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DECEMBER 6 – DECEMBER 19, 2022 Making Communities Better Through Print.™ SANTAYNEZVALLEYSTAR.COM
Crowds Salute Community Heroes With Santa Ynez Veterans Day Parade
VFW Post 7139 Commander Al Salge (in back seat) was the grand marshal of the Salute to Vets Parade in Santa Ynez on Nov. 12. Photo by Mike Chaldu
INSIDE
News | 6 First Empty Bowls fundraiser to be held in Los Olivos is a success on short notice
Parade kicks off Salute to Vets event and activities at Maverick Saloon the day after Veterans Day
By Mike Chaldu
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
Crowds lined up along Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez on Saturday, Nov. 12, for the 2022 Salute to the Vets Parade, held the day after Veterans Day.
Twenty-five entries were entered into the parade, led by Grand Marshal Alvin Salge, commander of VFW Post 7139 in Santa Ynez Valley. Among the entries were the Flat Fender Friends' caravan of jeeps, the Lompoc and SYV chapters of Daughters of the Revolution, numerous women dressed up as the pin-up girls of the 1940s, the 11th Mounted Cavalry Unit, and the Widows Sons motorcycle contingent representing the Vietnam Vets.
The parade kicked off the second annual Salute to the Vets celebration and led back to the Maverick Saloon on Sagunto Street for the in-person event, featuring live music, local veterans programs and services booths, pin-up girl contest, food and drink, and military vehicle displays.
The parade and celebration at Maverick Saloon was presented by the Santa Barbara County Veterans Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to support and helping our local veterans and keeping the money in the tri-county area.
Drew Wakefield, a motivational speaker and radio host who's billed as "Mr. Santa Barbara," was the emcee for the parade and had high praise for Santa Ynez and the event that debuted last year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 News 2
• Kyle Abello retires as recreational supervisor at Buellton Rec
Community 8
• Solvang Senior Center sets goal for every local senior to join in the next year
Sports 12
• SYHS girls basketball team takes third place in the Santa Maria
Tournament
Opinion 13
• Lee Pitts: Some 'groundbreaking' ideas should probably remain buried
Education 14
• SYHS senior Elle Arvesen named
Elks October Student of the
Month
Arts/Nonprofit 15
• Grammy winner Johnny Mathis to perform his Christmas hits at
Chumash Casino Resort
STAR NEWS Local Elections Inch Toward Finish Line
King jumps ahead of Lewis in Buellton mayoral vote; Solvang's District 4 City Council race tightens up
By Mike Chaldu
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
After falling behind in early results for the Buellton mayoral race, current Vice Mayor Dave King has jumped ahead of City Council member Elysia Lewis after the second update of results from the Nov. 8 General Election.
With 65 percent of the ballots counted, King holds a 1,053-1,018 lead in total votes (50.63 percent to 48.94 percent). Lewis still holds the lead in mail-in ballots (970-946), but King holds a better-than2-to-1 edge at the polls (107-46). Lewis originally held a 50.59-percent-to-48.77percent lead in the first release of results.
Meanwhile in Solvang's District 4, Elizabeth Orona, a technology sales executive who held a 57.14-percent-to-42.86-percent edge over incumbent Robert Clarke in the early results, has now seen that lead dwindle to less than 2 percent (50.60 percent to 49.00 percent). In total votes, Orona leads Clarke by just 11 votes (330-319).
In other races:
BUELLTON
Meanwhile, in Buellton's City Council elections, Hudson Hornick (District 1) and David Silva (District 4) have maintained their double-digit leads over Tom Widroe and Art Mercado, respectively. Hornick is up on Widroe 55.40 percent to 44.5 percent, while Silva has the advantage over Mercado 55.44 percent to 43.55 percent.
SOLVANG
Running unopposed for the Solvang mayoral seat, current Mayor Pro Tem Mark Infanti has not seen much of a change as the election update shows him with 94.06 percent of the vote.
In District 3, the other Solvang council seat up for grabs, small business owner David Brown and local chef Louise Smith were in a near-dead heat early, but Brown has jumped ahead 46.60-41.75 with the second voting update, although in the vote count, he's just 15 votes ahead (144-129).
In the Solvang City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, the council agreed to hold a special meeting Dec. 9 to discuss certification of the Nov. 8 results. If the results are approved, the council said, the new City Council will be installed at the next regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 12.
OTHER RACES
Two seats were up for grabs in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Board of Trustees. In the Short Term AtLarge District seat, contractor/business owner Christopher F. Johnson (39.38 percent) has moved ahead of Santa Ynez High parent/volunteer Anna Schryer (35.96 percent), with retired executive Lee Rosenberg running third at 24.10 percent. In the Trustee Area 2 race, college administrator Sheri Noble continues to lead over vocational nurse Denise El Amin — 58.82 percent to 40.92 percent.
Solvang's Measure U, a proposed onecent sales tax billed as being aimed at tourists and visitors more than residents, looks to be on its way to passing as 63.27 percent of voters have voted yes.
In the Los Olivos Community Services District, four candidates vied for three seats, with Julie Kennedy (30.46 percent), Lisa Bertero Palmer (25.54), and Greg Parks (23.26) leading, and Thomas A. Nelson (19.78) trailing. In the race for the district's short-term seat, Brad A. Ross led Jeanne Hollingsworth 67.86 percent to 31.55 percent.
In the Los Alamos Community Services District short-term seat election, Charles Gonzales led Kristi Gnesa-Williams 52.23 percent to 46.41 percent.
Dave King Elysia Lewis Liz Orona Robert Clarke
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BUT FIRST, BRUNCH BRUNCH
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UC San Diego graduate has headed the city department since it was established 20 years ago
By Pamela Dozois
Contributing Writer
Kyle Abello will be retiring from Buellton Recreation at the end of this year. He has been the department's recreational supervisor from Buellton Recreation’s inception 20 years ago.
“I decided to retire because I am interested in exploring new adventures and spending more time with my family,” said Abello. “When my kids are out of school I will be able to spend more time with them and actually go on summer vacations with them.”
His official retirement will be sometime in the new year following the acquisition and training of his replacement.
“It was important for me to leave with enough lead time for a successor to be on board before our busy summer season starts,” Abello stated.
The busiest season for Buellton Recreation is the summertime because the organization offers a multitude of camps for different ages, major special events, and a host of programs aimed at kids when they are out of school for the summer.
“Kristen Thomsen, recreation center coordinator, and Paul Smith, youth recreation coordinator, have such a depth and breadth of recreational experience that goes back to my first meeting with Kristen as a sophomore in high school applying for a summer job as camp counselor,” said Abello. “I was camp counselor for eight consecutive summers and that experience taught me the importance of teamwork, serving the community, and how important recreation is for quality of life.”
After receiving his degree from UC San Diego with a major in biology and a minor in the humanities, Abello received a call from Thomsen who said there was a brand-new position open for the City of Buellton, which she thought he would be perfect for and suggested he try out for it.
“I had not thought about working in the field of recreation but it has been the best choice I ever made,” said Abello. “I was their first employee, so initially it was a trial position. One of the questions on the application was what I would bring to Buellton if I was hired. A thought came to me at that moment of a Community BBQ Bonanza, which I implemented upon being hired. The event has become a beloved annual celebration in Buellton and it just celebrated its 20th anniversary this past summer.”
Over the course of time, Abello was able to build the department from the ground up and establish new programs and traditions.
“I believe that recreation is about bringing people together and making connections between people who have a skill or talent and those who want to experience something new. I feel that what has been most important are the relationships we have built to create a new recreation facility and programs for the public,” he explained. “What I am most proud of are the partnerships we’ve developed over the past 20 years — some of those include the Sant Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Foundation, PAWS off-leash dog park, the partnership between the City of Buellton and the Buellton Union School District to build a Rec Center, and the City of Solvang’s cooperation on recreational programs and events such as the Haunted House, Easter Eggstravaganza, and the Buellton BBQ Bonanza.
“The Rec Department is a team and nothing that we have accomplished could have happened without us all pulling together,” he continued. “Kristen and Paul will continue to make sure the Rec Center offers the same programs and activities that the community has come to enjoy. I feel like I have come full circle and leave the Rec Center in the best of hands.”
Abello has been grateful for the support he's gotten over the years.
“I would like to thank the City Council, staff, and the entire community for the opportunity of having served for 20 years, bringing recreation to Buellton and the Valley,” he said.
Abello has no immediate plans of what he will be doing in the future. He currently serves on the College School Board, in the district where his children attend school. He previously served on the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Board, the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation Board, and the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale Board. “I am exploring a few options and I am open to new possibilities,” said Abello. “I am not leaving the Valley; I have been here since I was 4 years old. I am incredibly excited to start this new chapter of my life and to find something else which I will love to do for the next 20 years.”
For more information or to share some great memories, email kabello@ucsd.edu.
Kyle Abello will be retiring from Buellton Recreation as of the end of this year. He has been the Recreational Supervisor for the past 20 years. Photo by Devyn Marseilles Volunteers prepare tri-tip sandwiches during the Buellton BBQ Bonanza at River View Park earlier this year. The BBQ Bonanza was the first idea Kyle Abello had when he was hired as the Buellton Recreation Supervisor 20 years ago. Star File Photo
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4 DECEMBER 6 – DECEMBER 19, 2022 SYV Nonprofit Works to Send Supplies to U.S. Troops
We Support The Troops, Inc. meets once a month to pack and send supplies to those deployed abroad
By Mike Chaldu
news@santaynezvalleystar.com
As the holiday season begins and many Christmas shoppers are starting to get presents for faraway friends and relatives, a group in Solvang is getting packages together for some special recipients — U.S. service members serving abroad.
Of course, for this group of volunteers it's not just a Christmas thing; the local organization, called We Support The Troops, does this every month.
We Support The Troops, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that relies solely on donations to purchase and ship care packages to U.S. troops and military K-9 dogs stationed around the world. The group relies on donations, which go to the purchase, packaging and sending of the care packages to service members.
A staff of approximately 15 volunteers were at the Solvang Veterans Hall on Nov. 30, led by We Support The Troops President and Founder Pat Sullivan.
Sullivan, who spent 26 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring in 1993, launched the organization 18 years ago. "I really wanted to help with the effort of getting troops supplies they needed, so I started this in 2004," she said. "We do this on the fourth Wednesday of each month, and I can usually get between six and 15 volunteers to help out. We can usually get the boxes packed and sealed in about 3 to 5 hours."
After they are prepared, the care packages to countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti (Horn of Africa). "We even send packages to Poland right now, because we have troops conducting exercises with NATO," Sullivan said. "Really, it depends on where we get emails from, asking for stuff. If we get someone from a new place with some requests, we'll get that done."
And boxes were getting filled by the volunteers, many in two-person teams as Sullivan paired new volunteers with a more experienced one. Items were stacked according to category, with volunteers taking a little bit from each table according to what each recipient requested.
Among the items packed were jerky, snacks of all sorts, hygiene items for both men and women, batteries, flashlights, assortment of clothing, books, DVD’s, items for children and special treats and requested equipment for canines.
Also, because it's now the Christmas season, there was also a couple of tables containing holiday decorations for some of the service members to put in their quarters.
Two volunteers were found finding some decorations to put into a package.
Loren Burcardi, of Santa Ynez, was volunteering for the first time. "I haven't done this before, but last night I was watching the news and they had a report on this organization and I found out they were doing this today," Burcardi said. "I love our soldiers, and I really wanted to do something to help them out."
Showing her the ropes was Susie Snow, also of Santa Ynez, and her roots in the area go way back. "My father was in the military and I lived at Vandenberg back when it was still known as Camp Cooke," she said. "I found out about this organization, found out they needed staff, and have been helping out here ever since."
Another volunteer, Carol Millard of Buellton, also cited family reasons for her involvement. "I've been doing this for about 10-15 years," she said. "My brother served in Vietnam and I have an uncle who lost his life in World War II, so I do this partly because of them. Also, my mother was always so patriotic and supported the troops, so I followed her lead."
While most of the individuals helping out Sullivan in her efforts Nov. 30 were locals, there was also assistance from a couple of outof-state helpers.
Luke Jackson, from Oregon, and Tate Mansfield, from Utah, are missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and were more than willing to volunteer for this cause. "It's awesome what they do here to help out the troops," Jackson said. "It's cool, and I'm really happy to be a part of it."
We Support The Troops generally meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Solvang Veterans Hall and welcomes volunteers.
The organization also welcomes monetary donations as that is its sole source of income. A tax-deductible donation can be sent by mail to: WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS, INC., P.O. Box 915, Santa Ynez, CA 93460.
For more information on the organization, go to www.we-support-the-troops.org.
We Support The Troops volunteers Loren Burcardi (left) and Susie Snow, both of Santa Ynez, pick up some Christmas decoration to put in a care package for U.S. servicemembers. Photos by Mike Chaldu We Support The Troops President and Founder Pat Sullivan gives volunteers instructions Nov. 30 at the Solvang Veterans Hall before they start assembling care packages for U.S. troops.
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Bowls Are Filled So Others Can Eat
First Empty Bowls fundraiser to be held in Los Olivos is a success on short notice
Staff Report
Many bowls were filled on Nov. 11 at St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Espicopal Church in Los Olivos, the location of the first Empty Bowls fundraiser in Los Olivos.
Like with the other Empty Bowls fundraisers that have been held in other Central Coast cities, attendees are invited to pick a unique, handmade bowl and enjoy a simple dinner of soup and bread. All the proceeds for this event were to benefit the food distribution program at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang.
Different kinds of soups were provided by local restaurants, including Coast Range (vegetarian minestrone), Pico (escarole with Parmigiana broth), Clean Slate (curry lentil), New West Catering (Pho with pork and shrimp meatballs, a popular choice), Campo del Sol (carne de sol), Lucky Hen Larder (spicy pinto beans and sirloin chili) and Ramen Katori (pork and kimchi soup with tofu).
Before getting their soup, attendees were able to pick from about 350 to 400 bowls made for the occasion. Most of those bowls were made at Community Clayworks in Buellton, whose owner Veronica Medina, organized the event — and apparently not with a lot of lead time to do so.
"My dear colleague and teacher at the studio, Stacy, said to me 'hey, how do you feel about doing an Empty Bowls in Santa Ynez Valley'" Medina said at the event. "Well, I always wanted to do that, and I figure we had just enough time if we could pull the right people together."
And pull them together Medina did. Not long after she met Chef Budi Kazali, who owns the Ballard Inn, and he was able to organize the chefs who took part in the fundraiser. Then she talked with the Rev. Randall Day of St.Mark's-in-the-Valley, who offered the church's dining room and courtyard for the event.
After that, Medina had to find a cause to raise money for, and found that by happenstance.
"I was crossing the street to Solvang School to pick up my daughter and crossed by Bethania (Lutheran Church) and people are over there bagging up produce and their 100 percent committed to it. And now 100 percent of our proceeds will go to that produced program; and 95 percent of the people they serve live in the Valley."
Medina said all the elements came together in a matter of "days." And she was surprised at how easy it was to get the people she wanted. "I didn't even have to make the ask at these restaurants," she said. "People were literally offering. It was incredible."
Attendees arrived at two different scheduled sittings, with the dining room tables filled to capacity for the first session at 5 p.m. Lines were consistently forming, with the New West Catering station, where Jeff Olssen was serving his pho with shrimp meatballs, especially busy.
Later on Medina addressed the crowd and thanked all who came, and was also appreciative of the community's efforts in getting the event off the ground. "I look at all of you and I'm reminded of the incredible kindness and generosity in this Valley and it's really something to be proud of. It's all of these overlapping communities coming together, and it just feels beautiful and I'm proud to be part of all of you."
Soup is served Nov. 11 during the Los Olivos Empty Bowls fundraiser at St.-Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos. Photos by Mike Chaldu Empty Bowls organizer Veronica Medina thanks the crowd for attending the fundraiser.
Deputy Successfully Resuscitates Patient Found Overdosing
Sheriff's Office takes opportunity to warn public of fentanyl danger, offers life-saving tips
Staff Report
GOLETA — A Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputy on proactive patrol in Goleta successfully resuscitated a man he found overdosing. On Monday, Nov. 28, at approximately 11:49 p.m., the deputy noticed an adult male lying on his back on the sidewalk near the 5900 block of Hollister Avenue. The deputy stopped to check on the subject and found him unresponsive. The deputy recognized the signs of an apparent overdose and requested an emergency medical response. While medics were en route, the deputy administered a single dose of naloxone to the patient, who regained consciousness before being transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The patient is expected to survive.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to highlight this incident as an example of the danger of fentanyl use, the importance of carrying naloxone, and recognizing the signs of overdose which may include: • Difficulty waking up • Slowed breathing • Confusion • Blue or pale lips and fingernails
If you notice these signs, call 911 immediately and give naloxone. An individual who is experiencing an opioid overdose needs immediate medical attention. An essential first step is to get help from someone with medical expertise as quickly as possible. Therefore, members of the public are encouraged to call 911 when they suspect an overdose is occurring. California's 911 Good Samaritan law, AB 472, provides limited protection from arrest, charge, and prosecution for people who seek emergency medical assistance at the scene of a suspected drug overdose.
Naloxone is a potentially lifesaving medication designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Opioid overdose can be due to many factors including deliberate misuse of a prescription, illicit opioid use (such as heroin), or use of an opioid contaminated with other even more potent opioids (such as fentanyl). Overdose can also occur when a patient takes an opioid as directed but the prescriber miscalculated the opioid dose, when an error was made by the dispensing pharmacist, or when the patient misunderstood the directions for use. In each of these, it is vital to recognize and be prepared for a possible life-threatening opioid overdose emergency. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that its community partners at Pacific Pride Foundation (PPF) offer free naloxone at their syringe exchange program and at their Santa Barbara and Santa Maria offices. Please visit PPF’s website, PacificPrideFoundation.org, for more information about Naloxone distribution and overdose prevention.
