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.

The Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church will be the new location for the annual Solvang Christmas Nativity Pageant, which will be held for one day only, on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m. The pageant has historically been held at Solvang Theaterfest, under the guidance of Janette Swanson, but a new venue had to be found, and the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church grounds were offered.

“Janette Swanson has been organizing the event for the past 40 years,” said Autumn van der Linden, the office manager of the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church. “There was no pageant held last year, as Swanson just couldn’t do it any longer. She had to do a lot of fundraising throughout the year, getting sponsors from the community, which allowed the event to be ‘free of charge’ to the public.” 

Swanson had sent out a mass email hoping to find someone who was interested in picking it up.

“I had just started working at the church as office manager, and I received an email in August of 2023 from Janette Swanson, who I did not know at the time, asking if anyone was interested in taking over the annual Solvang Nativity Pageant and that they should contact her,” van der Linden said. “My first thought was that I hoped someone would step up and take it over, as I have a heart for Christmas and hoped my two children would one day be a part of the pageant. It doesn’t feel like Christmas without a Christmas pageant and seeing all the kids participating.”

But van der Linden couldn’t let the idea of getting involved out of her mind. She had been involved in leading Christmas choirs in her hometown, and she was tempted to reply to the email.

“I asked people what they thought, and everyone said it was a huge job, and since I had just arrived in the Valley and knew very few people, I should pass. Sadly, there was no Nativity Pageant last year,” she said. “But in February 2024 I received another email from Janette, and I decided to take on the project. Since then, Janette and I have met a few times, and she has given me contact information and basically the whole show in a binder. After praying about it, I knew in my heart that I was not so interested in fundraising that was required to put on the pageant as I was in sharing the story of the Nativity with the community. So, I got to work.”

She started with the information that was in the binder Swanson had given her.

“The cost of renting Theaterfest was $7,000 a day, and I just couldn’t afford that, plus the politics involved in fundraising was something I didn’t want to become involved in,” she said. “I asked the church elders if this was something they would be interested in hosting, and they agreed to have the pageant held on the property. Ruthy Gallo, the children’sministry director, agreed to help me with the event and without her help and support, I would not have agreed to take on this project.”

Van der Linden has been busy recruiting for the program.

“I’ve sent out a flyer to all the schools and churches inviting any preschool through fifth-grade children who want to join in the choir,” she said. “They can show up on Tuesday, Dec. 3 or 10, at 3:30 p.m. There will be a final rehearsal on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. Rehearsals will be held in the main sanctuary at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church. Costumes will be provided for the performance. Adults and teens who wish to join the adult choir are welcome as well. Rehearsals will be on Saturday, Nov. 30, and Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.

“Alan Satchwell will be the choir director for the adult choir. All are welcome. If you are unable to make it to rehearsals, that is OK. We would still love to have you sing with us on Dec. 15. Simply email autumn@syvpc.org to let us know. It’sall traditional Christmas music, which almost everyone knows.”

Members of Arts Outreach’s Valley Glee Club will be performing. Ballet dancer Lauren Thill will be dancing to the strings of harpist Emma Tesdahl. And Santa Barbara Strings, an eight-piece stringed group directed by Mary Beth Woodruff will also be performing at the pageant.

“Besides the musical entertainment, there will be live animals in the garden from 4 to 5 p.m.,” van der Linden said.”Many local 4-H kids will be bringing their animals, and Seein’ Spots Farm will also be bringing their rescued donkeys and mules, and we may possibly have a camel from Atascadero joining us. Everyone will be able to mingle and pet them as well.

“There will also be an opportunity to take photos in front of a Bethlehem backdrop, which could make great Christmas cards.”

The Nativity Pageant will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in the main sanctuary with C.J. Jackson as narrator. 

“The event is free of charge and open to the public. Attendees can come in costume if they like, dressed as their favorite Christmas biblical character,” she suggested. “The event will be held indoors, so no need to bring blankets or chairs.”

Following the pageant, there will be Christmas crafts for the children to make, food and refreshments available for purchase, and a Christmas Marketplace for adults who wish to do some Christmas shopping. Cash only — no credit cards please. 

“God has illuminated the path every step of the way, and I know He’s going to make this an amazing community event,” said van der Linden. “Come — it’s free, bring your friends and all your kids and enjoy being a part of the Christmas spirit and the ‘reason for the season.’”

For more information, email autumn@syvpc.org or call (805) 688-6323 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church is at 1825 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang. 

Feature Image: A Nativity scene from last year’s “A Night in Bethlehem,” which was held last year at the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, is shown. Pictured from left are Greg Millikan, John Donati, Rob Wolf, Dennis Hartman, and Joyce Millikan. Contributed Photo

The post Solvang’s annual Christmas Nativity Pageant has found a new home appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

A new market recently opened in Los Olivos — the Gandolfo Family Market and Deli. It is jointly owned by brothers Greg and Dave Gandolfo, whose father, Charles, has owned the property on Grand Avenue for over 50 years. During that time, he leased it out to a variety of people, as he had no interest in it other than being a landlord.

The previous lessee had a convenience store for 14 years, and during that time, the family had talked about starting a business as a family. So, when their lease ran out, the Gandolfos decided it was time to open up a family market, and they had a ready and willing family member to run the new business — Carly Gandolfo, the store manager, who is the daughter of Dave Gandolfo. She graduated from San Diego State University in 2022 with a degree in hospitality.

The Gandolfos were longtime residents of Santa Barbara, dating back generations, and of the Santa Ynez Valley.

At 84, Charles, the family’s patriarch, was born in Santa Barbara as were several generations before him. His ancestors were from Sestri Levante, (Genoa) Italy. He and his wife, Bea, have been married for 65 years and raised three sons, John, David, and Greg, in the Valley. Charles owned a construction company and built eight of the original wineries in the Valley, including Gainey and Roblar.
 
“My dad [Dave] was raised in the Valley, met my mom, Jayme, at Cal Poly, married and moved to Idaho, and started a dairy farm. So, I was born and raised in Idaho, but went to college in San Diego,” said Carly Gandolfo. “My parents still live in Idaho on their cattle ranch, but my dad visits the store every month to see how things are going.”

Carly is thrilled to be a resident of the Valley.

“Moving to California was always a dream of mine, having spent a month every summer visiting my grandparents here in the Valley,” she said. “I loved San Diego, but I never felt like it was home. The Valley feels like home because everything that I love about San Diego and Idaho, I found here in the Valley. It’s Western, it’s coastal, and it’s a small town; everything I love, plus my family is here.”

Carly has been in the area for a little more than a year.

“I moved to the Valley in July 2023 with my boyfriend, Carsen Gentes. He loves it here as well. He’s really into mountain biking, and this is the place for that sport,” she continued. “While waiting for the store to open I took the opportunity to work at the Carhartt Tasting Room and the Olive and Lavender Farm to familiarize myself with the town and its residents. I was fortunate to meet many of the locals, which was a nice way to get to know the community and for them to get to know me.”

The market property needed renovations that took nearly five months to accomplish, which included acquiring permits from the county.
 
“There was a lot of work to be done to get the store ready for opening,” explained Gandolfo. “So, my uncle Greg and his wife Sarah, both teachers at the Santa Ynez Valley High School, did a lot of the work restoring the premises. It took nearly five months to get the place in order, which included a new roof and, of course, acquiring permits for the building. We opened on May 28.”

“Our focus is on the deli, which provides sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie, but we also sell our deli meats by the pound,” she said. “Our specialty is tri-tip sandwiches, which people seem to love but are only available on Fridays and Saturdays. Tommy Palmer does the barbecuing, which he has done forever. Oscar Castillo is our chef and curates most of our menu. He is extremely conscious about what products go into our sandwiches.”

“We try to carry products that you can’t find everywhere. Our cheeses are from around the world, and our meats are from some of the top producers in the country — no additives, no preservatives — all extremely clean products. We also carry locally sourced fruits and vegetables and have a license to sell beer and wine, which you can enjoy on our outdoor patio.”

Running her fledgling business, Gandolfo keeps an ear out on public input to improve the market.

“I’m always listening to people to get their ideas about what we need for our store and the community as a whole,” she said. “A lot of the tasting rooms said they needed a quick bite for their customers, so we provide that.”

Gandolfo has plans for the future of the new market and a little Yuletide surprise.

“Eventually I would like to feature some boutique winemakers in the store and have them come in and pour on Saturdays,” she said. “I would also like to create a little winter wonderland theme on the property next to the market on the weekend of the Christmas Tree Lighting in Los Olivos, which is on Dec. 7, serving hot chocolate, a visit from Santa, something for the kids, and wines by the glass at the store for the adults.”

Gandolfo said she has had a great experience with her new undertaking.
 
“I love running the store,” said Gandolfo. “It has been challenging at times, but it’s great to be doing something for the community. We are looking to grow and plan on being a part of this community for a long time to come. We are very family-based, and we all work together to make this business a success.”

“My grandfather has always been the kindest, most generous, hard-working man and has one of the best reputations in the Valley, so I have a lot to live up to,” she said in closing.

The Gandolfo Family Market and Deli is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Deli hours are Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
The market is at 2948 Grand Ave, Los Olivos. For more information, call (805) 697-7183 or visit them online at Gandolfo Family Market and Deli: gandolfofamilymarket.com.

The post New Los Olivos market and deli is a family affair appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary held a sold-out fundraiser, “Rock for Horses” on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard in Solvang.

The sanctuary was founded in 2007 by C.C. Beaudette-Wellman. It is an all-volunteer organization, dedicated to providing rescue for abused and neglected horses in the Santa Ynez Valley. It has expanded the rescue program to assist senior citizens who are struggling to feed their horses. Their programs include rescue, rehabilitation, adoptions, public education, sanctuary, and an equine-based therapeutic program for at-risk youth called the Horse Angels Program. 

The setting for the event was in the outdoor garden at Buttonwood surrounded by peach orchards, olive trees, and vineyards. Twinkling lights were scattered throughout the garden with wooden tables dressed with foliage. 

“There was another animal fundraiser scheduled on the same weekend that we had initially planned ours, so we had to postpone our fundraiser until October,” said Alexandra (Aiya) Wellman, Beaudette-Wellman’s daughter.

As guests entered the garden, mostly dressed in Western wear, they were greeted warmly by Beaudette- Wellman. Guests mingled, enjoying Buttonwood wines, and perused the silent auction items. Music was provided by Bad Habit.

“We’re here to help save the horses and have a good time and eat some great food,” said Karen and Thad Miller upon entering the event. 

The guests were treated to a dinner of top sirloin, chicken, and vegetarian enchiladas. The catering was a community effort. Frank Kelsey Jr. and Sr. handled the barbecue; Christine Cunningham made her famous enchilada casserole, sponsored by Rio Vista Chevrolet; Craig from Hook’d restaurant (at Lake Cachuma) donated the watermelon salad, which was prepared by Blair Millar; and Catering by Kelli sisters Kelli Davidson, and Kris Krebs prepared a variety of appetizers and desserts created especially for the event.

“We do this for the love of the organization who cares so deeply for horses,” said Davidson. “My sister and I are both equestrians, so this event is near and dear to our hearts. It is a labor of love.” 

When guests were seated, Beaudette-Wellman gave a short speech thanking everyone for coming and announcing their Volunteer of the Year. 

“It’s mind-blowing how our community has stepped up in a way that warms my heart and tonight is a perfect example of a community effort and that it takes a village! This community’s generosity is staggering and most humbling,” said Beaudette-Wellman. “This year I would like to present the Volunteer of the Year Award to Stephen Blake Harris who has stepped up beyond all imagination and has always risen to the challenge to take on more responsibilities and is well on his way to becoming a wonderful horseman.”

Beaudette-Wellman thanked all those who donated their time, talents, and auction items as well as Neil Schmidt, manager of Buttonwood, and Buttonwood Property Management Inc., for offering the venue. She thanked the late Betty Williams for her devotion to nurturing Buttonwood throughout the years. She also thanked God for “giving me the ability to save lives, and the emotional fortitude to see the worst of humanity at times. It is completely through Him that I am able to do any of this,” she said. She also thanked her husband and daughter for “helping me in this journey. I would not be able to do this without your love and support.”

Beaudette-Wellman continued, describing how Happy Endings contributes to the community and thanking her board and volunteers for their continued help and encouragement.

“Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary was Founded in 2007 as a 501 c (3) to heal and give sanctuary to animals who need assistance or have no hope of a decent life. We nurture children through our free programs to create new generations of animal lovers and caregivers, as well as educate the public on the proper care and respect for all animals. We teach children to be humanitarians through the vision of our foundation. We believe that through careful nurturing and love, all animals and humans can live a peaceful existence provided with the proper resources, information, and motivation. We are most grateful for the gift of compassion and the opportunity to be of assistance to those in need. We will continue with a strong and determined mission to give children the opportunity to explore infinite possibilities, restore broken hearts, encourage the discouraged and heal the hurting for humans and animals alike,” she said. “And thank you to my amazing board members for helping me every single day and encouraging me when I need it and my incredible volunteers for without them I would be crippled! I am grateful that we have become family! I would also like to thank all my dear friends who lift my spirits, and encourage, and help me, you are my Angels.  This whole event is filled with love from all of you, thank you. It doesn’t get any better than that,” she said in conclusion.

The event raised more than $20,000 for the horses and the various programs the sanctuary offers.

Throughout the evening, Courtney Maland of Sunken Treasure SYV was available and happy to oblige, free of charge, those wishing a chair massage.

“This is the fifth-year volunteering chair massages for those who are in need,” said Maland, massage therapist, intuitive bodyworker, and energy alchemist. “I love being here and I love the people and giving back to my community. C.C. used to be my neighbor, so I love to help out.”

The time and effort Beaudette-Wellman has put in to help horses and other animals was not lost on one person very close to her.

“My mother is the most selfless human I have ever known,” said her daughter Alexandra. “All my life I can remember she has dedicated her life to rescuing animals. She did wildlife rescue for 30 years but now focuses on domestic horses. She remains as dedicated today as she was 45 years ago.” 

For more information about the organization and the many programs Happy Endings offers, visit HappyEndingsAnimalRescueSanctuary.org.

Feature image: Fundraiser held at Buttonwood Farm and Winery for C.C. Beaudette-Wellman’s rescue program.

The post Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary event rocks for horses appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Lloyd Sorensen has led, by all measure, an incredibly exciting and adventurous life — in the air, on land, and on and under the sea. 

A 445-page book titled “Three Oceaneers” documents 25 years of his work and adventures as an underwater diver along with his two lifelong best friends, Dave Schiefen and Richard Hegeman. One of Sorensen’s many adventures included working as a diver on the “top-secret” Project Jennifer, the codename applied to the CIA project that salvaged part of a sunken Soviet submarine in 1974. The Soviet ballistic missile submarine sank off the coast of Hawaii on April 11, 1968. In July 1974, salvage operations conducted from the Hughes Glomar Explorer recovered the forward 38 feet of the submarine. The recovered section included two nuclear-tipped torpedoes, various cipher/code equipment and eight dead crewmen.

Sorensen was born in 1938 in Santa Cruz. His father worked in highway construction all over California, so the family was constantly moving. By age 3, his family had moved 10 times. His mother insisted on living in one place and owning a home. His father found a house in Oakland Hills and with a $10 down payment, it was purchased.

He graduated from high school in Oakland in 1956 and attended junior college for a short time, working part-time at Continental Can Company, making beer cans to earn money to continue his education.  One of his high school friends went on to attend the California Maritime Academy (CMA) and Sorensen became interested in the CMA, soon applied and was accepted. The CMA was a three-year, 24/7, quasi-military program, which included ocean deployment on a ship converted for the purpose of teaching and included classrooms. Sorensen maintained records of his ocean deployments while at CMA. As a student, he traveled to numerous ports in the United States and foreign countries and logged in more than 25,000 miles.

Sorenson graduated from the CMA in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering. Before receiving his degree, he was required to pass the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Engineers exam, which he did, earning him a third assistant license for steam or motor vessels of any horsepower. Then he became a member of the Marine Engineers Union. He soon moved to New York City to live with a friend, and soon went to the local union hall to register for upcoming jobs and to his astonishment, a position was open on a freighter leaving that night! Sorensen was on his way to South America. 

Upon his return from South America, he served on the SS United States Cruise Liner and traveled to Europe from March 28, 1961 to April 12, 1961.

“The SS United States was the most luxurious, fastest, and largest ship at the time. It took only five days to cross the Atlantic from New York to France,” said Sorensen. “But that was just one of many I worked on.”

Sorensen continued to ship out from New York City on several merchant ships to South America through August 1961. He happened to be in Santa Barbara for Old Days and was introduced to Sharon Anne Nelson, a TWA flight attendant out of Los Angeles who lived in Santa Monica.  Lloyd and Sharon soon became a couple and were married in Portland, Oregon, her hometown, six months later, on Feb. 17, 1962. After their wedding, they moved to Oakland, California, and Sharon was transferred from Los Angeles. She flew domestic flights out of San Francisco, until air turbulence during a flight caused her to take a rough fall and a subsequent examination revealed she was three months pregnant. No more flying; she was grounded.

They have now been married for 62 years. They have two children: a son, Stephen Lloyd and a daughter, Kristen Anne.

From 1962 to 1965, the Sorensens lived in Oakland. He worked as a tugboat skipper moving barges around the San Francisco Bay. He left the operations after his tugboat sank when it was hit by a ship. Fortunately, he was not on the tugboat, but on a barge being moved by the tugboat.

“When he worked on the tugboat, he was gone two days and nights a week and was then home for three days,” said Sharon.

By 1965, Hegeman and Schiefen, Sorensen’s classmates and friends from the CMA, were already working for General Motors Sea Operations. He joined them at General Motors in May 1965 and moved his family to Goleta. Sorensen, Schiefen, and Hegeman all started as engineers aboard a research vessel and were also trained as divers to support underwater work. They assumed roles as project engineers and program managers. The GM engineering services were performed in support of government projects which were highly classified in nature. 

“General Motors had a sea operations division: The Santa Cruz Acoustic Range Facility (SCARF), a research vessel called the Swan. It was a mine sweeper that was converted into a research vessel,” Sorenson said. “Dave was the first one to sign on, then Dick came on second and I came on third, as engineers on the ship. Part of it involved installing underwater sounding equipment for the Navy, which they needed. A system on Santa Cruz Island put an instrument on the bottom of subs and ships for noise trials. I got a Rolex watch after 1,000 dives.”

An article about SCARF in a Santa Barbara Marine Museum newsletter explained that bottom-mounted sensor arrays in 4,000 feet of water tracked submarine and surface ship movements. As submarines transited by the vertical string of hydrophones, noise measurement information was gathered. Underwater cables transmitted the information to the shore station, and an Underwater Communications System (UQC) allowed the shore station (located on the south side of Santa Cruz Island) to communicate with the submarines. This monitoring was vital in recognizing submarines’ vulnerabilities and recommending corrective actions to reduce radiated noise. The entire shore facility and its in-water system were removed in 1990, and the area was returned to its natural state.

“But one of the most interesting jobs I had was on the Hughes Glomar Explorer, a top-secret CIA project that salvaged part of a sunken Soviet diesel-electric submarine K-129 in 1974. The cover story was we were mining for magnesium nodules,” Sorensen explained. “When we pulled it up there were bodies on board, so we buried them at sea. There were also three warheads on the sub, and when it was lifted out of the water the left part of the sub broke and fell back into the sea. The recovery machine was called the Clementine.”

Sorenson, fortunately, was able to avoid that kind of catastrophe.

“We had a really strict diving program with General Motors, so no one was ever injured in our group,” continued Sorensen. “They even had a doctor, Dr. Geer, who made sure we were always in good health. The divers covered for each other when the sharks appeared. One guy would do the work and the other two divers would keep the sharks away using Billy-clubs.”

And all of it was done top-secret.

“There have been a lot of books and stories written about that job, but that was long after the job was over. The CIA kept it under wraps for years, but then the story finally came out,” he said. 

Sharon remembers that time well.

“One of the benefits when he was diving around Santa Cruz Island in his spare time was the lobsters. They would dive for lobsters, abalone, and all kinds of fish. We were eating well when we hadn’t any beef on hand,” Sharon recalled.

“I’ve been around the world putting in sound systems – 166 ports around the world,” her husband stated.

“I went on some of the trips with him, but a lot of the assignments were secretive, so I just stayed home with the kids and didn’t ask questions,” continued Sharon. “He was gone six months out of the year. It took a little adjustment on my part when he came home, as you can imagine.” 

In 1982, Sorensen and several members of the underwater team left General Motors and formed their own company. They continued to perform sensitive operations laying underwater fiber optic cable throughout the world.

“When General Motors decided to cancel their program, 14 of us started MariPro Corp. and took on one of the contracts with the Navy, who was our basic customer,” Sorensen said.

MariPro’s offices were located in Santa Barbara on the airport property in a building outside of the airport. In 1968, Sorensen commented to his wife that he was going to learn how to fly, something he had wanted to do since he was a boy. He did just that and then bought a 1948 Cessna 140, which he flew from the Santa Ynez Airport to Santa Barbara.

“The timing was exactly the same as driving, by the time you take the plane out of the hangar and eventually get it in the air,” commented Sorensen. “But I did that for years. I logged 900 trips to work alone.”

During his career, Sorensen logged more than 1,500 underwater working dives in support of projects around the world, and numerous recreational dives. He retired from MariPro in 2010.

“He remained working for an extra 10 years because he enjoyed the work and working with his friends so much,” said Sharon. “The three of them are the best of friends to this day. They got to travel around the world together; they did work for the United Nations, and installed eight sounding systems around the world, initially to detect nuclear testing. They worked on Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Chain of Islands in southwest Alaska, a part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. They spent their lives together. They’ve been friends since school.”

“It was cold, diving off Amchitka,” Sorensen recalled. “You had to dive in dry suits, but they don’t look anything like they do now.”

Sorensen reflected on his life.

“I’ve lived a life well spent. But I never learned to cook because I’ve always had someone to cook for me,” said Sorensen, smiling. “Kidding aside, I’ve been very blessed. I have been married for over 60 years to my beautiful wife, have two wonderful children, a son and daughter, no grandchildren yet, just grand dogs, and I’ve traveled the world.

“When I was in the Merchant Marines one day it occurred to me that I was enjoying the fruits of my labor while I was young, seeing that most of the passengers on these freighters were old people. So, I said to myself, ‘That’s not right — you should be able to travel when you are young.’ I have been very fortunate to be able to see the world during my whole working life.”

When asked what his favorite place was that he’d visited, he said, “I think my favorite place in the world is Kauai, Hawaii — but there have been so many beautiful places I’ve seen in my life, it’s hard to choose just one.”

Note: Eusebio Benavidez contributed information for this article.

The post Local deep sea diver has real-life tales to tell appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Local artist Michelle Juliet Feldman is holding an art exhibit at the Los Olivos General Store from now through Nov. 10. Her exhibit includes unique landscapes that capture the hills, oaks, and light that are a special part of the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as abstract seascapes inspired by the Santa Barbara coast. The exhibit includes original oils on panel and rice paper. Most notably, there are exclusive prints of the Landscape Series printed on a special, archival rice paper, produced in her studio and only available through local exhibits.

Feldman received a BA degree in design from UCLA and studied printmaking at Tulane University. After successfully establishing her first stationery store, Honey Paper, in Los Olivos, she rebranded and opened a store in Solvang, The Giving Ink, a name that reflects her vision of art as a powerful medium to connect to the community. After the COVID pandemic, as a single mom, she said it became overwhelming for her to raise her twin children and run a business the way she wanted.  

Since the closing of her Solvang store, Feldman has blossomed from her love of paper and design to painting and printmaking, along with her passion to use art as a way to connect people and heal herself. 

“When I was a child I loved to draw and create art, and it was never supported,” said Feldman. “I never felt like I was good enough. And I struggled under that shadow most of my life.”

“I had a nest egg from the sale of my store in Solvang and began to create maps for weddings, wineries, and other commercial establishments. But I realized I was creating for clients, not for myself,” she said. “I felt the urge to pick up a paintbrush, and it felt good. Because I had so little faith in myself, I began to paint in secret, literally, in the darkness. I recognized that what I was doing made me feel good about myself and that it was something I should do more of. So, I began painting landscapes that were inspired by our local surroundings. It became like a kind of meditation which allowed me to look inward and connect with my inner self and my environment — a healing of sorts.”

It wasn’t just a solitary venture for Feldman, though.

“At the same time, I was fortunate enough to be invited into a small group of people to take art classes, which are given by a very well-known and accomplished classically trained artist and oil painter. I began taking her classes where she taught classic realism still life,” she explained. “She is teaching me the tools and skills I need to execute the kind of art I am interested in painting. All of this happened at the same time and both my art and I have blossomed since then, with my show at the Los Olivos General Store. The exhibit opened at the beginning of the year and has resonated with locals as well as visitors to the degree that it has surpassed sales of any artist previously in that space.”

Feldman said she built a little studio in her home, which allows her to be with her children, who turned 14 years old this month, and flexible to their needs. But she really misses her shop, the connection to her customers and the social aspect of owning a store.

“My store was a part of my passion for art, for things that are meaningful and beautiful and creative,” she said. “I miss the social interaction. But the shop required me to do things for other people, thus it was called The Giving Ink. But my art, I do for myself. It became a journey inward to connect me to my authentic self. I’m now living my life using all of my senses to create and live a full life. I wake up every day and think ‘This day is awesome,’ which is something I never did before.” 

Feldman has been hard at work on several series of paintings, which are showcased on her website. These include Seascape Series, a reflective journey that seeks calm and clarity; Landscape Series, a celebration of nature’s beauty presented through oil on panel and rice paper; a Classic Realism Still Life Series, an exploration of how we perceive and translate the world onto a two-dimensional surface; Etching Series, dry point engravings of inspirational quotes and images, hand-painted to infuse personal touch and heart into each piece all of which is available online.

“I am so grateful to live in this beautiful Valley where I am continually inspired by the landscapes and to the Los Olivos General Store for their support in featuring my work,” she said.
 
Looking to the future, Feldman says she envisions hosting local exhibits, expanding online sales, and facilitating intimate workshops in her home to strengthen community ties.

The Los Olivos General Store is at 2900 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

For more information, email hello@thegivingink.com, on Instagram @thegivingink_mjuliet, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Feature image: “Letters” is a print by Michelle Juliet Feldman.

The post Local artist finds her authentic self through her art appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The 14th annual SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale was held Sept. 27-29 at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang. This was the eighth year the event was held at Monty and Pat Roberts’ thoroughbred horse ranch. 

Tom and Debbie Loucks who now operate the California Horse Center on Flag Is Up Farms welcomed the 30 painters, sculptors, and a photographer who exhibited more than 300 works of art in their beautifully renovated event barn.

“It is a perfect venue for this first-class art show, a reception, or convention,” said Tom Burgher, president of Entreprise LLC, which produces the Annual SLOPOKE exhibit.

The SLOPOKE opened Friday evening, Sept. 27, to the foot-tapping original music of Chris Murphy and the Silver Mountain String Band from Los Angeles.

The 2024 SLOPOKE featured artist and awards judge who juried the award-winning art was nationally renowned wildlife artist Ezra Tucker, who started his fine art career in Solvang, where he and his wife Nancy raised their three children until 1999 when they relocated to Monument, Colorado.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

The artists selected for awards include Lisa Skelly, who won Best of Show for her painting “Rock Steady”; Ariel Anton, who won Best Painting for her oil on canvas titled “Saving Some for Later”; and Pat Roberts, who received Best Sculpture for her narrative bronze “Javalina Havoc.” Each received the coveted silver SLOPOKE western belt buckle.

Three other artists received sponsored awards: Rick Hill received the Best Wildlife/Animal Art award, sponsored by Art of the West magazine for his colored pencil painting “Team Work”; Lee Rue received Best Figurative Art award, sponsored by Western Art Collector magazine for “A Place Called Home”; and Barbara Freund was the first recipient of a new award category of Best Depiction of the 21st Century West, sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine for her painting “21st Century Chuckwagon.” 

The People’s Choice Award sponsored by Western Art and Architecture magazine was awarded to Kelly Lewis at the close of the SLOPOKE on Sunday.

“The voting included patrons and artists and was surprisingly tight across all 30 artists,” said Burgher. “People were impressed with the quality and attractiveness of the art in this year’s SLOPOKE. Each of these artists receives a full-page advertisement in a future issue of these fine art journals.” 

Finally, in a gesture of gratitude for Tucker’s service as awards judge, Burgher presented him with a specially minted SLOPOKE belt buckle of a different design from those awarded to the artists.

Next year the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE is scheduled for Sept. 26-28, 2025.

“Mark the date on your calendar now so you don’t miss this spectacular event next year,” said Burgher. “We already have 11 artists seeking acceptance for SLOPOKE 2025, so artists who want to exhibit should request an application now at slopokeartshow.com.”

Feature image: SLOPOKE 2024 artists and their assistants pose outside the California Horse Center event barn at Solvang’s Flag Is Up Farms on opening night.

The post SLOPOKE 2024 wraps up at Flag Is Up Farms appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The quiet little town of Los Alamos came alive during its annual Old Days celebration, Sept. 27-29. Saturday saw crowds of people viewing the annual car show and shoppers gearing up for the holidays purchasing gifts from the vendors. But Sunday held the most fun when the “Biggest Little Small-town Parade” weaved its way through town.

On Sunday at 9 a.m., a 5K run sponsored by CalSwoosh began with many runners participating in the event. The run/walk is a fundraiser for the nonprofit sports club part of CalSwoosh, which uses the proceeds to help underprivileged kids play sports. Trophies were awarded to the first overall male and female finishers. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in seven divisions. 

Following the 5K run, hundreds of people began to gather along the streets of Los Alamos, awaiting the arrival of the parade, which featured dancing horses, fun floats, beautifully costumed dancers, and marching bands. 

Seeing the parade approaching, singer and songwriter Larry Barbro, owner of HotSpot Local, began to perform the national anthem while everyone stood silently with hands over their hearts. 

The theme of this year’s parade was “Past Meets Present” with 26 float entries participating.

James H. Bray (Jim) was the parade’s announcer. Bray is an extremely active member of the community with affiliations too numerous to mention. In 2023, he was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce for his many contributions to the community. He is also a member of the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary. Awaiting the parade Bray told various anecdotes about the history and trivia of Los Alamos. 

This year’s parade Grand Marshals were Dan and Charlene Chabot. The Chabots moved their family to Los Alamos in 1973, just a few years after Dan graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Dan initially worked for a couple of thelarge defense contractors in Santa Barbara. In 1983, he joined MariPro (marine professionals). MariPro designs,manufactures, and installs shallow and deep-water ocean systems for the U.S. Navy, foreign navies, and commercial clients at unique locations all over the world. Dan retired from L-3 Communications/MariPro in 2019 after over 10years as the vice president/general manager of the MariPro Division. Quickly after moving to Los Alamos, Dan became involved in the community. He was on the Los Alamos Olga Reed school board for over nine years, eight years as the president. Dan also joined the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club and served a couple of terms as a director. Presently, Dan is on the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency. In addition, Dan is currently the president of the Santa Barbara County Cattlemen’s Association.

The King and Monighetti families led the parade, carrying the U.S. flag, which has been their tradition since 1966. They were followed by four members of the Boots-n-Chutes All Airborne Association from Lompoc, members of the Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 Officer Wagon, Supervisor Bob Nelson driving a John Deere tractor, the Grand Marshals Dan and Charlene Chabot, 105.9 Krazy Country, members of the Garcia Dance Studio, Coastal Hay & AG, New Generation Cow Girls, and Coastal Vineyard Care Association riding in a 1949 red Ford truck. Over 50 members of theOrcutt Academy High School Band marched in unison filling the air with music. Then came the Surf Soccer Club, Element Christian Church, 1933 and 1944 John Deere tractors, and Maureen Albrecht riding a 1955 Low Boy tractor. Following the tractors were the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, 363 Associates, and the Juan Chavez family participating in remembrance of their father, Miguel Chavez, whose birthday fell on Sept. 28 (He died in 2022 but had enjoyed participating in the Old Days parade). They were followed by El Vogel Villanueva Zacatecas on dancing horses accompanied by a small band, the Depot Bar and the Los Alamos Gallery riding in a vintage caboose, the Klein Dance Arts team, the Gutierrez family with a beautifully dressed woman riding her horse decorated in floral garlands, Righetti FFA, members of the Olga Reed and Orcutt Academy schools, Charlie Gonzales in a 1928 Ford, with the final float from Ballet Folklorico Corazon de la Costa riding their dancing horses.    

The winners of the parade were: Best Use of Theme — Element Christian Church; Best Junior Equestrians — New Generation Cowgirls; Best Equestrian Group — Lienzo Charro, Juan Chavez; Best Military — Boots-n-Chutes; Best Community Service — Righetti FFA; Best Antique Vintage — Charlie Gonzales’ 1929 Model A Ford; Best Performing Group — Ballet Folklorico Corazon de la Costa; Best Grammar School — Olga Reed and Orcutt Academy schools; Best High School — Orcutt Academy High School; Best Tractor — Topa Topa Flywheelers; Best Float — Surf Soccer Club boys and girls.    

“This year’s weekend event was reminiscent of pre-pandemic Old Days,” Williams said. “It was such a great feeling to see the crowds back and enjoying themselves. We are very lucky to have a talented group of volunteers who make the magic happen each year.”

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

Feature image: Members of the Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 ride in their Officer Wagon pulled by two horses at the Los Alamos Old Days Parade on Sept. 29.

The post Los Alamos Old Days culminates with ‘Biggest Little Small-town Parade’ appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The 78th annual Los Alamos Old Days celebration, a three-day event, was held on the weekend of Sept. 27-29, featuring a Classic Car Show, an Artisan’s Faire, the Old Days Stampede 5K Run, dinner and dancing at the Men’sClub, food, music and games for the children, and the Biggest Little Hometown Parade. The theme of this year’s event was “Past Meets Present, A Time To Remember.” 

“This event is one the community looks forward to each year,” said Kristy Williams, president of the Los Alamos Men’s Club, in her President’s Message. “It is a time to meet up with and celebrate with our neighbors, see people you haven’t seen in a long time, listen to live music, dance, eat good food, watch a parade, see a car show, buy cool things, and most importantly, to just enjoy ourselves.”

“The Los Alamos Men’s Club sponsors the event and the Old Days committee has worked hard to bring our community an Old Days they will be excited about,” continued Williams. “Without their dedication and volunteerism, there would not be a town celebration.”

The festivities began at the Men’s Club on Friday evening with dinner and dancing to the music of Bitter Road Bank, which kept those who wanted to kick up their heels on the dance floor.

The event opened on Saturday with one side of Bell Street lined with an array of vintage and antique cars. Ninety-five vendors lined the opposite side of the street offering their wares with everything from skincare to hot sauce to cupcakes, with jewelry and art, and homemade crafts by local artisans. Children were treated to an array of fun and games, face painting, and bounce houses in Ferrini Park, and a petting zoo and paintball in the parking lot. There were food trucks and tri-tip sandwiches available for hungry attendees. Of course, what would an old-time Western celebration be without Cow Pie Bingo, which was won by Greg Williams from Bakersfield. James Jepsen of Borrowed Time Entertainment was the DJ, entertaining everyone with his large selection of music. 

The winners of the car show are as follows: Best in Show — Mario Angulo’s 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer; Best Hot Rod — Paul Payton’s 1940 Ford Coupe Deluxe; Best Custom — Larry Thompson’s 1972 Chevrolet Blazer; Best Classic Truck — Duane Hammonds’ 1957 Chevrolet 3100 PU Truck; Best Muscle Car — Michael and Diane Stuart’s 1969 Plymouth GTX; Best Rat Rod — Cody Castagna’s 1937 Ford; Best Classic Antique — Robert Mainer’s 1937 Chevrolet Touring Sedan; Best Patina Car or Truck — Chris Cooper’s 1954 Chevrolet 3100; Best Sports Car 2 seater — Jeff Frey’s 1968 Porsche 912; Best Volkswagen — Jamie Verduzco’s 1965 VW Convertible; Best Classic 1930-1940 Roadsters/Coupes — Kenneth Hinge’s 1932 Ford 4-door Sedan; Best Low Rider — Mario Lupercio’s 1965 Chevrolet Impala Convertible and Best Tri Five (all makes) went to Rob Frakes’s 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles.

One of the most unique booths at the Artisan Faire was a remodeled vintage horse trailer called Me & My Flores, a flower bar. 

“We found this trailer in Fresno and fixed it up,” said Angie Leon. “I sell flowers every other Saturday at Trilogy Golf Course in Nipomo. This is the first event I’ve signed up for and it’s been amazing. I opened up in May of 2024.”

Another of the booths was La Dolce Vita, which was manned by owner and baker Melissa Bagley, who sold gluten-free baked goods.

“I’m gluten intolerant and I was having a hard time finding breads and other baked goods that tasted delicious and didn’t cause me stomach upset,” Bagley said. “I started hearing the need from more and more people, so I began offering my baked goods to others and it grew from there.”

The scent of lavender from Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm wafted on the breeze from the array of lavender products that were for sale. 

“My mom and I started the farm in 2020 in the Santa Rita Hills area,” said Lucas Neumann. “We opened the farm to the public last year with our first lavender festival which was held on July 13, 2024. We will be holding our next festival on July 12, 2025.”

Gisella Carroll of Peruvian Imports offered a variety of handmade items made from the wool of llamas.

“A friend of mine complimented me on a sweater I was wearing that my mother gave me,” she said. “An idea struck me. I took it off and sold it to her. My mother was a little upset but I told her that we would start a company importing clothing, purses, and handmade goods from Peru. We now support 17 Peruvian women who make what we sell and it also allows me to travel to Peru where I am from.”

Saturday came to a close with everyone packing up for the night anticipating the next day’s events, but the fun continued at the Los Alamos Men’s Club with a Cook Your Own Dinner/Dance with live music by The Fossils who played into the night.

Feature image: The Los Alamos Old Days event was very well-attended.

The post ‘Past Meets Present’ at annual Los Alamos Old Days  appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Author, artist, teacher, muralist, and carver, Bobbi Dooley Hunter has been writing children’s books for 40 years. She is the author of six books to date, with two additional books ready for publication. She both writes and illustrates her books.

Hunter was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up with two older brothers. When she was 8 years old, her parents relocated the family in two cars and U-Haul trailers from Oregon through California deserts to Scottsdale, Arizona, leaving snow behind and finding the hot sun.

She was born with the heart of an artist, and her parents knew and supported it. She attended the University of Arizona and pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

“While in college, the director of the school told me that I would never make a living as an artist, and advised me to become a stenographer instead,” she said. “When I told my father what he had said, my father was furious and had a stern talk with the director, telling him in no uncertain terms, ‘My daughter needs to pursue what she loves most, and that’s art.’ I will always be grateful to my parents for fostering my creative gifts and for their support.”

Fate, she said, brought her to California with a passion to find work in the art field.

“I immediately found work in advertising agencies,” she said, “but after four years the pressure and the stress got to me, so I took a job as a bus driver, a job I thought would be much calmer. I became involved with Arts Outreach, and Connie Rohde asked me to teach mural design in her classroom.”

Hunter went on to teach art at Santa Ynez Elementary, Los Olivos Elementary, and Solvang Elementary schools for children in grades 1 through 8. She also became a sign painter/carver, a mascot artist for most of the local schools in the Valley, and a muralist, teaching students how to create huge, long murals on interior school walls. She’s painted water towers, oil derricks, equipment at Dunn School, and T-shirts for the Sedgewick Reserve’s Outdoor Classroom sessions, to name a few of her numerous projects.

“I love to paint, to create, and to teach art,” she said. “Kids keep me young. While on scaffolding, painting interior and exterior walls, I thought up stories to illustrate for children. My goal was to educate with fun stories and bright-colored art. The art part is easier for me than the writing part.”

Hunter says she finds inspiration in varied places. Her first book, titled “The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,” was inspired by a trip she and her husband took to Botswana, Africa.

“My husband, Ken, and I saved for a two-year trip, from 1975 to 1977, following the equator overland, visiting other continents on a $6-a-day budget, carrying only our backpacks. I told my husband that if I was any older, the trip would have killed me,” she said. “In Botswana, we sat in a baobab tree. The people told us legends about living around the lonely trees on the wide desert plains. I knew it would be a good story, and soon my book, ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,’ was born.” 

“Baobab trees are most unusual,” she explained. “They grow separately, not in forests. They are located on the African plains; they are not very tall, but they are very, very broad. I was told that some of the trees are so big around that even 50 men holding hands could not surround the trunk. We climbed into one of them, which was three stories tall with ladders reaching up to access each level. After I saw the tree, I sat down and drew it, made notes, and when I got home, I drew the pictures and made it into story form.”

Hunter then went to the effort of getting it out into the public.

Bobbi Hunter says she loves to paint, to create and to teach. Hunter is not afraid of heights as she paints the Spartan mascot on the side of the Los Olivos Elementary School.  Hunter has painted the mascots for most of the schools in the Valley. Pictured is the Spartan mascot. Photos courtesy of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

“After it was finished, I went to the Solvang Library and looked for children’s book publishers who would be interested in publishing my book,” she continued. “I found one who paid me $5,000. It was sold all over the world. ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree’ book is in the Smithsonian Institute. But I didn’t receive 1 cent from those sales. So, eventually, I sent a reversion letter to the publisher asking him to relinquish ownership of my book. He refused at first, but eventually, he succumbed. He said he had 1,000 copies in his possession and would burn them, but I asked for them back. I retrieved them and got in touch with the Teddy Bear Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, asking if they would be interested in them. The woman I spoke to said she would, so I sent them to the Foundation, and they were distributed to underprivileged children.”

Hunter’s next book is titled “Scarecrows in the Garden.”

“I love scarecrows, so I thought I’d do a book called ‘Scarecrows in the Garden, the Alphabet Book A-Z,’ with directions on how to build a scarecrow and the different crops that scarecrows protect,” she said. “It’s an A-to-Z book about fruits and veggies, so children can see how plants grow before they are picked and eaten. Look out for the little gophers on each page. I really want to educate children with some cute pictures and a good story.”

Hunter continued to describe how some of her other books came about. One, “Dinosaurs, Dreams, and Ice Cream,” is inspired by a story by Barbra Goodyear Minar. 

“I dedicated it to Barbra and her grandson, Christopher, who loved dinosaurs, and to my grandchildren and their wondrous imaginations,” she said. “Christopher loves dinosaurs, but they are big and scary. One night, the dinosaurs invited him into their world. Suddenly, he finds himself in a forest, solving a mysterious problem for them. Christopher bravely marches forward, looking for the dinosaurs’ stolen ice cream.”

“’Savannah’s Family Farm’ was inspired by the fact that family farms are hard to find anymore. Big Ag has taken over,” she explained. “The story is about a mom and dad, their two children, and their dog, who grow all kinds of warm and cool weather crops on their farm. The book teaches kids about where their food comes from and about farming techniques.”

Hunter’s work is admired by her audience.

“Bobbi is a fabulous, creative, local artist and writer who uses vibrant colors and great visual expressions in all her books,” said Maggie Le Pley, a friend of Hunter’s.

“I am excited to get my stories and art into the hands of children around the world,” said Hunter. “And one more lesson for those budding artists — you can make a living doing what you love, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

All of Hunter’s books are available locally at The Book Loft in Solvang, on Amazon.com, and at Bookshop.org. A portion of the book sales are donated to your local bookstores through Bookshop.org only.

For more information, email bdhunter525@gmail.com. 

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the story. The complete story can be found at santaynezvalleystar.com.

The post Children’s book author, artist, captivates with color and creativity appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.