By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

NOTE: The Buellton Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting for Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 12 p.m. The public is invited to attend and have lunch at the new eatery.

Those who have enjoyed their quaffs at Figueroa Mountain Brewery, the Buellton establishment on Industrial Way, now can enjoy some good eats at the place, as it welcomes a new food provider: Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew.

The announcement of the new partnership came in August: After 10 years of operating the restaurant internally, owner Jaime Dietenhofer has teamed up with Alex Uribe to revamp the restaurant offering at the location. The eatery is an American Grill concept with a full menu, open seven days per week.

The place had a soft opening on Labor Day Weekend, with Alex and his family serving up such popular items as smash burgers, Nashville chicken sandwiches, and wood-fired brick-oven pizzas.

“I have known Alex since high school, he has done a great job with his restaurants in the valley here and we are excited to have him focus on the quality of service and food,” he said. “Running a restaurant is an intense task that requires a lot of focus. We are excited to have Alex focus on the food, while we focus on what we do best, making award-winning beer.”

Jamie Dietenhofer started Figueroa Mountain with his late father, Jim, in 2010.

“We opened the brewery but didn’t have any food here,” he said. “People wanted to stay and we would just order in from other restaurants. But we opened our kitchen in, I think, 2015, just to create an environment were people can stay.

“But we found out running a restaurant is full-time and you have to be on top of it, and I’ve watched Alex with all of his restaurants. Just seeing how diligent he is — that’s what you need have a successful restaurant, and our primary focus is beer.”

Uribe is no stranger to the restaurant business — like Dietenhofer, he started a business with his father when they opened California Tacos in Solvang. He has since expanded to locations in Buellton and San Luis Obispo. His family is involved in all of the restaurants, and each one also has a photo of his father, who passed away in 2002.

“I had talked to Jamie about opening a place in here, and we just went back and forth,” Uribe said. “I was ready to do it when he wasn’t and he was ready to do it when I wasn’t. Then this past February we were feeling it’s a good time to do it and started having meetings.”

Uribe is excited about the opportunity and looks forward to the revamp. “We are going to update and improve the menu and the experience for locals and visitors. Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew will be an affordable location so families can eat here regularly for lunch and dinner and not break the bank while having a great experience. The food will complement the already amazing beer offerings.”

And for long-time locals, this Hudson’s Grill has no connection with the Hudson’s Grill that had a location in Santa Maria years ago. “Nah, I named it after my grandson,” Uribe said with a laugh.

With the addition of Hudson’s Grill, Dietenhofer is looking to expand the Figueroa Mountain site, in space and in clientele.

“We opened up the upstairs space with tables, and added more to the ground floor,” he said. “And the outdoor patio will have more seats and tables with a huge flat-screen TV and more scattered inside, and we’ll have games out in the patio for the kids to play.”

And that leads to Dietenhofer’s aim to make his place more of a family establishment, even if there is alcohol served.

“I really don’t want to limit my customers,” he said. “I want to have people to come in and have a drink and good food, but I want their kids to come in too, make this a family-friendly place.”

And that works in with Uribe’s menu, which he plans to keep relatively inexpensive.

“I just like to present a value menu here, where a family can come in and eat and not have to pay a lot,” he said.

Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew, inside Figueroa Moutain Brewery, is located at 154 Industrial Way in Buellton. It is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can also order online at hudsonsgrillatfig.com/

The post Buellton brewery brings in a delicious partner appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Nineteen-year-old Nevaeh Martinez is a recent graduate of Allan Hancock College and was awarded “Student of the Year” award and a scholarship for her accomplishments. She is now off to a new future at San Diego State University on her way to acquiring a degree in criminal justice. Nevaeh is the stepdaughter of Arturo (Cheech) Raygoza and daughter of Griselda and Richard Martinez. Her family dynamic has experienced the consequences of the alcohol and drug addiction crisis and has emerged, not only from
the trauma, but has triumphed, breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration that plagues our society today.
Like so many of our youth who have grown up in dysfunctional families, victims of drug abuse, alcoholism, inadequate familial and societal structures, and incarceration, Nevaeh shares her story to help others attain insight into the struggles of children born into these dynamics and how she overcame them through education, fortitude, and a deep desire for a better life.
“I grew up not having my mother by my side because of her own struggles with addiction, which led to me getting into trouble, growing up too fast, and having a constant worry about what could happen next,” she said. “Although my dad has had his struggles as well, he has always been there and tried his best for all of us, working late nights to provide for us, keeping us warm and safe. Without his love and nourishment, our lives would’ve been much more difficult.”
In a previous story on Cheech Raygoza in the Santa Ynez Valley Star dated Aug. 2, 2022, wherein Griselda told her story of addiction and incarceration, she said that one of the inmates she met while incarcerated had a huge impact on her, inspiring her to realize how much damage she had caused, not only to her own life, but more importantly, to the lives of her children. She decided to get clean for the sake of her children, once and for all.
When Neveah was 12 years old, she and her siblings moved back in with their mother after being in their grandmother’s care for three years.
“My mother helped herself by making all the necessary changes in her life that were required to regain custody of me and my siblings. We then moved from Santa Maria to Los Alamos into an apartment,” she explained.
But with all the changes and uncertainty in Neveah’s life, there were also many struggles along the way.
“When we first moved to Los Alamos, I had to change schools. That was a big change for me,” she explained. “Plus, I didn’t know how to live a normal life with my mom, whom I had been away from for three years. It was a lot to get used to, but I did. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school with my brother. He was in eighth grade, and I was in sixth. He was also getting in trouble, which made his teacher resentful towards him, and once he left to go to high school, the same teacher held the same
resentment towards me, which wasn’t easy because I was now the one getting picked on. This teacher made me think that I wouldn’t amount to anything, constantly bringing up my mother’s past to hold against me, just as he had done to my brother. I began to suffer from depression. When COVID hit, I was thankful because I didn’t have to see him anymore.”
Entering high school is a difficult transition in itself, and with the complications of COVID, her road ahead was fraught with more unexpected hurdles.
“I was 13 at the time, and I didn’t know what depression was until I felt it. I was always in my head, overthinking everything,” she explained. “And when I started my freshman year at Righetti High School, it was still during COVID, and I hated it. I lost all motivation, my depression got worse, I was failing school, and I was just stuck in a dark hole that I couldn’t seem to get out of.
“There were teachers who never really showed they cared because everything was so new. And there were counselors who didn’t guide me in the right direction when I needed the help. COVID changed everything. After that year ended, I transferred to Orcutt Academy High School, which was the best decision I’d made up to that point. The school was so welcoming and supportive, and my
teachers wanted to see me succeed. But after transferring, I had to play catch-up because of failing the previous school year. It was hard and kind of a setback, but I pushed and pushed myself.
During her junior year, she learned that she was able to cross-enroll into community college while still attending high school, and in so doing, it would help her catch up with her credits. She did that for the rest of her time in high school, and she said that it was the best feeling to have that opportunity and to get help from her stepdad and mother, who worked and ran the B.I.G.E. Club at Allan Hancock College, which her stepfather founded. Unfortunately, when her senior year rolled around, she was still at risk of not graduating due to one difficult class, despite all of the hard work she had put into her education. She fell back into a depression but pushed through it. She said that the thought of failing again was just “unthinkable.”
“I seriously thought that I was not going to make it, but I pushed myself again, and by the grace of God, I was able to pass the class,” she said. “During the second semester, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized. Without God’s strength and love, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. I’m very grateful that I made that decision for myself because it allowed me to make a change and start over.”
Despite all the struggles she has faced, Nevaeh graduated from high school in 2024, and this year she graduated from Allan Hancock College in May. She received two degrees in administration of justice and liberal arts: social and behavioral sciences, and received four certificates of achievement.
She was awarded “Student of the Year” because of her accomplishments and also received a scholarship. She said that she is proud to have been accepted at all four universities she applied to: Cal State Long Beach, Chico State, San Diego State, and Fresno State. She is now attending SDSU to further her education and obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“From someone who has struggled with motivation and not liking school to someone who wants to learn and work hard for a life that I’ve longed for is a miracle. It was a long road, but I finally did it, and I’m now walking happily through life knowing that God’s plan is the right plan,” she added.
“My mom has been my greatest inspiration,” she said. “She has shown me so much about what this world has to offer. She alone gives me so much strength and motivation to keep pushing forward. She as a person is important to me because despite all of her pain and suffering, she broke the cycle with the help of my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza. I am very fortunate to have them both in my life. Without them I don’t know where my life would be or how it would’ve turned out. My stepdad has helped us all get out of this cycle of feeling that we don’t belong or aren’t good enough for this world. He is a prime example of God’s grace working in all of our lives. Not only did he help change my life and that of my family, but he also changed himself and now helps change the lives of people around him. They both grew into these amazing people and are willing to help those who are struggling today. They didn’t just turn their lives around; they turned my life and my views around. My mom is now attending Chico State University, working towards her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has two associate degrees in human services addiction studies and sociology to become a drug and alcohol counselor. My stepdad has now earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley and is the founder of the B.I.G.E program, which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education. You can see why they are my inspiration because they taught me that there’s beauty in the struggle and that no matter how big or small a situation is, we will always get through it; we just have to have faith in God and work hard. My family, Richard, Devin, Damion, Josephine, and Allyson, will continue to be my best support system and the best role models. And a sincere thank you to my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza, and my mom, Griselda Martinez, for their inspiration and guidance and for giving me a story that I am proud of.”

The post Breaking the cycle of family addiction and incarceration appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

After a life of neglect, bad choices, substance abuse, and incarceration, 57-year-old Arturo “Cheech” Raygoza has risen like a phoenix from the ashes, overcoming a mountain of hardships and obstacles to graduate from UC Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in sociology and on his way to acquiring his Master’s and then a Ph.D.
As recounted in a two-part story in the Santa Ynez Valley Star in 2022, Raygoza had been in and out of jail over a 13-year period, mostly for drug abuse charges. But in 2016, he made a decision to create a better life for himself and his children. He had received his GED while incarcerated, and when he was released, he decided to enroll in Allan Hancock College to take classes in auto mechanics. But for a teacher he met on his first day at class, Lynn Bacerra-Valencia, Raygoza said he would have quit, but instead he graduated from Hancock with honors, earning three Associate of Science degrees in automotive technology and two Associate of Arts degrees in sociology. He then enrolled in UC Berkeley with a determination to acquire a bachelor’s degree in sociology and give back to his community.

“I spent 13 years in and out of jail between 2001 and 2014 with only five or seven months between incarcerations. It was like a revolving door,” said Raygoza. “Most of my offenses were drug-related, and
never once was I offered a rehabilitation program. It was always ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key.’ No one that looked like me came to talk to me, only people in suits who had never experienced what it was like being incarcerated or addicted to drugs, telling me how easy it was to break the habit and not come back to jail.”
While studying sociology at Allan Hancock College, Raygoza said that he was able to put his life into
perspective and realized that “society and the judicial system are structured for us to fail, with mass
incarcerations without rehabilitation and education,” which ultimately negatively affects society at its
core. He saw the need for reform and founded the Beyond Incarceration: Greater Education Club (B.I.G.E.), which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education through the program he created.
“I never grew up wanting to become a drug addict or a criminal,” he stated. “I was a product of my
environment. I realized that a program like B.I.G.E. would have helped me as a youth, and that’s why I
feel this club is so important and must be continued.”

Raygoza now stands as an example for people who want to turn their life around.

“My story demonstrates that transformation is not defined by one moment but by a series of choices,
commitments, and community investments,” said Raygoza. “Today, as a graduate from UC Berkeley, I continue to inspire people from my community. My academic record reflects both determination and achievement. My academic excellence earned me acceptance into four University of California campuses, with UC Berkeley becoming my chosen home. I just received a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and aspire to continue my education through a Ph.D. program where I will focus on incarceration, education, and social justice. My work bridges lived experience with scholarship, offering powerful insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by system-impacted communities.”
Founded in 2016, the B.I.G.E. Club has grown into a thriving community resource under Raygoza’s
leadership. What began with a handful of students and a modest $100 startup fund has since received
over $19,000 in grants to support its programming. B.I.G.E. provides formerly incarcerated and socially
impacted students with mentorship, advocacy, and a safe space to pursue education. Raygoza goes on
to say that through workshops, peer support, and direct connections to resources, the club embodies
the belief that higher education can be a pathway to healing, opportunity, and empowerment. His
advocacy extends far beyond the campus. He speaks regularly at community forums, schools, and
academic events, highlighting the importance of breaking cycles of incarceration through education and
mentorship. For the past two and a half years, Raygoza has been speaking in San Francisco and Contra
Costa juvenile halls, telling his story to kids from someone who has been there.

“I’ve been to Rhode Island and Guadalajara and recently returned from Spain, where I was studying
abroad, sharing my experience, strength, and hope. My personal journey — marked by over seven years
of continuous sobriety, 08/03/2018 — serves as a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and
community support,” Raygoza continued. “Recovery has remained central to my success. It often
reminds others that sobriety is not simply the absence of substances but the foundation of a life rooted
in service, scholarship, and hope. My long-term vision is to bring my lived experience and academic
training together in research, teaching, and policy work that expands opportunities for justice-impacted
individuals. With my pursuit of a Ph.D. on the horizon, I am poised to contribute meaningfully to both
academic knowledge and community transformation.”
Raygoza feels that it’s never too late to turn the page of one’s life and start over and inspire others to do
the same.
“Dr. Cheech sounds pretty gangster!” Raygoza said, smiling. “My journey reflects the guiding truth that
‘it’s never too late for a new beginning.’ By investing in education, nurturing community, and leading
through example, I continue to show what is possible when determination meets opportunity.”
“I feel that I was given these life experiences to help make a difference in the lives of others who have
had similar lived experiences, culminating in poor life choices. Our club is all-inclusive — it’s not just for
the formerly incarcerated; it is also for students who want to work in the criminal justice system so that
they can acquire a fuller perspective and make a difference on their own,” he explained.
“This journey I am on is nothing short of a miracle,” Raygoza said. “My higher power, who I call God, has brought me through the darkness and into the light. I learned that drugs weren’t the problem; ‘Cheech’ was the problem, and I am now on a journey of healing myself and others, with God’s help.

“At 57 I feel as though I have barely grown up, and I know that I have a long way to go. But I’m on my way, one day at a time.”

The post Allan Hancock College graduate continues in his ‘new beginning’ appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is restructuring its leadership team in order to strengthen leadership, provide greater accountability, and prepare the district for the important work ahead, the district announced in a statement released on Friday, Sept. 5.

Pending approval at the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District’s regularly scheduled board meeting on Sept. 9, the district will move from a combined principal/superintendent model with three assistant principals to a more balanced structure where Dr. Kimberly Sheehan will continue in her role as district superintendent, Victoria Martinez will be appointed to the role of principal, and Jasmine Day and Kelley Carter will continue in their current roles of assistant principals.

“This change reflects the district’s commitment to aligning with best practices in education as it prepares significant initiatives in the coming years,” the statement said. “With a dedicated principal in place, the district can more effectively address instructional leadership priorities and the continued expansion of educational program opportunities for students. At the same time, Superintendent Dr. Sheehan will have the capacity to focus on additional executive leadership responsibilities, including financial oversight, facilities planning, consortium management, charter authorization, accountability measures, and labor negotiations.

“The restructure also strengthens an important system of checks and balances. By separating the superintendent and principal roles, the district adds an additional layer of oversight and internal control. This change provides additional clarity for students, families, and staff.

The district also noted the change is essentially budget-neutral. The adjustment eliminates the need for payment of additional assistant principal work days and reallocates existing funds, including a reduction to the superintendent’s professional development stipend. In return, the district gains a leadership model that is more efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

Martinez has been a dedicated leader in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District since 2019. Most recently, she has served as an assistant principal at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, where she has coordinated and drafted master schedule development, overseen the Counseling Department and the Health & Wellness Center, provided oversight of WASC accreditation, and drafted the district’s LCAP. Prior to that, she served as the Refugio High School’s administrator and a teacher on special assignment, where she developed the district’s Independent Study and Online Learning programs. With a background in teaching English and communications, Martinez brings both classroom experience and extensive leadership expertise, all centered on her deep commitment to student success and community engagement.

“With Sheehan, Martinez, Day, and Carter leading the way, the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead while keeping student success at the heart of every decision,” the statement concluded.

The post Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District restructures leadership team appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary is holding its annual “Rock for Horses” fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the sanctuary. The fundraiser is a ‘70s-themed evening, complete with peace signs, flower power galore, and live music by LiveWire. The evening also includes dinner, beer, wine, and a silent auction. The sanctuary is seeking auction items in support of this wonderful cause.
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary was founded in 2007 by C.C. Beaudette-Wellman. It is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating children and saving animals’ lives. All profits go directly to the horses so that they may ensure the future of the Valley’s homeless, neglected, and abused horses. These horses are an integral part of their Horse Angels and education programs.
“Horse Angels focuses on engaging at-risk youth, especially those currently in the foster or welfare systems, with abused and neglected horses,” said Beaudette-Wellman. “We believe that children benefit from interacting with horses (and animals in general), and we feel that learning about compassion and empathy early in life can help build moral character, and self-esteem, reduce violence, and build a sense of responsibility and community. For horses with trust issues, we have found that children offer them gentle and happy interaction, which can, in turn, help these horses be more apt to accept people in general and become adoptable. All together, a mutual, beneficial bond is created.
“Coinciding with this program is a separate session that helps foster communication between Horse Angels’ youth and their families. One hundred percent of the participants we serve are low income. There is no cost for whoever wishes to attend any of our programs.”

The sanctuary also helps financially struggling seniors feed their horses.
“We have also expanded our rescue program this year to help seniors who are struggling financially feed their horses. We became aware that many of these folks will feed their horses before they buy their own food and medicine. That’s unacceptable!,” Beaudette-Wellman said. “They are good folks who love their horses like children, so we want to keep the ‘family’ together. These participants are carefully vetted before we accept them into our program.”

The sanctuary is eager to greet people at the fundraiser and always looking for help.
“We would be very honored for any assistance you could give these kids, seniors, and horses. We would also welcome the opportunity to have you come to our sanctuary for a visit and see for yourself the amazing understanding and love these horses are gifted with,” said Beaudette-Wellman. “We are so very grateful for your consideration and support of our big event and for your extreme generosity and commitment to our community.”
Tickets for the Rock for Horses fundraiser are $95. Reserve your spot by calling (805) 448-7138.
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary is at 1326 Dove Meadow Road in Solvang. If you cannot attend but would like to donate, or for more information about the organization and the many programs Happy Endings offers, visit www.HappyEndingsAnimalRescueSanctuary.org.
To donate auction items, please call (805) 448-7138 or email happyendingssanctuary@gmail.com

The post Happy Endings holding ‘Rock for Horses’ fundraiser appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Every high school football coach has to deal with roster turnover from year to year — you know, with the pesky reality that every player is going to move on eventually, most because of graduation.

It’s something that Santa Ynez High football head coach Josh McClurg deals with every year, but this year it’s pretty steep: Thirty-three seniors have moved on from last year’s Pirates team that finished 1-3 in the Sunset League and 4-8 overall, but did gain the Pirates’ first postseason victory in over a decade.

However, McClurg isn’t lacking any confidence as Santa Ynez gets ready for its season opener this Friday, Aug. 22, when the Pirates travel to Goleta to take on Dos Pueblos. After all, there’s alway reinforcements coming.

“Yes, we got hit by graduation, but I think we’re looking good,” McClurg said at a recent practice. “We’re two-deep at most positions, and I think we’re well-stocked at middle linebacker and defensive line.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt when you have last year’s Sunset League Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jude Pritchard, back for one more season. In 2024, Pritchard passes for 1,661 years and 12 touchdowns for the Pirates, and also led the team with 513 yards rushing.

“Jude looks the best he’s ever looked back there,” McClurg said. “This is his third year starting and he seems very comfortable. I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”

Pritchard should benefit by some decent weapons in the receiving corps, senior WR Mason Skidmore had 28 catches last year, good for second-most on the team, for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Diego Pulido will return after being the Pirates’ Swiss army knife. Despite being hampered by an injury for most of the season, he was able to help SYHS at wide receiver, defensive back, and as kicker.

In the offensive backfield, returning seniors Greyson Foy and Levi Snow, two of the Pirates’ captains this year along with Pritchard and senior lineman Kaj Kretzschmer, are expected to pick up most of the carries though juniors Austin Willis and Cael DeForest could also make their mark.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we have whole lot of talent,” Foy said. “I’m looking forward to playing a lot, at running back, linebacker, and maybe even kick returner.”

On the offensive line the Pirates got some beef, as Joey Duarte (6’3”, 290), Deagan Johnson (6’1”, 290), Javier Nungaray (6’1”, 285), and Vincente Perez (6’1”, 275) anchor the group.

“I really like what he have on the line,” Johnson said. “There are some big guys for people to deal with, and we’re becoming a real tight group.

On defense, many of the offensive group will be playing both ways; Johnson is looking forward to seeing some time at noseguard, while Jaxon Glover, who had four sacks last year, will play some at defensive end, and Pulido looks to excel at free safety.

Although the Pirates start the season on the road, they will have a bonus this year: an extra home game.

Santa Ynez was scheduled to play at Lompoc for its second game on Aug. 29, but an extensive revamp of the lighting systems at LHS’s Huyck Stadium means that Lompoc and Cabrillo will have to play their home games during the daytime this year.

However, according to McClurg, who’s also the athletic director at SYHS, Lompoc wanted to play the Pirates under the lights and offered to come to Rio Memorial Field for what’s usually a well-attended.

“They called and said, ‘hey this needs to be under the Friday Night Lights,’” McClurg said. “So we said ‘sure.’ Truth is, it’s not as huge a home-field advantage as you might think: Lompoc always travels well and they’ll be here in droves. It should make it a very exciting atmosphere.”

Elsewhere on the schedule, Santa Ynez will have its Homecoming game on Sept. 26 against Santa Maria. Other nights of note include Sept. 19 against Nipomo, when the newest members of the SYHS Wall of Honor are recognized; the Go Pink game Oct. 3 against Atascadero, and Senior Night (which is also Halloween night) Oct. 31 against Righetti. All home games will start at 7 p.m. at Rio Memorial Field.

2025 SANTA YNEZ FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 22 at Dos Pueblos

Friday, Aug. 29 LOMPOC

Friday, Sept. 5 SAN MARCOS

Friday, Sept. 12 Mission Prep at Cal Poly

Friday, Sept. 19 NIPOMO

Friday, Sept. 26 SANTA MARIA (Homecoming)

Friday, Oct. 3 ATASCADERO

Friday, Oct. 17 at Pioneer Valley

Friday, Oct. 24 at San Luis Obispo

Friday, Oct. 31 RIGHETTI

The post Pirates ready to restock for 2025 football season appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

For the third time this year, local demonstrators lined up in front of the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building on Saturday, Aug. 16, to protest the policies of President Donald Trump. The latest demonstration, was titled “Protect Our Checks,” amid concerns that the president’s policies will threaten Social Security.

Worries about the federal program came after recemt comments made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called a new Trump initiative a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.” Bessent later clarified his statement in a social media post and said the Trump Administration is “committed to protecting Social Security and to making sure seniors have more money.”

On Thursday, Aug. 14, Trump signed a proclamation honoring the 90th anniversary of Social Security, and siad he said he will honor his “sacred promise” made on the campaign trail to protect the program.

The Solvang rally, as well as many across the country, including ones in Santa Barbara and Lompoc, was held on Aug. 16 because it was two days after the 90th anniversary of the Social Security legislation being signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The local protest was organized in part by Indivisible SYV, a local political action group.

Crowds stood along the sidewalk in front of the Veterans Building on Mission Drive (a few on the other side of the street) with signs with slogans like “Make America Think Again,” “Democracy Not Dicktators,” and “Crybaby-in-Chief” while some motorists passing by honked their support. While Social Security was the catalyst for this particular protest, demonstrators also had other issues in mind.

“This is happening because we just had the anniversary of FDR signing Social Security into law,” said protester Donna Small. “But we also have our issues with the ICE immigration raids and the redistricting in Texas. We need to keep people aware of what’s going on.”

Also at the protest, leading the crowd in chants via his bullhorn was Benjamin Vizzachero, who had a personal reason for attending the rally.

“I got fired by the Trump administration after the budget cuts,” Vizzachero said. “I got involved with the group [Indivisible SYV] and I thought it needed a little more energy.”

One part-time local resident who wasn’t at the Solvang rally, has been a booming voice in support of Democratic Party causes.

Jon Bauman, who has a home in the Santa Ynez Valley, is the president of a national political action committee called Social Security Works, which advocates for protecting and expanding Social Security, and is also a member of the steering committee of Indivisible SYV, a local branch of the national organization that has established itself as one of the key groups resisting the current administration’s policies.

However, many remember Bauman by his nickname “Bowzer,” and his standing as one of the lead singers for the popular group Sha Na Na in the 1970s and ‘80s, a deep-voiced, musclebound, slicked-back-hair crooner who could belt out the band’s trademark ‘50s doo-wop sounds with the best of them at concerts and during the group’s weekly TV show.

These days he’s still using his booming voice to work up a crowd, but this time mostly with the help of a bullhorn at rallies protesting many of the Trump administration’s severe budget cuts, federal worker layoffs and harsh immigration policies. Small said Bauman was taking part in the Protect Your Checks protest in Bakersfield that day.

The theme of the Aug. 16 rallies is one that’s particularly close to Bauman’s heart. Since his Sha Na Na days, he’s become a nationally known expert on Social Security legislation and an advocate for a variety of senior issues. It has been widely publicized that if no changes are made in Social Security funding, benefits may have to be cut by as soon as 2034. Recent statements from Trump’s Secretary of the Treasury have made Bauman even more worried about the future of Social Security.

“Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent really did say the quiet part out loud the other day when he said ‘Oh, this is a backdoor way of privatizing Social Security,’” Bauman said in a press release before that protests, referring to the $1,000 ‘Trump Accounts’ for newborns that are envisioned in what Bauman calls the “Big Ugly Budget Bill” that Congress passed in July.

To Bauman, the Protect Our Checks rallies was provide a way for people to support not only the future of Social Security, but other threatened programs that are critical to seniors, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

“The biggest line of attack are the DOGE cuts,” Bauman said, referring to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed the number of  Social Security employees by 7,000, or more than ten percent. “They’re trying to destroy the Social Security Administration so that it doesn’t function. And then they’ll say ‘Oh, see this whole program doesn’t work … we’ll have to give it over to Wall Street and they’ll make it work.’”

Back at the Solvang rally, protester Mike Brady, who is a 50-year resident of the city, said he was speaking out for Social Security, but his reason for being there was much broader.

“I’m here because I belive in democracy,” he said. “Our constitution is being taken away, and if we let it, there’s nothing left but a dictator. Do we want that? I say no.”

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The owner of the Farmhouse Motel on Avenue of Flags objected to the Buellton City Council’s attempt to remove his business’ standing as a housing unit, as the council introduced a first reading of a proposed update that would limit hotel rooms to just short-term rentals, during the council’s regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The council put the public hearing, Resolution 25-06, on the agenda to eventually prohibit hotels rooms from being long-term rentals, or single-room occupancies (SROs). Farmhouse Motel was one of the lodging establishment that eventually became residential units for low-income individuals that the city believes does not fit in with the planned redevelopment of the Avenue of Flags corridor. The city also desires hotels on that street that will bring in more Transient Occupancy Tax (TOR).

However, due to the state of California designating the motel as a low-income residence, the city would have to arrange alternate housing for any displaced residents to move into.

During Public Comment on the item, Kerry Moriarty, owner of the Farmhouse Motel, protested the proposal to take away his business’ designation for long-term residence, believing his motel is being singled out.

“My property is really the only one that’s affected by this proposal,” said Moriarty, who noted that the nearby Red Rose Court was deterimined to be exempt from the ordinance, and the San Marcos Hotel, which only rents long-term to “three or four” tenants.

“I’ve had this property for 20 years; I’ve operated it as an apartment building, I’ve got a mortgage on it underwritten as an apartment building,” he said. “If it goes back to being a motel, guess what happens to that mortgage — I go in default.”

“I don’t know how you’re even considering this with the state mandate on affordable housing,” he continued. “My property is what the state mandate is trying to preserve.”

Later on, one of Moriarty’s tenants spoke on behalf of the owner.

“I’ve been a Farm House resident 14 years, disabled 15 years ago and this is the only place I can afford,” said the man, who did not give his name. “It just doesn’t seem right, it’s a nice place .Cary keeps it up nice. With the homeless problems in that state, to take our home away from us, I don’t understand.”

When it went to council, it was pointed out that this was just a first reading, and wouldn’t have a chance to pass until the next council meeting on Sept. 11.

Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis said she was uncomfortable with the Dec. 31 deadline for residents of the Farmhouse to move out, citing the probable cold weather at the time. Councilmember Hudson Hornick thought the deadlines were too tight also, while John Sanchez (who incidentally was on remote from Nottingham, England), suggested the Farmhouse could get an extension and noted that his son had stayed there at one point.

Ultimately, council moved to approve first reading, but with the ameneded dates of April 1, 2026 (instead of Dec. 31), to vacate the motel, and Oct. 31, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2026) to be moved into other affordable housing. The motion passed 3-1 with Sanchez dissenting.

In other business:

The City Council approved a $48,800 outlay to the upcoming Buellton Theatre Project, a 14-week theatre arts program that will culminate in a performance of the Broadway musical “Annie.”

City Manager Scott Wolfe introduced the item because the original choice, Allison Firey of Buellton Parks and Rec, will be a volunteer on the project and recused herself. In fact, it was Firey who made the presentation to council, noting that her love of performing was inspired by being in a production of “Annie” as a child. Council passed the item 4-0, with Hornick calling the proposal “awesome.”

After the approval last month of Hundred Hills School operating on the Willemsen site by the library for up to five years, council discussed initiating the process of investigating possible uses for the Dairyland Road parcels once the school finds another permanent location in Buellton and leave it temporary site. If approved the council would then appoint two members of council to appoint an ad hoc committee to lead the effort.

While three of the councilmembers backed the idea, Sanchez opposed it, citing animosity in the debate over the school’s location, and said they should let the school settle in at the site before thinking about a replacement. “Let the school have its time there. Put it off for a year,” he said.

However, Lewis believed that with the complaints during the HHS debate about the lack of transparency and notification on the proposal, the council needs engage with the public early. “Getting ahead of future project, being proactive would benefit city more,” she said. “Also it would be a show of faith to public.”

Interestingly, when the council decided there was a consensus to go forward with the committee, Sanchez immediately volunteered to serve on the committee. However, Wolfe believed that the Distict 1 representative, Hornick, should serve along with Mayor Silva. Silva and Hornick agreed and were voted as the ad hoc committee by a 3-1 vote, Sanchez dissenting.

The City Council will not meeting on the next scheduled Thursday, Aug. 28, and will return to session on Thursday, Sept. 11.

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The Solvang City Council culminated a busy Monday, Aug. 11, regular meeting by directing staff to draft a new ordinance focused on short-term rentals (STRs) in the city in an effort to limiting them to the Village Mixed-Use zone. The council on this evening was just four members, with Councilmember Claudia Orona absent.

During the meeting, the council also voted to change how the city handles retirement benefits, discussed plans for the upcoming Julefest Christmas celebration and next year’s Wine County Half-Marathon.

Back in March, the City Council had directed city staff to begin revisions to the City’s short-term rental (also known as vacation rental) ordinance, which would include a framework of an ordinance for further input from the City Council and residents.

Planning Development Director Rafael Castillo in giving his report, said the main objective of the ordinance is determining where the rental (which by definition are homes where people reside for 30 days or less) was where the council would allow the STRs in the city.

Currently, the areas in the city zoned for STRs are the Village Mixed-Use Area (VMA), and some lots in the R-3 zone of the city, along Copenhagen Drive, east of Fifth Street. Castillo said staff recommend that the STRs be limited to the Village Mixed-Use Area only.

Residents who spoke in Public Comment agreed the STRs should be kept in the VMU area. Dennis Beebe said the council needs to make the VMU boundaries “explicitly defined,” along with the limits for STRs. C.J. Jackson and Aaron Peterson reiterated their views that city’s should not allow STRs in residential areas. “Have a nice neighborhood and put in transient people is not something we should not consider,” Peterson said. “Hotels basically are vacation rentals.”

Although the council was on board with limiting the rentals to the VMU area, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona did remind her colleagues of the importance of tourists and visitors, including those using STRs, to the city’s economy, and wondered if there could be a way to allow them outside the VMU with further conditions like caps, allowed usage, and a minimum distance betweens STRs.

However, Councilmember Mark Infanti said his problem was with the “outside the VMU part of that,” and Mayor David Brown agreed the rentals should be focused within the VMU.

“I’m not sure the juice is worth the squeeze — doing the entire city,” Brown said. “If we can limit it to Village we’ll be OK, outside that, there would be lots of problems.”

Castillo then suggested the compromise of limiting STRs outside the VMU to “homestays” where the property owner would have to be present, Mayor David Brown also favored limiting them downtown.

Castillo and staff were directed to draft an ordinance limiting the STRs to the VMU, but adding the possiblity of allowing the homestays outside the VMU and listing the conditions of them. Castillo said the draft could be presented at the next meeting in September.

In other business:

The council voted 4-0 to move its city employees retirement plan from the management of CalPERS to that of the Public Agencies Post-Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).

Administrative services director Wendy Berry introduced Rachel Sanders from PARS to make a presentation on the program to the council. Sanders said benefits of the program would be complete local control over assets, pension rates stabilization, establishment of a “Rainy Day Fund,” and more diversification

The plan would see the city’s retirement fund go into two “buckets” — a Pension bucket and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) bucket —, require a plan adminstrator, and would be subject to annual reviews or more frequents reviews, if desired. It also gives the city the option of active and passive approaches to investments within the plan.

The council approved the item, along with an add-on to add language that council will select strategy and annually review the strategy.

Solvang Marketing and Events Coordinator Candice Libera addressed the council on two discussion items, one regarding plans for this year’s Julefest Celebration in December, and next May’s Wine Country Half Marathon.

She first spoke on the half-marathon, which has run in Solvang every Mother’s Day weekend since 2008, and draws approximately 2,500 participants plus their friends and families, Libera said. However, she also said that there were complaints about restricted access to businesses with the race’s finish line on Copenhagen Drive, as well as concerns about litter and damage to the grass at Solvang Park, where the post-race gathering is held. Libera said that changes would be made to the race course, placing the finish line at a new location that wouldn’t inhibit access to merchants, and measures would be taken to mitigate the litter and placement of equipment at the park to protect the grass.

She also said advertising and promotional materials would more prominently feature the Solvang name, another point of contention.

For the Julefest, Libera said that the city was close to a deal to bring in snow at some point during the monthlong celebration, and with consideration for traffic and safety on Copenhagen Drive, the street would be closed to vehicles between Alisal Road and 1st Street for the entire Julefest and the light diplay at Solvang Park would be expanded.

Libera said options to address parking concerns were being looked at, including the opening of Lot 72 east of Alisal Road for additional parking.

The City Council will take a scheduled break, with no meeting on Aug. 25, and will next meet on Monday, Sept. 8.

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By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

August is a time of bustling activity on our local schools’ campuses: Students coming back to classes, seeing old friends, getting started on extracurricular activities. And, of course, it means late summer practices on the turf in anticipation of playing the season for the Santa Ynez High varsity football teams.

Wait, did you say teams? As in plural?

That’s right! Because in addition to the traditional football season played by the male students, the females will also have their time on the gridiron as the Pirates field their first girls flag football team this year.

Eighteen girls came out for the school’s inaugural campaign, which begins Tuesday, Aug. 26, with a game at Dos Pueblos in Goleta. After another road game at Paso Robles on Thursday, Sept. 4, and tournaments at Pioneer Valley (Sept. 6) and Lompoc (Sept. 13), the Pirates will have their home debut on Tuesday, Sept. 16, against Lompoc.

The team will be led by co-head coaches Maddie Quiroga and Hannah Wright, who also coach the junior varsity girls basketball team. The two established their own legacies while at SYHS: Quiroga, a 2014 graduate of SYHS, was the captain of the varsity girls basketball team her junior and senior year, and also broke the school record for 3-point shots in a game and points in a season. Wright, then known as Hannah Cantrell, graduated in 2015, and was a captain of the girls volleyball and basketball teams before playing volleyball at Santa Barbara City College and eventually graduating from UCSB.

“We’re so appreciative of being trusted with this new program,” Wright said during a recent practice. “It’s going to be hard work, but it’s exciting — we don’t know what’s coming, it’s a big unknown.”

Quiroga echoed her colleague’s thoughts.

“It’s a huge deal to launch this program and we’re honored to do it,” she said. “It’s great to give back to the school we went to.”

While Wright and Quiroga didn’t get the chance to play football while they were at SYHS, their families have a history with the sport, and with SYHS in general. Wright is the daughter of Rob Cantrell, the Pirates girls soccer coach, and her brother Austin Cantrell played football for SYHS for four years, and her cousin Brennan Swanson played for the Pirates in the ‘90s and eventually had a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, Maggie’s late father MIke Quiroga was a standout was a standout in four sports (basketball, football, baseball, and tennis, during his time as a Pirate. She also is sister to Ashley Quiroga, a standout in basketball, and niece to David and Lydia Quiroda, who were also athletic standouts at SYHS.

“I think there are a lot of things from other sports that we can translate over for football,” Wright said. “Plus, my husband is a huge football fan, so I watch the games with him, and I’ve even gotten into fantasy football,” she said laughing.

The football bloodline doesn’t stop at the coaching staff: Pirates junior Campbell McClurg is the niece of head football coach and SYHS Athletic Director Josh McClurg, while players like Leighton Casey and Ella Gotschall are names that have been found on the boys football roster in past years.

But the girls are thrilled to make their own legacy as trailblazers in a new sport.

“We knew in the middle of the last school year that this was probably going to happen,” Casey said. “I played basketball for Coach Quiroga and Coach Wright so I was clued in on it pretty early, and when they asked me about it, I told them I’d do it.”

“I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble learning this, because we played Powder Puff football and it’s been a good crutch to lean on, so I think we’ve got a head start””,” McClurg said.

The game will have some differences from the boys game, most notable of which is the lack of contact. As indicated by the sport’s name, a ballcarrier is down when a defender takes the flag off her belt, and blocking with any contact in prohibited — you can try to impede a defender’s effort to get to the quarterback, but you can’t touch her.

“If you want to try and keep a defender away, you need to do it like a screen in basketball,” Wright said. “So that’s familiar to us.”

Also, the field is 80 yards, split into four 20-yard zones. There are no yard markers, so the midpoint 40-yard line and each 20-yard line are each known as the “line to gain,” meaning the offensive team must get past that line to keep possession. And, every player other than the quarterback (or “passer”) is an eligible receiver when the ball is snapped.

Helping out Quiroga and Wright with the game plan is Allen Pinoli, the current track head coach who is also on the boys football staff and is considered the offensive coordinator for the girls team.

“Josh (McClurg) saw this was going to happen, so he asked me if I would step in and oversee the offense, and I was happy to do so,” Pinoli said. “I’ve actually coached my son in flag football when he was young, so I’m pretty familiar with this.”

Pinoli has been very impressed with the girls’ progress so far.

“They’re showing the things they’ve leared on a daily basis; they’re really stepping up,” he said. “The positions are being filled by girls who are showing interest in what they do. It’s really filling out nicely — I think they’ll be fine.”

The addition of Santa Ynez gives the Central Coast eight girls flag football teams this year. League opponents for the Pirates will be Lompoc (coached by former SYHS Athletic Director Ashley Coehlo), Santa Maria, Righetti, Cabrillo, Pioneer Valley, and San Luis Obispo.

Those on the roster for the Pirates include (asterisks for team captain): Isabella Rubio*, Leighton Casey*, Presley Pinoli*, Myah Dunn*, Regina Guerrero, Skyla Oslin, Angela Guerrero, Campbell McClurg, Ella Gotschall, Maleah Knightley, Lylah Rueff, Chelsea Stepien, Karely Vasquez, Danaka Cantrell, Anna Carpenter, Lucianna Chavez, Alexandra Herrera, and Chanel Batastini.

All of whom, no doubt, are looking forward to the beginning of the season.

“I’m just super-excited to get the season started,” Casey said. “We’re making history.”

2025 SYHS GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Dos Pueblos                      

Thursday, Sept. 4, at Paso Robles (Parish Field)

Saturday, Sept. 6, Pioneer Valley Tournament

Saturday, Sept. 13, Lompoc Tournament

Tuesday, Sept. 16, LOMPOC*

Monday, Sept. 22, Madera South at Lompoc HS

Thursday, Sept. 25, at Santa Maria*

Tuesday, Sept. 30, RIGHETTI*

Tuesday, Oct. 7, CABRILLO*

Thursday, Oct. 16, at Pioneer Valley*

Tuesday, Oct. 21, SAN LUIS OBISPO*

The post Are you ready for some (girls) football at Santa Ynez? appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.