. She invited all her patients, vendors, past employees, and dental offices in the Valley. She treated them to gifts, Mexican food, desserts she made and and a live Mariachi band. Known for her gentle touch, some of her patients even fly in from other states to have their dental work taken care of.

Streegan, or Dr. Cathy, as she wishes to be referred to, grew up in the Philippines, the fourth of six children. Her family was in the furniture business but the business world was not for her. Even as a young child, her dream was to become a dentist.

“When I was between 6 and 8 years old, I went to my first dental appointment, told my mother that I wanted to be a dentist, and I never looked back,” she said.

Dr. Cathy initially came to the United States as a Rotary exchange student in Seattle, Washington, when she was 16 years old.

“I felt it was a turning point in my life,” she said. “Every time we went on a field trip, we were accompanied by two chaperones who happened to be dentists. Even the Rotary District governor was a dentist. I told them I had a dream of becoming a dentist, and they advised me to continue my studies in that direction. So, I did, graduating with a degree in dentistry from Centro Escolar University in the Philippines.

“I kept in touch with them during my studies. One of the things I will always remember is a letter I wrote to Dr. Richards in Seattle saying that I was afraid to start my clinical (work-

ing on patients) because I was afraid of hurting them. His answer was that I was going to be a very good dentist because I would be very careful and try very hard not to inflict pain. And I have held onto that ideal to this very day, and this is why I believe that I attract the most fearful patients in the Valley.”

After graduating in the Philippines, at 25, Dr. Cathy returned to the United States to further her studies at UCLA. In order to practice dentistry in the U.S., she said she needed to have additional education to pass the Dental Board, which took her a few years. It was there that she met her first husband and moved to Santa Barbara County where she worked for a short time and then bought a practice in Solvang.

“In the beginning of my practice, I worked long hours and I was beginning to feel burned out within the first year,” she said. “I was open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. working six days a week. I didn’t know any better, I just felt like I had to work that hard to support my family and be successful. With the advice I received from a mentor, I limited the number of hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., four days a week. I discovered that I had a balance between office, home, and family life and could sustain it up to this day.”

“Some of the best advice I have ever received is to begin with the end in mind,” she explained. “We are all energy, and in dentistry, it requires a lot of energy both for the giver and the receiver. We must find a balance in all things. By finding a balance in my practice I became a better mother, spouse, and person.”

Dr. Cathy had two children with her first husband, both girls, Cedar and Sazan. She met her second husband, Chris Catani, on an unexpected “love boat” cruise, and she has been married to him for 26 years, and they have a son, Mario.

Dr. Cathy says her favorite passion is cooking and entertaining her friends. She also loves to decorate her house. In addition to her many in-

terests, she enjoys buying houses and fixing them up, either for resale or to rent.

“My family has been in the furniture business in the Philippines and in Indonesia for 50 years, so I guess I have inherited the love of decorating from them,” she said. “But my most favorite pasttime is to go ‘glamping’ in our 16-foot Airstream and take our electric bikes.”

Dr. Cathy believes in giving back to the community she so loves. She is currently on the boards of the Atterdag Village and the Solvang Theaterfest. She is also president of her Homeowner’s Association and treasurer of her office’s Village Lane Association.

“I have been so blessed in my life to have lived in the Valley," she said. "I have been blessed to have a wonderful loving husband, three successful children and the best community in which to raise them, the best patients, and all the wonderful friendships I have made here in the Valley. I hope to continue to ‘pay it forward.’”

Dr. Streegan’s office is at 2027 Village Lane, Suite 201, Solvang. For more information, call 805-6862492.

Solvang Dentist Dr. Cathy Streegan celebrated her 30 years of practicing dentistry in the Santa Ynez Valley with a party last year in Solvang's Sunny Fields Park. Contributed Photos

Solvang Dentist Dr. Cathy Streegan is shown seated in her home, which she loves to decorate. Streegan came to the U.S. at age 25 after earning a dentistry degree in her native Philippines.

Ivan Guerrero Named February Elks Student of the Month

The Santa Ynez Valley Elks, a local community organization, has joined forces with Santa Ynez High School to recognize Ivan Guerrero as their outstanding February Student of the Month. Ivan's remarkable achievements and dedication to his academics, sports, and community service make him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

Throughout his high school career, Ivan has been a talented soccer player and has even earned the title of captain for the varsity soccer team this year. Additionally, Ivan is also a talented golfer and is on the high school golf team. Despite his busy schedule, Ivan still finds time to give back to his community by volunteering at the local Thanksgiving Food Bank. He also works at the Los Olivos Cafe, showing his

dedication to balancing both his personal and professional responsibilities.

Ivan's academic achievements are equally impressive, as he maintains a high GPA of 3.6 while juggling all of his extracurricular activities. He has ambitious plans for the future, including attending Santa Barbara City College to pursue a degree in criminal justice. His ultimate goal is to become a police officer and serve in the K-9 unit, making a positive impact in his community.

The Elks are proud to honor Ivan as their February Student of the Month and awarded him with a check for $100 during a March Elks Lodge meeting. Congratulations to Ivan on his remarkable accomplishments and for being a role model for others to follow. The Santa Ynez Valley Elks and Santa Ynez High School are honored to recognize such a deserving and accomplished young individual.

Santa Ynez High School senior Ivan Guerrero (center) receives his $100 check as the February Student of the Month from Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Robert Ramirez (right) and Elks Scholarship Coordinator Pat Merritt. Photo Courtesy of Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge

Staff Report

Santa Ynez High senior aspires to serve in a police K-9 unit

Santa Barbara Zoo Celebrates 60th Anniversary

you for your continued support over the past 60 years, and we hope with each future visit you have the chance to reconnect with the animals and continue your commitment to the conservation of these wonderful animals.”

Staff Report

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Zoo has announced plans for its 60th Anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout the year. The zoo has also launched a fundraising campaign in honor of the milestone, and to help support the next 60 years to come.

In August 1963, the Santa Barbara Zoo opened its doors to the public, and for six decades now, it has been dedicated to the preservation, conservation, and enhancement of the natural world and its living treasures, and has been a beloved destination for generations of families, tourists, and locals alike.

“The Santa Barbara Zoo is unlike any other place in the world, where guests are transported into sprawling landscapes and ecosystems full of amazing wildlife and get one-of-a-kind experiences where stories of nature and conservation come to life,” said Rich Block, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Zoo.“The future of our natural world depends on how we, as people, choose to act. By supporting the zoo, you are taking an excellent first step. We thank

Today, the Santa Barbara Zoo is home to vital conservation efforts, with more than 400 individual animals from more than 100 species, and a lush botanical collection features formal gardens and lawns, native plants and trees, cacti and succulents, ornamentals, exotic species, and plantings arranged throughout the park to recreate natural habitats.

Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, its located on 30 acres of lush botanic gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Andree Clark Bird Refuge, and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The zoo welcomes roughly half a million guests each year, providing an ideal setting for visitors to connect with nature and wildlife, while supporting conservation efforts worldwide.

Over the past six decades, the Santa Barbara Zoo has played a crucial role in the conservation of species ranging from California condors and island foxes to snowy plovers, and more. With its diverse world-class habitats, including the new Australian Walkabout, there is no other place like the Santa Barbara Zoo.

“The past 60 years have been a remarkable journey for the Santa Barbara Zoo,” said Derek

Shue, Santa Barbara Zoo Board chair. “Today, we’re home to hundreds of animals and are continually paving the path for the future of endangered species. The zoo team is working at the forefront of conservation from right here in our own backyard, leading collaborative research projects and actively supporting local and national conservation partners.

"The Santa Barbara Zoo was also the first zoo on the West Coast to be designated a Certified Autism Center in 2018, and in 2022, the zoo's 'Early Explorers' program became the first licensed outdoor preschool in California, providing one of the most unique educational experiences available. As we look ahead to the next sixty years, we hope to continue to lead the way in the preservation and conservation of the natural world, and inspire future generations to be stewards of our planet and its natural resources.”

As part of the 60th anniversary celebration, the Santa Barbara Zoo will be hosting a variety of special events and activities throughout the year. From animal encounters and behindthe-scenes tours to giveaways, and special 60th anniversary merchandise for sale, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the zoo is launching a 60th anniversary fundraising campaign, “To Another 60 Years,” to raise funds in support of the zoo’s mission and to ensure its here to enjoy for many generations

to come. The community is encouraged to make one-time or monthly donations of $6,000, $600, $60, or $6 to commemorate this special milestone by clicking here:https://www.sbzoo. org/support/60th-anniversary-appeal/.

The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m.; general admission is $25 for adults, $15 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Parking is $11. The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA zoos are dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great visitor experience, and a better future for all living things. With more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and is the public’s link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.sbzoo.org

As the Santa Barbara Zoo celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023, patrons can enjoy the zoo's newest attraction, Australian Walkabout. Contributed Photo

The community is invited to celebrate the milestone through various events and fundraising campaign

Opens Streets Debut Rescheduled to May 21 in the Santa Ynez Valley

The event will offer the public a unique opportunity to experience safe and temporary car-free streets and roads

Staff Report

BUELLTON — A mile of the Avenue of Flags in the City of Buellton will be car-free on May 21 as part of the first Open Streets event for the greater Santa Ynez Valley.

The Santa Ynez Valley Healthy Eating Active Living Coalition (HEAL) will host the Open Streets event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., located on the Avenue of Flags in Buellton.

The event will be prominently featured as part of CycleMAYnia in Santa Barbara County. CycleMAYnia is a month-long celebration with activities and events during National Bike Month. The celebration reaches thousands of cyclists and community members throughout the month of May led by Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Traffic Solutions division.

The Santa Ynez Valley Open Streets event is made possible through the support of the City of Buellton, Measure A Santa Barbara

County’s Transportation Sales Tax Measure, and local sponsors, including Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Cottage Health, Visit Santa Ynez Valley, Buellton Chamber of Commerce, Solvang Chamber of Commerce, and more.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring this event to the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Valerie Kissell, chief executive officer, People Helping People and the fiscal sponsor for the HEAL Coalition. “We have had to move the date of the event, but the city of Buellton in rescheduling has been incredibly supportive and we look forward to the community coming out and supporting this inaugural event.”

As avid supporter of Open Streets events in Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann shared, “While our streets and roads often prioritize motorized vehicles, Open Streets events remind us that our streets and roads are public spaces that can be repurposed to promote active transportation, such as walking and biking. These public spaces can also bring people together to celebrate and showcase all the great things that promote health and wellness. “

The city will shut down a nearly mile-long

section from Damasa to State Route 246 to vehicles and open it up for pedestrians and bikers to enjoy and will include street music, family-friendly physical fitness activities, wellness themed activities hosted by local businesses and organizations.

There is still time to sign up to sponsor or participate in the Open Streets event. Organizers anticipate more than 2,000 attendees will attend the new event.

“Business organizations and community members can still sponsor the event or sign up to bring a fun activity or contest,” said Kissell.

Those interested in signing up to sponsor or participate as a vendor in Open Streets are encouraged to find information on the Santa Ynez Valley Open Streets website: www. syvopenstreets.com.

Santa Barbara County Association of Government Traffic Solutions division has hosted or supported community-led events across the county including in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Guadalupe, and Carpinteria.

For more information, go to www.syvopenstreets.com or contact Zohe Felici, zohe@ felicievents.com, or call (805) 895-3402.

Santa Maria residents enjoy walking and peddling down Main Street during a past Open Streets event. An Open Streets event is set for May 21 at the Avenue of Flags in Buellton. Contributed Photo

Learn More About Horses at The Movement 2023

Flag is Up Farms holding sixth edition of the event, meant to showcase latest developments in the horse industry

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

The Movement 2023 will be held for the sixth year on June 16-18. This annual event is held at the California Horse Center on Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang.

Since 2018, Monty Roberts and other leading experts have been coming together at The Movement event to demonstrate and share their latest discoveries. The Movement is inspired by a love for horses, the ambition to impact their lives as positively as they

impact ours, and the belief that together we can drive positive change.

“A movement started in the horse industry when horse owners began to have a clearer vision of how horses affected humans in positive way,” said Debbie Roberts Loucks, who manages the event. “Inspired by how interchangeable the lessons from herd behavior were, I’ve watched trainers, teachers, mothers, and managers become better communicators, leaders, and influencers for good. This year’s presenters are each amazing in their industries and they all have a vision of a better world, inspired by incorporating horses in their own story. They come to share that vision and build on it with participants who will take home a life-changing plan. Leaders may inspire, but only when people choose to act does a vision become a movement.”

This year’s event will feature the

starting process of horses, groundwork, ridden work across disciplines, riding a mountain trail course, and working equitation. From holistic health and hoof consults, to bodywork for the horse and for the rider, it’s all about health, happiness, and horses.

“This unique event helps you better understand problem solving using violence-free training methods,” said Loucks. “People come and spend time with like-minded people absorbing what non-violent communication can be and enjoy discussions with Monty and students from around the world.”

A wine and charcuterie evening will return and lunches are included on Roberts’ renowned farm.

“Horses have unprecedented healing power and they help us learn, lead, and live better,” said Loucks. “Those who make the journey experience outstanding humans and horses who

change the world, one heart at a time.”

Flag Is Up Farms is at 901 East Highway 246, Solvang.

For more information, please call (949) 632-1856 or email debbie@ montyroberts.com.

Monty Roberts and other leading horse experts will be sharing their latest discoveries at The Movement 2023, which will be held for the sixth year on June 16-18. This annual event is held at the California Horse Center on Flag Is Up Farms, in Solvang. Contributed Photo

Some of the patients that come to my clinic suffer from emotional problems. While acupuncture and herbs work very well to balance emotional problems, you can do much for yourself on your own journey to emotional health and happiness. Happiness, as simple as it sounds, is the most important thing one can do for one’s health. Not only does happiness improve our daily life, but it also cures diseases and brings about emotional balance and overall health. Health is both physical and emotional. Often times Western medicine segregates the two.

In Korean Traditional Medicine, disease is divided into three causes: external, internal, and genetic/unknown reason. External reasons would be things like accident, or bad weather (the extreme temperature changes ushering in disease). Internal reasons are emotional.

There are seven different emotions: excitement, anger, sorrow, pleasure, fear, contemplation, and worry/anxiety. It is the “up and down” of these emotions that cause imbalance. Too much or too little of any emotions causes disease, affecting a certain organ. Too much excitement or pleasure affects the heart; sorrow, the lungs; anger, the liver; fear, the kidney; too pensive, the spleen; and wor ry/anxiety, the stomach.

How you feel emotionally even influences others around you. Your family, friends, coworkers, and even random people you meet in a day are all affected. Bad moods are toxic not only to yourself, but to everyone around you. It acts as a virus of sorts, passing on from one person to the next, only to be broken by someone making a positive difference in that person’s day. People can actually be either a living “virus” or “cure”.

It is important to understand that happiness is a direct result of how we think. Our viewpoint and mind frame determines every experience that we have.

There is a story I’d like to share that illustrates this point. There were two Korean High Buddhist priests, Won Hou and Hui Sang, who were traveling abroad in China to study Buddhism. One night, during their journey, they happened upon a cave

with which to sleep in for the night. Later on, they became thirsty and went searching around the cave for water. A bowl of water was found and they drank from it. They remarked to each other how cool, refreshing, and delicious the water was before returning to sleep. In the morning, the two went back to look for the water once again in the daylight. When they found it, they were repulsed. The vessel from which they drank was a skull. They began retching and vomiting. As they continued on their way, Won Hou began to wonder why the water was so delicious the night before, and had suddenly become so vile in the morning. The water was the same and had not changed throughout the night, so what happened? He then realized that the only thing that changed was his viewpoint — the way he thought determined his experience. Won Hou was

so taken with this new idea, he went back to town, gave up his studies, and began studying how his own mind worked in relation to this theory. He wrote many books and eventually became a teacher, teaching his students about his findings.

We will always find ourselves in bad situations throughout life, but if you succumb to the virtual “forest” of negativity, then there’s no way out of the situation. If you stay above the situation, you can see the pathway out.

Happiness means that the seven emotions are in a balanced state. There is one method that you can use to help control and maintain your emotions when they’re getting out of control. Most people have one happiest moment in their life. (If you cannot think of one, invent one.) Choose your happiest moment. Use your five senses to return to that moment and really feel that you’re there again. Take a snapshot of this moment and frame it. This is your new “Mind Frame.” Give this framed picture a simple name, one that you can say anytime to call the frame to mind. When you begin to feel emotionally imbalanced, whether you become sad or angry, call on that name and allow the picture to come to mind and let it balance you.

Make yourself a goal to practice this technique many times over the period of 100 days and you will see results. This is usually the amount of time it takes for you to retrain your brain.

Remember, happiness is not a gift. It is created yourself through practice and perseverance. We’ve all heard the axiom, “Money doesn’t grow on trees,” and in this case, neither does happiness. You have to work to achieve both.

Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. Dr. Lee also has an office in Los Angeles. To make an appointment in the Buellton office, call 805-6935162.

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April Fools' Day's Origins Are Clouded in Obscurity

By John Copeland Contributing Writer

Mark Twain always maintained we should never take ourselves too seriously. The first of April is April Fools or All Fools’ Day or as the French call it, April Fish. I know, April Fish, really? The French have always had their own approach to many cultural observances, as is the case today. But, no matter what you call April 1, it is one of the most lighthearted days of the year.

But April Fools' Day’s origins are clouded in obscurity. Part of the puzzle that April Fool’s Day presents is that detailed references to it, and curiosity about it, only appeared during the 18th century. But even then, it was regarded as being of great antiquity. I think it’s very curious that our April tradition of foolery had been adopted by so many different European cultures without leaving any mention in the written record?

Holidays are kind of like a layer cake. The outside is all colorful frosting and decorations, but then you dig in with your fork and find all these different layers, each with their own texture and flavor. Well, All Fools’ Day is like that. If you look at what our ancestors were up to at this time of year a picture begins to emerge.

It is likely, that part of the day’s foolishness is an inherited relic of the ancient festivals celebrating the spring equinox. Nearly every culture in the world had a festival in the first months of the year that celebrated the end of winter and the return of spring. Many folks, like the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year’s then with festivities that began on the equinox and ended on the 2nd

of April. It was common for these ancient New Year celebrations to include ritualized forms of mayhem and misrule. Rules were suspended. Raucous partying, trickery, and the turning upside down social order were all allowed.

Even though our April Fools' Day has similarities with spring equinox festivals, nobody can agree which festival the tradition of April Foolery descended from. A contributing factor to the lack of historical references to All Fools’ Day is that the occasion was a commoners’ celebration and aristocratic participation was pretty minimal. This makes it more difficult to trace because common folk were uneducated and did not keep written records. But folk traditions can still run very deep within cultures and in the case of All Fools’ Day, it is clear that a day devoted to foolery has ancient roots.

Take the medieval figure of the Fool, the symbolic patron saint of the All Fools’ Day. Fools were prominent characters in medieval Europe, practicing their craft in a variety of settings from market squares to royal courts. Their distinctive dress is still familiar to many of us today: multicolored clothing, a horned hat, and scepter and bauble. In those

times, fools were often really wise men. It was the role of the court fools to put things in perspective with humor.

What is believed by some to be one of the earliest written connections of the day with fools is found Geoffrey Chaucer's “Canterbury Tales” in the story of the Nun's Priest Tale. It was written around 1400 and concerns two fools and takes place "thritty dayes and two" from the beginning of March, which would make the day April 1.

Now, how about one of the words we associate with April 1 “tomfoolery,” where did that come from? You might find the origin surprising: During the Middle Ages, the general public was allowed to visit mental hospitals or asylums, (yes, as institutions they are that old) in order to be entertained by the antics of the residents. This tradition remained popular into the 1800s. Interestingly, one such asylum was Bedlam, in London. It was founded by Queen Elizabeth I. The word "Bedlam" is a corruption of "Bethlehem," the institution’s real name. The old asylum building still stands today and is the home to England’s Imperial War Museum, kind of a fitting use of the space. But as I so often do, I’m off on a tangent. Back at Bed-

lam, the visitors’ favorite performers were often nicknamed Tom Fool, and that popular nickname came to be applied to the antics of all the asylum residents, over time its meaning has softened to refer to "tomfoolery," or silly behavior in general.

But, did you know that April 1 also has a strict timeframe? Traditionally, no pranks are supposed to be played after 12 o’clock noon of April 1. Any jokes played after then will bring bad luck to the perpetrator — something that is often overlooked today.

Whatever the gag, it usually ends with the prankster yelling “April Fool!" when the victim falls for it. And just a last bit to share with you, not all April Fool superstitions are negative. Men who are fooled by a pretty female are said to be fated to marry the woman ... or at least enjoy a healthy friendship with her.

"The first of April, some do say Is set apart for All Fool's Day; But why the people call it so Nor I, nor they themselves, do know, But on this day are people sent On purpose for pure merriment."

— Anonymous

So get out there and do something foolish.

Contributed Photo

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."

— Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

One-Day Enlightenment Workshop Planned for May 20

Chloe Redmond, a Chopra certified instructor and Kovena 'Kay' Avila, founder of Yo Soy Retreats, will host event

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

Chloe Redmond, a Chopra certified instructor, and owner of Vino Vaquera Consulting, has partnered with Kovena "Kay" Avila, founder of Yo Soy Retreats LLC, to create an immersive one-day workshop, “Enlightenment — Santa Ynez Valley.”

The workshop will focus on mental health awareness and self-love in honor of Mental Health Awareness month. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at a private estate in Santa Ynez. The workshop will feature healers from Santa Barbara County who will focus on providing a variety of tools to implement on your own personal journey to enlightenment.

“In 2019 a colleague of mine had recommended my marketing consulting services to Chopra Global," said Redmond. "I was hired in February 2020 and worked as the social community manager and marketing coordinator until April 2022. With the birth of my third child, I felt I needed to slow down and focus on my consulting business. I wanted to integrate one of the practices I had learned, Primordial Sound Meditation, into my work with my marketing clients.”

Redmond explained that the Primordial Sound Meditation technique comes from the ancient Vedic tradition of India and has been used for thousands of years. The mantra (which attendees will receive) is the vibration the universe was creating at the very time and place of your birth, and is calculated following Vedic mathematic formulas. When you

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silently repeat your mantra in meditation, it creates a vibration that helps you slip into the space between your thoughts, into the complete silence that is sometimes referred to as “the gap.” It is in this silence where creativity and pure potentiality thrive.

In December 2022, Redmond and Avila began putting together this full-day workshop which will feature a number of healers from Santa Barbara County. Their goal together is to create wellness workshops and retreats on the Central Coast.

“There is an individual healing process that takes place while on the road to reaching a state of enlightenment,” said Redmond. “Every roadmap is unique, and often times we reach out to our community of professional healers for additional guidance on our path.”

The enlightenment event will include yoga, reiki, meditation, breathwork, and dance with instructors such as Redmond, a Chopra Certified Meditation instructor and Ayurvedic practitioner; Avila will guide attendees to navigate healing and enlightenment through trauma-informed yoga, reiki, and sound healing; Darci Brown, creator of Soul Boost Meditation, will provide techniques and tips on how to receive messages from the universe while strengthening personal intuition; Kiki E, the keynote speaker, is a mindset and beauty curator, influencer, blogger and author; and Christi Belle, the founder of Art Spot on Wheels, will teach others to continue to grow and creatively thrive through art.

A farm-to-table lunch and local wine will be provided, along with mindful vendors, swag bags, and a fire ceremony by Yo Soy. DJ Peetey will demonstrate how to heal with dance.

“I want people to leave with a new set of tools, that they didn’t know existed, to incorporate into their journey of getting to know their authentic self,” concluded Redmond.

A portion of the workshop proceeds will

be directly donated to the Move with Kindness Foundation in honor of the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the dancer, choreographer, actor, and television producer and personality who passed away in December 2022.

If you are you not able to attend but would like to participate, every individual who donates to the Move with Kindness Foundation during the months of April and May will receive a Enlightenment E-book, providing personalized tools, tips, and messaging from healing professionals.

“There is no amount too small as every dol-

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lar is incredibly impactful to help strengthen the platforms for mental health awareness,” said Redmond.

To donate, visit https://www.every.org/ move-with-kindness/f/enlightenment-santaynezGeneral admission for the workshop is $250 per person. Tickets are limited as their intent is to keep this a “truly intimate” experience for attendees. For tickets, visit eventbrite. com/e/enlightenment-santa-ynez-valleytickets-572049765247.

For more information, email thevinovaquera @yahoo.com

Chloe Redmond, a Chopra Certified Meditation instructor and Ayurvedic practitioner, is hosting a one-day immersive workshop on a journey to reach enlightenment. The workshop will be on Saturday, May 20. Contributed Photo

SYV Historical Museum Unveils ‘The Evolution of the California Stock Saddle’ Exhibit

The museum offers a comprehensive study of the Vaquero saddle from the mid-1800s to the present

When asked what kind of saddles there are, many might respond “English and Western” and that would be it. But of course, there are many types of “supportive structures for riders of animals,” and along with each comes history and improvement. Here on the Central Coast, we depend upon the Stock Saddle for work, play … and display!

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum explores this type of riding gear with “The Evolution of the California Stock Saddle.” The exhibit will open Saturday, April 8, with a 4 to 6 p.m. reception featuring museum historian John Copeland and experts Bill Reynolds and Tom Peterson. All will be on hand to talk about the details of each saddle and the history of the saddlemakers. James Ontiveros, whose great grandfather Tomas’ saddle is included in the exhibit, will also be here pouring his acclaimed Native9 wines and relaying the history of his ranchero family.

When the Spanish began colonizing California, their government established ranchos for grazing cattle near the presidios, which became a major enterprise. With

that, a new breed of stock tender emerged: the Vaquero, whose style of saddlery came mostly from the provinces in the north of Mexico.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain, the Mexican government distributed lands that had been under the control of the missions to private individuals through a process of land grants from the territorial government in Alta California. This was the beginning of California’s Rancho period, when horse and rider were the essence of this time in Central Coast history.

Most of the saddles in this exhibit repre-

sent a moment in time when the horse played an equal role with the rider and were more important than form just following function. Visitors will be able to trace the evolution of the stock saddle from the early and simple “mochila” saddle of the 1800s through the elaborate silver- adorned parade and trophy saddles of today.

Tickets to the reception are $10 for the public and $5 for members of the museum. To RSVP and purchase, please contact the museum at (805) 688-7889. For additional information, email info@santaynezmuseum.org.

“The Evolution of the California Stock

Saddle” exhibit has been generously sponsored by the Noblitt Family and Cactus Saddles.

Founded in 1961, the Museum is the official caretaker of the Valley’s rich cultural history, housing one of the finest collections of antique, horse-drawn carriages and wagons in the Western United States. In addition, examples of finely crafted horse saddlery and tack from days gone by and Western sculptures, paintings, books and handicrafts are on display. The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum is a 501c-3 organization.

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum explores “The Evolution of the California Stock Saddle,” with an exhibit opening April 8. Contributed Photo

A big part of the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum exhibit will be the Vaquero, whose style of saddlery came mostly from the provinces in the north of Mexico.

Exploring California's Spectacular Wildflower Displays

Discover the beauty and fragility of California's Superbloom phenomenon

By Simone Smith Contributing Writer

Ask anyone if they remember California’s Superbloom of 2019, and chances are their answer will be an excited “yes.” Who could forget? California’s last Superbloom made national (and even global) news as wildflower mania gripped the state.

Some of the best wildflower viewings can be found right here in our own backyard. Santa Margarita is an officially designated Gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument, situated off Highway 58, about an hour out of town. An amazing place to explore on its own at any time, the Carrizo Plain is the star of many photos taken during superbloom years with its Easter egg-colored hills acting as a backdrop to Soda Lake and wide expanses of colorful fields of flowers.

Photos of hillsides, meadows, and open spaces covered with spectacular displays of nature’s most brilliant colors filled the media with the blooming flowers so prolific that the spectacle could even be seen from outer space via satellite images. Already there’s been trouble in paradise as swarms of flower-frenzied fans in some earlier blooming areas have already been “banned” due to bad behavior. So

to avoid any problems, here is what you can do for maximum enjoyment and to help ensure these special areas of beauty will remain for future generations.

First of all, it’s important to note that the superbloom phenomenon occurs thanks to trillions of tiny seeds of mostly annual plants, whose life cycles are completed within one year or season, as opposed to a perennial, which in the right conditions can continue its life for multiple years.

Some of the best spots for a superbloom can be found where the landscape conditions are naturally hot, dry and generally inhospitable to sustain many perennials without supplemental watering (think of a rocky hillside, a desert or a sparse and arid grassland). The very nature of such locations actually have helped to preserve the wild and sporadic beauty that we have come to seek out when the blooms demand attention as these places are often deemed too desolate, dry, and difficult for human habitation, with many referred to otherwise as “barren wastelands.”

With great unpredictability, a year will come along when the rains continue to fall, keeping the soil perfectly moist and with environmental conditions just right, staying relatively cool as spring approaches and not too hot too soon, the soil begins to stir with awakening seeds, finally breaking out of their long slumber of dormancy. The wait time for perfect conditions could be one, five, or 10 years or longer, with studies in controlled situations showing that seeds are perfect little

time capsules that can even stay viable for up to 70 years or longer, waiting for conditions to be right for growth.

You’ve probably heard it before, but please be respectful of the plants, keeping to the paths and designated parking areas. Many times we witness (or have taken) the careless footsteps or actions of those who don’t understand the fragility of these landscapes. When cars are parked “just a little off the road,” when people walk off a path or even next to each other stepping on “just a few plants” or even picking “just a few flowers,” or worse, “what could be the problem?”

During a superbloom, there looks to be such an abundance that these “small actions” can’t possibly do any harm, but this sadly isn’t true. The usually thin soils actually can become compacted or destroyed under the weight of tires and footsteps, which over the years cause ever-widening barren trails and dead zones next to roads, and each crushed plant or picked flower results in the loss of tens to hundreds of seeds for future generations of flowers.

For best viewing, grab a wildflower ID book, and look for as many different plants or colors as you can find. The biodiversity during a superbloom is amazing. If you can revisit an area, it’s possible to witness the progression of colors through the brief season as an area can change from blue or pink. From the early season blooms of Baby Blue Eyes, or Shooting Stars, to the multitudes of yellows, as seen in Goldfields, Tidy Tips or Fiddlenecks; whites

from Popcorn Flowers or Blow Wives; purples, pinks, and blues from various Lupines, Owls-Clover, Thistle Sage or Phacelia; and of course, the ever-popular orange of California Poppies and finally ending with the pinks of Farewell to Spring.

Avoid weekends and holidays, if possible, to avoid the crowds, bring water and be sure to fill up on gas in advance since most wildflower areas have no services available, and sunny days are best as some flowers, such as poppies, can be closed on cloudy days.

Be sure to fuel up on gas and food from one of the local restaurants or pick up some snacks or sandwiches from the Margarita Market in Santa Margarita before heading out as there are no services once you leave town. Along the way, you will be treated to many colorful patches of blooms, especially if you make a stop at Shell Creek Road to your left, marked by a windmill and meandering creek about 20 to 30 minutes from town. If you’re short on time this is the place to go. Remember to leave no trace and please pack out any trash.

Can’t get the superbloom out of your brain?

You can learn more by visiting the Goodwin Education Center while out at Carrizo Plain; go to the Bloom! California website at bloomcalifornia.org to learn all about why and how to plant, maintain and grow your own California native garden, and join or donate to a local organization that helps to educate and preserve these special places and share the joy with your friends and family.

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We’re on this path together.

For 59 years, residents have relied on Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital for excellent health care.

A FAMILY EVENT FOR ALL AGES!

To sustain the strength of this valued community resource, consider donating to a charitable gift annuity and receive payments for life at fixed rates.

Following your lifetime, the balance of your annuity will come to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital as philanthropic support and continue Cottage Health’s legacy of excellence, integrity, and compassion.

Your support benefits Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital’s important programs:

• Patient care

• Tele-stroke

• Imaging and diagnostic upgrades

• Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

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•

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6.6

• Where the need is greatest

For a complimentary, personalized illustration of how your gift annuity might work, call or email Cottage’s Office of Planned Giving at 805-879-8987, or email Carla Long at clong@sbch.org or June Martin at j2martin@sbch.org

8.7

VIETNAM VETERANS

Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

With Art Kaslow as the emcee, the program had a number of speakers, including Buellton Mayor Dave King and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann. Former Solvang City Councilmember Karen Waite, in her capacity as Solvang Chamber of Commerce military liaison to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

One notable speaker was Marine veteran Steve Baird, the co-founder and president of Echo Group (aka "Band of Brothers"), organization Orcutt-based organization that advocates for local veterans.

In a heartfelt speech, Baird praised the Vietnam veterans as a whole and talked about how 10 years ago, he tried to commit suicide (or, more specifically, suicide by cop), and how, in his lowest moment, he got help from a local veteran.

"I enlisted in the infantry when I was 18. I did a bunch of nothing compared to everything else in this world," he said. "But about 10 years ago, I was trying to commit suicide by cop. Thankfully, the deputy that took me in that day was an Army veteran. He said 'Hey, I'm a veteran, I know what you got going on, and you'll be all right. That was a start."

Baird emphasized how that affected him and why he concentrates on helping out those who served in Vietnam.

"For me, we talk about 'The Greatest Generation,' and respect to those who served in World War II and Korea, but for me personally, my greatest generation has always been the Vietnam vets," he said.

Baird illustrated his point with a story about a veteran who was in a hole. The Marine veteran relayed the details about how he was spotted in the hole by a couple of superior officers, who throw down a shovel and a bucket, but he's still in the hole. Then a psychologist and then a psychiatrist come and ask him about his problems, but he's still in a hole. Then a clergyman comes and prays for him, but he's still in the hole.

"Then let's say Esteban walks by," Baird said, referencing his friend Esteban Valenzuela, who has helped him in the past. "He says 'what are you doing down there.' I say 'I'm in this hole.' He jumps in the hole, and I freak out. 'What are you doing? Now we're both stuck in this hole. And he says 'Relax. I've been in this hole before and I know how to get out."

The event continued on as Salge, assisted

by Gnekow, presented service pins to the many Vietnam vets in the room and then pins to their spouses.

After honoring veterans, the program culminated in recognizing and awarding two Santa Ynez High student who are planning to join the United States Coast Guard after graduation this year.

Tabitha Pearigen and Zachery Bennett are both standouts on the Pirates' swim team, and they both are joining the Coast Guard to train to become Aviation Survival Technicians (AST), more commonly known as rescue swimmers.

Gerald Chase of the Cloverlane Foundation, a group that assists veterans, awarded Tabitha and Zachery each $2,000 scholarships.

Chase praised the students' decision on their future.

"I've been giving out these scholarships for years, and I can tell you these two have made an amazing choice," he said. "They were fabulous in school in academics ... in sports ... in ethics. They could have gone to any university in the country. They chose the Coast Guard."

The two about-to-graduate seniors were appreciative of their awards.

Tabitha expressed her appreciation for the scholarship and to her family, friends, and community for their support.

She also talked about how grateful she will be to share the experience with Zachery.

"He's one of my best friends and I'm extremely grateful to do it with him," she said. "We will ride the plane together to New Jersey, we will ride the bus together to Cape May.

"We're still working on that secret code where we can tell one another 'I want to go home right now,'" she said laughing, then saying, "We both promised each other we won't let the other quit."

Zachery spoke of his excitement for the next step of his life.

"I'll be leaving for New Jersey on July 11 for eight weeks, and I find this to be a great and special opportunity," he said. "I am excited that me and Tabitha get to do it together and the recruiter said something like that [letting two friends go into training together] is a rare thing, so I'm grateful for that."

After the ceremonies wrapped up, the attendees were able to chow down on a free barbecue lunch courtesy of the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Elks Lodges and listen to live music from the band Bill Agin & Territorial Law.

Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann speaks at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day event at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall. Photos by Mike Chaldu

Buellton Mayor Dave King speaks at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day event at Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall.

Santa Ynez High students and swimmers Tabitha Pearigan and Zachery Bennett pose with the giant check representing their scholarship from the Cloverlane Foundation.

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.

At County Administration Building, Fourth Floor, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara

For more info: countyofsb.org

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

SOLVANG TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 3:30 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

Buellton Planning Commission, 6 p.m. Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

MONDAY, APRIL 10

SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30

P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

LOS OLIVOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 6 P.M.

At St Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, Stacy Hall, 2092 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos

For more info: www.losolivoscsd.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.

At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.

At Community Services District Building, 1070 Faraday St.

For more info: sycsd.com

EVENTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

MEMORY, COFFEE, AND COMPASSION: A SUPPORT GROUP, 10:30 TO 11:30 A.M.

A support group led by memory care expert Lauren Mahakian, now held on the first Thursday of each month, in person at Sol-

CALENDAR

vang Library. Please reserve a spot. When a member of the family shows signs of dementia or is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other cognitive disorders, the entire family is impacted.

Lauren Mahakian, a certified dementia practitioner, speaker, educator and founder/CEO of Family Connect Memory Care, will address many of these issues during this free meeting. Come with your questions, concerns, and allow Lauren to help you work through this process and journey in a loving, caring, and honest way.

At Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang

For more info: (805) 688-4214

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

playground) and 9:30 a.m. (ages 7 and up at the meadow), which includes six golden eggs out of 6,000. Food and beverage available throughout the day, as well as photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny (9 to 11 a.m.) and face painting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At Flying Flags RV Resort, 180 Avenue of Flags, Buellton

For more info: (805) 688-3716 or flyingflags. com

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

SANTA YNEZ CHUMASH EARTH

DAY, 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

Santa Ynez Chumash Earth Day returns to Kitiyepumu' Park on April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The team at Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office welcomes you to bring the family for a fun-filled day with educational experiences, raffle prizes, live music, food, games and more! Be sure to follow SYCEO for event updates and additional information at Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office.

At Kitiyepumu' Park, 100 Via Juana Road, Santa Ynez

For more information: www.facebook.com/ chumashenvironmentaloffice

Pablo Cruise at Solvang Theaterfest, 7 to 9 p.m.

In 1975 Pablo Cruise released its first A&M album, simply entitled Pablo Cruise, and continued to perform their classic pop/rock for audiences ever since. The show is preceded by a Garden Party from 5:30 to 6:30 with food and drink specials. Tickets are $65 (Wings), $85 (Preferred) and $110 (VIP). Get tickets at app.arts-people.com/index. php?show=162916

For more information: www.TroutDerby.org

ONGOING

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS

STORYTIME AT SOLVANG LIBRARY, 10:30 A.M., TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAY

≤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.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

ONGOING

PICKLEBALL, TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS 6:30 TO 8:30 P.M.

Pickleball — part Ping-Pong, part badminton, lots of momentum — is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The games can be fast-paced and deliver a good workout. 2 person teams/ or singles. All are welcome!

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton

For more info: buelltonrec.com

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA, 10 A.M. TO 12 P.M.

One of our favorite events of the year.... Eggstravaganza! Event starts at 10 a.m. sharp. Don't be late ... the event is over so fast we don't want you to miss it. After the hunt, enjoy games, Easter crafts, and more!

At Riverview Park, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton

For more info: info@artspotonwheels.com; (805) 990-2105

Easter Weekend at Flying Flags RV Resort, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We hope you are ready for our biggest Easter celebration yet! Our event will take place on Saturday, April 8, at the Meadow & Pavilion Patio of Flying Flags RV Resort. Easter egg hunts will be at 9 a.m. (for ages 1-6 at the

At Solvang Theaterfest, 420 2nd St., Solvang. For more info: solvangtheaterfest.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, AND SUNDAY, APRIL 16

NEAL TAYLOR NATURE CENTER

26TH ANNUAL LAKE CACHUMA

FISH DERBY, 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M.

Check for correct times on the website. Everyone has a chance to win great cash prizes, fishing gear, and more! Prizes awarded in many categories and to anglers of all ages.

Free arts & craft activities and a special Books & Treasure Sale, both on Saturday afternoon. There is a fee required for participation.

At Lake Cachuma, 2265 Highway 154, Santa Barbara

DROP-IN ADULT BASKETBALL, YEAR ROUND, MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS 6 TO 7:15 A.M.

Start your day with a pick up game of basketball with friends.

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton

For more info: buelltonrec.com

OPEN BASKETBALL, ONGOING, MONDAYS, 7:30 TO 9:30 P.M.

Start your day with a pick up game of basketball with friends.

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton

For more info: buelltonrec.com

For info on these and other programs, go to buelltonrec.com