Many patrons of the Solvang Library may have noticed the absence of a familiar and friendly face from behind the front desk and the stacks of books at the library. And indeed, you would be right. After 25 years of serving the community and its children, Carey McKinnon, the branch supervisor of the Solvang, Los Olivos, and Santa Ynez libraries, has decided to retire. Her last day was Dec. 14.

“It was time,” said McKinnon. “My husband Jeff McKinnon, who, for many years, was the drama teacher and the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Theater Group, retired earlier this year, and we thought it was time to open the next chapter of our lives.”

It was either by luck or serendipity that McKinnon found her way to working at the Solvang Library all those years ago. 

“My husband and I had been living in Chicago with our two children when he decided he had an urgent desire to return to California,” she said. “I was hesitant at first because I loved my life in Chicago. I had a job working as a researcher for a law firm, which I enjoyed. We had two children, and there was so much to do there, with great theater and restaurants.”

But she agreed to the move, with one stipulation: that they return to the Santa Ynez Valley to live. Carey had grown up for the most part during the ’70s and ’80s in Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley, where her grandparents had a winery called Carey Cellars on Alamo Pintado Road, now the site of Lincourt Vineyards. Plus, she and Jeff had a history locally, having initially met each other while doing an internship at PCPA. They both went their separate ways to different universities, Carey going on to graduate school to receive her Master’s degree in theater and communications from Temple University in Philadelphia. But they remained in touch with each other over the years and were married in 1990. 

Settling in Solvang, Jeff had found a teaching job in Carpinteria, and while raising their two daughters, Carey thought a part-time job would be fun. 

A friend of Carey’s mentioned seeing an ad in the local paper that the library was looking for help. She said she applied but didn’t get the job. Instead, she was told about another position that was open, that of branch supervisor. She applied, and instead of the part-time position she had initially looked for, she found herself with a full-time job and a new career.

“I took the job immediately because it was a great opportunity, and I love a challenge — plus it was close to home. So, my dream of living a relaxed life in the Valley with a part-time job went out the door,” she said. “It was my first and only library job. And I have loved everything about working at the Solvang Library these past 25 years.” 

McKinnon knows at least one thing she plans to do with her expanded leisure time.

“Now I will have more time to read some of the books that are on the shelves of the library,” she said. “I have great admiration for writers and there are so many to explore.” 

Over the years, she said she was fortunate enough to partner with community groups and create some interesting programs, such as Story Time and family-focused events, lectures, an online children’s book club during COVID, Community Reads, and Read Aloud events, to name but a few. 

On Dec. 12, The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley gave her a going-away party, where close to 100 community members, library patrons, volunteers, and friends got together to wish her well in her new endeavors. She was presented with a crystal award in recognition of her years of service to the community. 

As the Valley grows, McKinnon sees the need to enlarge the library.

“I would very much like to work behind the scenes with the Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley and the City of Solvang to build a larger library for the community,” said McKinnon. “Our library is quite small, and I would like to see it expanded to incorporate spaces for a community meeting room, room for after-school homework help, and English as a second language tutoring. But there are many other things I would like to do as well, like gardening and hiking, and my list is growing.”

It has always been important to McKinnon to recognize what community service means.

“When you have a public service job, it’s important to remember that you aren’t working for the institution; your real job is working for the people you serve,” said McKinnon. “It has always been very important for me to recognize that.

“I have loved working at the library, but mostly I will miss seeing the faces of the children, the parents, and those of the community and the many visitors who find their way to the library.”

Feature Image: The Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley gave retiring Librarian Carey McKinnon a going-away party on Dec. 12, with close to 100 people attending. Pictured from left are Friends of the Library Board Members David Goldstein, Barbara Breza, Leslie Kirkby, Carey McKinnon, Valerie Kissell, Kristan Morrison, and Judine Victor. 

The post ‘It was time’: Valley Librarian Carey McKinnon retires appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church was filled to overflowing at the Solvang Nativity Pageant, which was held on Sunday, Dec. 15. This was a new venue for the annual pageant that has historically been held at Theaterfest over the past 40 years.
 
There was not a seat to be had anywhere in the sanctuary. The event was also livestreamed for the overflow.

The event began at 4 p.m., where attendees could visit with live animals in a garden setting. There were different varieties of goats who were very vocal, piglets who never left each other’s side, sheep, and a donkey with staff members, dressed as shepherds, tending their flocks. There was also a Bethlehem Creche scene where guests could take family photos.

The doors to the Sanctuary opened at 5 p.m. The area sprang to life as music filled the air. When everyone was seated, Autumn van der Linden, the office manager of the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church and organizer of this year’s event, took the stage to introduce Janette Swanson, the woman who had produced the Nativity Pageant over the past 40 years and had handed the baton to van der Linden this year. Swanson welcomed everyone and said a short prayer.

Then C.J. Jackson, the narrator, began to tell the story of the Nativity, a story about the birth of “the most significant person in human history, Jesus.” It began with the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, telling her, “To fear not, that she had found favor with God.” He told her that she was with child, a son to be named Jesus.

Members of the Valley Glee Club and the Los Olivos Arts Outreach sang “Little Drummer Boy.”

Jackson continued with the story, recalling the visit Mary made to her cousin Elizabeth to tell her the great news.
Harp-playing angels Emma Tesdahl, Adira Hall, and Gina Tesdahl entered the stage and entertained the audience, while Lauren Thill performed an interpretive ballet dance to “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” sung by van der Linden and accompanied by Nancy Swanitz on piano.

The narrative continued with the birth of Jesus in a stable; the frightened shepherds tending their flocks and the appearance of an angel saying “do not be afraid, I bring you tidings of great joy, a savior is born and is laying in a manger”; the visit of the three wise men with King Herod in their search for the new-born king; the jealous King Herod desperately wanting to find out where this “new king” was in order to kill him; the visit to the manger of the Magi bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and returning home another way so as not to inform Herod of the location of the baby Jesus.

The story was interspersed with an array of little angels and shepherds singing “Away in a Manger,” adorably miming all the words; the adult choir, led by Alan Satchwell, singing “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “We Three Kings,” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” 

Jackson closed the narrative by reading a poem written by Dr. James Allan Francis, “One Solitary Life,” about the life of Jesus.

The audience then stood and sang “Joy to the World” and exited the sanctuary to gather outside in the garden and join in a circle under a full moon to sing “Silent Night” together.

Then everyone retired for light snacks and goodies, including freshly made pizza donated by Pizzeria Lucca, along with an assortment of chili and all the trimmings. Children busied themselves making a variety of crafts as parents picked up some baked Christmas treats.

The pageant cast consisted of Larry Sommers as Angel Gabriel; Jenavieve de la Vega as Mary; Daniel de la Vega as Joseph; Marilyn Sommers as Elizabeth; and Courtney de la Vega as the Angel of the Lord. Shepherd soloists were Anna Scionti, Judah Kiser, and Rylee De La Vega; the angel soloist was Bella De LaVega; King Herod was played by Larry Skahill; the priest was Marty Scionti; the Roman soldier was played by John Spradly, and the Maji were Glenn Beede, Nathan VanBergen, and Gabe Clow.
A special thanks to Santa Barbara Strings, directed by Mary Beth Woodruff; Valley Glee Club & Los Olivos Arts Outreach directors, Lacie Johnson, and Megan Linton; Children’s Choir and parents; and the Adult Choir, directed by Alan Satchwell.

“It was an absolutely fabulous evening, a true way to enjoy Christmas and the blessings it brings,” said Diane Kees. She and her late husband Wayne donated the stained-glass windows for the church.

“It was thrilling conducting the adult choir in such a beautiful setting, the Presbyterian Church,” said Alan Satchwell, the adult choir director. “In all my years of choir directing, this was a highlight.”

“It was a beautiful night with adorable children, lovely music, and so well attended,” said Patti Rogers. “I think everyone in the Valley was here tonight, especially all the children. It’s so nice to see all these folks together celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus.”

“The production quality was outstanding, with glorious costumes, superb lighting, and choir direction. And the children’s choir was beyond adorable with the little ones following the hand gestures given by the choir leader. It was beyond delightful,” said M. Rodriguez.

“I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to be part of bringing this long-time Christmas tradition back to the Valley. I believe it was well received, and it seemed as if the community really enjoyed having this family event in Solvang again,” said van der Linden. “The food and fellowship time that followed the pageant was a really nice addition (Thank You, Ruthy Gallo). God’s hand has been at work throughout this entire process, and I believe that was made evident on Sunday night. I am already looking forward to next year’s show.”

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

The post Solvang Nativity Pageant draws crowds beyond expectation appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The little town of Santa Ynez held its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Crowds of parents, children, friends, and neighbors gathered in the courtyard of the museum and inside the Parks-Janeway Carriage House to hail in the Christmas season.

There were activities for the children, a visit from Santa, and live Christmas music.

The feature event was the tap and ballet performances by dancers from Fossemalle Dance Studio, dressed in festive costumes.

As guests surrounded the roped-off stage, and children nestled on the floor, the dancers entered the stage and performed two tap dancing routines to much applause. They were followed by ballet dancers performing to music from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite.” The ballerinas, dressed in long, white, diaphanous costumes, performed a gracefully choreographed routine as children sat wide-eyed, looking on.

“They danced like gentle snow flurries on a winter’s day, drifting through the air then landing gracefully on the dance floor, ever so beautifully,” said one of the attendees who preferred to remain nameless.

For their final ballet performance, the ballerinas, wearing red, white, and gold costumes, in keeping with the Christmas theme, danced around an imaginary Christmas tree, to the delight of the audience, who vigorously applauded their efforts.

After a short break, everyone left the museum to attend the lighting of the majestic 55-foot-plus tree on Sagunto Street.

As crowds gathered, children began to chant, “Light the tree! Light the tree!” and the countdown began. The moment arrived, the switch was hit, and the huge tree lit up as everyone cheered with delight.

The event was sponsored by Santa Ynez Beautiful and the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

The post Santa Ynez holds annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

As the sun began to sink into the west, the little town of Los Olivos became awash with twinkling lights, silvery decorations, sparkling balloons, crowds of people shoulder to shoulder, and so many children all eager to take part in the annual Olde Fashioned Christmas event, which was held on Saturday, Dec. 7. The annual event kicks off the holiday season with the lighting of the Christmas tree after dark, in the middle of town.

Early in the day, guests were able to wander through the many shops that were offering great holiday deals, drop by the many tasting rooms for a glass of wine, enjoy some tasty treats, and partake in an Olde Fashioned Christmas, one to remember. The local jazz band belted out Christmas tunes for all to enjoy. Figueroa Mountain Brewery hosted a holiday market and crafts, a kid’s cookie decorating table, hot cocoa, and free photos with Santa.

Later in the day, St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church hosted a Gingerbread Wonderland where local artisans and school children displayed their works of art on tables for guests to view up close. The smell of popcorn, roasted walnuts, and live music wafted through the air as people explored the town, enjoying all the fun things that were offered.
 
The highlight of the Olde Fashioned Christmas event is the lighting of the new 35-foot Christmas tree. As people slowly made their way from all directions toward the middle of town, the St. Mark’s Choir sang Christmas carols while everyone joined in singing along. Keith Saarloos, the master of ceremonies, regaled the crowd with a fable about how the Los Olivos Christmas tree came to find a home in the middle of town and then thanked the many people who had contributed financially to acquiring this year’s new, larger tree.
 
Saarloos then called all the children to gather around the tree, and placing their hands on it, they were told to make a wish, not for themselves, but for someone else. Silence stirred, then the countdown began: 10, 9, 8 …3, 2, 1, and suddenly the tree was alight with an array of colors as shouts and whoops arose in the night. 

The spirit of Christmas was alive in Los Olivos and continued into the evening with dancing and music.
“This is our favorite event of the year,” said Alice Berg, president of the Los Olivos Rotary. “We love giving out cookies and cocoa to the community; it gets us all into the holiday spirit.”

The event was sponsored by the Los Olivos Chamber.

The post Los Olivos kicks off the holiday season with an Olde Fashioned Christmas appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Students at Fossemalle Dance Studio had the opportunity of being taught a ballet class by the former ballet mistress for the New England Ballet, Miss Linda Giancaspro. The event took place early in October.

Straight from New York City, Giancaspro has been crisscrossing the United States with the desire to share her passion for the art of ballet through holding numerous dance conventions and classes.

“As teachers, we are always striving to enhance our advanced ballet students’ experience and expertise, so we were incredibly pleased and excited about Miss Linda Giancaspro’s visit,” said teacher and studio owner Christine Fossemalle. “Our ballerinas had the opportunity to take part in a master class, and it was an evening of joy, enthusiasm, and excitement. Our ballerinas lived up to the high expectations and rose to the challenges beautifully. The class was incredible, and each dancer had an experience of a lifetime.

“As their teacher, it was a treat for me to witness the work, the drive, and their accomplishments! Brilliant and uplifting for all involved! Each of them made me proud of their outstanding endeavors.”

Following the class, Giancaspro said, “Thank you, Mme. Fossemalle for hosting me and presenting the opportunity to work with your beautifully trained dancers! They have it all: focus, passion, and technique! Bravo ladies!”

“We wish to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Miss Linda for her exquisite and inspiring ballet class and for communicating her love and passion for the art of ballet,” Fossemalle said. “We will cherish the memories of this special moment for a long time to come. It encourages us to continue to strive for excellence in both technique and artistry. We are looking forward to welcoming her back.”

The post Fossemalle Dance Studio welcomes former ballet mistress Miss Linda Giancaspro appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Alison Height is the owner of the Los Alamos Coffee And Tea, a quaint new establishment where locals and visitors can meet and enjoy a pastry and coffee or a cup of tea. It opened on her birthday, Sept. 14, to a great deal of fanfare from locals, guests, and family members who welcomed the new addition to the town.
 
A Santa Barbara County local who grew up on Drum Canyon, Height was introduced to the coffee business at a very young age by her mother, who owned a coffee shop in Lompoc called Coffee Bean & Things in the ‘90s where she also helped out.
 
“My mother married the coffee roaster, so coffee seems to be in my blood,” said Height.

Height attended Dos Pueblos High School and subsequently Santa Barbara City College, with her focus on nursing. But while there, she was asked to run the two coffee shops on the West and East campuses, which she did for a couple of years.

“I tried my best to get away from coffee and ventured back into the medical field. I became a certified phlebotomist and worked as a respiratory technician in a private pulmonary office of heart and lung doctors for about three years,” she said. “Wanting to expand my horizons, I then became a preschool teacher, having acquired my teaching credentials at night school. I taught for four years at The Learningden Preschool in Santa Barbara and more recently at Bethania Preschool.”

Height explained how she became a resident of Los Alamos.

“My husband and our three children were living in a cute little cabin on the Kinevan Ranch off of West Camino Cielo Road in the Los Padres National Forest,” she said. “It was on 28 acres of pure bliss and a pioneer woman’s dream. We chopped our own wood and made our own bread and life was lovely. We lived there for eight years but the owner decided to sell and we couldn’t afford the asking price and to our surprise, there were no other houses in our price range to purchase or even to rent.

“We had talked many times about leaving the mountain and trying something new and this event catalyzed us into motion. We eventually found the cutest little magical place located in Los Alamos and as soon as we saw it, we felt immediately at home, like this was the place where we were meant to be.”

While walking the seven blocks through town, Height said she noticed there was something missing.

“On one of my walks I noticed there was no coffee shop in town; no local hang-out spot where I could take the kids and casually hang out with a cup of coffee,” said Height. “I then noticed a house on Bell Street that looked unlived in and out of curiosity, I peered through the window. To my surprise, I saw an espresso machine and a turn-key coffee shop operation inside. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and my ‘coffee’ blood started to boil with excitement.

“I spent the next few weeks trying to find out who owned the property and, with the help of a neighbor, I contacted the owner and we were able to negotiate terms and the Los Alamos Coffee And Tea shop was born.”

Gathering her dreams and ideas, Height said she has a lot of plans for her new establishment.

“My biggest goal is to create a family-oriented, casual, community gathering spot where people can meet up, read a book or a newspaper, or do some work in a relaxed environment,” she said. “There is outdoor seating in every garden space, an indoor lounge with a gift shop, and later there will be a children’s play zone with specialized furniture for kids to enjoy.”

And soon there could be more than just coffee and tea, according to Height.

“I also have plans to obtain an additional food permit to be able to prepare ‘light fare’ food on the premises,” she said. “I envision breakfast burritos, sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards, all to-go items. Early next year, I would like to launch an ‘Afternoon Tea’ service on the weekends which would include a pot of tea, finger sandwiches and petit fours.”

Height recalls fondly the time she spent working at her mother’s coffee shop.

“My favorite thing about owning a coffee shop is the camaraderie — people dropping by every day, some just to say hello, others sharing their day,” she said. “I remember what it was like working at my mother’s coffee shop and seeing the friendly faces of people coming in and the community connections and friendships that were created. That’s basically my goal — to offer people some delicious coffee, provide great customer service and to be of service to the community.”

And Height isn’t doing it alone.

“My husband is a great help and is very supportive of me and this venture. He is my rock,” she said.
 
“I don’t know how this happens, but I always seem to find my way back to coffee,” said Height, smiling. “But I’m very happy to be here.”

Los Alamos Coffee And Tea is at 315 Bell St., Los Alamos. Hours of operation are Wednesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call (805) 448-4293 or visit on Facebook and Instagram @losalamoscoffeeandtea or email alison.height@hotmail.com.

The post Coffee seems to be in Ali Height’s DNA appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Shortly after this story was published, the A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery was closed. A statement from Art Alvarez’s lawyer said, “The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery of Solvang was forced to quit due to a lease agreement that was only benefitting the landlord and not the lessee.”

The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery was overflowing with guests, with over a hundred people attending the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Art Alvarez’s new art gallery on Saturday, Nov. 23. They were all there to celebrate and support Alvarez in his new endeavor.

Guests included dignitaries such as Mayor Mark Infanti, Mayor Pro Tem (and Mayor-Elect) David Brown, and City Manager Randy Murphy of Solvang, who all helped Alvarez with the ribbon cutting.

Guests enjoyed wine and charcuterie while perusing the works of award-winning artists. On display were the oil paintings of Joel Phillips; pastels by Kris Buck; watercolors by Karen McGraw; sculptures by Pat Roberts; Disney-inspired oil, pastel, and watercolor prints by Devyn Samara; panoramic architectural ink and watercolor prints by George Rosu; and of course, the distinguished Disney originals by Alvarez himself. All but two of the artists were in attendance to talk to the guests about their work. Unfortunately, Buck and McGraw were unable to attend due to a traffic pile-up on Highway 101. The gallery also displays a collection of vintage airbrushes, an array of Disney memorabilia, and pencil art. 

Alvarez, who previously had another gallery in Solvang, which was off the beaten path and not a good location for an art gallery, was approached by Ed St. George, who was looking for an artist to create historic murals for his buildings. 
“When Ed approached me with his idea of creating historic murals for his buildings and realized I was a former Disney artist, he said, ‘I have a spot for you!’ And that spot was in his newly acquired building, located on Alisal Road near Copenhagen Street,” Alvarez said. “When I saw the space, I jumped at the offer. It is the perfect spot for an art gallery. I didn’t want to create one of those sterile galleries where people are reluctant to enter. I wanted to create one that is warm and inviting. And this is it. I had a soft opening in September, and we’ve had a ton of traffic.”

As Alvarez cut into the red ribbon in front of his new gallery, he spoke to the attending crowd, saying “This is a dream come true. Over the years I have visited thousands of art galleries, all the while dreaming of having one of my own. But what makes it super sweet for me is opening one in my hometown.” 

Both guests and artists were eager to extend their well wishes to Alvarez.

“Art is a great contribution to our city,” said Infanti. “He had another gallery down a pretty little laneway, but it was out of the way, and he didn’t get enough foot traffic. This building used to belong to David Rasmussen, and when he sold it, the new owner divided it into several small shops, and Art had the opportunity to move here and become much more obvious to the public. And it’s been wonderful. I want to say to Art, congratulations, and wish him the best of luck.”

Fellow artists added their praise to Alvarez.

“I am honored to be working together with Art, to be showing my work in the company of so many fine artists,” said Phillips.

“It is a joy to exhibit my work in Art’s new gallery. The paintings and drawings he’s included appeal to all ages and to many different art aesthetics,” Samara said. “I especially enjoyed seeing the kids’ faces light up as they passed the gallery and saw some of their favorite Disney characters on the back wall. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to be exposed to a variety of different types of art and broaden their creative education. All of the artists here are so talented and I feel privileged to be in their company.”

“The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery is a beautiful addition to downtown Solvang. It elevates the experience for visitors and locals alike. It is very inviting,” said Ester Jacobsen Bates, one of the guests who attended the opening. “Not often do you get to meet the artists and learn the stories behind their art.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a true and inviting art gallery in Solvang. It’s warm, inviting, comfortable, and easily accessible,” said Roberts. “It is nice for the artists too, because of the increased foot traffic they will get in this location.”

“I used to sell my prints to Rasmussens in 1975, and off and on over the years,” said Rosu. “I go out almost every weekend selling my prints at various art festivals all over the United States. I’ve known Art since the 1980s. We used to hang out but lost touch over the years. I was in Solvang recently and saw a sign for his gallery, and one day I caught him in and rekindled our old friendship. He asked me to exhibit my art in his gallery, and I immediately said yes. I am honored to be exhibiting in Art’s new gallery. He is a genius.”

The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery is located at 461 Alisal Road, Solvang. For more information, call (805) 691-9058.

The post The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery holds grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Amanda Russell’s childhood dream was to become a ballerina, and her mother made sure to provide her with whatever she needed to fulfill that dream. And through hard work and dedication, that dream has been fulfilled. She was recently asked to join the staff at Fossemalle Dance Studio in Santa Ynez as a new dance teacher.

“I was basically raised at Fossemalle Dance Studio having started dance classes when I was 5 years old,” said Russell.“My first ballet dance performance was in 2011, and I wore an angel costume with wings and held a little candle. I was in awe of the older dancers and was determined to learn ballet no matter what.

“My mother raised me by herself since I was 2 and she never failed to keep me in dance classes, working several jobs so she could support my passion,” said Russell emotionally.

In time, Russell added jazz, tap, and hip-hop into her curriculum of classes. She began performing in the Christmas tree lighting dances featuring tap and ballet. The opportunities only grew as she moved into the advanced dance classes. 

While attending Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, she taught basic ballet and tap as a side job at the Buellton Rec Center, taking her inspiration from Fossemalle’s classes, which she continued to take. She also occasionally stepped in as a substitute teacher at Fossemalle Dance Studio.

“I was privileged to have the opportunity to perform at the Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley in celebration of the life of Marta Becket, performer, artist, and friend of Christine’s,” she said. “That was a wonderful experience.”

Russell continued to pursue her passion for dance by applying for intensive workshops and auditioning for stage performances. 

“I auditioned with the American Ballet Theater for an intensive workshop and was selected to go to Texas, but I had to decline. But that summer, I auditioned for ’42nd Street’ with Arts Outreach and tapped my heart out. That was the start of my career,” she said. “I continued doing theater at the high school with Jeff McKinnon until I graduated. I would do theater at the high school and then come after school to take dance classes. Those times were hard because of Covid. We had to dance outside and ultimately do our annual performance on Zoom. Miss Fossemalle made sure the stage outside was clean and dry and safe for the dancers.”

Russell would continue her passion for dance as she furthered her education.

“After graduation, I went to Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) intending to study animal science, but quickly shifted my focus back to theater, a field I had experienced, been involved in, and enjoyed in high school,” she said. “I was a part of two SBCC Theatre Group productions which led me to audition for various theater programs throughout the country. I was accepted at three places: Emerson in Boston, Marymount in Manhattan, and at the equally prestigious Pacific Coast Performing Arts Program (PCPA), and I chose PCPA to be close to home and to the beach.”

Due to her heavy dance background, Russell was granted several professional opportunities at PCPA while still a studentin their rigorous acting program. She was an ensemble swing for “Cinderella” (2022), ensemble member and Dance Captain for “BrightStar” (2023), ensemble member and Assistant Choreographer for “Elf” (2023), Assistant Choreographer for “Little Shop of Horrors” (2024), and ensemble member/co-choreographer for “The Clockmaker’sDaughter” (2024). Upon graduation, PCPA granted Russell the Kobelt Family Dance Scholarship in recognition of not only her diligence and commitment to each production but also her knowledge and expertise in the art of dance.

“I was in their two-year acting program and graduated in May of this year. While I was a student there, I was fortunate to be a part of several productions, mostly because of my dance background. I was even given the opportunity to be dance captain as well as assistant choreographer in ‘Elf’ the musical. I loved working with George Walker, the lead in the musical as well as the director/choreographer, and Keenon Hooks, who recognized my dancing skill and asked me to assist him in creating several productions. They both were such great mentors to me.”

After graduation, Russell was asked by Fossemalle to perform in the studio’s anniversary showcase, which included many former dancers from around the country who had graduated from Fossemalle’s Dance Studio. 

“From March through June, I danced at Fossemalle’s Dance Studio, preparing for her 35th Anniversary show which took place in the Little Theater at the high school,” she said. “Christine asked me if I wanted to be in more of the dance productions and I was slightly overwhelmed but thrilled. Christine then asked me to come and be part of the staff.

Fossemalle said she feels proud to have her former student return as a teacher. 

“I knew her passion for performance and dance was strong. I had worked with her before, and I knew of her dedication and dependability and I wanted her to become part of our team,” said Fossemalle. “It makes me feel so special that I have Sonia Ibarra-Corona, who I taught since she was 4 years old and now Amanda Russell, who I taught since she was 5, both now teaching dance with me at the studio with passion and love, sharing the art of dance with the next generation. It’s like passing on my legacy.”

Russell started teaching jazz and tap in September at the studio for beginners and will be adding an adult tap class using her experience training actors how to tap at PCPA.

“I am honored to join the women who shaped my life,” Russell said. “I have come full circle, back to the beginning, and back to my dance home. And I am thrilled to be a part of the team.”

For more information, call Fossemalle Dance Studio at (805) 688-8494.

Feature Image: Amanda Russell (right), shown here with studio founder Christine Fossemalle, is a new dance teacher at Fossemalle’s Dance Studio. Photo by Devyn Marseilles 

The post Student to teacher: Dancer comes full circle appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Jan Finley officially opened her new real estate office, EXP Luxury Realty at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Aug. 22 under her own brand, the J. Finley Group. 

She has been in the real estate business for 24 years, previously working for Steve Golis, a successful commercial broker in Santa Barbara, where she acquired most of her real estate experience, for which she says she is “forever grateful.”

Finley and her husband, Father John Finley (attached to the altar of St. Athanasius Orthodox Church in Santa Barbara) moved to the Valley in 2007.

“I was working in Santa Barbara and I continued to commute, but that got old very quickly, so I joined Coldwell Banker in Los Olivos,” Finley said. “But, in truth, I always wanted to own my own real estate office.”

Originally from Washington state, Finley moved to Santa Barbara in 1970. She initially worked for Nordstrom Santa Barbara for eight years ending as the store information manager, which she says she loved. When she left to take a break from the corporate world she found a job working in an entirely different environment.

“I accepted a position with the County Education Office, where I worked with children with severe mental and physical challenges,” Finley said. “It was a rewarding experience, but my interests were in technology. As a favor to a friend, I was asked to help open a new real estate office in Goleta, as their admin and technology director. After watching the commercial agents, I decided that’s what I wanted to do as it was more business-minded.”

That began her path in real estate.

“I took a position as an admin and leasing agent for another boutique commercial real estate office,” Finley said. “With the experience I’d gleaned along the way, I moved on and took another position with the Golis Multi-Family team andfrom there I joined Coldwell Banker in Los Olivos to be closer to home.”

However, Finley had one ultimate goal in mind.

“With the Nordstrom customer service values engrained in me, I knew that I wanted to open my own office,” she said. “I had been with the best-of-the-best real estate companies and I knew I wanted to create an office culture and team where everyone shares the same core values and where we can have fun and provide the best customer service for our clients. I was enabled by EXP Luxury Real Estate to open my own office. I knew I had found my place, that my affiliation with EXP Luxury Real Estate would enable me to attain my dream working environment.”

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting was held with community leaders, local business owners, friends, and family in attendance. 

“We had a wonderful celebration. Artiste Winery & Tasting Studio generously donated the wine for the event and Lynne Alexander with Board Appetit donated huge charcuterie boards filled with an array of delicious goodies for everyone to enjoy,” said Finley. “Standing in my own office surrounded by friends and family I realized that my dream had come true.”

The Finleys have three children, all married, and eight grandchildren, all living just over the hill in Santa Barbara.

“I feel very blessed to have all my family so close by, my mother and siblings as well,” said Finley. “I am also grateful to all my clients for their trust and support which allows me to live my dream. I love living in Santa Ynez and now having an office in the middle of town, amid the business community, brings me great joy. I have to say, I’m living my best life.” 

The J. Finley Group office is located at 3568 Sagunto St., Suite J, in Santa Ynez, and can be reached online at janfinleyrealestate.com

Feature Image: Jan Finley is shown surrounded by friends and family by her new J. Finley Group real estate office at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Aug. 22. Contributed Photo

The post Dreams do come true appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Regina Jensen’s “Good-as-New” store, where people can shop for clothing, books, or a gift, on the honor system, is holding an outdoor-only sale from 2 p.m. until dark on Sunday, Nov. 24, and again on Sunday, Dec. 22, just in time for Christmas. 

The store is run on the principle of what Jensen calls Radical Trust, whereby shoppers can pick out what they want or need and pay for them “Farmstand Style” by dropping cash (exact amount only) into a secured lockbox, or by a local check.

“People can acquire even less expensive items and bundles that can be used for Christmas gifts for friends and family and can easily be returned locally for something else,” said Jensen. “The prices are extremely reasonable; buy one item and pick two more items from the ‘gratis’ box. Visitors can also pick one item from the ‘gratis’ box without making a purchase.”

Some of the items for sale are new and unused books, bundled and exchangeable, which came from a bookstore that was closing; new kitchen items; new to nearly new women’s shoes, sizes 7 1/2 to 9; men’s footwear, work and outdoor, nothing “fancy”; women’s jewelry, priced to sell, packaged for Christmas; women’s clothing, unused Victoria’s Secret bras, sizes 36/34 C or thereabout; new kids toys; medium to large succulent outdoor plants; and many personal items, to mention just a few.

Jensen’s closet-size “Department Store” is filled with almost new items for the bargain hunter and is a not-for-profit enterprise. 

“All proceeds, after expenses are paid, go to Maria at Monique’s Hair Salon around the corner from my shop,” said Jensen. “She distributes these funds to needy Hispanic families in the United States and Mexico, her first culture of concern.” 

The Good-as-New shop is at 1669 Fir St., in Solvang, behind the ACE Hardware store. It is a tiny house between the shoe repair shop and the laundromat and in front of the hair salon. The address doesn’t appear on the building.

Feature Image: Regina Jensen is shown in front of her Good as New store in Solvang shortly after its opening. Her business will be holding outdoor sales on Nov. 24 and Dec. 22. Star File Photo

The post Solvang’s Good-as-New store holding outdoor sales appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.