April 18 - May 1, 2017 • Vol. 2, No. 6
Every Issue Complimentary Every Time
Rec Queen loves her leadership role
Live Oak Lanes approved 5-0 by Buellton Planning Commission Staff Report
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‘It’s really hard to be a teenager,’ so Katherine Brocke helps others by Raiza Giorgi
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atherine Brocke takes her role seriously as a captain for Santa Ynez Valley Union High School’s track and field team, because it involves helping her teammates get through a competition, win or lose. “It’s really hard to be a teenager these days, with pressures from all different angles and social media that portrays this alternate reality, when really some kids are just struggling. I want them to know that I am there for my teammates and encourage them,” she said. That attitude was one of the reasons that the 18-year-old was chosen as the 2017 Rec Queen for Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, which kicks off its fundraising campaign in a few days. Katherine will be participating in a series of fundraising events for Youth Rec to raise money for its year-round community efforts to provide recreation facilities and opportunities. “I was on my way home from babysitting when my mom called me and told me that I had been selected for the Youth Rec Queen and I about came unglued, I was so excited,” she said. Katherine has seen the posters each year since moving to the valley when she was 11 with her mother, Maili Halme, a chef
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Photos contributed Rec Queen Katherine Brocke, shown with her cousin, loves her role as one of four track and field captains for the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School team.
who owns a local catering company. Her grandparents, Paul and Susan Halme, moved to the valley in 1976 to raise their children. Her grandfather is an attorney and her grandmother owns and operates Solvang Bakery with her aunt, Melissa Redell. “I am so thrilled that I get to be a part of this organization and help people understand just how much Youth Rec does for our community. I want to tell as many people as I can to get involved and participate,” she said. SYV Youth Rec has raised more than
$3 million in the past 62 years for local youth programs and funded many projects at the high school, fields at local elementary and middle schools, and the baseball and soccer fields at Sunny Fields Park, among other accomplishments. When Ballard School was remodeled, for example, the group put in the basketball courts, ball fields and playground equipment. Youth Rec also contributed to the construction of the new barn facility at the high school’s farm, and completed
o QUEEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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fter years of effort, a long-awaited entertainment center and bowling alley project was approved unanimously April 6 by the Buellton Planning Commission. Developers of the Live Oak Lanes project were elated after the approval of their plans, which were revised to fit a site south of East Highway 246 after a location change from their original site on Industrial Way. “We are really excited to get this project finally started,” said Carol Lesher Peterson, whose family owns the project. “Not only will locals have a great place, but it will draw people of all ages and abilities as bowling appeals to everyone,” said Kathy Vreeland, executive director of the Buellton Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau. Live Oak Lanes will be another great asset, and I am glad Carol and her family hung in and pushed through to see it through.” The family has navigated a contentious course as their project went through several appeals from their former site’s neighbors on Industrial Way. They ultimately gave up on that property and bought a vacant lot behind Burger King and near Antonio’s Pizza and Pasta south of Highway 246. “Story poles” were erected there recently to show the building’s proposed elevation. The project remains similar to the first submittal, but batting cages have been eliminated to save space at the new location. As proposed, the project will consist of an 18-lane bowling alley, arcade, bar, party rooms and three bocce courts. Buellton Senior Center Director Pam Gnekow said the center supports the project, which will give seniors a fun way to interact with the youth of the community. For updates on the project, visit the bowling center’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/LOLbowl.