Los Alamos resident Ray Williams has been chosen as one of the participants of Butchers of America’s Team USA, joining with five other members to compete in the World Butcher Challenge (WBC) in France at the end of March. For those unfamiliar, the World Butchers Challenge is known to many as “The Olympics of Meat.”

Butchers of America is a team of butchers that was assembled primarily to compete in the 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. This year’s challenge will be held in Paris and will have 18 countries participating.

“I became involved in the WBC in 2022 when the competition was held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento,” said Williams. “I reached out to the team, and they needed help. I assisted with a couple of practices, and I was the floor manager for the WBC.

“Having been given the opportunity to hang carcasses in an NBA arena was an opportunity of a lifetime. I thought I knew a lot about butchery, but with my experience in the ’22 event, I realized there are so many ways other countries do things that it was a great learning experience for me.” 

Williams began his long career in butchery at the age of 14 when he was invited to a local custom-exempt butchery in Lompoc with a bunch of other Future Farmers of America (FFA) kids to help process chickens for the Santa Barbara County Fair. 

“I was the only one who showed up,” he said. “I spent the weekend with the butcher, Steve Greco, and his family, and at the end he liked the way I worked and offered me a job.”

A custom-exempt butchery is an establishment where you take animals you’ve either raised or purchased to be slaughtered and processed.

“I worked for Steve every summer until I was 18, and then I worked for him full-time,” Williams said. “When I was 19, I started working at the Vandenberg Commissary and worked there for 12 years, ending up being the meat manager. From there I went to work at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc. I was a cook foreman for two years and then moved on to be the vocational training instructor, teaching butchery to out-custody inmates, where I still work. I have been there for 10 years.”

Williams has considered the job very rewarding. 

“I consider this a dream job because I have the opportunity to teach inmates a skill they would not normally have the opportunity to acquire. It is a very fulfilling career,” he said. “In my classes I teach slaughter, carcass breakdown, retail cuts, sausages, and further processing like curing hams and bacon. It is the last meat program in the Bureau of Prisons.”

Because of his experience and the fact that a number of the participants in the 2022 challenge weren’t returning for this year’s competition, Williams decided to try out for the team.

“It was a nationwide tryout, and the winners were narrowed down to 40,” he said. “Initially I had to submit a video and a bio, and then there were additional videos and questions to be answered, and the number was whittled down to 10. The last 10 of us had to go to Sacramento and compete on stage in front of an audience at the Farm to Fork Festival. Historically, butchers don’t like to reveal their methodology in public. From those final 10 contestants, they chose five of us to be on Team USA to join the one remaining team member.” 

However, with that position earned comes the responsibility to raise money.

“The final team of six has to raise $10,000 each to cover costs. As the old saying goes, ‘The cutting is the easy part – the fundraising is the hard part,’” Williams said in jest. “The Los Alamos Men’s Club donated to my efforts for fundraising and I was able to reach my goal.

“Brad and Debra Vidro held a fundraiser at Maker’s Son in Los Alamos, and the community came out in full force to support my efforts. My mother, Shirley Williams, has also helped at every turn, along with my wife, Wendy, and our three children, Anna (age 17), Adam (age 16), and Miranda (age 12). And as co-owner of Whisky Bent BBQ, a catering service, I would like to thank the Rice guys for all their help fundraising. The entire community of Los Alamos has really backed me up, and I am most grateful for all their support.”

Butchers of America’s Team USA will be competing on March 30 and 31 with teams from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, Romania, and Spain.

“It’s going to be pretty wild,” said Williams. “We have three hours and 30 minutes to break down half a cow, half a pig, a whole lamb, and five chickens. Every item is to be processed and displayed with a detailed recipe on how to cook it. The cuts you see in a grocery store are totally unlike what you will see in this competition because they are very innovative. The final display has to also include visually artistic features in the presentation, which you wouldn’t find in any grocery store.”

Williams said the competitors will be working in front of some watchful eyes.

“During the competition, judges walk around checking for safety, sanitation, teamwork, proper use of the equipment, and final display,” he continued. “The judges then pick one item of each protein from each country, which will be cooked according to the attached recipe by French chefs and ultimately judged.”

Williams said the winning team in the competition will get a trophy and bragging rights, but many more will gain benefits from the event.

“On April 1 everyone will attend a gala dinner put on by the WBC. All the meat from the competition is donated by WBC to be distributed to local food banks,” he said.

“Participating in this event is beyond my wildest dreams; being in Paris, butchering in front of a crowd, I know it will be an amazing experience, one to remember for a lifetime.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the Williams and the team can visit www.butchersofamerica.org to purchase merchandise and knives that are used exclusively in the competition. Just mention in the comments section, “Ray sent me.”

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John Iwerks has an insatiable artistic curiosity, a multifaceted artist with a love of natural landscapes. He is a graphic artist, geological illustrator, landscape painter, muralist, artist focused on geology, art teacher, stone sculptor, children’s book illustrator, chalk pavement artist, T-shirt graphic designer, and ceramic artist.

Additionally, he is a founding member of the Oak Group, a group of artists who, through their art, draw attention to the beauty of endangered landscapes and the need for their protection. He and his wife, artist Chris Chapman, were managers of the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, where they lived in an old adobe and painted the scenic views of the Gaviota Coast.

Iwerks was born and raised in Burbank, California, surrounded by art.

“I grew up in an artistic family,” said Iwerks. “My dad, Don, worked for Disney as the head of the machine and camera shop and was the recipient of an Academy Award for Lifetime Technical Achievement in the film industry. He created many of the filming innovations that were used by Disney Studio. My aunt Carlene painted, my uncle David was a portrait photographer, my sister Leslie is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, my brother Larry is a gifted landscape painter, and my grandfather, Ub Iwerks, created Mickey Mouse with Walt Disney in 1928.”

“We grew up around the Disney studio. You could use any bike that was available and cruise in the studio,” Iwerks recalled. “We’d sometimes go into the back areas where they were working on audio animatronics and watch them adjust the box that had knobs labeled ‘mouth,’ ‘shoulders,’ ‘eyeballs,’ etc. that animated the figures.”

Iwerks explained that as a kid he did cartoons and made stories out of them, “which was always fun.” He also said that in junior high he had a teacher who was very interested in what he was doing, making caricatures of the other students, and was encouraged to hang them on the wall.

After high school, he moved to Santa Barbara in 1973, where he met his mentor, landscape artist Ray Strong. Strong was a force in the California art world for 75 years, passing away in 2006. As an art educator, he taught hundreds of students over nearly six decades and helped establish several art schools, organizations, and art galleries.

“I was too late to sign up for City College but not too late for the Santa Barbara Art Institute. It was there that I met Ray Strong, who taught landscape painting,” Iwerks said. “I clicked with him. He was very supportive of young people. He would emphasize that you learn geology, so I started taking classes in geology at City College. We’d go on field trips to places like Death Valley and Cuyama and draw. I was out here in the sunshine in my shorts painting pictures for college credits!” 

Iwerks also painted in his free time.

“In the ’70s, my friends, my brother Larry, and I would take painting trips. We’d go to the desert and paint. We’d do a painting in the morning and another in the afternoon,” he said. “In some cases, we wouldn’t move for more than two miles before we camped again to paint some more. And we kept painting.”

In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Iwerks worked for two different animation companies in Santa Barbara: Big Blue Marble and Animated Cartoon Productions (ACP). 

“Ray Strong was the founder of Gallery 113, the first cooperative gallery in Santa Barbara,” he explained. “I started putting my paintings in there, then entered the Santa Barbara Art Association. Later I got into rock sculpture, carving them into shapes of animals.” 

In 1986, Strong and Arturo Tello germinated an idea to start a painting group of seven artists, which included John and Larry Iwerks. It was called the Oak Group.

“We decided that there were a lot of landscapes in Santa Barbara that were being developed, so we tried to fight artistically to preserve these areas,” said Iwerks. “The first Oak Group show was called ‘Endangered Landscapes.’ The first show was very successful. We gave 50 percent of the proceeds to environmental groups that were fighting overdevelopment. 

“We began with the Wilcox property on the Mesa above Arroyo Burro Beach, which was successful. At first the city approved the development, but the developers didn’t follow the timing of the development, so they reneged on their contract and couldn’t develop. The whole city had a fundraising event, and Michael Douglas came in and helped purchase the property, and it was given to the city. Another show was called ‘Vanishing Views.’

“On Santa Cruz Island, we worked as volunteers painting and had a show to exhibit the preserved land and donated 50 percent of the money to the Nature Conservancy.”

They have done 14 shows for the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County. Their next show will be in May. It is focusing on the protection of the remaining 27 endangered acres of Carpinteria Bluffs. It will be held at the Faulkner Gallery in the Santa Barbara Central Library.

Oak Group contributes visually, bringing attention to places that are endangered by development. Collectively the group has raised over $3 million for environmental preservation. The Oak Group started with seven artists and now has 26 members.

“We’ll be celebrating our 40th anniversary next year,” said Iwerks. “Several people from the original seven are still in the group.” 

Iwerks has done works all over the Central Coast.

“I did a mural at the Carrizo Plain National Monument. I did the illustration on the panels around the room at the Visitors Center,” he said. “I also did a permanent installation of a mural at the California Nature Art Museum of a valley oak habitat.”

Iwerks also painted the logo for the City of Solvang and did geologically themed T-shirt drawings for the Geology Department at Santa Barbara City College. In the early ’90s he began teaching landscape painting classes through Santa Barbara City College’s adult education program. 

His current classes focus on the Santa Ynez Valley. His first class will be at the Mission. His classes of 35 students last three hours. He does a demonstration for the first hour, and then he goes around to the students individually and educates and answers questions.

He and his wife recently completed five donated 30-inch x 40-inch paintings for Sansum Country Clinic in Solvang. 

Iwerks has been married to fellow artist Chapman for 25 years.

“I feel fortunate that we work well together and we like the same things and that we are able to collaborate on many projects,” said Iwerks. “That’s been a real joy, to share things, like the Carrizo Plain Visitor’s Center.”

For more information, visit chapmaniwerks.com

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Chris Chapman came into the world with the eye of an artist. She was born in Pasadena, lived at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains and attended school in Las Virgenes Canyon. As a youth she appreciated and absorbed the detail of the beauty of the natural world that surrounded her. 

Developing her innate artistic nature, she became a plein air landscape painter and a member of the Pastel Society of America and Santa Barbara’s Oak Group of dedicated land preservation painters.

“By character, I’m very observant. I see the little things. I remember walking home from the bus stop, and I’d be the only one looking up at the sky and urging my friends to, ‘Look at the sky!’ but nobody looked. I had a fanciful head, I think. I started writing poetry at 9, and at 14 I began painting. At 18 I attended college in Oregon,” she said.

She moved from Oregon to San Francisco, living there for a couple of years, but the city wasn’t her cup of tea. She returned to Oregon, where she worked as a bookkeeper for 10 years. 

However, she came back to California and the Central Coast to be with her parents and eventually found her own place in Santa Barbara.

“I started working for Mike Love as an office manager for the Beach Boys,” she continued. 

Although deep in the managerial aspects of her job during the day, she continued painting in her spare time, joining the Santa Barbara Art Association and doing oil paintings and watercolors. It was there she met her life partner.

“I met my husband, John Iwerks, at Gallery 113 and became a member of the Santa Barbara Art Association,” she continued. “John was managing Gallery 113 at the time. I had been working as a bookkeeper and became the manager/treasurer for the gallery and showed my art there.” 

In Iwerks, who was born and raised in Burbank, California, Chapman found another person whose life was surroundedby art.

“I grew up in an artistic family,” said Iwerks. “My dad, Don, worked for Disney as the head of the machine and camera shop and was the recipient of an Academy Award for Lifetime Technical Achievement in the film industry. He created many of the filming innovations that were used by Disney Studio. My aunt Carlene painted, my uncle David was a portrait photographer, my sister Leslie is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, my brother Larry is a gifted landscape painter, and my grandfather, Ub Iwerks, created Mickey Mouse with Walt Disney in 1928.”

Iwerks was also one of the founding members of the aforementioned Oak Group that Chapman was a part of.

In 1995, Chapman became interested in geology and took geology and art classes at Santa Barbara City College. She also taught a number of art classes at the SBCC adult education campus for 15 years. 

“My first class was called ‘Nature in Collage.’ I also taught watercolor, pastel, and botanical illustration. I originally thought I would become a writer because I liked to write, but I ended up being a painter of landscapes, with a little writing on the side,” she said.

While working at Gallery 113 and with the Oak Group, she and John Iwerks discovered they had a lot in common, dated, and eventually married.

“John and I were married in 1999. We camped out on the Carrizo Plain and painted on our honeymoon while on our way to the Kern River,” she said.

In 2000, the couple was asked to manage Arroyo Hondo Preserve before it opened.

“In October 2001, J.J. Hollister III negotiated the sale of the ranch to the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, and since then the Land Trust has worked with great commitment to protect and restore Arroyo Hondo Preserve’s natural and historic resources, biodiversity, and native wildlife,” Chapman wrote in her book titled, “Stories of Arroyo Hondo.”

“I did all of the organizational work of setting up visitation summaries. There were researchers, biologists, habitat restoration people, the public, and school kids — all of that had to be on a spreadsheet to itemize the visitations,” she recalled. 

However, Chapman felt she was kept from her true calling. “Here I was in a painter’s paradise and spending all my time in front of the computer,” she said. 

After about five years, she asked her boss if he could show her Dos Pueblos Ranch so she could go there and paint. 

“He gave me permission to meet with the owners, and I just fell in love with Dos Pueblos Ranch. There was a little red hunting cabin under sycamore trees and avocado orchards near a watershed with trout,” she said. “He let us move in there. We lived there for nine years. They sold the up-canyon portion to an avocado company that restored the canyon. That’s when we moved to the Santa Ynez Valley. By that time, I was painting a lot and selling with the Oak Group.” 

She was commissioned to illustrate botanical watercolors in a book called “Chumash Ethnobotany” by Jan Timbrook, and the Carrizo Plain asked for her botanical paintings for its visitor’s center.

“They were printed on wood about 4 feet tall, so I had a room with printed botanicals and a big pastel painting in the main room of rain flowing over the Carrizo,” she described. “The Wildling, now called the California Natural Art Museum, produced a film about that, which John and I were both in. We were also in another film about Ray Strong. I was also on the board of the Wildling Museum.” 

Her book, “Stories of Arroyo Hondo,” was published in 2016 and contained not only her art but short stories and vintage photographs about the history of the region. 

“I wanted to write the history of the area in a way that was engaging and that paired with our paintings to assist the docents of Arroyo Hondo Preserve,” said Chapman.

Previously she wrote a book featuring her artwork titled “Portraits of Gaviota,” which was published in 2005. 

Chapman and Iwerks are also a part of “The Tuesday Group,” a group of artists that meet every Tuesday. It was startedby two female artists who wanted to paint plein air, and it has since grown into a large group that meets weekly at a variety of art-inspiring locations.

When asked about her hobbies and her life in the Valley, it seems that her day-to-day life is her hobby, for the most part.

“Gardening and painting are my two favorite things to do,” said Chapman. “But a lot of my time is taken up withrunning our art business.”

“What I appreciate most about my life is that John and I are best friends and teammates and that we both appreciate the spiritual nature of our earth and beyond,” she concluded.

For more information, visit chapmaniwerks.com

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Valley denizen Linda Johansen recently returned from one of her many travel adventures with a group of Valley residents exploring the flavors of Portugal and Spain on a tour with Collette, a family-owned travel company that offers worldwide adventures and programs. 

Collette offers small exploration tours with a maximum of 24 passengers, which is a more intimate way to travel with your friends and neighbors and offers unique opportunities and adventures on every trip, “making memories that will last a lifetime.” Johansen donates her commission from these travel adventures to various local and non-local nonprofits.

“Our journey was from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14 and was filled with breathtaking UNESCO sites, delicious food and wines, amazing local culture, and lots of fun and adventure traveling through Northern Portugal first and then ending up in Northern Spain in the Basque region,” said Johansen.

“We flew into Lisbon, or Lisboa as the locals refer to it, which is the capital of Portugal, and the next morning set out on a walking and tasting tour of many of the historic neighborhoods and the Praca do Comercio, which is a harbor-facing plaza and one of the biggest squares in all of Europe,” she explained. “We saw the Tower of Belem, which is a UNESCO site and a fortress remaining along the Tagus River, which is also home to the world’s leading pancreatic cancer research institute and hospital. There was lots of activity along the Tagus riverfront and trams or funiculars to get you up the steep hills for more adventures with fabulous cafes and restaurants along the winding hillside.

“We visited Ericeira, a little seaside town and Portuguese fishing village not far from Lisbon that was charming. It is a surfing Mecca and has lovely sandy beaches and is known for its fresh seafood. The weather wasn’t cooperating the day we were there with fog and a very mild misty rain, but it was charming and a place I would be sure to incorporate in my travel plans.”

And there was one more Lisbon-area location that warranted a visit.

“We had additional time to explore the fairy tale and historic village of Sintra and the magical Monserrate Palace and Gardens,” Johansen said. “The gardens were gorgeous as well but a bit challenging to navigate the steep paths, walkways, and bridges in your attempt to finally reach the Palace. What an extraordinary place of beauty in the most serene setting with lush, tropical gardens. It was truly breathtaking.”

The group left Lisbon and headed to Tomar, which is the home of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle, and Convent of Christ — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

“We explored the octagonal Templar’s Rotunda and were left to imagine the day-to-day life of a warrior monk,” said Johansen. “Our next stop was Porto, which was a 2½-hour drive through the wild pine tree forests.”

Johansen explained that Porto is the second-largest city In Portugal, but rich in culture and UNESCO sites such as the Sao Bento Railway Station, which opened in 1916, and the Bolsa Palace, known as the Stock Exchange Palace, which is a 19th-century Neoclassical masterpiece. 

“We also enjoyed a Port wine tasting at the Burmester Cellar, and many of us had the most delicious Portuguese Farm to Table dinner experience that evening in Mindelo, hosted and prepared by a local family. This was truly one of the highlights of the trip,” said Johansen. “Such a delicious home-cooked meal lovingly prepared and served by a lawyer husband, his beautiful and brilliant daughter, and the mother-in-law. We had an incredible evening with great hosts, delicious food and wine, such merriment, and stories, ending with a nightcap, our Danish Skal song to thank them, and lots of sincere hugs goodbye.” 

The following day was dedicated to the Minho region, which is the region of green wines and beautiful sites.

“We started our day at the Born Jesus do Monte Sanctuary where we enjoyed lunch overlooking Braga and many of thereligious UNESCO sites,” Johansen continued. “Braga has one of the highest concentrations of churches in Portugal.

“We next set out for the Douro Wine Region for some amazing wine tastings and beautiful scenery as we enjoyed a cruise down the Douro River on the traditional wooden Rabelo boat. We stayed at the Wine House Hotel, some of us in actual large wine vat barrels, which were unique but very challenging to navigate with the space and all our luggage. It was a fun experience, and I’m glad several of us did that, but we don’t need to do that again,” she said emphatically.“We all laughed about the lack of space and climbing over each other as well as our luggage. We had fun there and enjoyed some nightly games of Left Right and Center, gambling for $1 bills. It is a staple on the trips and really fun! We also enjoyed a great cooking class that culminated in a delicious lunch for all of us with traditional Portuguese cuisine. I saw some real potential in our group for ‘cookers!’ We made petiscos, or Portuguese tapas.”

The travelers then left Portugal and headed towards Spain and the famous Rioja Wine Region, tasting wines at the beautiful San Fermin Winery nestled in the center of the Basque country.

“We stayed in the ancient city of Salamanca, which is over 2,000 years old, rich in history and its sandstone architecture. We also toured Pamplona, the capital of the Navarre province and home to the Running of the Bulls,” Johansen said. “It was fascinating, and we were privileged to visit a bullfighter’s private home museum for an incredible tour and talk about bullfighting traditions and controversies, followed by wine tasting and tapas.”

From there it was to the last leg of the trip.

“We finished our tour with three nights in the beautiful San Sebastian, a coastal city that runs along the Bay of Biscay,” said Johansen. “It was stunning, filled with beautiful sites and beachside activities, shopping, and cultural artifacts. This glimmering Spanish coastline is where you can partake in the historical religious pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago, which is over 500 miles long across France from St. Jean de Port to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 

“A dozen of us walked over 8 kilometers along part of the pilgrimage trail called the ‘Camino of Saint James.’ We were told it was a flat walk with breathtaking views. The views were indeed exquisite, but the trail was far from flat. It was steep hills with slippery crushed shell to walk on, but we all survived, ending up in the quaint little villages of Zumaia and Getaria for lunch, beer, and ‘Green’ wine!  It was an amazing adventure. Two of my clients stayed and hiked for another eight days along the trail, finishing, and getting a beautiful signed map certificate. It was quite an accomplishment because they hiked almost 25 miles every day! Congratulations to Carla and Jim Colton, our travel‘Super Heroes.’

“Our last adventure was to visit the Basque town of Bilbao and the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum. It is an amazing museum of contemporary design, and the old town of Bilbao is full of historic old churches, festive markets, and large Spanish squares with lots of activity. It was a very fitting end to our incredible journey titled ‘Flavors of Portugal and Spain.’”

The group returned home with the memories of a wonderful trip.

“We arrived home safely and happy to be home in one of the most incredible places to live. As much as we all travel, we are always so happy to come home to this fabulous Valley we all love,” said Johansen.

Johansen stated that her commission from this trip was gifted to the Solvang Lutheran Church, Solvang Senior Center, and Jubilee House in Nicaragua for 120 “at-risk youth” to have computer and life-skill lessons to give them a hand up out of the poverty in which they live.

Future trips available are September 2025 to South America, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay for the day, and ending at Iguassu Falls, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for three nights. There is also a February 2026 trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Space is still available.

The post Linda Johansen shares journey to Spain, Portugal appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The annual Boar’s Head Festival and Feast is a celebration honoring the Feast of the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, which is the day the Three Kings are said to have arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts for the infant Jesus.

It was held on Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos. The event has been held at St. Mark’s since 1977 and was well-attended by members of the congregation and the community who came to enjoy the closing of the Christmas season with pageantry, song, and dinner.
 
The history of the Boar’s Head reaches back into the days of the Roman Empire. The festival was a popular Christmas event of the great manor houses of England in the 17th century. The custom of the Boar’s Head and Yule Log was carried to colonial America. The ceremony serves as an offering of praise to Jesus Christ of His Epiphany and to remind us the great gift of love given to us all at Christmas.

The festival began with members of the Central Coast Pipes & Drums marching up the center aisle of the church playing bagpipes, followed by the Yule Sprite, carrying the Yule candle ahead of Father Christmas. 
Interim Rector Rev. Scott Claassen welcomed the congregation and explained the meaning of the Boar’s Head Festival.
 
“We gather this evening for an enjoyable celebration of the birth of Jesus at the end of this Christmas season, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany,” he said. “The traditional English boar’s head dates back to the 1300s in Queen’s College, Oxford. The serving of the boar symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.” 

Claassen then went on to tell the story of the origin of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (played by Greg Johnson), a real fourth-century bishop and Saint, Nicolas of Myrna.

“Father Christmas is here to remind us that the real Santa Claus was a saint who loved Jesus and did good and unusual things, because of this love,” he said.

The Yule Sprite, played by Anita Finifrock, then came to remind us of our Christmas memories and of all the Christmases to come. She then lit the candle in the stand as those attending sang the traditional carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” while several little angels, shepherds, and little ones dressed as sheep walked up the aisle and seated themselves around the altar. 
Rev. Claassen then read from the Gospel of Matthew, telling the story of the three Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem and brought the newborn baby Jesus gifts of gold (symbolic of his kingship), frankincense (symbolic of his high priesthood), and myrrh (his suffering and death) and ultimately outwitting Herod.

While the congregation sang “We Three Kings,” the three kings played by Nichole Dechaine, Nathan Kreitzer, and Carl Johnson arrived bearing gifts.

Then Claassen spoke of the Good King Wenceslas, played by Scott Wolfe, who along with the Page (Martine Surey), recognized the need of a poor person (John Surey), and responded to that need. The audience sang “Good King Wenceslas.”

The time had arrived for the feast to begin, but not before The Ruler of Misrule, played by Sean Duggan, arrived on the scene to disrupt the festivities. He was invited to join the guests at dinner and the Steward of the Feast beckoned the Boar Bearers, to carry the boar’s head down the aisle as the congregation sang the “Boar’s Head Carol.” 

Everyone then proceeded to Stacy Hall to enjoy a feast of pork, potatoes, red cabbage, and applesauce, along with wine or beer and a plethora of desserts.

“The Boar’s Head Festival feels a lot like family and has a real sense of community,” said Maisy Curtis, a dinner guest.

Following dinner, the traditional singing of “The 12 Days of Christmas” was acted out by guests at each table to a great amount of laughter. A sincere round of applause was given to those who worked for days arranging this event, and Chef Mike Chadsea for roasting the pork and preparing the side dishes that were enjoyed by all. 

“The Boar’s Head Festival is a warm community family-filled event,” said Cori Curtis.

The evening came to a close with the singing of “Silent Night” and all the guests helped with the clean-up.

“The Boar’s Head Festival is a simple Christmas pleasure,” said Finn Curtis. “It’s not something that people think a lot about when listing popular events.”

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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. 

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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

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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

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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.

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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.”

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