Santa Ynez Valley Star • November 15, 2022

Voters Have Their Say in Buellton, Solvang City Races

Lewis leads in Buellton

mayoral

Hornick,

race, and

Silva winning council seats;

Orona,

Brown lead in Solvang council races

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

While major statewide elections, with na tional implications, were happening all over the U.S., Election Day also saw Santa Ynez Valley voters deciding on import ant city offices in Buellton and Solvang.

Buellton

Buellton City Council members Elysia Lewis and Dave King faced off for the city's mayoral office, and Lewis is holding a 50.59 percent to 48.77 percent lead.

While there are still ballots to be counted, Lewis was optimistic her lead would hold up.

"My thought is that I lead the mail-in ballots by about 5 percent so if that trend continues then I would maintain my lead," she said. "I am fairly confident of that."

As for the campaign, Lewis said, "It was grueling! It is a lot of work to campaign properly in a small town while working and parenting but it looks like we made it."

King, for his part, hasn't given up.

"We will have to wait and see," said King, who currently serves as vice mayor. "I have seen the num bers change on previous elections

when all the mail-in ballots are counted."

King also said Tuesday's rainy weather, which included occasional

Sports | 7 Roundup: Pirates girls volleyball team earns spot in State tournament

News 2

• Jeanne Dawson Named Los Pa dres Deputy Forest Supervisor Opinion 4

• Letter: Los Olivos board seeks grandiose solutions to undefined problems

Spotlight 6

• Cheech Raygoza, Part 2: From Darkness Into The Light

Arts/Nonprofit 12

• Peter Wright, Chris Meltzer ap pointed to Solvang Theaterfest Board

Lifestyle 12

• Dr. Lee: Healing Energy is Stron gest Weapon Against Disease Food & Drink 17

• Barbie Butz: 'Keep it Simple' this Thanksgiving Calendar 19

• Government Meetings and Events

Hudson Hornick

Mark Infanti

Elysia

Lewis

David Brown

Liz Orona

David Silva

Jeanne Dawson Named Los Padres Deputy Forest Supervisor

California Proposition Preliminary Results

Seven propositions voted on in the Nov. 8 elections

Staff Report

U.S. Forest Service officials an nounced the selection of Jeanne Dawson as the new deputy forest supervisor for Los Padres National Forest. Dawson succeeds Chris Stubbs, who last June was named Los Padres Forest super visor.

Dawson previously served in the Forest Service’s Northern Region on the Beaver head-Deerlodge National Forest as the range, recreation, partnerships and lands staff officer and resource advisory com mittees coordinator. She has also worked in the Southwest Region on the Santa Fe National Forest as the forestry program manager and on the Cibola National For est and National Grasslands as a zoned timber management assistant and district forester.

Through these positions, she gained experience in working with collaborative groups of different sizes and backgrounds to find consensus in designing and imple menting large, landscape-scale restoration projects to benefit wildlife, watersheds, local communities, public land users, and ecological resiliency to wildfire, insects and disease.

While Dawson has worked in wildland fire suppression and prescribed burning throughout her career, she also worked several seasons as a type 6 engine assistant

on the Pacific Northwest Region’s Wal lowa-Whitman National Forest and was a seasonal technician for fuels and fire sup pression on the Rocky Mountain Region’s Pike-San Isabel National Forest. Dawson recently completed an assignment as an acting district ranger on the Lincoln Na tional Forest.

A California native, Dawson’s first For est Service job was on the Kootenai Na tional Forest in Montana following her freshman year at Cal Poly San Luis Obis po, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry and natural resources.

“I am excited to return to the Central Coast and I look forward to working with our dedicated employees and amazing partners in stewarding the important re sources and values that the American pub lic expects and entrusts us to do,” Dawson said.

Dawson began in her new role Oct. 9.

California voters voted on seven statewide proposi tions on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and here is how the results are com ing in as of Friday, Nov. 11:

Proposition 1

Prop 1 amends the Cal ifornia Constitution to add the right to choose to have an abortion and use contracep tives, currently at 65.1% yes and 34.9% no.

Propositions 26

Prop 26 amends the Cali fornia Constitution to legalize sports betting for adults age 21 and older at Native American tribal lands and horse-racing tracks. Allows roulette and

dice games at tribal casinos. Imposes a 10% tax on sports wagering profits at horse-rac ing tracks currently at 70.1% no and 29.9% yes.

Propostion 27

Prop 27 amends the Cali fornia Constitution to legalize online sports betting for adults age 21 and older via platforms that have agreements with Native American tribes; im poses a 10% tax on sports-wa gering revenues, coming in at 83.4% no and 16.6% yes.

Proposition 28

Prop 28 requires K-12 pub lic schools to spend at least a certain percentage of their funds on arts and music pro grams, currently at 61.8% yes and 38.2% no.

Proposition 29

Prop 29 sets staffing, re

porting, and patient coverage requirements for kidney dial ysis clinics currently at 69.9% no and 30.1% yes.

Proposition 30

Prop 30 imposes an addi tional 1.75% tax on individual income over $2 million, with proceeds going toward incen tives for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and wildfire prevention currently at 59.2% no and 40.8% yes.

Editors Note: Correction from the SYVS last issue we stated “wildlife prevention programs” as a part of Prop 30 in error. It should have said “wildfire prevention.”

Proposition 31

Prop 31 upholds a state law banning the sale of flavored tobacco products currently at 62.4% yes and 37.6% no.

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Amberly

Jen Rodman

PRODUCTION TEAM

Benson Moore, Evan Rodda, Neil Schumaker

Cal Poly grad has held various forestry positions in western U.S.

Staff Report

Los Padres National Forest's newly selected deputy forest supervisor Jeanne Dawson started her job on Oct. 9. Contributed Photo

Atlas V Launches From Vandenberg Space Force Base

ments, and readings on ozone levels and solar radiation from the planet. Improving the accuracy of weather forecasts enables decision-makers, emergency managers and the public to prepare and pre-position resources that are necessary steps to save lives and property.

PG&E Files Licensing Action to Renew Operating Licenses for Diablo Canyon Power Plant

to help California reliably achieve its bold decarbonization goals. We will help deliver on those goals while continuing to run one of the top performing plants in the country.”

Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospher ic Administration’s (NOAA) Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2) and NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflat able Decelerator (LOFTID) from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 1:49 a.m.

Col. Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, was the launch decision au thority.

“Today the Western Range closed an other chapter in history that began with the first Atlas vehicle launch from SLC-3 in 1958,” Long said. “Our outstanding air men and Guardian professionals continue to showcase flawless execution and team work alongside NASA, NOAA and ULA conducting safe launch and range opera tions to ensure a successful mission.”

The advanced JPSS system improves the accuracy and timeliness of numerical weather prediction models to enhance weather forecasting. Surveying the plan et twice daily, JPSS-2 will obtain global observations that serve as the backbone of

JPSS-2 is the 301st Atlas rocket launched from Vandenberg, and the fi nal Atlas variant from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The 300th Atlas launched that occurred last year, was also Team Vanden berg’s 2000th launch. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is re sponsible for managing the launch service.

After JPSS-2 reaches orbit, LOFTID will be put on a reentry trajectory from low-Earth orbit to demonstrate the in flatable aeroshell or heat shield’s ability to slow down and survive re-entry. LOFT ID’s large deployable aeroshell — an in flatable structure protected by a flexible heat shield — acts as a giant brake in the atmosphere. The large aeroshell creates more drag than a traditional, smaller rigid aeroshell.

“I’m incredibly lucky to have been the launch director for Team Vandenberg’s 2000th launch for the Atlas V Landsat 9 mission as well as today’s JPSS-2 mis sion,” Long said. “Our mission partners, in government and industry is critical to our success. While we close this chapter, we are excited about the increased tempo on

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today took another step on the path to relicensing Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) to support California’s safe and reliable transition to a clean energy fu ture.

PG&E filed its first licensing action with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for renewing the operating licenses for DCPP’s Units 1 and 2. PG&E must ob tain the necessary NRC licenses — as well as other required state regulatory approvals — to operate the plant’s two units beyond their current operating licenses, which ex pire in 2024 and 2025.

This request is aligned with new Cali fornia energy policies that seek to preserve operations at DCPP in San Luis Obispo County beyond its current licensed oper ation period to improve statewide energy system reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while additional renewable ener gy and carbon-free resources come online.

PG&E requests the NRC to designate the appropriate licensing process to follow, as the company withdrew its license renew al application in 2018 based on state energy policies at the time.

In addition to the need for renewed li censes from the NRC, the path for contin ued operations of DCPP past 2025 includes regulatory approvals from such entities as the U.S. Department of Energy, the Califor nia State Lands Commission, the California Energy Commission, the California Coast al Commission, and the California Public Utilities Commission.

About Diablo Canyon Power Plant

Diablo Canyon can generate 2,200 mega watts of baseline electricity, and currently provides approximately 17 percent of Cal ifornia’s zero-carbon electricity supply and 8.6 percent of the state’s total electricity supply.

PG&E is committed to the highest lev els of safety, performance and security at DCPP. The plant has an excellent safe op erating record and is subject to rigorous regulatory oversight, including with respect to seismic safety. The NRC’s current as sessment places DCPP among the highest performing plants in the nation. All plant operations will continue to be overseen and monitored by the NRC, as well as several other independent industry and external oversight entities.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a sub sidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:P CG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge. com/about/newsroom/.

Staff Report

Plant would continue serving as a reliable, low-cost, carbon-free bridge while state brings online new clean energy resources

Lee Pitts Opinion Columnist

I've always enjoyed shipping cattle, even better than branding or preg-checking cows, and there are many reasons why. Being the son of a long-haul trucker, I liked the smell of diesel before sunup, and I liked talking to the truckers who were always from exotic locales like Iowa and Nebraska. (The truckers hauled hogs out to California and backhauled California calves.) I also enjoyed shipping day because it gave me a chance to use my collegiate livestock judging team skills by sorting off calves in the sorting al ley. I've also always had a secret desire to be a rodeo clown (I certainly have the clothes for it) and by dodging cows, bulls and calves and

OPINION

The Hit Man

diving over fences head first in the sorting alley, I was sharpening my bullfighting skills.

Because most of my friends are auction yard owners or video sale reps and because they knew I liked to ship cattle, I was asked numerous times over the years to ship cat tle for them. Mostly this happened when my friends had another shipping scheduled that day, because they lived eight hours away while I may have been right next door, or maybe they wanted to watch their kid play soccer or a Little League game. While I've seen photos and dreamed of one day being asked to load 18 trucks all in a row, that nev er happened to me. Mostly I got to ship a lot of mixed-load, one-truck deals where the seller was a cantankerous old coot.

Because the buyer wasn't going to spend a fortune in plane tickets, motels or speeding tickets just to have a rep there on weigh-up day that meant I had to represent both buyer and seller. I also got asked to ship a lot of cattle when the cattle I'd be shipping were sold three months prior on the video and the cash market was now a lot lower. In that case, my instructions from the buyer were

always the same. "Put a hard sort on them." This is order-buying speak for, "I want as few of those high-dollar calves as possible because I can buy them a lot cheaper now."

This meant I had to be very creative in coming up with excuses to sort calves off. Of course, I sorted off all the gimps, mud dy, off-colored, horned calves, or those still wearing an eye patch, but I also sorted off calves because they may have had an in grown nose hair, a rat tail, dilated pupils, carpal tunnel syndrome, poor angle of the dewclaw, a "type A" personality, two white hairs on the belly, a high tail set, a rash I interpreted to be a precursor to a wheat allergy, hemorrhoids, or just because a calf walked a little funny.

Of course, the opposite was true and if the price of cash cattle was a lot higher on delivery day than the price agreed to three months prior, the buyer wanted as many of the cheaper cattle that could fit on the truck even if it meant an overweight ticket for the driver. The buyer's instructions in this case were always the same: "Put every calf on the truck that can walk up the chute."

Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the view, opinion and/or ethics of the Santa Ynez Valey Star. They are however, lettersfrom the people of Santa Ynez Valley. We support your right to express your opinion. Read " "Write to Us" to submit your letter today.

Los Olivos board seeks grandiose solutions to undefined problems

Dear Editor,

Los Olivos is a small, dusty, western town, while Washington, D.C., is a former swamp in north Virginia. Unlike Washing ton, Los Olivos neither needs nor wants a big government “solution” in search of a problem.

The Los Olivos Community Services District Board is ignoring its original plan, endorsed by voters and county regulators, for a small-scale, phased, sewage treatment solution serving and located in downtown Los Olivos. Instead, the board has been pursuing a sewage plant that can process

two and one-half times more effluent on a site three times as large as the original plan. In violation of state law and county planning requirements, the large, central ized plant would be located outside the district’s boundaries on scenic, protected, agricultural land at the gateway to Los Olivos, and that land would be seized from its long-time owner through eminent domain.

This is a big government “solution” to a problem that might not exist or might be the responsibility of someone other than District residents. Despite having spent more than four years and well over a mil lion dollars, the board has no idea as to the existence, extent, or source of our ground water problem.

Relentlessly pursuing the largest possible system, the district has done no groundwa ter testing and has relied on a single prob lematic result from one test well drilled nearly 50 years ago. That report stated that

activities north of the district could be impairing the groundwater quality, which would make it the responsibility of some one other than district taxpayers! Even with this knowledge, the board ignored the advice of its engineering firm and decided not to drill the advised test wells.

Spending tens of millions of dollars, seizing property, tearing up the downtown business district, building a large-scale sys tem that will require an expensive, perma nent bureaucracy to operate and maintain makes absolutely no sense. As President Reagan, a man who knew and loved this Valley, warned us: “Government is not the solution; Government is the problem.”

The board must stop wasting limit ed resources on grandiose solutions to undefined problems. Los Olivos needs to be the priority, not big-government South County elites.

Paul Rohrer

Ballard Adobes, Los Olivos

Needless to say, this type of behavior did not endear me to the ranchers whose cattle I shipped and I got a nagging feeling the only conflict the buyer really had that day was what ball game to watch on television.

I stopped shipping cattle for my "friends" after I secretly overheard a conversation be tween an order buyer I'd just shipped a load of cattle for and the very angry seller. Nei ther knew I was listening in. The order buyer had the call on speaker and after listening to the rancher call me a long list of expletives my order buying "friend" said, "Sorry Joe. It sounds like Lee really screwed up. He con siders himself quite the cattle judge which is funny because you ought to see his cattle. If he applied the same set of criteria to them they'd all be sorted off."

Ha, ha, ha. So the next time I got a call from my "friend" to ship some cattle, I re plied, "I'm on to your game. From now on do your own dirty work because I refuse to be your 'hit man' anymore."

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

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SPOTLIGHT

From Darkness Into The Light: Part 2

After a life of drugs, crime, and incarceration, Arturo 'Cheech' Raygoza turned the corner after attending Hancock College

By Pamela Dozois Contributing Writer

It’s never too late for a new beginning.

At 54 years of age, Arturo “Cheech” Raygoza, who had been incarcerated for 13 years for selling and using metham phetamines, graduated from Allan Han cock College and is now attending UC Berkeley, on his way to earning a Ph.D. He is the co-founder of B.I.G.E. (Beyond Incarceration: Greater Education) and a Berkeley Underground Scholar Ambassa dor. B.I.G.E. helps formerly incarcerated and socially impacted individuals enroll in college and provides a safe community in which to learn.

In 1999, while in the county jail, Raygo za earned his General Education Diploma (GED) and passed in the top three percen tile of students in California.

“I knew I had to do something to change my life. I had no clue where Allan Han cock College was, but the name rang a bell with me and I remembered they had an automotive program there and because of my love for my Chevy Impala I enrolled in their automotive program,” he explained. “My grandpa had shown me how to work on cars. I have always been a backyard me chanic. I could hear a car and tell you what the problem was without knowing the name of the broken part. It was ‘that thing in the back there.’ So, I learned the terminology at college.”

It was while starting in that class that he met a very influential person in his life.

“My first day at class was also my teach er’s first day of teaching a Personal Devel opment class, which I had to take along with my automotive class to be considered a full-time student,” Raygoza said. “Her name is Miss Lynn Becerra-Valencia. She is a big part of my life. After she introduced herself what stuck out to me was that she had a Bachelor’s degree in Chicano and Chicana history and I said, ‘Yes, my people.’ I was

still under the influence and she said she wanted the whole class to come up front, one at a time, and introduce themselves. In my mind I figured if I went first, by the time the last student went up there, everyone in class would have forgotten all about me

“After class my teacher came up to me and asked what I was doing after class,” he continued. “I said, ‘I’m going to get high.’ She asked, ‘Why?’ and I replied, ‘I don’t be long here.’ She said, ‘Yes, you do! Have you heard of the Learning Assistance Program (LAPO) and the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)?’ I said no, that this was my first day on campus. She said ‘This is my first day on campus too. Walk with me and let’s find them together.’

“She got the application and said to fill this out,” said Raygoza. “If she hadn’t of done that I would have quit. I thought that I didn’t belong. I was one of the oldest in the classroom and nobody wanted to sit next to me. I scared everyone, I guess.”

The resources that Becerra-Valencia in troduced him to helped by putting his books in audio, providing him with a re cording device to record the lectures be cause he said, he always had to sit by the door.

“I didn’t like anyone walking behind me,” he said. “Twenty-two people in a classroom is normal to society, but to me, it was 22 people with weapons because everybody had a pencil.”

The teacher then helped him find class mates who were going through the same thing he was.

“My next question to her was, ‘Where are the people like me at?’ meaning parolees, or the formerly incarcerated,” Raygoza recalls asking her. “She said, ‘I don’t know, let me find out.’ Due to confidentially issues, she couldn’t find out, but because of her work in Restorative Justice, she knew a man by the name of Leonard Flippen (recently deceased) who was formerly incarcerated and had graduated from Allan Hancock College and was now working in the com munity. He managed to get five parolees to meet with me, three of whom I knew from prison,” he continued.

And from that meeting, a new campus

organization would emerge.

“The Dean of Student Services, Miss Yvonne Teniente, said to me, ‘Cheech, if you have a second meeting you can start a club and I will give you $100.’ All I heard was $100,” Raygoza said. “That’s how the Beyond Incarceration Greater Education (B.I.G.E.) Club was born. We started it in 2016 because of Lynn Becerra-Valencia, because she believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She introduced me to everyone that was in a position of author ity. Leonard helped co-found the B.I.G.E. Club with me, because of his knowledge of the parolees on campus.”

Becerra-Valencia is the B.I.G.E. Club advisor. To date, B.I.G.E. has received over $19,000 in grants to help the program be come a success.

In 2018, Raygoza was waiting for his grades to come back to see if he had passed. He would then be a certified mechanic.

“I opened up my Hancock portal and the first thing that popped up was the Dean’s List and I said, ‘Oh s—t, I’m in trouble,’” he said. “Thank God for Google. I found out that making the Dean’s list was a good thing.”

After he made the Dean’s List, Raygoza’s fiancé, Grizelda Martinez, gave him the option to either choose the drugs or her.

“I had a choice to make. So, on August 2, 2018, I put myself into detox and August 3, 2018, is my clean date. I have been clean and sober for four years,” he said proudly. “With the support of my fiancé and her mother, Grizelda Juarez, who gave me a roof over my head and supported my recov ery, I was able to overcome my obstacles.”

With Raygoza now being clean and so ber, higher goals were on the horizon.

“After sharing my exciting news with my EOPS Counselor Michelle Machado, she told me that I might as well stay for my de gree. I said, ‘What’s a degree?’” he recalled. “She told me that it was the difference be tween having my application on top of the pile or on the bottom of the pile.

“So, I started taking General Ed class es towards receiving my AS degree in au tomotive technology in 2020. I graduated with 3 AS degrees in automotive technolo

gy. One of the classes in General Education was called Sociology. I fell in love with the study of society and ended up changing my major to sociology with transfer.”

During this time, Raygoza was able to connect up with his biological father, whom he had never known, through DNA testing. His father had been looking for him for years.

“In May 2022, I graduated with two AA degrees in sociology and I applied to UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, and UC Santa Cruz. I was accepted into all four universities,” he said. “I am presently at tending Berkeley and I’m working toward attaining my Bachelor’s degree in sociology with the help of scholarships and financial aid.”

“None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for my faith in God, my support system, my family and the resources I uti lized at Allan Hancock College,” he con cluded. “I consider myself blessed.”

For more information, visit https:// undergroundscholars.berkeley. edu/20202021-ambassadors or email arturo.raygoza@my.hancockcollege.edu.

Arturo "Cheech" Raygoza is currently attending UC Berkeley and working toward his Bachelor's degree in sociology. Contributed Photo

Pirates Girls Volleyball Earns Spot In State Tournament

By Mike Chaldu michael@13starsmedia.com

It's playoff season for many Santa Ynez High School fall sports teams, and the program that has made the deepest run is the Pirates' girls volleyball squad.

SYHS, finished the regular season with a 15-17 record, 6-8 in the Mountain League, but then hit its stride in the CIF Central Section Division III playoffs.

As the seventh-seed, the Pirates went past Reedley (3-1), Garces Memorial (31), and Mission Prep (3-0) before losing Nov. 3 to top-ranked Kingsburg 3-0 in the Division III championship team. Jay da Henrey led SYHS with 11 kills in the match, while Gianna Pecile had 11 digs and in the process set a school single-sea son record with 395 digs.

Thanks to its runner-up finish in the section's Division III, the Pirates earned a spot in the CIF Division IV State Tourna ment. In its first match in State, they swept Birmingham High of the LA City Section by the scores of 25-23, 25-16, and 25-19. Henrey led again in kills with 12, while Pecile and Kaki Allen had seven apiece, and Ashley Martin had 16 assists.

SYHS moved into the second round of State last Thursday, Nov. 10, against Nipo mo High. Results were not available at press time.

Football falls in CIF first-round game Despite losing its last three regular sea

son games, the Pirates football team earned playoff berth in the CIF Central Section's Division III and traveled to Kerman High in the Central Valley for its first-round game Nov. 4.

However, that was where Santa Ynez's season came to an end. After the Pirates got the opening kickoff and drove most of the field, kicking a field goal, the host Lions dominated the rest of the way and rolled to a 49-3 victory.

Quarterback Luke Gildred, who was hobbled by a sore ankle during the game, was intercepted four times and managed 132 passing yards for SYHS. Daulton Beard, the quarterback's favorite target, had 74 yards receiving.

For the season, Gildred threw for 2,598 yards, which was eighth-best in the Cen tral Section this year, while Beard led the section with 1,272 yards receiving.

The Pirate finished with a 5-6 record and were 2-5 in the Mountain League.

Boys, girls water polo lose in CIF Both the Pirates' girls and boys water polo teams suffered first-round losses in CIF after successful regular seasons.

The girls team fell 14-2 to Morro Bay on Nov. 1. Tabitha Pearigen and Sydney Gills scored the goals for the Pirates.

On the season, SYHS finished 18-5 with a perfect 10-0 record in the Ocean League. Pearingen set a school record for goals in a season with 112.

The boys team also fell Nov. 5 in its CIF first-round game, losing to Clovis 14-6.

Landon Lasahn led the Pirates with four goals, while Christian Sotelo and Zack Bennett had a goal apiece for SYHS. The Pirates finished the season with a 16-11 overall record and went 10-2 in the Moun tain League for a second-place finish.

Golfer Mackenzie Phelan shoots 89, advances to State tournament

On Oct. 31, Santa Ynez High soph omore Mackenzie Phelan competed at the CIF Central Section Championship, shooting an 89 at the par-74 San Luis Obispo Country Club and secured the 12th and final qualifying spot to the CIF/ SCGA SoCal Regional Girls Golf Cham pionship.

The SCGA SoCal Regional took place last Thursday at Brookside golf club in Pas adena, CA. This tournament consists of 12 individuals and two teams each from the Central Section, LA City and San Diego sections in addition to 28 individuals and four teams from the Southern Section (124 golfers). The top three teams and nine indi viduals will advance from this tournament to the State tournament at San Gabriel CC on Nov. 16.

SYHS football team's season ends with first-round playoff loss to Kerman

Santa Ynez High golfer Mackenzie Phelan poses with the leaderboard at the CIF/SCGA SoCal Regional Girls Golf Championship. Contributed Photos

The Santa Ynez High girls volleyball team members pose with the CIF Central Section Division III runner-up trophy Nov. 3, after the Pirates fell to top-seeded Kinsburg. Contributed Photo

ARTS & NONPROFITS

Peter Wright, Chris Meltzer Appointed to Solvang Theaterfest Board

Report

eter Wright, Ph.D, of Solvang and Chris Meltzer of Buellton have joined the Solvang Theaterfest Board of Directors.

Dr. Wright is a lecturer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, teaching courses in public poli cy, American and California politics, political communication, and research methods. He also is an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco's School of Management.

Wright graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics from Occidental College, a Master's in public ad ministration degree from USC, and a Ph.D in political science from UCSB. He served as a capital fellow in the California Gover nor’s Office, and as director of emergency planning and preparedness for the Califor nia Community Colleges Chancellor’s Of

fice, as well as in other nonprofit leadership positions.

Locally, Wright is a trustee of the College Elementary School District, chairs the Cit izen’s Oversight Committee for the Santa

Ynez Valley Union High School Measure K bond and served on the vestry at St. Mark’sin-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Ol ivos.

Meltzer is an associate with Sheppard

Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP located in Costa Mesa, providing representation and counsel for national institutional clients on the implications of federal and state regula tions relating to commercial and residential real estate transactions. Prior to that, he was senior director — transactional counsel for Healthpeak Properties in Irvine.

He received a Bachelor of Arts with hon ors in history from UCSB, and a juris doctor cum laude from the Ohio State University.

Meltzer was the co-founder of the Or ange County Young Professionals Group and served on the steering committee for the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.

Solvang Theaterfest is the 501(c)(3) non profit corporation that owns and operates Solvang Festival Theater. It is managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

For more information, contact Solvang Theaterfest Executive Director Scott Coe atexec.director@solvangtheaterfest.org.

Staff

Chris Meltzer

Dr. Peter Wright

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden to Host First Holiday Lights Festival

Author R. Lawson Gamble Holding Book Signing in Lompoc

Santa Ynez Valley residents and vis itors have a new reason to celebrate this holiday season. For the first time ever, the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden will host the Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival, an immersive light experi ence throughout December.

Featuring installments such as a mead ow of lights, LED animal figures, and a rainbow display, the event will showcase thousands of lights throughout the gar den. There will also be a wishing tree with wishes that children made and put on the tree. This event will take place at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden at River View Park in Buellton (151 Sycamore Drive) and will help support future development and growth of the garden.

The Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival is scheduled to take place on Dec.

R. Lawson Gamble will be holding a book signing for his latest nov el titled “Tulare,” the 10th book in the Zack Tolliver FBI series. The signing will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Satur day, Nov. 26, at The Book Store, 1137 N. H Street #Q, in Lompoc.

In "Tulare," FBI agent Zack Tolliver is called to California’s Central Valley to in vestigate the mystery, haunted by an unset tling, recurring dream he does not under stand. A family of four and their dog are found dead at the dinner table. No sign of violence. No evidence of intruders. Is it an accident, mass suicide, or foul play? There is no lack of suspects. The land the family owned is desired by big oil, agriculture, and

the local Indian tribe. Who done it? And how?

"Tulare" was awarded the #1 Hot New Release banner on Amazon in the cate gory of Native American literature for 28

Staff Report CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Event scheduled for select dates in December at River View Park

Written wishes made by children are attached to the "wishing tree" at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden in Buellton. The garden will host its first Holiday Lights Festival in December at its River View Park location.

Contributed Photo

Staff Report

Writer will be signing for his latest novel, 'Tulare,' at The Book Store

R. Lawson Gamble

Museum Presentation Focuses on ‘Chumash Maritime History’

bara-event/ and become a member at https://sbmm.org.

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Bar bara Maritime Museum (SBMM) presents “Chumash Maritime History — Past, Pres ent, & Future,” as told by Chumash Elder Puchuk Ya’ia’c (Alan Salazar), on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. in the museum.

As a founding member of the Chu mash Maritime Association and one of the group’s most experienced paddlers, Salazar will share his knowledge of the history of the ocean plank canoes, known as “tomols.”

As a storyteller, researcher, and knowledge keeper of Chumash history, he will share some of their stories in his presentation and answer any questions audience mem bers may have.

Cost is free for SBMM’s Navigator

Circle Members, $10 for all other mem bers, and $20 for members of the public. There will also be a pre-lecture reception for members only from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Register at: https://sbmm.org/santa-bar

Salazar has worked in several different areas throughout his life. He has been a traditional storyteller, an Indigenous ed ucator and monitor/consultant, a spiritual adviser, a traditional paddler and a build er of Chumash canoes, a preschool teach er, and a juvenile institution officer. He is also the published author of “Tata, The Tataviam Towhee: A Tribal Story” and is currently working on his next book. As a spiritual adviser within the Chumash and Tataviam community, he leads ceremonies and prayer circles during traditional Na tive American gatherings and continues to fight for tribal issues of urban indigenous people. www.native-storytelling.com

Alan Salazar’s family has traced its family ancestry to the Chumash village of Ta’apu, now known as Simi Valley and the Tataviam village of Chaguayanga near Castaic, Cal ifornia. They are Ventureno Chumash and Fernandeno Tataviam, who were brought into the San Fernando Mission starting

in 1799. He is a founding member of the Kern County Native American Heritage Preservation Council and the Chumash Maritime Association, a member of the California Indian Advisory Council for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and a community advisor with the Ventu ra County Indian Education Consortium for over 24 years. Since taking archaeolo gy classes at Cal State Bakersfield, Salazar has actively monitored and protected his ancestors’ village sites and tribal territories. He was also the lead monitor from 2011 to 2017 at the Boeing Santa Susana Field Lab site in Simi Valley, which is a unique 2,800acre site with a sacred solstice and rock art. As a member of the Chumash Maritime Association he helped build the first work ing traditional Chumash plank canoe in modern times and has paddled in this tomol for over 24 years. He is a member of the El der’s Council for the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and has also been involved with teaching youth about Native

Tribal elder and experienced paddler Alan Salazar to speak at Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Staff Report

Alan Salazar

Healing Energy is Strongest Weapon Against Disease

es of someone having an incurable disease; they eat tons of some food they believe will cure them, for this instance, let us say guava. Magically, at their next doctor’s appointment, they receive the wonderful news that they are now healthy individ uals, and their disease is gone. Was it the guava? No. It was their thinking. The way you think is your strongest weapon to an nihilate any disease.

By Dr. Hyun K. Lee

What does having a terminal disease really mean? Simply put, it means medical or hu man knowledge is limited, not that your disease is incurable. Every body is created with the ability to heal itself. For a sick person, it is the locked door for which you must find the key.

Humans have healing energy. We can not describe how healing energy works because it is a super-science, but no doubt you have heard of its many wonders throughout your life. There are many cas

Let us look at the beginning of your journey: You have been sick. You do not feel well, and inside somewhere you know that something is wrong. You go to the doctors and they run all the tests. You wait with knots in your stomach. Before you know it, you are sitting across from the doctor as they grimly deliver your diagno sis. They use words you hate to hear. Can cer. Inoperable. Incurable. Estimation of time you “have left.” Somehow you make it home, feeling afraid and hopeless after such an incredibly negative experience. You have been given a death sentence, and in most cases, resign yourself and wait to

die, or give it a bit of a fight. All the negativity of that experience reaches deep into your subconscious. You live each day reminding yourself in some fashion that you are sick and going to die soon. The more you do this, the more you affirm your illness, and eventually, it will kill you. The way you think determines how your body will act. Your subconscious controls the chi, blood, and hormone cir culation throughout your body. A negative subconscious will produce negative results, and a positive subconscious will produce positive results.

If you look at the onset of disease as a positive thing — as an opportunity to put your life back on the right track — the outcome can be much different. Instead of watching your life wind down to an end, upgrade it. Like it or not, your life style — the way you think, your poor diet, too much stress, not enough exercise, etc. — is probably what landed you with dis ease to begin with. Accept responsibility for this, find the lifestyle-based cause of your illness, and believe if you got yourself into this mess, you can most certainly get yourself out of it. Do not be discouraged at your diagnosis. Your doctor might not be able to cure you, but you can!

When we are sick, we realize that hu mans are weak. When we are strong and healthy, there is a tendency to feel inde structible. Sickness reminds you that you are delicate, and in turn the subconscious tells your body to help maintain health. At this point, open yourself up to healing.

It is most helpful to begin your journey back to health with some simple tech niques. Start with a quiet and peaceful place. Relax, and talk to your body. Say, “My hands are heavy,” three times. Speak,

and listen. Imagine you are holding heavy metal buckets. As simple as it sounds, this begins your concentration. Say, “My shoul ders are getting warm.” Feel as though you have hot towels on your shoulders. Follow with, “My breathing is peaceful.” Imagine you are in the mountains, or at the ocean, breathing in and exhaling fresh air. Feel it moving throughout your whole body. Say, “My heartbeat is regular and healthy.” Listen to your heart beat. Say, “My abdo men is warm,” and imagine the sun shin ing on your abdomen.” Follow with, “My forehead is cool.” Imagine cold Alaskan air rushing over your forehead. At this point your body should be totally relaxed, and responsive to your affirmations. If you have heart disease, say “My heart is healthy. My heart is cured.” Picture your heart, imagine it healing to perfect health. Watch it beating in your mind’s eye. Do this for whatever your ailment may be.

Practice this as many times a day as you can. Remember, 100 percent and 99 per cent are very different. There is only one degree between success and failure. You cannot put out a large fire with just one bucket of water. Keep throwing water on the fire until it is out.

Illness can be a fresh start for you, re gardless of your diagnosis. Just believe.

Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 Mc Murray Road, Suite G, Buellton. The clinic is held every Wednesday only. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles, and Atascadero. To make an appointment in the Buellton office, call (805) 693-5162.

GOOD MEDICINE

Genealogy Tips

often that person may not have first-hand knowledge. An example might be infor mation given to a census taker. Who was the person giving the information? Was it someone who had first-hand knowl edge or someone else who does not always know the correct answers and might give what they think is correct.

Fashion Chatter

By Sue Manning Elna's Dress Shop

By Sheila Benedict Contributing Writer

Quality research is vital regardless of whether it is history, genealogy, or a particular topic of interest. This month is a reminder of the basics that are required of all research projects. There are three parts:

Sources: these include documents, books, websites, people, and dna. Within the sources is where the information is found. Often it is from a primary source, a secondary source, or even an undeter mined source. Primary sources include a first-hand (witnessed) account of an event, a diary, vital records, such as births, marriages, and deaths.

Be aware of who is the source of the information on those documents. Usual ly the mother gives the information about the child she gave birth to, marriages in clude both the bride and the groom and they give information known to them, and death information is usually from a fami ly informant. However, that is not always how it works. Someone could have died in a place or at a time when the source of the information might not be a relative or close friend.

Secondary sources are created by a per son or persons who were not a first-hand witness to an event. Some examples might be books, articles, a biography, newspa per pieces, or textbooks where they wrote about a particular person or event but the writer was not a witness to the event. When a genealogist interviews someone,

Finally, evidence: the source gave the in formation and now it is necessary to prove the information is direct evidence that gives direct answers to the research proj ect, indirect evidence is the opposite and does not give direct answers, or even neg ative evidence which occurs in a situation where evidence should exist but does not. Do not confuse this with Negative Find ings, which can be a total absence of any information at all. All of this combined will be used in a proof argument, usual ly written out to explain the project being researched.

In a book written by Thomas Jones, PhD, for the National Genealogical So cieties Special Topics Series, he lists five points known as The Genealogical Proof Standard. It applies to all genealogists, professionals as well as those that work on their family history.

“1) Thorough (‘reasonably exhaustive’) searches in sources that might help answer a research question

2) Information (‘complete, accurate’) ci tations to the sources of every information item contributing to the research ques tion’s answer

3) Analysis and comparison (‘correla tion’) of the relevant sources and informa tion to assess their usefulness as evidence of the research question’s answer

4) Resolution of any conflicts between evidence and the proposed answer to a re search question

5) A written statement list, or narrative supporting the answer”1 2

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving ev eryone!

1 Jones, Thomas W. Mastering Genealogi cal Proof. NGS Special Publications No. 107. Arlington, Virginia: National Genealogical Society, 2013, p3.

2 Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, Second Edition Re vised, Nashville, Tennessee (Ancestry.com), Turner Publishing Company, 2019, 2021.

The number one rule in fashion. There are no rules. So dress for yourself — and no one else. Wear what makes you happy, wherever you are.

Relish the feeling of slipping on something fabulous and the confidence it sparks. When you look your best, you feel your best, and that requires no occasion at all.

Come into Elna's Dress Shop to discover new lines and stock up on your favorite brands, completing your immediate clothing and ac cessory needs.

I took over Elna's Dress Shop in October 2001, and it has become a merging fashion quality and versatility shop. I take my clues from current trends and my customers, putting the freshness of street wear with sophistication of international design for a unique look. The key phase for Elna's is "attainable style for all occasions, regardless of age, body type or look."

Our vision is forever young with effortless street style, timeless beauty, mixing past in spiration with present innovation. If you are looking for a collection that encompasses just about every piece a girl could need in her ward robe, look no further than Jess & Jane. The key quality customers rave about is the super soft feel. That gives them the latest trends without sacrificiang comfort. We proudly carry Jess & Jane apparel, so stop in and you'll be sure to find something that suits you.

Fashion can sometimes seem intimidating.

We think we need the "total look," but not all things belong together. Fall gives us the option of being free-spirited, so feel free to mix and match.

A scarf is an easy way to feel you have a new outfit. There are new rules on wearing scarves. The thin scarf can be considered an updated take on a choker. The longer or square scarf is more of an all over feel. Play with colors, tex ture and patterns remembering to enhance it with graphic bold accent.

In a tough retail market, we pride ourselves on being very customer. Stop in and see what I mean. If you have a specific top, skirt, dress that needs a face lift, come see us.

Don't forget: Third Wednesday every month for a 20 percent discount on all regular priced merchandise, excluding Danish Costumes.

We are open Wednesday thru Sunday From 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., 1673 Copenhagen Drive, Solvang. Any questions please call (805) 6884525 during business hours.

The Good-as-New Shop in Solvang is amending its “no donations” poli cy for the holiday season and will be accepting high-end-Christmas decorations only so that people who need almost-new décor for the holiday season can pick some things up at the shop to decorate their homes. Those who would like to donate can drop off their donation from 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends but it is requested that they please text first to (805) 680-7991 before making the drop off.

Owner Regina Jensen's shop has a va riety of nearly new clothing, shoes, purses, and some books. She runs the business on the principle of what she calls “radical trust,”

ments they want or need and pay for them “farmstand style” by dropping cash (exact amount only) into a secured lockbox, local checks, or using Pay Pal (address on the back of her business card available at the checkout).

The Good-as-New Shop is at 1669 Fir Street, Solvang, behind the ACE Hardware store. It is a little house between the shoe-re pair shop and the laundromat and in front of the hair salon. The address doesn’t appear on the building.

For more information, text only 805-680-

Staff Report

‘Keep it Simple’ This Thanksgiving

Butz Columnist

Ihave a large collection of cookbooks, and I will often read something in one of them that sticks in my mind, but of course, I can never find it again. For instance, I remember reading a description of what a Thanksgiving dinner should be like, and it went something like this: A festive meal with a traditional menu served to familiar faces around a table decorated with the season’s fresh fruits, vege tables, and autumn branches or leaves creating a take on the classic cornucopia.

The author stressed, “keep it simple,” and don’t fuss over a lot of details. Be sure to spend time and energy on what really matters on that day — enjoying friends and family. Last ly, I remember the author suggested that since most people long for their own family recipes, ask guests to bring their favorite dish to share or to share a recipe with you ahead of time so you could fit it into your menu.

To make the day easier on the cook, an other cookbook author listed a few ideas that I jotted down to share with you. First of all, keep your snack offering light and easy to pre pare by buying a wedge of good aged cheddar cheese and serve it with small crackers of your choice.

If making gravy is not your “thing,” substi tute Knorr mix or Williams-Sonoma turkey gravy base and add a touch of dry sherry or white wine to liven it up. Always serve some kind of cranberry sauce. Not enough time to

make your own? Take this idea and run with it. Buy a can of Ocean Spray whole-berry cranberry sauce and add a spritz of fresh or ange juice and some zest for a fresh flavor.

Lastly, for dessert, buy a pecan pie and add a homemade touch by melting 4 ounc es of good-quality chocolate and drizzling it on top. And if you need a taste of pumpkin to end your meal, toast slices of pumpkin bread and serve them with vanilla ice cream topped with warm caramel sauce and toasted chopped pecans.

If you are having a small gathering, consid er the following recipe for turkey breast. You won’t have drumsticks, but you won’t have tons of turkey left over.

Turkey Breast in a Slow-Cooker

Ingredients:

1 bone-in turkey breast (6 to 7 pounds)

4 fresh rosemary sprigs

4 garlic cloves, peeled

1⁄2 cup water

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1⁄2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Place turkey breast, rosemary, garlic and water in a 6-quart slow cooker. Mix brown sugar, pepper and salt; sprinkle over turkey. Cook, covered, on low 4-6 hours or until tur key is tender and a thermometer inserted in turkey reads at least 170 degrees. 12 Servings

The next recipe makes good use of any leftover turkey.

Turkey Posole

1/3 cup crushed blue tortilla chips

1⁄4 cup shredded red or green cabbage

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the first five ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Sim mer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in turkey; heat through. Top servings with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, chips and cabbage. 6 servings

If young children are at your gathering, they will love these little treats.

Sweet and Spicy Munchies

Ingredients:

2 cans (141⁄2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 jar (16 ounces) chunky salsa

1 can (15 ounces) hominy, rinsed and drained

2 teaspoons chipotle hot pepper sauce

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 cups cubed cooked turkey breast

1⁄4 cup sour dream

1/3 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro

Ingredients:

1 pound spiced gumdrops

1 pound candy corn

1 can (16 ounces) salted peanuts

Paper muffin cups to fit the theme of the party

Directions:

In a large bowl combine the gumdrops, candy corn and peanuts. Store in and airtight container until you are ready to serve, then fill the muffin cups.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Gob ble, Gobble!

Barbie

BUELLTON AND SOLVANG ELECTIONS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

downpours, had a hand in the election.

"I think it was horrible timing for a down pour on Election Day. I beat Lewis by a two to one margin at the in person voting," he said. "I believe several people put their bal lots in the mail that would have otherwise gone to the in person polling place. The rain was definitely a factor."

Meanwhile, Buellton's City Council elec tions in District 1 and District 4 (the first elections under the by-district system) seem to be decided, according to the results re leased Wednesday morning.

Local attorney Hudson Hornick held a 56.04 percent to 43.05 percent lead over his opponent, public affairs consultant Tom Widroe, in District 1, while in District 4, ed ucational fundraiser David Silva led former Buellton City Councilmember Art Mercado 60.87 percent to 38.74 percent.

While Hornick and Silva were not ready to claim victory just yet, they did each ex

GAMBLE BOOK SIGNING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

consecutive days. Gamble's novels have won several prizes in international book contests, including the coveted Gold Medal for "The Curse Of Matilija" (Zack Tolliver #9) in the 2022 Reader’s Favorite In ternational Book Contest.

For more information, go to rlawsongamble.com. You can also find his books on amazon. com and other retail websites.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

2; Dec. 9-11; and Dec. 16-18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each night.

Tickets to the Holiday Lights Festival include entry into the Enchanted Garden during your purchased time slot in addition to enjoying all that the festival has to offer as soon as the gates open at 5:30 p.m. Ad mission to the festival is $25 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12 and free for children 2 and under. To purchase tickets for this fam

press appreciation for their supporters and for the experience.

"I would like to thank all the people who helped support me and also my opponent Tom Widroe for being gracious and friend ly throughout the campaign," Hornick said. "We truly have great neighbors here in Buellton and my sincere thanks go out to all of them."

"I am so grateful to all the communi ty members in my district for putting their faith in me this election," Silva said. "It has been a true joy getting to know my neighbors and discussing the issues important to Buell ton and how we can continue to make this town better for future generations."

Solvang

The Solvang mayoral race lacked the suspense of a usual election as City Coun cilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Infan ti ran unopposed and garnered 94.68 percent of the vote.

Like Buellton, Solvang is electing its City Council by districts and voters selected rep

resentatives for the city's District 3 and Dis trict 4.

Most notable is incumbent Robert Clarke, who was on council as an at-large but was running for the District 4 seat this year, who is trailing challenger Elizabeth Orona. Orona, a technology sales executive, held a 57.14-percent-to-42.86-percent edge over Clarke Wednesday morning.

In District 3, small business owner David Brown and local chef Louise Smith were in a near-dead heat when the first results were released Tuesday night, but by the time they were updated early Wednesday, Brown was leading 47.65 percent to 41.18 percent. Jan ice Matthews, who dropped out of the race earlier in the campaign, got 10.59 percent of the vote.

Other races

Two seats were up for grabs in the San ta Ynez Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees. In the Short Term AtLarge District seat, Santa Ynez High parent/ volunteer Anna Schryer (36.86 percent) and

contractor/business owner Christopher F. Johnson (36.30 percent) were running neckand-neck, with retired executive Lee Rosen berg running third at 26.36 percent. In the Trustee Area 2 race, college administrator Sheri Noble had a big lead over vocational nurse Denise El Amin — 59.17 percent to 40.61 percent.

Solvang's Measure U, a proposed one-cent sales tax billed as being aimed at tourists and visitors more than residents, looks to be on its way to passing as 61.54 percent of voters have voted yes.

In the Los Olivos Community Services Dis trict, four candidates vied for three seats, with Julie Kennedy (30.48 percent), Lisa Bertero Palmer (26.39), and Greg Parks (23.23) lead ing, and Thomas A. Nelson (18.39) trailing. In the race for the district's short-term seat, Brad A. Ross led Jeanne Hollingsworth 68.28 percent to 31.28 percent.

In the Los Alamos Community Services District short-term seat election, Charles Gonzales led Kristi Gnesa-Williams 58.03 percent to 40.98 percent.

CHUMASH MARITIME HISTORY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

American cultures for 30 years. He has done professional educational programs at schools, museums, and cultural events for 25 years, including storytelling pro grams at the American Museum of Brit ain in Bath, England. But it is the schools in Chumash and Tataviam territory that he enjoys going to the most. This event is generously sponsored by Marie L. Morrisroe.

SBMM is located at 113 Harbor Way, Suite 190, in Santa Barbara. Visit sbmm. org or call (805) 962-8404 for details.

ily friendly event visit www.EnchantedHol idayLights.com.

This unique immersive lighted experience promises to fill everyone visiting with festive holiday spirit and includes a Holiday Coun try Market with food, beer, and wine, and activities such as Christmas carolers, falling snow, and photos with Santa. Live reindeer will be on-site exclusively on Dec. 11 and 18.

The planning of the festival has already sparked a lot of excitement and support from the community with sponsorships from The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, Ramsey As

phalt Construction, The Schlinger Founda tion, Visit SYV, Rio Vista Chevrolet, SYV Rotary, Buellton Chamber, SYV Pride, Catherine Streegan Dentistry, Vreeland Ford and Nielsen’s Building Supply.

The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden showcases native plants of Santa Barbara County and is located at the west end of River View Park, accessible from Sycamore Drive in Buellton. The garden is open free of charge from sunrise to sunset 365 days per year. The garden, founded in 2006, has been developed and managed by volunteers

of the SYVBG Foundation, an educational nonprofit organization.

Since the beginning, the garden has been a place for the community to gather and engage with each other and nature, pro viding volunteer opportunities, education al workshops and committees and fun and interactive events. This event will help raise awareness of the garden and support future endeavors of the garden’s improvements and future projects and installations, while also providing a wonderful new tradition for all.

Chumash storyteller and experienced paddler Alan Salazar will share his knowledge of the history of the ocean plank canoes, known as “tomols,” during his Nov. 17 talk at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Contributed Photo

CALENDAR

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

TUESDAY, NOV. 15

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.

At Board Room, Administration Office, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, 2975 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez.

For more info: syvuhsd.org

THURSDAY, NOV. 17

BUELLTON PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.

Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

SOLVANG DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE, 5 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

MONDAY, NOV. 28

SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

TUESDAY, NOV. 29

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

Santa Maria Betteravia Complex, 511 Lake side Parkway, Santa Maria

For more info: countyofsb.org

THURSDAY, DEC. 1

BUELLTON PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.

Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

SOLVANG TOURISM ADVISORY COMMIT TEE, 3:30 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

MONDAY, DEC. 5

SOLVANG PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

TUESDAY, DEC. 6

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

EVENTS

FRIDAY, NOV. 25

TURKEY TROT, 10 A.M.

Bring the family, bring a friend, and run or walk off your calories from the day before. Proceeds from this special 10th annual event help support a local charity. $25 fee; register at www.cityofsolvang.com

At Sunny Fields Park, 900 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang

For more info: www.cityofsolvang.com or call (805) 688-5575.

A COWBOY CHRISTMAS (RUNS THROUGH DEC. 23), 2 TO 8 P.M.

The North Pole has taken over our stable! We are excited to announce a magical new SYV holiday experience this Christmas. A Cowboy Christmas is an immersion of holiday magic for all ages hosted at the stables of SYV Horse & Pony Rides at River View Park in Buell ton. Guests of all ages will enjoy an array of magical experiences that include a petting zoo, hayrides, pony rides, bounces house and many more activities. A Cowboy Christmas runs 17 select days between Thanksgiving and Christ mas. Limited daily tickets available. Tickets on sale now: $20 Adults / $14 Kids (Children under 3 are FREE). Each paid admission in cludes a complimentary 5-Hole Punch Card. VIP and Season Passes also available.

At SYV Horse & Pony Rides at River View Park, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton

For more info: www.syvcowboychristmas.com

WEDNESDAY,

NOV. 30

DASHING THROUGH DEMENTIA WITH LAUREN MAHAKIAN, 6 TO 7 P.M.

Join us for a timely presentation on how to enjoy the holidays with your memory im paired loved one. The event will be held both in person and live streamed via Zoom. Please register at engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister to attend in either manner. Lauren Maha kian is a certified dementia practitioner and an elder care specialist, and is the founder of Family Connect Memory Care.

At Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang

For more info: Solvang Library (805) 688-4214

FRIDAY,

DEC. 2

SOLVANG JULEFEST CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, 5 P.M.

Come out and help us kick off this holiday season with Solvang’s annual Tree Lighting!

The Lighting will take place at Solvang Park (First Street and Mission Drive) in the heart of Downtown Solvang. The Tree Lighting includes various festivities including ballerinas, live entertainment, and caroling.

At Solvang Park, 1630 Mission Drive, Sol vang

SATURDAY, DEC. 3

JULEFEST PARADE IN SOLVANG, 11 A.M.

Enjoy parade floats traveling along the village streets Saturday morning. Marching bands, horses, pets, motorcycles, and more! Join us along with 400-plus participants and 50-plus contingents as we march and cruise down the streets of Solvang. Bring more hygge (Danish coziness) into your holiday season, and a free opportunity to meet Mr. Claus.

At Downtown Solvang

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

BUELLTON WINTER FEST, 9 A.M. TO 7 P.M.

The first Sunday in December is Buellton’s annual Winter Fest. This one-of-a-kind experience is fun for the whole family, and a perfect way to kick off the winter holidays!

Start the day at Breakfast With Santa in the Buellton Rec Center from 9 to 11 a.m., fol lowed by a neighborhood parade. The parade starts at Jonata Middle School around Noon and goes up Second St. around Oak Valley and back to Jonata. The afternoon brings the Holiday Village at Village Park located behind Tractor Supply. (20 tons of snow, vendors, music and live performances, beer/wine/spir its.) This runs from 4 to 7 p.m. with the tree lighting at 7 p.m.

At Buellton Rec Center (Jonata School), 301 2nd St., Buellton

For more prices and information contact the Buellton Chamber Office at (805) 688-7829.

ONGOING EVENTS

TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS

SOLVANG LIBRARY - OUTDOOR STORY TIME MOVES INSIDE!, 10:30 A.M., TUES DAYS AND WEDNESDAY STARTING ON OCT. 18

Starting Oct. 18, Storytime is moving inside

and expanding to both Tuesday and Wednes day mornings.

Come to enjoy songs, stories, movement, and a warm welcome. Please make a reservation at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/goleta-val ley-library

At Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang

For more info: Solvang Library (805) 6884214

WEDNESDAYS

SOLVANG FARMERS MARKET, 2:30 TO 6 P.M.

Each week, the farmers in the marketplace dis play 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 & 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 fast est-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

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 basket ball with friends.

At Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second St., Buellton

For more info: buelltonrec.com

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

Start your day with a pick up game of basket ball 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