When you hear the name C.J. Jackson, you automatically associate it with the Alisal Ranch and you would be correct. Jackson’s family has owned and operated the ranch since it was purchased in 1943. Dating back to 1810, the 10,700-acre Alisal Ranch has a history of cattle, thoroughbred horses, and farming. 

“My father took over the business of the Alisal from my grandfather, who purchased it in 1943 as a place to winter his cattle,” said Jackson. “My grandfather was a cattleman from Marfa, Texas, born in Albany, New York.”

Jackson remembers short trips to the Santa Ynez Valley with his family — ones he took reluctantly.

“My parents and extended family live in Montecito and have for generations,” he said. “When I had to accompany my parents up to the Valley, it was the last place I wanted to be, because I had friends and a life in Montecito and the Valley was the last place I wanted to visit — the place was as dull as dishwater when I was 13.”

At 18, Jackson went to Connecticut to study at Yale, “getting as far away from here as I could get.” After graduating from Yale, he continued on to graduate school, attending Claremont Graduate School, near Pomona, where he met his wife, Mary.

Living in Los Angeles County was not ideal for the Jacksons.

“In 1995 my wife and I moved to the Valley, mostly to get out of Los Angeles County. My wife was a farmer’sdaughter, so she had to have enough space for animals and a very large garden,” said Jackson. “I came here basically to find myself. I was a banker at the time, and that profession didn’t hold any promise for me on future horizons. I was a round peg in a square hole. But my banking experience helped my father with real estate lease-hold issues, and in 2006, I formally took over running Rancho Alisal and then the Alisal Cattle Ranch.”

Jackson, 67 years young, was born in Santa Barbara County and has lived in Solvang for the past 30 years. He has been a member of many boards and organizations, such as the Dunn School Board of Trustees and the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, and was the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Economic Forecast Group, to name but a few. He is presently on the board of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, having served on it for 27 years. His focus has always been on the well-being of the Alisal and the community in which he lives. But unfortunately, his ownwell-being was ignored.

“I was pretty out of shape, having had a hip replacement in February 2019, just before COVID hit and we were not permitted to gather for business purposes in my office. My doctor said I was borderline diabetic, and overweight, and I didn’t feel in control of my own destiny,” Jackson admitted. “My friend Richard Crutchfield, who was 80 at the time, guilted me out of my recliner to begin walking. The first day we got up to about a quarter mile, then progressed with regular walks, eventually accomplishing 15 miles a week — five-mile outings three times a week. That took about nine months to accomplish. I combined my walks and my work responsibilities, meeting residents and maintenance andcattle ranch employees while practicing social distancing outdoors during my walks. My orthopedist approved.”

“I was feeling better walking and joked around saying it was an even better workout for my jaw muscles, because on these walks we never stopped talking.”

Then, Jackson took it even further.

“Since I was feeling better, I coordinated a group of people — a local nutritionist, Nancy Dale; my primary care physician, Dr. William Heringer; a personal trainer, Nick Simon, with Academia Sports Performance Lab in Solvang, formerly called LIFT; and Richard, of course — to help me with my goal of getting healthy, and slimmer to look better in my clothes by losing 50 pounds,” Jackson said. “Initially my nutritionist put me on a program which helped me lose some weight, but it was slow going. My doctor saw improvement and challenged me to go further, and my personaltrainer put me on a program that included aspects of physical therapy to enhance my athletic capability, improving my balance, flexibility, and range of movement. I even started skiing with my grandchildren, hiking, and even backpacking.”

For inspiration, Jackson would hang up a one-size-too-small pair of jeans on the wall of his home office. As he lost weight, he would hang another smaller pair, then another, his goal being to fit into a pair with a size 32 waist, which he is still working towards accomplishing.

“I was getting healthy, but I still needed to lose some weight,” said Jackson. “So, my nutritionist put me on a specific plan that she thought matched my personality, and I subsequently lost 30 pounds in 30 days. I lost seven pounds in the first week, so I was very motivated to continue. My doctor said, ‘Whatever you are doing, don’t stop.’ All of my team dovetailed into an overall health program that was working for me.”

Then, an extraordinary opportunity arose for father and son to spend some time together backpacking in Hawaii. Jackson’s son, J.P., who is a backpacking enthusiast and guide, received notification from Napali Coast State Park in Kauai, Hawaii, granting him and two others permission to spend four days and three nights camping and backpacking in the park, a long sought-after goal.

“He had been applying for the permit by lottery for 10 years,” Jackson said. “He has been working for the past 12 years as an outfitter and backpacking and rafting guide, leading groups of people interested in outdoor adventures in national parks all over the country, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Sequoia, and Death Valley. 

Jackson also said, proudly, of his son, “He is a wilderness first-responder. Presently he works at the Alisal as a naturalist, working as a hiking guide and star gazer, and is in the process of researching a local outdoor venture.”

Once J.P. had the permit in hand, Jackson and son started getting ready. 

“The permit was for three people, so I immediately volunteered to go on a father/son adventure,” Jackson said. “We had roughly 90 days to prepare for the 23-mile hike on a four-day/three-night campout. My son made all the arrangements and preparations and acquired the needed gear. I started wearing my 40-pound backpack on my walks with Richard.”

The day arrived for father and son to fly to Hawaii and begin their adventure. But their adventure took an unexpected turn for the worse.

“We landed in Kauai and spent two days in advance of the hike sightseeing on the island, which was beautiful,” said Jackson. “On the day of the hike we were told that it had rained the night before and early that morning, and they warned us about the slippery red clay. But we were prepared. I was wearing the best equipment and shoes and carriedpoles, so I felt secure to begin the hike. We got about a mile and a half up the trail before I slipped and fell on my back. The backpack broke my fall but unfortunately my left foot got lodged between two rocks, and I tore my quadriceps. If I had not lodged my foot between the rocks, I would have just gotten up and continued. I wanted to continue anyway, but my son, being a wilderness first-responder, said absolutely ‘no,’ and he was in charge. It was heartbreaking that we couldn’t continue the hike. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Who knows, I could have slipped and fallen on my face further up the trail and been in a worse position.”

The hike back took twice as long, and Jackson said he remembers every painful step of the way.

“My son had to carry both our 40-pound backpacks, and I was able to walk back on my own, but I can remember every single step of the hike back,” said Jackson. “We went to a nice little critical access hospital that diagnosed my situation, and we sadly flew back home. My son can reapply for a new permit to hike the trail in six months.”

Despite the disappointment, Jackson chose to put a positive spin on the Hawaii trip.

“Initially I had wanted to use my story at the Alisal for the guests, but I realized the ending didn’t quite fit the story I had planned on telling,” he said. “It was then that I realized there was another story to be told about my journey to better health that everyone needed to hear. It’s never too late to start to get in shape, all you need is the desire, determination, willpower, and friends who support you on your journey. I was fortunate that I was surrounded by people and resources that enabled and supported me on my journey to better health — and of whom are specific to our Valley.” 

Jackson’s training buddy agrees.

“Occasionally C.J. and I will meet in the parking lot of the River Golf Course, readying for our walk, and one of us will say, ‘If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here this morning,’” said Crutchfield. “It’s really important to have the support of a friend.”

For those who are inspired by Jackson’s story to get fit and healthy again, no matter your age, his advice for the first step is to find a friend and start walking, and then, don’t stop and be consistent. There are also many exercise and nutrition podcasts available on the web that can help you achieve your goals. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the full version of the story. An abridged version of the story can be found in the July 15-Aug. 4 print edition of the Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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It was the perfect day, weatherwise, to celebrate the 4th of July. Throngs of people from near and far lined the sidewalks of Solvang to celebrate America’s 249th anniversary of its Independence Day with a patriotic parade whose theme this year was “Anything is Possible in America.”

The Grand Marshals of this year’s parade were Kay and Walt Alves. They moved to the Valley in 1959, and for the past 66 years, they have been steeped in volunteering. The couple has donated countless hours to Old Mission Santa Ines, the San Lorenzo Seminary and the Seminary Foundation, and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. But above all, the Alveses have been committed to the Rotary and Rotary International, both actively fundraising for Rotary’sscholarship program, with the two of them always cooking for Old Santa Ynez Days and Danish Days.

There were 74 entries in this year’s colorful parade, all bedecked with red, white, and blue and the American flag. Following the singing of the national anthem by sixth-grader Evie Gerritsen, daughter of Griffin and Gigi Gerritsen, the parade started promptly at 10 a.m. with the Color Guard American Legion Post #160 leading the way, soon followed by the Alveses as Grand Marshals.  

After that, the parade included several dignitaries, including the Solvang and Buellton mayors and City Councilmembers; newly named 2025 Danish Queen Addie Madrid, riding in a 1936 Ford Roadster; 2025 Youth Rec Queen Kacy Caplan with SYV Youth Recreation; and Miss Santa Ynez Old Days Rodeo Queen Hailee Taylor.

Many local organizations were present at the parade, including the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, Solvang Senior Center, Atterdag Village, and Solvang Theaterfest. Santa Ynez High School sports programs were represented, among them the varsity and JV football teams — some of whom jumped off the back of the trailer and did push-ups — as well as players from the water polo and girls volleyball squads.

Many entries came to entertain and perform, such as local parade and event staple Garcia Dance Studio of Lompoc, Pacific Flips Gymnastics, and the dancing horses of Cuadras del Valle de Lompoc. 

And there were the different vehicles that traveled down Mission Drive. They included military vehicles from the Flat Fender Friends, vintage cars from the Santa Maria Model A’s Ford Club, a coffinmobile right out of “The Munsters,” and of course, the Viking Ship steered by the Vikings from Solvang.  

The Rotary Club of Solvang, who sponsors the annual event, listed this year’s entry winners in numerous categories as follows: Sweepstakes: Hi Way One Hooligans, Rod Simmons; Best Use of Parade Theme:   Miss Santa Ynez Old Days Rodeo with Queen Hailee Taylor and Beefer the mini cow; Most Patriotic: Daughters of the American Revolution; Most Original: Central Coast Mini Riders Munster Coffinmobile; Most Amusing: Solvang Theaterfest Comedian Orny Adams Show Sept 13, 2025; Most Unique: First Street Leather, Solvang; Best Band: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.; Best Singing Group: Agin Brothers, Cars & Cowboys; Best Singing, Single: Sanger Family of Wines; Best Family Group: Bob Jones, Four Generations of Joneses; Best Church Group: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Best Senior Group: Solvang Senior Center; Best Animal Group: Cuadras Unidas del Valle; Best Wagon Group: Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 Officer Wagon and Color Guard; Best Automobile Group: Vapor Trail Vettes; Best Automobile, Single: George Family 1928 Model A Roadster; Best Automobile, Restored: Bob and Margo Gould’s 1956 Chevy Nomad and 1958 Shasta Trailer; Best Automobile, Antique: Santa Maria Model A Ford Club; Best Automobile Antique Group: Rotary Club of Buellton; Best Fire Engine: Summerset Farm’s 1928 Stanford Fire Truck; Best Tractor: Chloe Hinnrich’s 1945 Farmall M Tractor; Best Equestrian Group: Charros Unidos of Costa Central; Best Equestrian, Single: Santa Maria Elks Outrider; Best Viking Ship: Vikings of Solvang; Best Color Guard: VFW Post 7139, American Legion Post 160; Best Street Sweeper: SP Maintenance Services; Road Apple Crew: Espuelas y Rebozos; Best Uncle Sam: Kevan Harder, Nielsen Building Materials; Best Sport Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School JV Football Team; Best Military Group: Flat Fender Friends; Best Dancing Group: Garcia Dance Group; Most Energetic: Pacific Flips Gymnastics; Best Group for a Cause: SYV Youth Recreation; Best School Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Water Polo Teams and Aquatics Foundation; Best Youth Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Girls Volleyball; and Best Audience Participation: Veggie Rescue.

“I love that I belong to this community,” said Becky Sutherland of Buellton. “The parade celebrates belonging here.”

After the parade, a 4th of July celebration was held all day, topped off with an evening of fireworks at the Santa Ines Mission.

Before the fireworks, though there was plenty to keep the crowd busy on the lawn in front of the mission. The area was full of food trucks with all varieties of cuisine, along with several vendors selling their products, as well as rides and activities for the kids. On the main stage, musical artists like King Bee, Jayden Secor, The Molly Ringwald Project, and DJ Peete had the crowds dancing.

Many people, though, chose to relax on the berm and wait for darkness to fall for the fireworks show.

Two of them were Celeste and Cathy Drach, who had seat right at the front, and they had to come early and get them.

“They allow us to come out and reserve a spot and we got to claim on Wednesday (July 2),” Celeste Drach said. “And there were people who got theirs earlier; I think the earliest I heard was June 30.”

Once it got dark and the berm filled up and it was time.

Incoming Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Board President Jennifer Hertler addressed the crowd, thanking the crowd and crediting the Solvang Rotary Club for their great job on the parade. And after a rousing version of the national anthem from recent SYHS graduate Ruby Andreu, the crowd enjoyed a magnificent fireworks show, again put on by local pyrotechician Kief Adler, which elicited many “oohs” and “aahs.”

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Comedian Orny Adams will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Solvang Festival Theater. Also, on stage that night opening for Adams will be stand-up comedian Frazer Smith. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Rotary Club of Solvang and Solvang Theaterfest.

“Orny Adams showed up on YouTube when I was watching comedians such as Brian Regan and Kevin Nealon, who have performed at the Solvang Festival Theater in the past,” said Allen Jones, volunteer chair of the Rotary Club of Solvang. “I thought to myself, ‘Orny is really funny. I wonder if he would be willing to come to Solvang?’ I asked my brother-in-law, Brad Mann, who knows all the great comedians, and he knew Orny and thought he would be great – if you could even get him. So Orny’s assistant emailed me back. We spoke. It seems Orny has ties to the Santa Ynez Valley, loves the area, thought we were a good group, and decided to come.”

“He is a very personable and engaging young man, extremely funny, bright, well-versed on life, and our area. Lucky to have him perform,” said Jones. 

“I’m excited to be doing a show in Solvang. In these times, we all need to get out of the house, come together, and laugh! I’ve vacationed there a few times, and I can’t imagine this isn’t going to be anything less than an incredible experience. I hope to see you all there,” said Adams.

According to his bio, Adams has appeared on every late-night television show. His “More Than Loud” comedy special on YouTube has 7 million views. Orny has had one-hour stand-up specials on Netflix, Comedy Central, and Showtime. He has toured all over the world and gives a full-throttle, high-energy show. You may also recognize him from the hit TV show “Teen Wolf” and the movie “Teen Wolf.” Additionally, he has well over a million followers on social media. Adams delivers a powerful, incisive stand-up routine that vacillates between the relevant and the absurd. He attacks what’s wrong with the world and sometimes even what’s wrong with himself. He’s brutally honest, satirical, and his performance is ceaselessly energetic.

One of Adam’s many reviews stated, this one by bestselling author Gavin de Becker, “There’s a growing group of people who have known that Orny is a great comic thinker and performer. We search out his stuff on the internet, we go to his shows, and we send emails around with things he’s said. It’s like we discovered Bob Dylan early and everyone else is just about to.” 

Opening for Adams that night will be Frazer Smith, also known as Frazier Smith. According to Wikipedia, he is an American radio personality, disc jockey, actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. Smith worked in Los Angeles at KROQ-FM from 1976 through 1979, KLOS from 1979 through 1984, KMET 1984 through 1986, KLSX 1986 through 1997, KLOS in 1997, and KRTH in 2002 and back to KLOS a third time until 2020. He has played small roles in films and television shows and was one of the announcers on the TBS music video show Night Tracks from 1986 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991. 

The debut of his manic show on KROQ-FM coincided with that station’s rise playing what was then-new new wave music. Smith is noted for his KROQ-FM simulcasts of the 1978 World Series. He coined the phrase “Too hip, gotta go!” while at KLOS. Smith also hosted the late-night television show called “Rock ‘N’ America,” in 1984. 

Presently, Smith is busy doing podcasts and stand-up comedy, which he’s said is his first love. He’s appeared at the Improv, the Laugh Factory, the Ice House, and the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, among others.

Tickets are $59 for reserved seating. Gates and concessions open at 6 p.m. Bring a jacket or blanket for the chilly evenings, as this is an outdoor theater. Refreshments and light snacks are available for purchase.

Tickets are on sale now at https://solvangtheaterfest.com. 

For more information on Orny Adams, visit www.ornyadams.com/, and for Smith, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frazer_Smith.

Solvang Festival Theater is at 420 2nd St., Solvang.

For more information, call (805) 686-1789 or visit www.solvangfestivaltheater.org

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It was a glorious summer day for the 61st annual Old Santa Ynez Days Parade, which was held on Saturday, June 21. The theme of this year’s parade was the same as last year’s: “Where the West Went Wild!” Throngs of people gathered in the little town to enjoy this annual event, which celebrates the Old West the old-fashioned way. 

With the first notes of the national anthem, sung by Mia Goldman, the crowd became quiet, and everyone stood still with hand over heart until the anthem ended to uproarious applause.

The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade was Jillian Knight. According to her bio, Knight is a lifelong Santa Ynez Valley resident who was raised on a ranch in Gaviota before settling in Santa Ynez. She and her husband, Anthony, have been together for over 21 years and are raising their two children, Isabelle and Dominic, as fourth-generation locals. 

For over 25 years, Knight has dedicated herself to nonprofit work, both locally and nationwide. She has volunteered in disaster relief efforts, advocated for human rights, and supported vulnerable populations, including veterans, the disabled, single mothers, and low-income families. Despite living with a connective tissue disorder and physical challenges, she brings empathy and insight to her role as a board member and operations consultant of the Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program. 

“Volunteering has always been the most rewarding experience,” she said, reflecting on the joy she sees in students who benefit from the program. Her commitment to service continues to uplift and strengthen her community. Knight co-owns Grateful Heart Consulting, specializing in fundraising, event planning, and nonprofit compliance. She also administrates the SYV Local News & Emergency group on Facebook and provides the fire updates for the community. 

This year’s parade featured approximately 28 entries, which included multiple groups on horseback, dance groups, vintage cars and tractors, dogs galore, and, of special mention, Luna, the amazing high-jumping dog, who, according to her owner, Ann Clausen, would have jumped all day had she permitted, and a Scottish Highland bull whose enormous horns were painted like the American flag. The event also featured a variety of street vendors selling their wares, food trucks, a pie contest, a kid’s area with face painting, pony rides, bounce houses, and a variety of other activities for children to enjoy, provided by Waldorf School and SYV Children’s Museum. Music filled the air all afternoon, provided by Beau Red and The Tailor Made from Ojai; The Ripley’s, a local band, and featured singer Hayli Carlton.

Leading this year’s parade was the Sheriff’s Mounted Unit, followed by three members of the VFW carrying flags. TheGrand Marshal waved to the crowd as she passed by with hoots and hollers from the bystanders, followed by members of the SYV Therapeutic Riding Program, Santa Ynez Valley Rec Queen, Kaci Caplan, riding in a Corvette, then came the amazing jumping dog, Luna, followed by a large group of dog owners from Dogs of Santa Ynez walking their canine friends. 

Next up was SY Feed & Milling, Santa Ynez Valley Hounds, a foxhunting club, Santa Barbara County Cattlewomen, Domingos Family Tractors representing ag history, the Garcia Dance Studio from Lompoc, a miniature braying donkey and a Scottish Highland bull with patriotically painted horns. 

Then came the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, Los Rancheros Visitadores, Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue, a 1958 yellow Corvette, the Santa Ynez 4-H Club with a tribe of goats,  a vintage Jeep, the Santa Barbara County Trail Riders, the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge, members of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Folklorico Dance Club, more vintage tractors, a 1978 Flat Bottom Speed Boat called Bad Medicine, SYV Rodeo Western Heritage float, Old Santa Ynez Days Rodeo Queen Hailee Taylor, Santa Ynez Valley Penning Association, and last but not least, the Santa Ynez Jail holding a handful of local jailbirds.

But the day wasn’t all about the parade.

The Old Santa Ynez Days Pie Contest judges, Leonardo Curti and Joy Reinhardt, had a tough time picking winners from all the fabulous entries. The winner and Grand Champion was Mariah Montejano with her strawberry rhubarb pie. The Reserve Grand Champion was Cynthia Bacon with her triple berry crumble, for which she also won Best Filling; Best Crust was won by John Scott with his famous blackberry crumble. The Best Visual award went to Lisa Byrne, last year’s Grand Champion, for her fresh peach pie with butter crust crumble topping. 

“It was a seriously tough competition — every entry was delicious and represented a labor of love on the part of the creator,” said Nancy Hunsicker, coordinator of the Pie Contest and parade announcer. 

Following the conclusion of judging, the enthusiastic crowd enjoyed sampling all the pies, with a tip jar going to benefit the SYV Historical Museum.

Sponsors for the event were the following: Platinum: SY Band of Chumash Indians; Golden: Pony Cocktails + Kitchen; Silver: Mechanics Bank, St. George Construction, Charlotte’s of Santa Ynez, Uva Design Studio; Kid’s Corral: Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, Santa Ynez Valley Youth Rec; Beer: O’Connor Pest Control, Figueroa Mountain Brewing; Pie Contest: Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum; Frozen Wine Barrel: Inklings Printing Co.; Carriage Rides: Inklings Printing Co., Santa Ynez Feed & Milling; VIP Area: Pony Cocktails + Kitchen; and Entertainment: Hometown Insurance, Patriot Trailer Sales, Central Coast Landmark Properties, DMH Properties, and Robert Raucchaus.

“Business has been good, and the parade was really cute with the agility dog and the long-horned bull with the stars and stripes painted on his horns,” said Darlene Boyer, who along with Gail Page, manned a booth selling jewelry made by Diane Brown of Stone River Original. “It is so USA Americana with families, kids, dogs, and horses. It was beautiful; the whole day was refreshing.”

Charlotte Becerra, president of the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce, said the Old Santa Ynez Days in an excellent example of people working together.

“This event is produced completely by volunteers, over 40 of them,” she said. “They all have one thing in common: their love of the township of Santa Ynez and the people of this community. The main volunteers were: Event Chair/Vendors: Charlotte Becerra; Kid’s Corral: Barbie Duarte; Parade: Lisa Lyons; Logistics: Nicole Peña & Alvie Whitaker; Pie Contest: Nancy Hunsicker; Music: Chuy Vidales of Santa Barbara Wine Events; Badges: Brian Carillo; and Muscle: SYVUHS Pirate Football.”

“The Old Santa Ynez Days event was fantastic this year! The Chamber and dozens of dedicated volunteers work tirelessly for over six months to provide a fun, free, family event for the community,” Becerra saidWe are honored to carry this 61-year tradition on for the township and that, even after all of these years, it is still a fun, fantastic celebration and the whole town joins in the festivities,” said Becerra. “The Chamber works closely with the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and the Western Heritage Foundation to provide three days of fun in the town. But we cannot do it without our amazing crew of volunteers and our generous sponsors, for whom we are most grateful.”

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Williams, one of the members along with five others on the Butchers of America’s Team USA, returned from the World Butchers’ Challenge (the “Olympics of Meat”), which was held in Paris at the end of March, with two first-place medals. 

Butchers of America is a team of butchers that was assembled primarily to compete in the World Butcher Challenge (WBC), which started approximately 20 years ago between Australia and New Zealand. Over the years, the competition grew to incorporate teams from many other countries. Eighteen countries participated in this year’s challenge.

“The hosting country, France, won all of the team categories,” Williams said. “We won best gourmet sausage and best beef sausage and tied for best chicken product and best lamb product. These categories are blind tastings, so the judges didn’t know which country made them. Winning in two sausage categories against countries that have been making sausages for 3,000 years was thrilling.”

Williams flew to Paris a few days before the event, which was fortuitous, as there were several incidents the team had to deal with before the competition started.

“My wife and some friends (the ‘rice guys’) flew out of LAX to Paris a few days before the event,” he said. “The three days before the competition were hectic. We had to shop for equipment, produce, and odds and ends we needed, so there was no time for sightseeing until after the competition.”

An unforeseen problem complicated things for the U.S. team.

“The day before the event, we found out that the supplies that the French were supposed to provide us weren’t on the truck, so we sent two team members scrambling around Paris to find what we needed while the rest of the team prepared everything else before the challenge began,” Williams said. “While the two team members were scrambling to get the supplies, the French informed us that they had found our provisions. Since we had already purchased all that was needed, we told them we didn’t need their supplies, and they were more than a little annoyed.”

The first day of the competition was focused on the “Young Butchers” challenge.

“We had two Americans in the ‘Young Butchers’ section of the competition, which was held on the first day, March 30,” Williams said. “I’m very proud of Sierra Jepsen and Cora Gains for the excellent job they did representing the United States.”

The following day was the “World Butchers’ Challenge.”
“Over 7,000 spectators attended the event, with more than 50 Americans in the stands cheering us on,” Williams said. “Each country was introduced, and the crowds went crazy. It was like being center stage at a major athletic or entertainment event. It was wild and noisy and exciting.”

Williams explained the format of the competition. “Every country had their own table, and we had three and a half hours to break down half a cow, half a pig, a whole lamb, and five chickens, and make sausages, and ground products, then display them in a visually artistic manner,” he said. “Every item had to be processed and displayed with a detailed recipe on how to cook it. 
“Every five minutes a new judge walked around checking for safety, sanitation, teamwork, proper use of the equipment, and our final display. It’s stressful being under the watchful eye of every judge, but when they change every five minutes, it’s a high-pressure environment.”

Because Williams is hard of hearing, he wore a state-of-the-art communication system that allowed him to hear his captain and focus on what he needed to do. 

“One point of interest was that the captain of our team furnished me with a special microphone that linked directly to my hearing aids, which was great,” he said. “I could just concentrate on what I was doing and not be distracted by the crowd.”

Soon enough, it was time for the teams to put their cuts on display.

“After processing all the meat, we set up our display table, and each of the judges made their final judgement on each table. At the end of the competition, each country picked their best product in each category, which was then given to a French chef with a detailed recipe to prepare and then judged for taste,” he explained. “We knew we had the possibility of winning the best chicken product, which was boneless stuffed chicken wings. We tied for our chicken and our lamb and received two trophies for the sausages and bragging rights.”

Williams said that most of the team members headed back to the U.S. right after the event, but he spent 10 days sightseeing in Paris with his wife and kids and his mother, Shirley. His mother and kids returned to the U.S. while he and his wife continued vacationing for five days in Spain and five days in Ireland.

“Being a part of the World Butchers’ Challenge was definitely one of the highlights of my life, and I can hang my hat on that,” said Williams. 

“I’m very proud of the Butchers of America’s Team USA, Etana Diaz, Nathan Bingham, Mitch Willis, Mark Madden, Ganny Johnson, Paul Carras, and Troy Morgan, for representing the United States and the craft of butchery,” said Williams. “I wouldn’t mind being a part of the World Butchers’ Challenge one more time. It was great!”

The award-winning sausages are available for purchase at Los Alamos Market in the meat department.

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Steeped in art since her childhood in Ukraine, Irina Malkmus is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of building an art community in the Valley, thanks to her plucky nature and Allan Hancock College. She will be teaching an oil and acrylic art class at Santa Ynez High School starting June 24.

Malkmus is a prolific painter in oil, acrylics, pastels, watercolor, mixed media, found objects, and pewter, creating works in realism, synthetic cubism, and surrealism. She has an eclectic style. She is also a permanent makeup artist. But her long-desired goal, since moving to the Valley in 2012, was to build an art community in Solvang. 

“It was always my idea to bring art classes into the Valley, to gather people together and have a good time, united by a unique art project, and to get to know each other through the art process,” said Malkmus. 

Her idea took hold in January 2024 when she started a free art social club based on socializing through healing art, called the “Serenity Art Club.” They meet once a month, but initially, finding a permanent space in which to gather was a difficult undertaking.

“I asked over a dozen businesses and churches in the Valley if they could accommodate my dozen or so enthusiastic students for three hours once a month, but everyone said no, giving me different reasons why they couldn’t. The Coffee House at Chomp was the first one to open its doors to us,” said Malkmus. “As the classes grew, we then moved to Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach Senior Center at the former library in Buellton.”
But Malkmus wanted to expand to accommodate even more participants. Her former professor at Allan Hancock College had an idea. 

“John Hood, my art professor from my days studying art at Allan Hancock College, strongly suggested that I reach out to the art department at Allan Hancock College to see if they could facilitate my dream of having an art therapy class,” Malkmus said. “Without his support, I would not have been brave enough to go in that direction. 

“So, I approached Allan Hancock College to see if I could hold my art classes in their section of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. It wasn’t easy because all of my diplomas, three years in nursing school and five years in psychology, were from Ukraine. It took them four months to calculate my credits from my past education. I was just hoping all the time that I could accomplish my dream of bringing people together to experience the power of healing art.”

Hancock liked the idea, but complications ensued.
“At first, they were very enthusiastic about my idea and wanted to give me the green light to start these classes, but later they discovered there was a conflict with their regulations and that they would have to do more work to create a new type of art course, and it would take about a year to solidify,” Malkmus said. “But I wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I was fortunate to have the undying support of Donna Avila, who worked tirelessly to make it happen from the ground up.

“We came up with a compromise, which was for me to teach an oil and acrylic art class while they set up my dream class. Needless to say, I was thrilled. I am looking forward to teaching my new class of students this summer.”

Malkmus will be teaching her first oil and acrylic art class for six weeks on Tuesdays starting June 24, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Allan Hancock Department at the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Classes are for adults only, and are free; just purchase your own materials. Find the class easily with CRN: 10858. Register online at https://www.hancockcollege.edu/.

Malkmus will continue her monthly “Serenity Art Club,” which meets at the Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach Senior Center at the former library in Buellton. These three-hour gatherings are structured around a themed introspective questionnaire, which allows people to self-reflect and create a unique vision from within themselves and share information about their creations. 
“All of my students, 80 percent of whom are women, are all different ages and from different backgrounds, so it is a diverse and interesting group of people who want to express themselves through their art,” she said.

For more information on the Serenity Art Club, call (805) 325-8603 or on social media under the Irina Malkmus. 

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It was a lovely spring day in Los Olivos for the Rotary Club’s 19th annual Jazz & Olive Festival, which was held on Saturday, June 7, at Lavinia Campbell Park. The festival is always a popular event, having developed a dedicated following over the years, and this year was no different. 

Jazz music, provided by The Alan Satchwell Quintet, filled the air as nearly 400 guests enjoyed the wines offered by 26 different vintners pouring their latest releases and tasty olive-related hors d’oeuvres, generously provided by 26 O’Chefs. 

The Jazz & Olive Festival was established by the Rotary Club of Los Olivos as a headline community event to showcase jazz musicians, the growing local olive industry, and Santa Barbara County’s premier wines. The annual festival is presented by and the primary fundraiser for the Los Olivos Rotary Club Foundation. All funds raised from the festival support local organizations in need, high school scholarships, and international service organizations. 

The winners of this year’s O’Chefs competition are as follows: Focaccia by Tyler Sprague; Fern’s Famous Olive Dip by Cindy Mathews; Olive Chocolate Brownies by Ann Foxworthy Lewellen; Pasta Salad by Candy Waldron; and Hoisin Beef by Judy Canby. The judges were Elaine Revelle and Sarah Harris.

“There was plenty of wine and a bounty of olive-based treats for all to enjoy,” said Chairperson Beth Sprague, who took over the event in 2022.

For the second year, the Jazz and Olive Festival stage featured local musicians featuring Alan Satchwell on trumpet joined by the Alan Satchwell Quintet, consisting of David Alm on piano, Dave Keif on bass, Darrell Voss on drums, Rich Seversen on guitar, and featured guest singer, Inga Swearengen.

“They were so good last year we decided to have them back this year to entertain all our guests,” said Rotarian Rich Nagler. 
“All the funds raised from this event go to charities our Rotary supports, both local and abroad,” said Sprague.

This past year, Los Olivos Rotary Club gave grants to a variety of community service organizations and youth services: Veggie Rescue, SYV Aquatic, SYV Botanic Garden, SYV Community Outreach, CALNAM, People Helping People ADCAP, Stuart Gildred YMCA, Hidden Wings, Friends of the Library, Little Village, Santa Barbara Food Bank, Arts Outreach, Los Padres Forest Watch, and New Life K9. Youth service grants were given to Lucy Clover H, RYLA Scholarships, Dunn Interactive Club, Santa Barbara Community Rowing, Explore Ecology, Nature Track, Youth Empowered, and the Scouts. 

“Our mission this year is to provide the remaining funds from this year’s event to local organizations who help solve food insecurity in our community,” said Nagler. “Organizations like People Helping People, Meals on Wheels, which serves over 300 house-bound or senior citizens in need, Atterdag at Home, Veggie Rescue, and the Bethania Lutheran Food Program.”

“Despite having a reputation for being affluent, Santa Barbara County has the second-highest poverty rate in the state, with 17 percent of residents lacking resources for basic needs like food,” quoted Nagler. “There has been a considerable decrease in funding and donated food to organizations that provide nutrition and an increase in those in need of assistance. 

“We are so glad to see so many people having a good time and helping our Rotary Club to provide donations and support for these organizations who help solve food insecurity in our community.”

Many Los Olivos Rotarians were on hand to help guests with their needs and enjoy the experience.
For more information on the Los Olivos Rotary Club, visit www.losolivosrotary.org.

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Fossemalle Dance Studio welcomes Hannah McNany as a new ballet teacher to their staff of dance teachers and choreographers. McNany has been dancing since she was 3 years old, ultimately receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance and completing a four-year satellite program with the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England.

Additionally, McNany’s ballet background includes training with the Santa Clarita Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Ballet Met, performing with Peter & Co., and Quicksilver Dance, along with many others. She is also a SAG/AFTRA member and has appeared in many commercials, movies, and TV series.

McNany initially reached out to Christine Fossemalle, the owner of Fossemalle Dance Studio, about taking an adult ballet class. She took her class, and Fossemalle immediately recognized McNany’s technique and skills and ultimately asked if she would be interested in teaching ballet at her studio.

“With my 40-plus years of experience observing dancers along with my extensive training, I could tell
that Miss Hannah’s technique and skills were there from the very first barre exercises; then moving to
the center, as we say in ballet terminology, her knowledge and artistry continued to please and
encourage my thoughts towards having her watch my classes first and then come and teach for me,”
said Fossemalle. “That was our evolution, and the outcome was positive, and I am delighted
she is joining our team of dedicated teachers.”

Dance has been a part of McNany’s DNA from childhood.

“I started dance lessons at the age of 3 in Alabama, where I was born,” said McNany. “Both my parents are from the United Kingdom and immigrated to the United States in 1981. My dad is a rocket scientist and was the head of propulsion for JPL, which is what brought us to California when I was 7 years old. My mother is retired from Cunard Cruise Lines, so as a youth I was able to do a lot of traveling.”

After arriving in California, McNany continued her dance by taking classes at the Santa Clarita Ballet Academy and studied there through her grade school and high school years.

“I knew I wanted to get a degree, so I attended San Jose State and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance,” she said. “In my last year of college, one of my professors, Gary Masters, offered me a place in the Limón technique-based dance company, San Jose Dance Company. I stayed with them for quite a few years, then moved to San Francisco and started freelancing as a dancer.”

McNany toured with a number of different companies in San Francisco while continuing to teach ballet.

“I wanted to become a teacher in classical ballet teaching studies, so I enrolled in the Royal Academy of
Dance (R.A.D.) in London, England, and completed their four-year satellite program,” she said.

In the meantime, she continued teaching, got married to her husband, Colin, who was a winemaker in the Santa Cruz Mountains, moved to Manhattan Beach, and had two children.

“Since my husband was originally from Southern California, we used to visit his cousin in the Santa Ynez
Valley for family celebrations, and we fell in love with the region,” said McNany. “In 2019, we started our own wine brand, Marbeso, in Buellton. After years of commuting, we decided to move the family to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2023.”

She said they found the perfect house, built in 1883, in Los Alamos. The building originally sat on the Alisal and was moved to Los Alamos, the home being the second oldest in the town.

“Now that my son is almost school age, I was ready to get back to teaching ballet, and I look forward to
working with Christine in the fall,” McNany said. “I will be teaching six classes of various ages, groups, and levels.”

Fossemalle said McNany will be teaching some of her longtime students at the studio.

“For ballet, it is important and beneficial to have another set of eyes that compliments and broadens the training, both technically and artistically,” said Fossemalle. “Miss Hannah will bring our students her ballet expertise, her extended experience as a teacher and performer, and her desire to share her knowledge with the next generation.”

“I am very happy to share my students, both newcomers and current, with Miss Hannah, as she seems as passionate as I am about dance. Hannah will provide and ensure excellence in the field of ballet for newcomers as well as experienced dancers.”

McNany is equally pleased to be instructing at the studio.

“I am very much looking forward to teaching at the Fossemalle Dance Studio and passing along my
passion and knowledge of ballet with the students of the Valley,” she said.

Classes start on Sept. 2. They encourage early fall registration as their enrollment is limited to 10 to 12 students per class to provide the best possible attention to detail required for the Art of Dance.

Fossemalle Dance Studio is at 3595 Numancia St., Santa Ynez. For more information, call (805) 688-8494 or visit www.fossemalledancestudio.com

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Susan Farber, the owner of Sol Aromatics, is a natural perfumer and certified aroma therapist as well as a licensed marriage family therapist.

She has been making natural perfumes with ingredients and distillers sourced from all over the world, along with materials she grows in her own aromatic garden. She has been teaching workshops since 2016, but she has been making perfumes since she was 8 years old.

“My mother gave me a perfume kit, and as an only child, I played with it for hours,” she said. “That’s when I got really obsessed with the smell of violets.”

Among the variety of flowers and herbs she grows in her garden at home, she says that her favorite scent is still violets.

“I’ve always been a creative person and was always encouraged by my parents,” she said. “My father was a professional studio singer and my mother owned a plant store and had a green thumb.”

Farber’s studio is filled with an amazing number of bottled scents sitting on shelves, in closets, and in other areas around her home.

“I do my own extractions, bottle them, and use them in my natural perfume workshops,” said Farber, displaying her collection.

She says her passion blossomed when she moved to the Valley 11 years ago. She attended an event at the former C Gallery in Los Alamos to have a custom perfume made by perfumer Sarah Horowitz. She fell in love with the process and asked Horowitz where she could learn how to make perfume.

“Her studio was in Thousand Oaks, which I attended, and I asked her where I could learn how to make natural perfumes, not synthetic, and she recommended Mandy Aftel, who interestingly enough was a psychotherapist as well,” she said. “I went to her workshops in Berkeley and started teaching a modification of her workshop, which has evolved over the years. During the pandemic, I studied over the internet under an Israeli perfumer, Ayala Moriel. I studied with her for three years, with people from all over the world. In her workshops, I learned about tincturing, old-world perfume practices, and fragrance families. I learned how to make perfumes of different fragrance families. She also taught me how to create a natural version match of a famous perfume. This is one way perfumers learn to improve and develop their skills.”

She soon became passionate about obtaining essences from distillers from all over the world and also finding new materials to tincture.

“I also make natural incense,” Farber said. “I made one called ‘Open Your Heart’ after a breakup to open my heart again. I use incense and essences to create a positive mind and healing space in my psychotherapy practice.”

Farber is now passing her expertise to others.

“I’ve been doing workshops since 2016,” she said. “The experience of making your own perfume is designed to awaken your sensorial creativity and to stir olfactory memory. Our sense of smell is deeply connected to emotion and memory, making scent a powerful way to honor meaningful bonds. You work with a curated palette of natural essences to craft a personalized perfume — one that reflects your memories, inspirations, and connections.”

Describing a fulfilling experience she had in one of her workshops, Farber related a Mother’s Day story.

“In one of my previous Mother’s Day workshops, I had three generations of women from one family attend,” she said. “They co-created a single perfume together, not three individual scents. It was a moment when all three generations came together as a unit and created something that each of them loved and shared. That is such a powerful experience as a psychotherapist.”

Farber has workshops at different locations around the Santa Ynez Valley.

“I’ve held yearly workshops at the California Nature Museum since 2017. At one of these workshops, which was in conjunction with a Yosemite photographic exhibition, I incorporated conifer oils and found a distiller of Yosemite pine needles and incorporated his oils into the workshop. It brought to life the entire experience,” she said. “I’ve also given workshops at the Windmill Nursery, and I held a Mother’s Day workshop at the Strange Family Tasting Room in Los Olivos. I will be holding a workshop at Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm on Saturday, June 21.

“I take special care sourcing high-end oils and I evaluate them. I source exquisite oils to provide the best aromatic experience for attendees. Please don’t wear perfume to the workshops. At these hour-long workshops, the attendees will receive an informative booklet about perfume making, your personal perfume recipe, and a vial of your perfume to take home.”

Last December, Farber opened an e-commerce store to sell her perfume and incenses and for private perfume-making experiences such as birthdays, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties, to name a few. 

“At the heart of Sol Aromatics is an appreciation for the sense of smell and its ability to evoke memory, stir emotion, and foster positive states of being,” she said.

For more information on her upcoming workshop at Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm on June 21, or for more information, call (805) 886-5538, email SolAromatics@gmail.com or visit SolAromatics.com

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Interior designer and artist Patti Baldiviez had the idea of bringing a group of fellow artists together with the purpose of setting aside a creative space in which they would make time for their art and encourage each other to improve their skills and share techniques and ideas in a very collaborative setting. 

“Our group was formed almost two years ago out of a need to support other artists’ practices here in the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Baldiviez. “We came together really quickly with this strong intention in mind. I mentioned it to a couple of acquaintances that I knew were artists to see if there was an interest in forming a group, and each of them jumped at the idea. The accountability and support of a group can really create an inspirational and productive environment in which to thrive.”

The group meets on Monday mornings for three hours. They are Baldiviez, Linda Small, Christine DiPego, Susan Buchanan, and Karen Young. They come from different backgrounds and get together to honor their art practice. Each of them brings a different artistic background and style. 

“As in art, there is no uniformity to our individual styles. We can all say we have been artists all of our lives,” said Baldiviez. “Each of us participating in our art group has had a life-long passion of including art in everyday life. One of our members said it best, ‘There was no back up plan for my life. It was art or it was nothing.'”

The group’s meeting is definitely a collaborative effort.

“Each time we meet, we bring what we want to work on that day. Generally, we work on watercolor, small acrylic paintings, and all forms of mixed media. We specifically bring anything that is easy to transport and somewhat quick to dry, so it can be transported back home at the end of our art session,” said Baldiviez. “We discuss ideas and offer each other input, share art books and techniques. We have also worked on collaborative pieces, where one of us starts a piece, usually on watercolor paper, and each week another one of us takes it home to add to it. We pass it along until each one of us has added our unique artistic input, in our own style, using whatever medium we choose, and then we have a completed art piece.

“For our summer project, we have started gathering things that would be conducive to making our own brushes as a group endeavor. This type of brush is considered a mark-making brush, and the beauty of the brush comes from driftwood collected at our Central Coast beaches.  We then create a brush tip that can be used to create different effects in our art.”

Finding a space to meet every week has been difficult, but that has not deterred them.

“It has been difficult to find a space to meet every week, so we have been careful to keep our group small for this reason,” Baldiviez said. “Initially we met at the Mission for a couple of sessions, but unpredictable weather and wind made that hard to continue outdoors. Next we moved to one member’s home, who had a beautiful working space on an open veranda, but that became a lot for one member to be the weekly host in her home. For the last year, we have found another local meeting place that has worked out beautifully, for now. Unfortunately, the space would not be sufficient if the group were to expand, but we would welcome more artists if we had a larger space.”

Several members of the group are currently showcasing their art at CrossHatch Winery in Santa Ynez.

“Michelle Vautier, the owner, has been gracious enough to plan two artist receptions for us since the start of the gallery show,” Baldiviez said. “Bringing art and wine together has created an experience for local visitors who come to her relaxing venue in the heart of Santa Ynez. There are three of us from our group displaying works there that include mixed media, oil painting, and photography.

“In addition, two artists from Santa Barbara are currently showing mixed media and acrylic works on canvas. Michelle has been so supportive of local artists and has said that art is one of the foundations of Crosshatch, as evident in her wine labels. I encourage people to get in to enjoy this eclectic art show soon, as it will be changing again sometime early summer.”

Baldiviez said the members of the group enjoy creating something with peers.

“Being a part of an art group is a valuable experience, especially if one is serious about sharing their passion for art making,” Baldiviez said. “In a group setting, that passion can be manifested and supported in so many ways. Getting our pieces out into the community is a very vulnerable experience, but as we encourage each other, we are able to make the experience a positive one, and our art gets out into our community and beyond.”

CrossHatch Winery is at 1090 Edison St. #104, Santa Ynez.

For more information, email Pbidsales@gmail.com

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