The three captains for the Santa Ynez High baseball team made an impact on Tuesday, Feb. 24, for the Pirates in their 12-0 win over Santa Clara to open the season.

Returning junior Jaxon Glover, one of the team’s best hitters last year, belted his and the team’s first home run and drove in four runs. Diego Pulido, another solid presence on the team, went hitless, but still got on base often enough to score three runs.

However, it was player who wasn’t even with SYHS last year who made the biggest impact.

Pitcher Tristan Jeckell no-hit the visiting Saints while striking out 15 batters. The only thing keeping him from a perfect game was one hit batsman.

It was quite a debut for Jeckell, who transferred to SYHS this year from Santa Barbara High. Third-year head coach Craig Gladstone said the opening game shows he could be quite an addition.

“I have a lot of friends in Santa Barbara, and heard a lot about him when he was playing JV,” Gladstone said. “He’s a kid with a live arm, but had trouble with control, but we found a couple things we were able to tweak and he really looked good, obviously, in our season opener.”

For Jeckell, he thrilled to be back and be playing with a lot of players he played with and got to know well before coming, and just having fun again.

“I didn’t love it over there [at SBHS],” he said. “I didn’t agree with having to play JV. However, I had friends here that I grew up with, and when they told me about the program, I just wanted to hang out here and have fun playing again.”

When Jeckell looks to have success on the mound, he’ll be seeing Glover most likely as his batterymate. Glover will also have an interesting workload while serving as the team’s bullpen closer.

“I didn’t pitch much last year,” Glover said. “Last summer I was with the team that already had a lot of catchers, so I developed more as a pitcher, getting my velocity up to the 90s. So I should be able to do well closing this year.”

After high school season, Glover, who said he has decided to just play baseball in his senior season, has a busy summer getting his name out there for any future opportunities.

“This summer trying out for Area Code Games team, and I’m signed up for a couple of Prep Baseball Report Superstar Showcases,” Glover said. “And I’m also doing scout team for the Dodgers in LA. Got a fun season planned.”

Pulido is known for his football exploits as kicker during football season, but right now is one of three seniors on the team and looking to issue the leadership as a team captain.

“Just like with the other two captains, my responsibility is making sure everyone’s accountable and be respectable,” he said. “I think we really can do well in league and go far as a team.”

Pulido did his part in the Pirates’ second game of the season on Feb. 28, going 2-for-3 with two RBI in a 12-2 win over Nordhoff. Glover and sophomore Kyle Heiduk added two RBI apiece, while sophomore Elijah Roberts added another strong pitching performance allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out seven.

While Gladstone believes the Pirates will have tougher competition the farther they get into the season and Ocean League play, he believes they’ll be up to it.

“We lost nine seniors from last year and we’re young,” he said. “However, I think we’ll be more talented, and have a chance to win league this year. I’m excited about the farm system, the JV, and the players we’ll have not just this year, but the next.”

What Gladstone really likes is the vibe that this year’s team seems to have.
“The captains showing a lot of leadership,” he said. “The team now is mostly kids who want to play college ball, and they’re putting the work in. It’s like Disneyland coming to the field these days.”

Santa Ynez, now 2-0 pending games against Lompoc on Tuesday and Santa Clara again, this time in Oxnard, will return to action result against Lompoc, will return home Monday, March 9, against Channel Islands, and then have road games against Bishop Diego on Tuesday, March 10, and Dunn School on Saturday, March 14.

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Those in Buellton desiring to have a weekly farmers market in town are about to have their wish come true.

In its regular Thursday, Feb. 26, meeting, the Buellton City Council approved a license agreement that gives the green light to a weekly farmers market to be held every Monday from 2 to 6 p.m. on medians 2 and 3 on Avenue of Flags, the same general area as the annual Fall Fest. However, the only traffic modification would be the closing of the cross street between the two medians during the farmers market; Avenue of Flags would remain open to traffic.

The City Council voted unanimously to grant the license after the market organizers were granted a Conditional Use Permit by the Buellton Planning Commission during its Jan. 5 meeting.

Planning director Andrea Keefer said the license fee to the city would be just $1, recognizing that Browning and her family would bear most of the expenses and do the planning and vendor management for the market. The city had long desired a farmers market on Avenue of Flags, but recognized that staffing and logistical challenges did not make it feasible for the city staff to operate the event themselves.

Brenda Browning, whose family operates several farmers markets across Southern California, including one in Los Alamos, is going to operate the Buellton market and already has plans set for the inaugural one.

“We’re at maximum capacity [for vendors] and I have the local band Out of the Blue ready to play the first day,” said Browning, who was at the meeting to make her presentation and take questions from council. ““We’ve had overwhelming positive feedback.”

Plans for the market are to operate from 2 to 6 p.m. every Monday, with the option of extending to 7 p.m. in the summer months.

During council questions, Councilmember Hudson Hornick addresses the noise issue if live bands were performing, as will be the case March 16.

“Would it be as loud as Fall Fest,” he asked. Keefer answered that legally it could be, although it probably wouldn’t reach that level. She also said the noise would be regulated by the Planning Commission’s CUP.

Councilmember John Sanchez asked if local youth and civic groups would be able to do activities there, citing Girl Scouts coming to sell cookies or the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation having a booth as examples. Browning assured that wouldn’t be a problem as long as they informed organizers ahead of time.

Vice Mayor Carla Mead asked about people bringing dogs into the market, to which Browning replied that dogs were not allowed due to county regulations. However, Browning added that signage would be added and very conspicuous during the market to make any pet owners aware of the policy.

Mayor David Silva asked about the parking issues, with nearby businesses possibly having concerns about the median parking lot filling up during business hours. Keefer told Silva she felt there were enough parking spaces to accommodate the market customers and it wouldn’t be a problem.

When Silva said organizers should still consider consulting with nearby businesses to clear up any concerns, Browning said she has talked to local businesses like Olivera’s Garage and the 76 gas station, with Olivera’s even offering its bathroom and water station for use during market hours.

Sanchez asked about keeping the vendor list full, and Browning answered that there always tended to be a dropoff after a market’s been operating for a little while, but others fill the space, and she would be handling that so the city didn’t have to.

After that discussion, Elysia moved to approve the license with Sanchez seconding and the motion passes 5-0.

The City Council will meet next on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.

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Advancing a proposal to tighten up the ordinance dealing with short-term rentals in the city, the Solvang City Council approved the first reading of the amended ordinance during its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 23.

During the meeting, the council also heard a presentation of the Santa Barbara County Fire Public Safety Annual Review, and also got to hear from local applicants for the city’s 2026 funding grants.

The meeting began with Mayor David Brown introducing young resident Carter Levine, who got to serve as Mayor for the Day, an annual honor for a lucky youngster. Carter was able to pound the gavel to start the meeting and then led the council and audience in the Pledge of Alliance before going to sit with her mom in the audience.

The first order of business for the council was the 2025 SBC Fire Public Safety Annual Review, presented by recently appointed Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Garrett Huff, who also introduced the department’s new Public Information Officer Capt. Mike Gray.

During the report, Huff hailed the recent opening of the Regional Fire Communication Center, which changes the manner of which first responders are dispatched.

“What it means for the county is that we dropped all jurisdictional boundaries,” Huff said. “Before, the dispatch would depend on which agency had jurisdiction, but now, say there’s a call in the county area, but a Santa Barbara city engine happens to be closer, we would send that. It drops all the borders.”

In a review of the annual stats, Huff said Solvang produced 690 calls in 2025, which was pretty consistent with the previous year. He also elaborated on some notable local fires in 2025, especially that of the Hans Christian Anderson Square buildings on 1st Street and Molle Way. He said the Molle Fire, as it’s called, and the fire that gutted the former Sear Steakhouse on second street was still under investigation.

The council then conducted a public hearing on Ordinance No. 26-0390, which regulates the zoning for short-term rentals.

In 2025, the City Council directed staff to revise the ordinance, which was enacted in 2016. Since then, technological changes and the growth of online rental platforms exposed gaps in the ordinance, due to lack of enforcement, limited investigations, and lack of oversight and cap on STR permits.

Community Development Director Rafael Castillo said the amendments proposed in 2025 and approved by the city’s Planning Commission in its Jan. 5 meeting modernizes regulations, strengthens enforcement, and largely restricts short-term rentals to the Village Mixed-Use zone with limited exceptions. City staff brought the item back to council throughout 2025 to ensure direction of ordinance changes.

During questions, Brown asked about enforcement and why STR citations that involved fines were changed to misdemeanors. City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan said the misdemeanor designation is a default that gives the city option on further actions against violators, including fines. Castillo said the city was counting on voluntary compliance from those with STRs.

Also notable was the amendment putting a cap on 40 STR permits, a number Castillo noted was agreed upon by the council at an earlier meeting.

Councilmember Elizabeth Orona asked about the list of permits and who would be managing it. Castillo said city staff would manage the list, and it would be put online for easy access to manage. He also said once the list hit 40, staff would begin a waiting list for a permit.

In Public Comment, Solvang resident Suzie Townsend questioned whether restriction was warranted and defended the STR model.

“If we are truly ‘modernizing’ this ordinance as this city like to use this terminology, we need to recognize that this [STRs] is an increasingly popular option for tourists,” Townsend said. “Severly limiting these options, and 40 is very limiting, does not modernize the policy, but puts us behind current traveling trends.”

Townsend added that limiting STRs could negatively affect Solvang’s economy.

“Limiting the number of home-stays in Solvang, where people would be within walking distance of business, would cost our city revenue that would got to Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Buellton, and those who prefer the home-stay would spend their money in those communities.”

Ultimately, Elizabeth Orona moved to approve the first reading of the ordinance, with Councilmember Mark Infanti seconding, and the item passed 5-0.

The next item, a Discussion Item, was to receive the fiscal year 2026-27 FY 26/27 Grant Funding Summary. Brown recused himself from the item, disclosing that his wife’s employer is one of the applicants for city grants in 2026.

Introducing the item, Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry said the purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to eligible organizations whose programs and services align with the City’s goals and serve the Solvang community. After an application period from Dec. 1, 2025, to Jan. 30, staff conducted two mandatory informational meetings in January, reviewing eligibility requirements, application procedures,
required documentation, and deadlines.

Upon review, staff found seven applications to be complete, and therefore eligible for grants. They were identified as Atterdag at Home ($20,000 requested), Nature Track ($5,000), SYV Humane Society ($25,000), SYV Fruit and Vegetable Rescue ($12,500), SYV People Helping People ($30,000), Solvang Arts and Music Foundation/Solvang School Education Foundation ($10,000), and Solvang Rotary Foundation ($25,000).

Five of the seven applicants were on hand during Public Comment to state their case (Atterdag at Home and Nature Track were absent) for grants.

After Public Comment, Infanti moved to receive and file the report with Elizabeth Orona seconding, and the item passed 4-0

The City Council will next meet on Monday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m.

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One would be hard-pressed to find a more evenly matched CIF championship game than the one that occurred the morning of Saturday, Feb. 28, at Selland Arena in Fresno.

The CIF Central Section Division V girls basketball final saw the Santa Ynez Pirates, seeded No. 5, go up against the No. 3 seed Rosamond Roadrunners. SYHS was returning to a section title game after being runners-up last year, while Rosamond was looking to win its third straight section championship.

Kicking off a stretch of six title games in Fresno on the day, the two teams battled in a contest that was extremely close for the entire 48 minutes. The end of the first period: tied. Halftime: tied. End of the third period: Santa Ynez up by one.

Then with less than a minute left in the game, the Pirates found themselves with the ball down by two. Two 3-point attempts missed, and then with 1.5 seconds left, SYHS couldn’t get the shot off an inbounds pass, and Rosamond earned that third straight title with a 43-41 victory.

Pirates head coach Jennifer Rasmussen commented on the close back and forth of the game after arriving back from Fresno on Saturday evening.

“It was such a difficult game, we had plans to pressure them on defense, but really didn’t do that,” she said. “We had swings there where we could have taken control, but they battled back, and we battled back, just back and forth like that all game.”

The Roadrunners got off to a quick start in the first period, scoring the first six points before senior forward Rylan Agin hit a three-pointer to get the Pirates on the board, and Elena Sleiman and Jazmine Juarez scored baskets to put SYHS up 7-6.

From there it was nip-and-tuck as the score was deadlocked six times, and neither team held a lead of more than six points at any time of the game.

After the teams came out of halftime tied at 20, Agin again hit a 3-pointer for the first points of the second half and the Pirates were able to lead 30-29 at the end of the third. SYHS was able to build a 34-31 lead with 6:40 left in the game, but then Rosamond went on an 8-0 to gain a lead it would not relinquish.

Rasmussen felt that the main problem was that her players strayed from their game plan for the contest.

“We couldn’t get the ball inside the paint, and we kept taking outside that wouldn’t go in,” she said. A look at the scoresheet bears that out: SYHS attempted 20 3-point shots and made only four, and shot just 30 percent from the field (16-of-53).

Rasmussen said another factor in the defeat was the disrepancy in foul shots: The Pirates had just six shots from the foul line (making five) to the Roadrunners 24.

“[The referees] were calling them on us, but there were some on there side that should have been called,” she said. “Right before halftime, there was contact that wasn’t called and that would have sent us to the line right before the half. There was that technical mistakes with the shot clock and I think the girls let it get to them.”

Despite all that, Rasmussen and the coaching staff had a lot of pride in the team’s effort.

“They should be proud,” she said. “We told them after that anything negative that happened today doesn’t take away from the performance they had that got them here.”

The Pirates’ effort was led by Agin, who tallied 15 points and grabbed four rebounds in the contest. She actually made all four of the Pirates 3-pointers in the game, and had a chance for a game-winner near the end, but the shots wouldn’t drop, before the unsuccessful shot to tie at the buzzer. After the game, she won the Fighting Spirit award given to each team’s player of the game.

“Rylan was kind of deflated afterward, but I told her to keep her head up,” Rasmussen said. “She played great.”

Helina Pecile added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds despite being in foul trouble. She eventually fouled out with 52 seconds left.

The Pirates earned their spot in the championship game with a couple of road wins in the playoffs, including one over the division’s top seed.

On Friday, Feb. 20, SYHS knocked out No. 1 Coalinga High, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat the Horned Toads 62-55.

Coalinga, whom Santa Ynez beat in the second round of the playoffs in 2025, came in as co-champions of the West Sierra League with a 23-8 overall record, but the Pirates were able to overpower them in the second half to erase a nine-point halftime deficit.

“I thought we controlled most of the game, but we had a letdown in the second quarter, which I don’t know why, but we have one quarter when we let down a bit,” Rasmussen said. “At halftime, I just stressed one basket at a time and just stop them and then score, and when we came out for the second half, that’s what we started doing, and we just played great team ball like we did to start the game.”

The Pirates allowed just eight points in the third quarter, which ended with them down just 39-37, and then scored 25 in the final quarter to overtake the Toads for the win.

Pecile was the top scorer for SYHS with 16 points, while Agin added 14, and Juarez 11. Pecile and Elliette Rasmussen brought down 7 rebounds each to tie for the team lead.

Before beating Coalinga, the Pirates traveled all the way up to Bishop on Feb. 18 and defeated host and No. 4 seed Bishop Union 47-25.

Santa Ynez received some more bad news on Sunday when the Pirates were left out of the CIF State Tournament pairings. That ends the season for Santa Ynez at 15-11, including a 4-6 record in the Sunset League.

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“Somewhere in the world a huge banana is speeding down a lonesome highway,” is the message on the home page of a website at bigbananacar.com. On the weekend of Feb. 21-22, that “somewhere” was Buellton.

For those who saw the long yellow vehicle traveling around Buellton streets, the banana car is the creation of one Steve Braithwaite, a 65-year-old Manitou Beach, Michigan, resident originally from Oxford, England.

“I’m a hot rodder, but I stopped going to hot rod shows,” said Braithwaite, his British accent still intact despite being in the U.S. for 40 years. “However, I was watching the British version of ‘Top Gear’ and they had the world’s fastest garden shed, and then not too long after, a drivable street-legal couch. So I started to think ‘what can I build that’s ridiculous?'”

Inspiration suddenly struck while waiting in line at a gas-station mini-mart.

“I was in line at checkout and saw a bowl of fruit, and the long banana was in there and I picked it up and started envisioning how it would look on wheels,” Braithwaite recalled. “I got so caught up in that, I didn’t realize the people in front of me already left and the rest were waiting for me to go up and pay for my stuff. But that’s when I got the idea.”

Braithwaite was able to acquire a 1993 F-150 pickup that eventually become the Big Banana Car.

“I built the Big Banana Car over a two-plus-year period starting in 2008 and, with the help of a close group of friends, finished the car in the spring of 2011,” he said.

The result is a vehicle that fits its name: Long, yellow, and a paint job that depicts a real banana, including touches of green that mimics the fruit’s aging process. The driver’s seat is at the very front, with three passenger seats in single file behind it, and the banana “stem” curving upwards in the back.

Braithwaite left his home back in November 2025 and has been making stops at various cities, offering free rides in his unique set of wheels to anyone who asks.

“I’ve been driving around the country and people ask why I do this,” he said. “Once I rode a motorcyle across India, which is a silly thing, but it inspired me to do an ‘RTW,’ which means ’round the world, and do it in the banana car.

“It’s a two-part plan. First, build the car, and I’ve done that, and go around the world, which I haven’t done yet, but I have driven all over this country, and been in every state except Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in the Northeast, and Oregon, Washington, and Idaho in the Northwest.”

In his travels, he’s been part of two Christmas parades, and even went south of the border for part of the trip.

“Everyone down there was really nice, even the countless number of cops who pulled me over,” Braithwaite said.

For his stay in Buellton, Braithwaite was able to find a couple in Solvang as “couch-surfing hosts,” and was able to display his car in the parking lot of McDonald’s on McMurray Way. Free rides were available, although Braithwaite admitted things were slow. “I think it might have been because of the recent rainy weather,” he said.

This reporter took Braithwaite up on the offer for a ride and took his seat, which reminded one of a seat on a thrill ride. The five-minute drive to Highway 246 to Avenue of Flags and back to McDonald’s offered plenty of attention from fellow motorists, with honks and positive “thumbs-up” gestures in ample supply.

After leaving Buellton on Feb. 23, Braithwaite headed to Salinas and Monterey County. If you would like to follow his progress, you can go to his Facebook page, where he claims to have 38,000 followers, at www.facebook.com/BigBananaCar/. He said he would like to continue on up to the Pacific Northwest, but that’s dependent on find some more “couch-surfing hosts” up that way.

Braithwaite also has his website, bigbananacar.com/, where you can find his social media links, read up on the history of the car, and even purchases merchandise to support his trip.

While Braithwaite is currently enjoying the “fruits” of his labor in building the banana car, he said he has another vehicle that is “85 percent finished.” He doesn’t offer many details on the new wheels except that its a “diesel punk” vehicle called the Starfield Dragonwing Intergalactic Speedster. So, who knows, we might by seeing it sometime in the future in the Santa Ynez Valley.

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By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

For the second straight year, the Santa Ynez High girls basketball team will be headed to Fresno’s Selland Arena to vie for a CIF Central Section championship.

This year the Pirates are in the Division V bracket, seeded No. 5, and will be playing No. 3 seed Rosamond High, on Saturday, Feb. 27. This year, Pirates head coach Jennifer Rasmussen is confident her team can seal the deal after falling in the 2025 Division IV championship game.

“We were there last year [losing to Central Valley power Immanuel High of Reedley], they’ve been there before, and this time they just have to do their job and win the game,” Rasmussen said during the Pirates’ Thursday practice, their last before leaving Friday for Fresno.

Santa Ynez and Rosamond are scheduled for a 10 a.m. tipoff, the first of six championship games (three girls, three boys) to be played at Selland Arena on Saturday.

The Pirates (15-10, 4-6 in the Sunset League) earned their berth to the title game on Friday, Feb. 20, by knocking out the top seed of Division V, Coalinga High, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat the Horned Toads 62-55.

Coalinga, whom Santa Ynez beat in the second round of the playoffs in 2025, came in as co-champions of the West Sierra League with a 23-8 overall record, but the Pirates were able to overpower them in the second half to erase a nine-point halftime deficit.

“I thought we controlled most of the game, but we had a letdown in the second quarter, which I don’t know why, but we have one quarter when we let down a bit,” Rasmussen said. “At halftime, I just stressed one basket at a time and just stop them and then score, and when we came out for the second half, that’s what we started doing, and we just played great team ball like we did to start the game.”

The Pirates allowed just eight points in the third quarter, which ended with them down just 39-37, and then scored 25 in the final quarter to overtake the Toads for the win.

Helina Pecile was the top scorer for SYHS with 16 points, while Rylan Agin added 14, and Jazmine Juarez 11. Pecile and Elliette Rasmussen brought down 7 rebounds each to tie for the team lead.

Before beating Coalinga, the Pirates traveled all the way up to Bishop and defeated host and No. 4 seed Bishop Union 47-25.

As the SYHS prepare for Rosamond, Rasmussen noted that her team is going into the title game with a little more rest, as the Pirates beat Coalinga on Feb. 20, but the Roadrunners played their semifinal against Corcoran this past Tuesday, Feb. 24. However, the coach admitted that there could be drawbacks.

“I appreciated the additional rest, but at the same time, we haven’t been used to taking off a week between games,” Rasmussen said. “We’re almost to the point we’re running out of things to do in practice; however, I think we’ll be OK.”

Rasmussen said she has had the chance to see some footage of Rosamond.

“They’re a 3-point shooting team like we are, and they have a physical defense,” she said. “But I think we can run with them.”

The game is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Fresno, and is being offered on streaming through the NFHS Network website, which specializes in high school games. Viewing of the game requires a paid subscription. To get access, go to nfhsnetwork.com, or you can click a link on www.maxpreps.com/ca/santa-ynez/santa-ynez-pirates/basketball/girls/

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The Buellton City Council, in its Thursday, Feb. 12, meeting, heard and then ultimately approved new Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) guidelines in an effort to improve communications to developers about what will be expected, and to claim more local input on developments on roads like Highway 246, the main drag of the city that’s under Caltrans jurisdiction.

Councilmember Elysia Lewis and City Manager Scott Wolfe were absent from this meeting.

The Business Item 8 was the first of two on the agenda, and ultimately, the only one it took action on.

In introducing the item, Contract City Planner Irma Tucker said that city staff was instructed in May 2025 to work with traffic engineers to update the Interim Traffic Impact Analysis guidelines that were adopted in 2020-21. Buellton’s Public Works and Planning Department staff worked with Associated Traffic Engineers (ATE), a Santa Barbara consulting firm, and the General Plan Update team.

Tucker said the new TIA guidelines “represent a more user-friendly and implementable tool for traffic impact evaluation, with standards that reflect traffic, circulation, and mobility issues specific to Buellton.”

Among the key policy and operational issues are implementation into the city’s General Plan update, addressing the needs of Buellton’s small-town nature and location at the crossroads of two major highways, and identifying realistic assessment thresholds and standards in regards to major development projects planned along Highway 246.

Tucker identified two main aspects of the new guidelines are a Local Traffic Study (LTS), which would generally be required for all development projects in Buellton, and a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) study, which may or may not be required and assesses how a new project could affect the distance a motorist may have to travel with the new development installed.

“The LTS is the most sensitive to local circumstances and consistency with city policy and gives the city the most local control with how traffic issues are mitigated,” Tucker said.

During council questioning, Councilmember Hudson Hornick asked about certain exceptions made for the LTS requirement along Highway 246 intersections, including Highway 101, Avenue of Flags, and McMurray Road, among others. Tucker said they had a lower standard (LOS D) because they were the busiest intersections and there is limited ability to make required changes to reach the regular standard, and ability of approve development.

“Sounds like you’re striking a balance between getting developments approved and the limitations on what developments can reasonably do; is that fair to say,” Hudson said. Tucker replied that it was an accurate statement.

Tucker added that another aspect of the congestion is that traffic going slower across town can benefit businesses.

“Businesses can thrive on going slowly by and seeing your business, instead of just flying by,” she said.

Mayor David Silva pointed out that the VMT, which he said was a greenhouse gas issue, could offset the declining effectiveness of the state CEQA requirements.

“At some point, CEQA was a really great tool to block development; over time state has weakened that,” he said. “Now we have created objective standards for LTS; predictable, developers now know. As CEQA becomes less utilized, we’ve strengthening local ability to examine that in more efficient, objective standards.”

However, Councilman John Sanchez interpreted that to mean the new guidelines could be used to stop development, as CEQA has had the repuation of doing.

But Silva answered back that, “As CEQA becomes less utilized, we’ve strengthening local ability to examine that in more efficient, objective standards.”

City Attorney Greg Murphy then chimed in that the role of CEQA, and the LTS standards, is misconstrued.

“CEQA was used by people to stop development,” he said. “CEQA not meant for that — it’s to study impact and mitigate them. CEQA is about studying impacts.”

Vice Mayor Carla Mead has praise for the new standards before it went to vote.

“I feel this is being proactive,” she said. “I asked what’s best way to get developers to Buellton, it is to get standardized policies that are clear, so builders know.
Having this proactive policy makes their job easier, that’s where developers want to be. It helps us greet people who want to invest in this city.”

The council was scheduled to hear Business Item 9, adopting Resolution No. 26-02, which would raise the city’s employee insurance contribution to $2,190 from the current $1,800. However, Sanchez recused himself due to having a finanical interest in the matter, leaving three councilmembers to hear the item.

Then, Hornick request to table the item because he wanted to ask questions about the topic to Wolfe, who was absent. Murphy then informed the council that unless the vote on the item was unanimous, it wouldn’t be able to pass because two votes is less than the majority required to pass an item. With that, the council decided to table that item for a future meeting.

The next Buellton City Council meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m.

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Live music and nighttime business suddenly emerged as a main topic at the Solvang City Council’s Monday, Feb. 9, meeting — more specifically, how a recently installed $200 temporary use permit is affecting the city’s nighttime businesses to provide that music.

During Public Communications, Lisa Mesa, who along with her husband Alfred has owned and operated The Good Life craft beer and wine establishment, told the City Council the TUP was adding another difficult expense to her business, and others in town who like to provide people a place to go and listen to live music after 6 p.m.

“I’m hear to speak for the businesses that give this city a heartbeat after the sun goes down,” Mesa said. “I ask the city reconsider the $200 temporary use fee requirement for businesses hosting live music. Adding a reoccurring financial hurdle is a step in the wrong direction for our local economy.”

Mesa, whose business is located on Mission Drive in the middle of Solvang’s tourist district, said the TUP fee is another tacked on to expenses that are already making it difficult for nighttime businesses to operate.

“The cost of doing business has reached a breaking point, and small businesses here have been squeezed from every side,” Mesa continued. “We have increases in business license fees, rents continue to climb. This fee might seem nominal, but to us it’s another death by 1,000 cuts.”

Mesa pointed said her establishment has hosted live music “every Saturday night for 14 years” without any trouble.

“We have not had any noise complaints or visits from law enforcement or safety, and thousands of happy guest who stayed in Solvang and extra hour or two,” she said. “I ask the council to remove the $200 fee on places that host live music. Let’s not put a price tag on the vibrancy of our town.”

Another local business owner, Peter Lancucki, who operates Final Girl Wines, also requested the fee be removed and pointed out the music at businesses like his and Mesa’s are not very disruptive.

“The thing is, the events in the [Solvang] park have bands that are louder, although I really like those too,” he said. “There’s always people asking ‘what is there to do after 6 in Solvang?’ Well, we’re providing that. The city is always spending money to bring people here, but you put barriers to have nightlife.”

Also speaking was Keith Cox, a part-time musician from Santa Maria, who said the fee could bring an end to live music at local hangouts.

“The fee is punitive for businesses, who also have to pay BMI, and ASCAP licensing fees for cover bands,” he said. “It’s very expensive, and three out of five venues have stopped playing music.”

Councilmembers could not formally discuss the matter at the meeting because it was not on the agenda; however, after Mayor Dave Brown and Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona expressed interest in revisiting the issue during Ex Parte Communications, it was announced that staff would work on getting an item on the agenda for a future meeting.

As for agenda items, the council heard a Mid-Year Budget review and budget adjustments from Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry. The budget has benefited from the Tourist Occupancy Tax (TOT) to the tune of $1.4 million so far in the fiscal year, which after expenses came to a change of $1.195 million for the current budget.

Elizabeth Orona asked about a line of $132,000 for addtional water pumping, which Berry said was due to the city having to pump more water with the lack of rain so far in the year. Claudia Orona later pointed out a discrepancy in the legal fees budget, which turned out to be a typo, with the actual figure being 411,000.

Ultimately, the council voted 5-0 to accept the budget adjustments with the corrected typo.

In the second, and final, discussion item, Public Works Director Bridget Paris introduced a budget adjustment to enable a citywide curb marking inventory project.

The Citywide Curb Marking Inventory Project is designed to create an inventory that will document, including through photographic evidence, existing curb conditions, such as curb color, restriction type, signage presence, and segment length. The resulting data will provide a reliable baseline for evaluating on-street parking capacity, curb utilization, and roadway marking needs.

The database and mapping will also support future development of a Curb and Street Marking Code, informed by California Vehicle Code requirements and best practices, to clarify installation criteria and enforcement standards. Findings will be used to analyze where curb markings may be installed, modified, removed, or maintained and to inform future temporary
and permanent parking strategies.

Councilmember Mark Infanti, who said he liked the project, moved to approved, with Claudia Orono seconding, and the item passed 5-0.

The City Council will meet next on Monday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m.

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It’s not often — or ever, for that matter — that you expect to see local mayors and councilmembers jump into the pool in support of a new aquatic center, but in the early morning of Feb. 7, that’s exactly what happened at Santa Ynez High School.

The occasion was the SYV Community Aquatics Foundation’s Polar Bear Plunge, which highlighted the foundation’s effort to build a new two-pool Aquatic Center to replace the single-pool complex where the Polar Bear Plunge was held.

The occasion was attended by several members of the Solvang and Buellton city governments, including Solvang Mayor David Brown and Buellton Mayor David Silva. The two then kicked off the plunge by doing cannonballs into the pool, with Silva wearing some floaties to get into the spirit of things. They were followed by City Councilmembers Claudia Orona (Solvang) and John Sanchez (Buellton) and Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy, SYVCAF President Lisa Palmer, and Buellton Rec Coordinator/SYVCAF Board Member Kristen Thomsen.

After that Valley residents of all ages were invited to jump in and enjoy the current SYHS pool for about an hour as coffee and donuts were served and information on the proposed Aquatic Center and signups for current aquatic programs were made available.

Before all the officials cannonballs, Palmer was able to kick off the series of speakers by the pool by making a promised “big announcement” that the fundraising campaign, which has a $13.7 million goal, has passed a notable milestone.

“I’m happy to report we have gone past the $5 million mark,” Palmer said as the crowd applauded. “We reached the mark after a $250,000 donation from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.”

Another big part of that $5 million was a joint agreement by the cities of Solvang and Buellton, who will share in the management of the Aquatic Center, and earlier this year agreed to each pledge $500,000 toward the project.

“We’ve been hearing for almost decades the need for a new pool,” Buellton Mayor David Silva said. “But this is more than just building a pool, it’s providing access. That means access for student-athletes to have first-rate facilities, access for students and community members to learn about aquatics”

“I think the effort to bring it this far has shown the courage and tenacity of this group,” Silva continued and lauded Palmer for spearheading the effort.

Solvang Mayor David Brown said the progress of the project is an example of neighboring communities working together.

“It’s not just the fundraising and putting the pool together, but all of us putting in a little bit and a little more,” he said. “This project mean safety for children, who will learn how to swim, therapy for seniors, and togetherness for a pool that serves the whole community.”

Also speaking on behalf of Santa Ynez High were District Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Sheehan, and SYHS aquatic athletes Atticus Heimerdinger and Jake Montejano.

Sheehan praised the support of the community for the school’s activities as well as academics, and said the development of top-notch facilities breeds success.

“Last year we were able to renovate the tennis courts, and last fall our girls tennis team won the CIF championship,” she said. “Last year we had donors put in the [sand] volleyball courts, and our beach volleyball team made it to the CIF semis.”

Sheehan added that the current pool used by the water polo and swimming programs aren’t up to CIF standards, so the athletes spend a lot of time on the road for playoff games. That point was echoed by Heimerdinger when he spoke.

“A new pool really would mean a lot to us,” he said. “Our pool does the job, but really needs a lot of work. A few days ago, the heater went down and we had to practice in freezing water, and I know the girls water polo team had to go to Lompoc every day for a week for practice and games because they couldn’t have games here.”

Heimerdinger also said there are plenty of aquatic athletes to come in the future who would love to have a new facility.

“I coach swimming at the YMCA, and there are a lot of kids who are passionate about swim, who are looking forward to swimming at the high school, and if they have this great new pool, I think it would bring out the best in them.”

The Aquatic Center, as projected would consist of two Myrtha pools — one a competition-ready 33-meter pool with the same depth all-around for water polo matches and swim meets. The addition of this pool would allow the SYHS programs to host postseason CIF events. The second one would be a warm 25-yard pool for fun, lessons, and fitness. The center would be located at the present pool location southeast of Rio Memorial Field and next to the SYHS gym.

According to the SYVCAF, the target date to raise the $13.7 million to build the center will be December 2026, with construction to hopefully begin sometime in 2027 once full funding is secured and building permits are secured, and the center to open in summer 2028.

For more information on the Aquatic Center project, its progress, and how you can keep track of the project, go to www.syvaquatics.org/

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How did they all do? Here the roundup:

Molera’s treys, team defense carries girls basketball over Taft

The Pirates girls basketball team finished the regular season with a 12-10 overall record, including 4-6 in the Sunset League, and earned the fifth seed in Division V and a home game in the first round.

SYHS drew 12th-seeded Taft in the first-round game on Feb. 14, and the Pirates’ defense made its presence known early, shutting out the visiting Wildcats in the first period, and then riding the hot hand of senior guard Lexi Molera on its way to a 58-27 victory.

Molera led the team with 23 points, on the strength of seven 3-pointers, which was one short of the school’s single-game record. In fact, with the game well in hand late, Molera’s teammates kept feeding her the ball to tie or break the record, although she fell one short.

“I’ve been trying to beat the record forever, and I got close but just missed,” Molera said after the game. “Once I hit the first, it just kept flowing.”

The Pirates defense also impressed, rolling to a 12-0 advantage at the end of the first period, and a 27-7 margin at halftime.

“We’re a very defensive team overall,” Molera said. “We have short guards so we’re always hand checking to keep them off-balance.”

Pirates head coach Jennifer Rasmussen was very happy with the defensive performance.

“They were hustling, and they were just dominant,” the coach said. “We had Helina Pelice out there and she’s really good at anticipating steals and being in the right place to stop them.”

Pelice added 9 points for SYHS and dominated the boards along with teammate Elliette Rasmuseen as they had 15 rebounds apiece.

It had to be a gratifying performance from Pelice, who continues to recover from a sprained ankle suffered a couple weeks earlier.

“Yes, she really picked it up tonight,” said Coach Rasmussen of Pelice. “I’ve been bringing her along slowly with the injury; I think tonight was the first time since the injury she’s put in a full game.”

The Pirates moved on to a second-round matchup and a long road trip to Bishop to play fourth-seeded Bishop Union on Wednesday, Feb. 18 (results were not available at press time). If SYHS was able to pull that out, they would be playing again tonight (Feb. 20) against the winner of No. 1 Coalinga and No. 8 Sanger West. If Sanger was able to pull off the upset the game will be at Santa Ynez, but if Coalinga wins, then its back on the road for the Pirates.

Ladera scores twice as Pirates girls soccer beats Lompoc

While many Central Coast schools get matchups with San Joaquin Valley teams during the CIF playoffs, for the SYHS girls soccer team, their opponents were very familiar: the Lompoc High Braves.

The Pirates, 10-2-2 on the season a first-place finish (7-1-2) in the Ocean League and the fourth seed in Division III, met a Lompoc team that was 5-11-3, and 2-4-2 in the Sunset League (fourth place).

SYHS dictated the pace of the game all night, and Kailani Ladera scored two goals to lead the Pirates to a 3-0 victory.

Though the Pirates have been successful all this season, head coach Rob Cantrell feels his team is just now hitting its stride.

“This is our 14th game, and with a usual 28-or-so game season these players are used to, we feel we’re at midseason,” he said. “We’re working through the things a team needs to be working on at a midseason level. Tonight, we didn’t depend so much on our front and midfield, but we brought the defenders into the attack. That’s what they call ‘total football.'”

Cantrell felt his team started out a little hesitant, but picked up their game shortly into the first half, and junior midfielder Kailani Ladera opened the scoring with a long-range shot into the top corner of the net in the 13th minute, and that 1-0 lead would hold until halftime.

In the 43rd minute, junior Isabella Rubio added to the Pirates’ lead taking advantage of a funny bounce of a Braves defender and put it in the net, and Ladera scored off a shot in the 75th minutes to close the scoring.

For its second-round game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, SYHS played another Central Coast school, Pioneer Valley (14-5-3, 4-3-1 in the Sunset), with the result unavailable at press time. The winner of that game played the winner of No. 1 Torres and No. 8 Reedley in Thursday’s semifinal.

Boys basketball eliminated by Bakersfield North

The Santa Ynez High boys basketball team saw its season end Friday, Feb. 13, in Bakersfield as North High Stars beat the visiting Pirates 52-44 in a first-round Division III contest. The home Stars were a seventh seeded, while the Pirates were No. 10.

Despite 21 points from Mason Skidmore, SYHS was battling from behind since North jumped out to a 7-2 early lead. Aside from a brief 29-29 tie in the third period, the home team lead for the entire game.

The Pirates (16-12, 6-2 in the Sunset League for second place) finished the regular season in strong fashion, winning seven out of their last eight before the first-round loss.

SYHS boys soccer falls to host Riverdale

Santa Ynez, ranked No. 12 in Division IV, lost to fifth-seeded Riverdale High 4-2 in a first-round game played at Lemoore High School. 

Santa Ynez went down to an early 2-0 deficit, until senior Marcos Rivera tied the score with two direct free kicks by halftime. 

However, Riverdale’s Xaidyn Camacho, who had three goals and an assist for the game, helped Riverdale regain the lead and the Cowboys got one more goal, to close it out.

The Pirates end at 7-5-4, 3-2-3 (third place) in the Sunset League. Rivera and Vince Guerrero, both seniors, led the team with six goals apiece on the season.

Six Pirate wrestlers advance to Central Section Masters

The Santa Ynez Pirates qualified six wrestlers for the Central Section Masters Tournament, taking place on Feb 20-21 at Fresno’s Selland Arena.

Dallana Margarito (145 lb. sophomore) took fourth at the Girls D2 CIF tournament to qualify. Joey Duarte (285 lb. junior) took second, Neal Cunningham (157 lb. senior) took third, Curren Lane (144 lb. sophomore) and Kaj Kretzschmer (175 lb. senior) took fifth and Hayden Pahler (165 lb. junior) took seventh at the Central Section D3 Boys CIF Tournament. Out of the 4 girls and 9 boys competing we had 6 qualify for Masters.

“The Pirates have been working hard all year and are performing their best in the postseason,” said Sean Yamasaki, the first-year wrestling coach. “I am beyond proud of this team and the effort they have put in and I am super excited for this next tournament and the future of our team.”

Some notable matches from the weekend were Hayden Pahler winning his seventh-place match with a last-second takedown to qualify for Masters. Luke Elliot, despite not qualifying had his best tournament of the year with two pins to make the second day of the tournament. And Neal Cunningham won his third place match in overtime.

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