Solvang resident Phyllis Axtell will celebrate her 100th birthday on May 9 surrounded by family and friends. She resides at the Atterdag Village of Solvang. Many may recall having her as their teacher or as the principal of Ballard School. 

The third of seven children, she was born “with the assistance of a real doctor, Dr. Goss” she said, who delivered her on her uncle Garret Ferguson’s farm in, reportedly, a Sears & Roebuck Catalogue house in Foster near Carrington, North Dakota. Her parents were Donald John Graham and Anna Jemima Ferguson. She was baptized Phyllis Mae Graham at the Congregational Church in Bordulac, which was built by her grandfather John Ferguson. The church no longer exists. Calvin Coolidge was President. 

“We had a car, a Baby Overland with side curtains and a telephone (one long and two short rings on a party line), but little else of the modern world — no electricity, no running water, no indoor plumbing, or bathrooms. Only a one- or two-holler outhouse, which was miserable in the winter,” Axtell said in her autobiography in 2017.

“We had an old washtub which became a bathtub every Saturday night,” she continued. “Water had to be hauled in from the well in buckets, heated on a wood stove so you didn’t get fresh water for each person needing a bath.”

Like many in those days, Axtell’s family worked on the farm.

“The farmwork was done with teams of horses. I do not recall ever seeing a tractor until my grandfather bought a new beautiful green John Deere tractor, which he was really proud of,” she remembered. “We later moved to the Pete Peterson farm which was about a mile from where Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson lived. We had a lot of fun and freedom to go and play wherever we wanted. We would build tree houses, forts, snow caves, ice skate on ponds, wherever our imaginations took us.” 

Her father grew grain, raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens, and her mother raised free-range turkeys which she prepared for market. 

“I remember a line of turkeys hanging by their feet on the front porch. We would be needed to help pluck all those turkeys and remove all the pin feathers. I remember taking trips into town to market in the winter, traveling on horseback or on a horse-drawn sled.”

Axtell’s family took care of many kinds of animals.

“Another fond memory was how my dad would bring the little orphaned sheep into the house and make beds for them and feed them behind the wonderfully warm kitchen stove,” she said. “We rarely got to keep the animals as pets. Those were wonderful times, playing with my siblings and having close contact with my mother’s family. We always had dinner on Sundays at Grandma’s and she would almost always have an angel food cake for dessert.”

The family eventually moved to another farm, according to Axtell.

“We moved to Hoffert’s farm in Nordmore County. I attended a one-room schoolhouse, often taught by the Ferguson cousins,” she said. “We’d walk one mile to school each day and were excited to have the weather warm enough so we could run home barefooted. My sister Lucy had taught me how to read and print so I started school in the second grade.”

Farmers were self-sufficient, and there was money to be made farming. But her father seemed to have gotten into the farming business too late to reap the benefits of the once high price of wheat, not to mention a seemingly endless drought and pestilence. 

“My dad had borrowed money from the bank to buy seed and equipment for his farming business. But life was hard on the farm. I recall seeing my mother working in the fields alongside my dad while raising little kids and tending to a big garden, canning vegetables and fruit for winter, sometimes when the temperature outside was about 118 degrees,” Axtell said. “It was then that I knew I never wanted to be in the farming business. Farming could be a hit or miss proposition, and during this time, there were plagues to rival those in the Bible; there was a seven-year drought, rust ruined crops one year, then the grasshoppers, so thick they stopped up the grill on the car radiator and ate all the crops. Then flocks of gulls descended out of the sky to eat the grasshoppers.  I don’t remember exactly but I think the plagues lasted about 10 years. 

“My dad worked so hard to make the farm a success but with no income except the little he got from setting 5-gallon cans of cream out on the road to be picked up, the bank eventually foreclosed, and took everything — animals, machinery all the tools related to farming. We were evicted and again moved to Uncle Garrett’s empty farm.”

Then came a career change for Axtell’s father.

“About the time that my brother Donald was born my dad got a job as foreman on a road job, probably a WPA project as part of FDR’s programs to use unemployed people to improve roads, buildings, dams, etc,” she recalled. “He eventually landed a job as executive secretary of the Welfare Board, which was much more in line with his career ambitions. He worked hard and enjoyed his work.”

But his new job brought another move to Carrington in 1932. She was in fifth grade at the time. 

“[At my new school] We were offered Latin, grammar, office skills, band, chorus, physical education, and home economics as well as the regular curriculum,” she said. “We had great teachers some of whom were interesting characters. We enjoyed extra-curricular activities such as sports, band, chorus, drama, public speaking, to name a few. All of us children enjoyed our years at Carrington High School.”

After graduating high school in May 1941, she took the $35 she had saved up and drove to Los Angeles with a man who was heading for one of California’s coastal towns, where he had accepted a teaching position. She paid him $15. 

“I had been offered a position as ‘nanny’ for a doctor and his wife who had a newly adopted daughter and lived in Seal Beach,” Axtell said. “I attended Compton Junior College in 1942 as a pre-med student and also worked at the National Youth Administration while taking care of the Nelson child, and worked at Woolworth’s on Saturdays for 10 cents an hour. Unfortunately, there was no study time, and I suffered from a severe case of exhaustion. I had to make a change. So, I took a job as a waitress and was advised by one of the older waitresses that this was not a good career choice.”

In December 1941, the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. Then in February 1942 the war came closer to home with the bombardment of Ellwood by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Santa Barbara and the subsequent disappearance of fellow Japanese-American college students who were reportedly placed into internment camps. 

“At that time the defense plants were testing and hiring people so as soon as I turned 18 I tested and got a job with Lockheed as a stock clerk, then posting in the Kardex system, then as an expeditor, solving shortage problems for whatever was needed for the production for the war effort,” Axtell said. “I became acquainted with other young people and we rented an apartment together. We worked swing-shift, so after returning home at 12:30 a.m. we would go dancing or to the Long Beach Pier, to the Palladium, to the movies or whatever. Many of the establishments stayed open 24 hours a day.

“I connected up with some of my hometown classmates who were also working at Lockheed and we had a good time spending our new-found money. A cousin of my best friend introduced me to Creighton Axtell and we began dating, and eventually courting. We would go to the beach, to the mountains, or play tennis. We were not extravagant. Creighton’s first priority was saving, war bonds or a bank account or sending money home to his mother. We were married on May 26, 1943, and honeymooned in Muir Woods.”

In 1943, with only a high school education, Creighton was recruited for his engineering skills to work on the development of America’s first jet at Kelly Johnson’s Skunk Works in Burbank. Creighton had his draft deferred until 1944 because he was working on the covert development of the first P-80, the Lulu Belle. Once the plane was constructed, he was drafted by the Army Air Corps to serve during World War II. He and Phyllis moved to Wright Field in Ohio, where Axtell served in an engineering role. 

For the remainder of his service, Creighton was stationed at Atsugi, Japan, as part of the American occupation. After leaving the service Creighton and his wife eventually moved back to Southern California, where they both worked for Lockheed. Creighton worked at the Skunk Works factory as a mechanic, building parts for missiles and aircraft, and later was appointed a senior group supervisor of the station installing concept parts in the ailerons and control services on the tail of the P-38. 

“We bought one acre of land from friends in the Northridge area, as did other Lockheed friends and formed a group of ‘pioneers’ who began designing and building homes,” Phyllis said. “We all helped each other with the building projects, starting from scratch, mixing our own concrete, dug cesspools, shingled roofs. We lived there for 15 years, adopting two children, 2-week-old James Robert Axtell in 1954 and two years later 10-day-old daughter Nellana Colleen Axtell. Our home in Northridge was complete.”

Eventually, work would bring the Axtell family up to the Central Coast.

“Creighton was offered a job in management with Lockheed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1959,” Phyllis recalled. “He moved to Solvang and I followed with the two children after selling our home in Northridge. We rented a house on Second Street, where Theaterfest is now located, and eventually purchased an acre of land in Janin Acres, where we built our home. It was completed in 1962 and we moved in.”

Creighton and Phyllis both spent a lot of time taking night classes, acquiring B.A. and later M.A. degrees. Phyllis completed her B.A. and M.A. at UC Santa Barbara, while Creighton finished his B.A. at Northridge University and his M.A. at Chapman University. 

Creighton worked for Lockheed for 26 years. After his retirement, he earned his teaching credentials and taught elementary and secondary school in the Santa Ynez Valley. 

“I too went back to school, earning my B.A. and one year of teacher education and was offered a job as teacher/principal of Ballard Elementary School, where I worked for 11 years,” Phyllis said. “I retired for one year then went to work as lead technical editor at Martin Marietta, Vandenberg Air Force Base. I retired in 1987 to continue leading the good life.”

A good life seeing the world and appreciating what was at home, Phyllis noted. 

“My degrees in history and English inspired me to travel. We traveled extensively through Europe, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, South America, Russian, Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Central America, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Israel, and the United States,” she recalled.

“But our greatest blessings have been from our family. Our kids have been of such comfort and joy in so many ways. My ‘good life’ in Solvang included church, Eastern Star Women’s Club, PEO, hiking, and playing bridge.”

The Axtells even served as the grand marshals for the Solvang Independence Day Parade in 2018.

Axtell said her time living in the Santa Ynez Valley reminded her of the life she led as a child in other parts of the U.S.

“Living in Solvang is much like living in Carrington, North Dakota, a small town where you know almost everyone,” she said. “I have so much to be thankful for, most of all my loving husband, Creighton. Up until his death in January 2023 at the age of 103, he treated me with surprises and took such good care of me for the nearly 80 years we were married. I am also thankful to all of my family and my many friends. I have indeed been blessed in so many ways.”

To anyone wishing to send Phyllis a birthday acknowledgement, please send it to 636 Atterdag Road, Solvang, CA 93463.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the “uncut” online version of Phyllis Axtell’s story. A condensed version of the story will run in our print edition coming out on Tuesday, May 7.

Feature Image: A recent photo of Phyllis Axtell who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on May 9. Photo by Nellana Lobdell

The post Solvang resident, Ballard educator, celebrates a century of a life well lived appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Unspeakable cruelty has been perpetrated on animals down through the centuries to the present. Many people believe that animals are not sentient beings with individual thoughts, feelings, and personalities. It is their contention that animals can’t feel pain or become emotionally disturbed or that communication with each other, let alone humans, is very limited. Thankfully, science is becoming more aware of the fact that not only animals but plants really do have the capability of communication. We as humans just have to learn how to listen.

Santa Ynez Valley resident Tammy Golden is an animal intuitive healer, behavior consultant, and herbalist who works mostly with horses who have psychological, emotional, behavioral, and physical issues. She listens to them through what she calls a universal language: their body language combined with energy.

Golden’s job is her passion. She has always cared for animals on a deeper level, from rhinos to feral cats. Presently she works mostly with horses. 

“I’ve been handling animals since I was about 4 years old and naturally knew how to listen to them,” said Golden. “The first animal I rode as a child was a giant Galapagos tortoise. I rode around on his back, and I didn’t want to leave. It was just a wonderful experience.”

She moved on other animals a few years later.

“When I was about 8 years old, I started making money by training our neighbor’s dogs,” she explained. “Working with animals is something I can’t say no to. I can’t work in a store or on a computer; I need to be outside in nature, up close and personal with something furry, feathered, or scaled.”

After that, Golden got experience with cats.

“My first cat was feral. My neighbor was overloaded with kittens, and she said if I could catch the mother, I could keep her. That was all it took,” she said. “Interestingly, I was not interested in the kittens, I wanted the mother. I caught her, took her home and got her calmed down and socialized. Over the next few years, she actually taught me how to communicate with cats, learning cat language. I learned some things from other trainers, but for the most part, I’ve learned from listening to the animals themselves.”

As a youngster, Golden had a dream of becoming an animal trainer and when she grew up she went to work at a wildlife theme park in northern California but quickly discovered it wasn’t what she thought it would be.

“It was a terrible place for animals, and I quickly moved on, getting myself fired because I refused to beat a baby camel,” she said. “I am not a proponent of animal training colleges because they treat animals not as sentient beings but as things, and that’s not right.”

Returning to Santa Barbara, Golden has worked with local animal sanctuaries and with individuals who want to create a better relationship between themselves and their horse.

“Horses are the most in need of help, I find, because abuse is normalized and overlooked in the horse industry,” said Golden. “There is no protection for horses. Most people have traditions about handling horses that are often cruel, often without people realizing what they are doing is cruel, starting out wrong and escalating into something where the horse doesn’t trust people anymore.

“People think that punishment is a way to fix a problem. In reality they are causing the animal just to fear you. I’m trying to educate people that if they allow the horse to speak with his body, to say, ‘I don’t like something or I do like something’ and how to respond in a proper way that the horse can understand, the outcome is better for people and horses. You are setting up a conversation between you and your horse — not an ‘obey me or else’ attitude.”

Golden’s method is to create a friendly environment where the horse feels comfortable and secure enough to engage with her in a form of communication.

“While every situation is different, I can give one example of what it looks like when I work with a horse,” she said. “It’s actually more like play. I offer an invitation for the horse to engage. I take on the body language and demeanor of the herd matriarch, which is the most trusted and looked up to member of the herd, a very motherly figure. Horses understand and see the mother movements I am making and will respond in all kinds of ways that help me to know what’s going on inside of them. This is always done in an open environment without any kind of physical restraints or round pen to limit the movements of the horse. 

“There is never any need to show dominance or be the alpha as these ideas are foreign to horses. I seek to become the trusted friend that a horse can feel safe talking to. Meanwhile, I am always watching and listening to their body language and feeling their energy.”

Golden’s work with horses has inspired her to pursue another goal.

“I am hoping at some point to open a healing center for horses and other animals where people can come, in a quiet and natural environment and learn how to communicate with their animals, a place to heal animals that are in such bad shape that they can no longer be around humans,” she said.

Golden has four grown children: a son who is a local ferrier, a daughter in Washington who practices ancient Chinese medicine, a son who is a prison guard and another daughter who writes, illustrates, and animates comic books.

“My main goal is to change people’s perspectives about the other beings with whom we share this planet,” said Golden. “Communication is everything! If we can’t communicate with each other and our animals, how can we have harmony in this world.” 

To contact Golden, call (805) 245-4158.

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By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang held a tribute benefit for local musician and drummer with The Molly Ringwald Project, LP (Lasse Plum Bertelsen), on Wednesday night, Dec. 27. He had been battling stage 4 prostate cancer since he was diagnosed in May of 2019. 

Sadly, LP passed away on Friday, Dec. 29, at Serenity House in Santa Barbara, at the age of 52, just two days after he was able to view the concert given for him on YouTube. 

“To know Lasse is to love him, and we’re now wanting to demonstrate our love to him by helping him in any way we can during this challenging time,” said Sarah Sheppard, LP’s stepdaughter, and organizer of the GoFundMe page started for his benefit.

The Central Coast music community came out in force to pay tribute to their friend and fellow artist in his time of need.

The evening’s music event was arranged by Chris Pelonis, the owner of Lost Chord Guitars, and also a long-time friend and fellow musician of LP. But Pelonis said the event was spearheaded by Carly Farmer and Ben Jordan, who took care of all the details involved in putting on the concert. 

More than 25 musicians of all genres performed throughout the evening paying tribute to LP. The small, acoustically perfect room at Lost Chords Guitars was filled to capacity with people standing shoulder to shoulder to hear the various performances and send love and support to LP, who was linked up to the livestreamed event on YouTube. LP was able to enjoy the event along with the many people who attended. 

The event can still be seen on the YouTube channel @chrispelonis. 

The evening began with a presentation of Mintang (John) Fitzpatrick’s Infinite Grapelings accompanied by pianist Matt McCarrin, artist in residence at Shepherd of the Valley Church, in the reception area where concert attendees gathered before the event to enjoy a glass of wine.

When all was set on stage, Pelonis opened the event by singing two songs, “I Can Only Imagine” and “I Will Trust in You,” followed by Teresa Pico on guitar and the T-Bone Ramblers. The merriment continued with a string of appearances by LP’s friends and musicians who had played with him over the years, including The Molly Ringwald Project, Lesley Lembo, Gary Foshee, Tony Martinez, Liz Brumfield, and more. His 19-year-old son, Lane, was also in attendance.

The number of people who attended the event could not be estimated because there was standing room only throughout the evening, which wrapped up by 11 p.m.

“When we found out about LP’s problem, Carly Farmer, my manager, approached me to put on an event for LP,” Pelonis said. “That was several months ago and at that time a lot of people were trying to put something together in a larger venue than mine, but none of them came to fruition. So, a couple of weeks ago Carly asked me again to do something. I was on tour in Hawaii, so Carly spearheaded the entire event. Carly and Ben Jordan took care of all the details and I provided the venue and the stage.”

Fitzpatrick was one of many moved by the event.

“What impressed me most was the outpouring of love and support from the Central Coast music community and of course our Valley,” he said. “The highlight for me was when LP FaceTimed us to say how much he was enjoying the event and how much he loved all of us. When we saw him and heard his voice, the mood in the room just shifted. It transformed from a tribute to a thoroughly joyous celebration … a beautiful reminder of what communal love and support means to each of us. 

“First and foremost, I know that LP’s Christian faith was really strong. I went to visit him on Thursday, Dec. 28, at hospice and played him a song that I had written for him called ‘There is a Place.’ He joined me, playing percussion on his body. When I was finished he asked me to play it again, which I did. In typical LP style, he just wanted to get it right. He was funny and happy when I was there, and deep for sure. He made some jokes. He sadly passed away the following day, but he did get to see the tribute.”

LP leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Stacey. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and Papa. 

“It was beautiful to see our community come together for LP. Small towns are just that way,” said Pelonis.

To further contribute to LP’s family, visit Venmo@Stacey-Bertelsen.

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By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

A new art gallery, Galerie LaParliere, has opened in Solvang, specializing in decorative painting, intricate hand painted furnishings and décor, murals, trompe l’oeil, and fine and decorative art. It is the work of French artist Maryvonne LaParliere.

For more than 30 years, LaParliere has built an acclaimed career, with both international and American clients. She has worked for the Orient Express Hotel chain, several universities, and hospitals, for diplomats, celebrities, estates, and chateaux. Her work has also been featured in numerous exhibitions and in local and international media.

Born outside of Paris, France, LaParliere spent her childhood near Rueil-Malmaison, where Monet and Renoir painted. She said she was inspired by their work and the beauty of her surroundings, which fed her artistic sensibilities. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an artist.

“At 16 my family moved to the Loire Valley with its charming villages and beautiful Chateaux filled with art, which I so enjoyed,” said LaParliere. “I then went to study at Les Beaux Arts in Tours, France.

“I learned how to paint when I was a teenager and started out doing portraits and landscapes. But I felt confined by a little piece of canvas, so I started painting furniture for fun.”

In 1988, LaParliere moved to Santa Barbara, where she began restoring furniture and painting full scenes on them. Her art was noticed by Beverly Hills celebrities and she was commissioned to do furniture paintings, trompe l’oeil, and murals. She had become adept at translating a family’s history into murals or turning an armoire, table, desk, or cupboard into beautiful works of art, personalized to her clients. She also exhibited her work and was active in the art world. She was then commissioned to create 70 feet of murals at the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

LaParliere moved from California to Virginia, opening up galleries in Charlottesville and Gordonsville where she displayed her work from 1995 to 2010. Then, she moved back to Santa Barbara in 2010. 

In 2010, after a solo exhibition at the French Embassy, LaParliere was decorated by the French Ambassador as a “Knight in the Order of the Palms” in recognition of her work and for bringing French culture to so many in America.

She remained in Santa Barbara until 2015 when she again moved back to Virginia and got married. But the call of Santa Barbara was strong and she returned to California and the Santa Ynez Valley at the beginning of COVID.

“As everything was shut down I started painting a lot of things in my house, such as faux tiles which surround the exterior windows of my patio,” she said. “They look like real tiles, but they are painted on the wall. I kept busy painting — painters can never stop painting, you know. I continue to explore the field of decorate art, creating wall frescoes in the Greek and Roman style, faux finishes and decorating old wood with angels and other figures.”

LaParliere signed a lease in April and set up her new gallery in May. Upon entering Galerie LaParliere, one has the sense of entering a new, brightly colored, fantasy old-world establishment that instantly instills a sense of happiness and lightness. It is an extension of LaParliere’s own personality.

LaParliere painted one of the many horses on display throughout the Valley. Unfortunately, hers was stolen from the corner of Highway 246 and Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez.

Galerie LaParliere will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26. The gallery is located at 485 Alisal Road in Solvang, on the second floor, Suite 209.

For more information, visit laparliere.com, mv@laparliere.com or call 434-962-3407.

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By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

and Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

Rolf and Robyn Richter, longtime residents of Los Olivos, have reached out to the Santa Ynez Valley Star to voice their concerns about the multi-colored crosswalk that appeared overnight earlier this summer in the middle of the small town of Los Olivos.

In the middle of June, which is recognized as Pride Month, while visiting the Los Olivos Post Office to collect their mail, the Richters, as well as other town residents, were surprised to see the crosswalks in the middle of Los Olivos painted in the bright colors of the rainbow, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, not their usual white.

“Let me be clear, I am now and have always been a ‘live and let live’ kind of person. What signs you put up on your own property is your business,” Rolf Richter said. “But when a small minority of people take over an unincorporated town and disallow their fellow residents of having a say in what happens on the public streets in their town, well this is very concerning.

“The residents of Los Olivos were not consulted on whether they were OK with painting the crosswalks in rainbow colors. We, the residents of Los Olivos, have a say as to what happens in our little town; not just the business owners, who mostly reside out of town.”

The painting of the crosswalks in Los Olivos came after a similar proposal in Solvang earlier in the year.

The Richters heard of the proposal made to the Solvang City Council in February by business owners of a children’s gift and toy shop in Solvang, Kiel and Matt Cavalli, who are also founder and executive director, respectively, of the Rainbow House, a nonprofit geared toward the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The original proposal at the Feb. 27 Solvang City Council meeting included the painting of crosswalks on two intersections of Copenhagen Drive, along with pride banners on city-owned streetlights for the entire month of June. That was voted down by the council on a 3-2 vote.

On April 24, the Cavallis came back with an amended proposal to fly the pride banners for a two-week period in June, with no mention of painted crosswalks. That proposal was approved by a 3-2 vote as Mayor Mark Infanti, who voted against the previous proposal in February, voted yes for the amended one.

Later in that meeting, the council voted to ban all non-city banners for display after the already-approved Pride banner and Solvang Theaterfest banner are displayed this year.

“Cavalli’s proposal caused the City Council to amend the City Charter, disallowing any banners except the ‘Welcome to Solvang’ banners to be flown in the future,” said Rolf Richter, who along with Robyn attended the April 24 meeting. “This amendment eliminates the once informative and inviting banners such as Julefest, the Elverhoj Museum, and Theaterfest for example, all long-time Valley institutions, to be flown in the future. In my opinion, the Cavallis and their small LGBTQIA+ community have ruined this valuable way to announce events for everyone.”

After a similar proposal was introduced in Los Olivos, the Richters said being in an unincorporated town in the Valley, they did not have the opportunity to voice their opinions on rainbow crosswalks.

“[Jefferson] Woeste, the chair of the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce and business owner in Los Olivos, seemed to take it upon himself to consult with Supervisor Hartmann, who consented to these crosswalks being painted in rainbow colors, without even consulting the residents or business owners for the most part,” Richter said. “The crosswalks were quickly and quietly painted. It happened at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, without anyone in the town being notified.”

Jefferson Woeste, owner of the J. Woeste plant nursery in Los Olivos and member of the Chamber board, told the Santa Ynez Valley Star he put in motion the idea to paint the crosswalk in rainbow colors during Pride Month, and then paint the walks in red, white, and blue to celebrate July 4.

Woeste said he pursued the crosswalks project after a campus club at Santa Ynez High School had rainbow colors painted on campus crosswalks and speedbumps during a week-long “No Place For Hate” campaign. After complaints from parents, school maintenance painted over the rainbow colors with white paint after just two days.

About the SYHS crosswalks, Woeste said “they were painted on a Monday, and the next day, kids are showing up and their being painted white.” Woeste claimed that out of 10 people who commented on the campus crosswalks, only three objected.

“The school approved it, and they caved to those three parents,” he said. “So therefore I thought, you know, that’s not right. Let’s see if we can do that in Los Olivos.”

Woeste said he took the idea to paint the crosswalks in Los Olivos to the Chamber of Commerce and they unanimously said yes. He said he then reached out to Scott Ramsey of Ramsey Asphalt, who did the rainbow-painting on the Santa Ynez High campus.

“[Scott’s] also the dude who deals with County Roads,” Woeste said, pointing out that department is the one in charge of approving projects like this. “He knows what’s required. He knows that if you’re going to paint a crosswalk, he knows you need flagmen, he knows there are procedures, he knows all that.

“He proposed it to County Roads and they sat on it. He told me ‘I’m sorry,’ and that he didn’t think it would happen,” Woeste said. “Bottom line, there’s first amendment rights involved, not to mention the legality and technicality, and roads goes to county counsel, county counsel says yes.

“County Roads reaches out to Joan Hartmann’s office, she’s like 100 percent ‘let’s do this.’”

“We went through every legal proper channel,” Woeste said. “We went through the same channels when we painted them red, white, and blue.”

Richter said he called Hartmann’s office twice went to the office once when it was closed, then he tried to contact Mary Nash, a member of the Los Olivos Chamber of Commerce. He said he has not heard back from either.

“No one asked us, the folks who live in Los Olivos,” he said. “We feel voiceless and no one in the Chamber even consulted us. I had initially put up several flyers, voicing my opinion, which were promptly torn down. My wife and I continued to put up flyers daily, which continued to be torn down.”

Richter also brought up another factor — the horses that ride through town.

“We are also an equestrian town with horses riding daily through the town,” he said. “One of the reasons the Solvang City Council denied Cavalli’s [original] proposal is because it is dangerous for horse and rider to traverse the colorful crosswalks. One of the veterinarians at Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic confirmed that ‘it’s a well-known fact among horse riders that stripes of any colors are dangerous for horses to tread on and they’ll bolt since they instinctively view them as cattle guards to get their feet caught in.’“ 

On Sunday, June 25, Richter heard from Meighan Dietenhofer, Joan Hartman’s Solvang representative, seven days after Richter had left a phone message for her.

“Dietenhofer had no response when I asked her why Hartman didn’t nix the crosswalk idea when she already should have known of the dangers to horses and riders as this was one of the reasons that the Solvang City Council rejected the painted crosswalks,” said Richter. 

“The people in Los Olivos pay high property taxes. It takes a lot of work to afford to live here and to not get a vote or a voice on what happens in our community feels like a slap in the face. This is not about just the crosswalk — it’s about what could happen next.” 

The post Crosswalk color controversy re-emerged in Los Olivos appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Jen Curtis, a resident of Los Alamos, has had a heart for animals in need since childhood. As a child growing up in Maine, she said she used to pick up neighborhood cats that she thought were homeless and bring them home.

“So, when I brought the cats home, my mother would say that they probably had homes of their own and that I needed to find out where they lived,” said Curtis. “From childhood, I was always wanting to help sick cats in need. Turns out I’m allergic to cats, so I went without any animal in my life until a friend of mine gifted me with a dachshund named Greta.” 

In 2014, Curtis said she recognized the plight of homeless dogs in need of rescuing. So, she started fostering rescues. At first she focused on dachshunds and dachshund mixes.

“Shortly after bringing in a friend for Greta, I began fostering dachshunds who were looking for forever homes,” she said. “I began with dachshunds and it slowly developed into fostering all breeds of dogs.

“I fostered and then adopted Hudson who was going to be euthanized because he had kennel cough. Then I started doing more. I adopted a cocker spaniel who a delivery guy in Bakersfield had seen someone throw out of a truck and it just went on from there.” 

At present Curtis is an independent dog rescuer, but she is in the process of filing for a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. The name of her rescue will be LE WOOF, but for now she is doing this work as an independent dog lover. 

“The word got out that I am interested in rescuing dogs, so people started calling me about animals in trouble,” said Curtis. “My journey is to find every dog a forever home.”

A board member from the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society and Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) asked Curtis to help with some fundraising and shortly after that, she was asked to join the Board of Directors and she said that she pretty much spearheaded fundraising for them.

“After two years of helping raise funds for the Humane Society I realized that I preferred to focus on things I could control and make a bigger impact,” she said.

When COVID hit, Curtis started doing more fostering and pulling dogs out of high-kill shelters in Los Angeles County and helping Santa Barbara County find homes for their dogs in need while at the same time continuing to foster. 

“I formed a relationship with a rescue group in Oregon who agreed to take 12-15 dogs a month from overcrowded shelters in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. On a monthly basis I have to raise $2,500 to pay for their transport to Oregon alone,” she explained. “Between pulling dogs for the Oregon transport, raising funds for their transport, pulling dogs that I foster myself along with finding them homes and networking with a team of fosters who help with this work, well, I have to say, it is more than a handful. I host fundraisers, GoFundMes, adoption events to get dogs adopted, and continue to pay for spay and neutering, vaccines, and medical care. I also drive to wherever a dog needs rescuing. This weekend I am off to Ventura to rescue a dog in need. This is a lot to handle on top of having a full-time job in software sales, but it’s worth it.”

Although Curtis began by focusing on a particular breed, she has widened here efforts considerably.

“Currently I focus on all dogs in need, not breed or age specific, but I have a soft spot for senior dogs and medical dogs including hospice dogs,” she said. “I have pulled a few end-of-life dogs from shelters and gave them love and medical support until they passed including my very social boy Ziggy who I had for 7 months before he passed away. 

“In my opinion, shelters are no place for a dog long-term, let alone for a senior dog. Currently we have small, medium, and large dogs of all ages available for adoption.”

Curtis said that shelters are overflowing with adoptable dogs, some of them even pure breed.

“People are dumping their dogs in record numbers in shelters, in deserts, in fields, wherever,” she said. “The number of homeless dogs is the worst it has ever been due to backyard breeders and not spaying or neutering animals or people who find their animals inconvenient and dump them because they don’t want them anymore.

“I will continue to do foster care and rescue and ask people to foster, raise money and find loving homes for as many of these deserving dogs that I can. The community of Los Alamos and the Valley and Santa Barbara County residences have been so supportive of the work I do along with help from friends, volunteers, and fosters. I am grateful to the businesses that have allowed me to host adoption events such as Forage Floral, Full of Life Flat Bread, The Well, Priedite Barbecue, and Bell’s, to name a few.”

Curtis is always looking for fosters, volunteers to walk dogs, weekend puppy or dog foster flings, puppy socializers and people willing to transport. 

“Fostering is easier than you think, long-term or short term,” she said. “Volunteering to walk a dog daily helps the primary caregiver take a break and is a big help or raising money to care for these animals; truly, every little bit helps. I know fostering can be a little heart-breaking when you have to say goodbye to an animal you’ve cared for, but you just have to overcome that feeling and be happy that this animal has found a new forever home and you’ve helped make that happen. I will have over 12 puppies available for adoption by the time this article goes to press, so, if you are looking for a puppy to adopt or want to foster one or more of them, give me a call.”

To enquire about helping in any way including fostering and volunteering, email beaheroforadog@gmail.com or call (781) 640-2926.

If you can’t adopt them by the bunch, how about taking this little fellow home.

The post Local woman has a huge heart for dogs in need appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Regina and Benny Jensen adopted a 4 1/2-year-old German Shepherd named Puppy. Puppy’s owner was forced to give him up because he had lost his home in Santa Barbara and had to relocate.

“I had been aware of this dog for a couple of years,” said Jensen. “As a trauma therapist, I had observed the dog who had a barking problem. So, when Puppy’s owner had to give her up, I volunteered to take her. She was put into my car by her owner and I suspect that she ran away in an effort to find him.”

Jensen said she could understand why Puppy took off.

“When we first got her, she was shaking with fear at being given away by her owner and didn’t understand what was happening. She had not yet had the time to bond with us or to realize that this was to be her new forever home, as we had only had her for little more than a day,” explained Jensen. “Our backyard is completely fenced in and it was astonishing how she escaped. When my husband, Benny, gingerly opened one of the gates to check on another gate, Puppy darted out from behind him and she was off and running.”

After looking all over the neighborhood for her, the Jensens reached out for some professional help. Information on Puppy’s escape traveled like wildfire with people coming from Santa Maria and Los Angeles to help look for her, even staying overnight.

“Camilla Persson of Vandenberg Village was the first one to help me,” said Jensen. “She faithfully kept my spirits up and informed me of possible sightings, encouraging us to remain hopeful and do what needed to be done to find and catch Puppy.” 

Persson suggested that Jensen get in touch with Stephanie Statom.

“Stephanie tirelessly made and distributed extremely large posters that she made herself that had been designed by Jenn from Dog Days Search and Rescue, in Los Angeles, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, volunteer-based, animal search and rescue group whose primary focus is to help lost animals reunite with their owners,” Jensen said. “There was no current picture of Puppy for the poster, so a picture of a lookalike dog was used instead and posters were hung, not only locally, but in neighboring towns as well.

“While Stephanie talked to people and mapped out the area that Puppy seemed to have chosen for her new home in the wild, we set up a feeding station, as Jenn had suggested. A neighbor, Carolyn, who lived on Alamo Pintado, graciously gave us special permission to set up a feeding station at her place. I bought Puppy’s favorite dog food and now we just had to wait and see. Jenn drove all the way from Los Angeles to set up a dog-trap and camera and slept in her van all night. And Debra from Santa Maria flew her drone with an infrared camera to see if they could find her. Julia De Sieno found a shepherd, but it was a male.”

Days turned into weeks, with no Puppy sightings, but after 23 days of constant searching, a miracle happened. 

“It must have been the work of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, or why else would the dog suddenly turn the other way and run along Alamo Pintado Road all the way to Buttonwood Farm where Stephanie had posted one of her posters?” Jensen said. “How could staff members at Buttonwood, Lee Gottheimer and Noah Hunt, have been so quick-thinking after seeing the shepherd, to close the door of the barn into which Puppy had run, and then, dash to the poster to find out where to contact us? It was a miracle. 

“Benny and I rushed over to Buttonwood and there in the barn was the fugitive Puppy, half-starved, skinny and shivering, but alive … we are so happy she is home. Now we are just trying to fatten her up and let her bond with us. She is doing much better now.”

But Jensen’s question is: “What might have happened if all those sweet people had not helped, together building this golden net of support and caring? Every phone call makes a difference! We would not have found Puppy if not for the community of people who came together to help. I am eternally grateful to everyone.”

This is a tale with a happy ending but Jensen cautions, “Listen to the professionals. They know what they are doing and exercise extreme caution. Dogs like to run!”

In appreciation to all those who helped out, Jensen is giving out gift certificates for $100 to her Good-as-New store in Solvang, which is filled with “high-end resale items.” If you didn’t already get one, or a donation, contact Jensen at (805) 688-6909.

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By Pamela Dozois

It was a weekend to kick up your heels and enjoy the many activities that were available at this year’s Old Santa Ynez Days, which was held on the weekend of June 23-25. 

Friday night opened the event with a “Kick-Ass Kick-Off Party” at the Santa Ynez Historical Museum, which featured a traditional Pig Roast dinner with all the “fixin’s”, courtesy of The Pork Palace, followed by the lively sounds of The Cash Cooper Band.

The annual Old Santa Ynez Day parade was held at 10 a.m., a little earlier than in years past, but it drew hundreds of families anxious to view the parade and take part in the many festivities, including the street faire.

The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade were the Santa Barbara County Cattlewomen, who led the parade on horseback. The Santa Barbara County Cattlewomen are well known for positively promoting beef and the beef industry while raising funds for high school scholarships, volunteering, and supporting beef education in community outreach programs. 

The theme of this year’s parade was “Wild WILD West” and featured 31 entries, which included vintage automobiles, trucks, tractors, jeeps, and a 1928 mint condition firetruck. Gabbie Robles, the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Rec Queen, rode in a vintage 1934 Ford Steak Bed Truck courtesy of Dennee’s. Miss Santa Ynez Rodeo Queen, Summer, rode on horseback. Members of Santa Ynez Elementary School (go Bobcats!) and the College School District were also represented. 

Equestrians, along with dancing horses and traditionally dressed riders, joined in the fun with members of the Santa Ynez Valley Hounds and Hunt Country Riders, exquisitely clad, celebrating their 50th anniversary. Also represented were The Santa Ynez Elks Lodge, Santa Maria Elks Lodge, the Vikings, the Santa Ynez Historical Museum and Parks Janeway Carriage House, Santa Ynez Feed and Milling Co., the Chumash Fire Department, Santa Barbara Search and Rescue, members of the Valley Penning Association, Santa Ynez Riding School, a group of Farmall Tractors all the way from Wisconsin, New Generation Cow Girls from different cities along the Central Coast, Flat Fender Friends, and Draft Mules. 

Finally, the Old Santa Ynez Jail brought up the rear for those who hadn’t purchased a keepsake leather badge, the proceeds of which go to local schools and children’s organizations. People not wearing badges were “locked up” in the Old Santa Ynez jail and had to pay a $1 “bail” to be released.

Vendors lined Sagunto Street selling everything from jewelry, pottery, art, and soap, to food and clothing. The Cadillac Angels supplied the music for the event, and Skip Stecker, “The Dancin’ DJ,” was the parade announcer. Members of the Central Coast Country Line Dancers led by line dancing instructor Vanessa Robertson invited anyone who wanted to join them for a quick lesson as they danced in the street. A Kids Game Booth occupied the children with prizes to be had. There was a petting zoo, many kid-friendly activities, a fancy boot contest, face painting, and a bounce house for the children to enjoy.

Funds raised from this event will benefit beautification projects in Santa Ynez.

Following the parade, the fourth annual Old Santa Ynez Days Rodeo, a two-day Pro Rodeo qualifying event and the main fundraiser for the Santa Ynez Valley Heritage Foundation featured bull riding, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, break-away, bareback bronc, team roping, barrel racing, and steer wrestling with live entertainment, games, western gear vendors, food, beer, and wine. Junior events included barrel racing, breakaway roping, mutton bustin’ and even stick horse races. It was hosted by the Santa Ynez Valley Heritage Foundation and all funds raised from this event will benefit agricultural education and enrichment for local youth.

A great time was had by all.

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By Pamela Dozois 

Contributing Writer

The National Charity League, Inc. (NCL), Santa Ynez Valley Chapter presented the graduating class of 2023 on Sunday, April 23, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church to celebrate and recognize its six years of community service.

The mother-daughter teams volunteer throughout the community with multiple philanthropic organizations, including Friendship House, People Helping People, Solvang/Buellton Parks and Recreation, just to name a few.

This year’s graduates are Ava Hamaoui, Zoë Kazali, Mae Urquidez (Dunn School), Lily Mazza, Hannah Allen, Khaki Allen, Quinby Janes (Dunn), Sophia Lawrence (Dunn), Allie Linane, and Gabbie Robles. Most of the girls will be graduating from Dunn School and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School this spring.

Gabbie Robles, who is also currently the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Queen, received the award for the most community service/philanthropy hours, almost 400 hours.

Several students expressed their appreciation for what they have learned and accomplished during their time with the National Charity League.

“Santa Ynez National Charity League has been a part of my life for the past five years,” said Allie Linane, NCL graduate. “During this time, I have learned about leadership, serving in various roles from parliamentarian, secretary, and president. I have been exposed to cultural events such as teas, theater and opera. I have seen areas of my community that needed help and was able to volunteer my time to help make a difference. I have done all of this with an amazing group of girls that I am so grateful to call my friends. NCL kept us connected for years and I am so thankful for that. I am happy to have been a part of the National Charity League and appreciate all of the hard work from the moms that make it possible.” 

“NCL has taught me that no matter how small your actions may seem, you can always make a positive difference in your community or in someone’s life,” said Ava Hamaoui, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. “Living in such a small town, it is really special being able to observe and experience first-hand the impact NCL makes.” 

“My time in National Charity League has taught me great leadership skills, to appreciate and learn about culture, how to serve my community, and, above all, how to build meaningful relationships and support others,” said Mae Urquidez of Dunn School. “I am so grateful that I have been a part of this wonderful organization that has shaped me into who I am today.”

Established in Los Angeles in 1925, and incorporated in 1958, the National Charity League, Inc. is the nation’s premier mother-daughter nonprofit organization. The Santa Ynez Chapter was organized in 1994 and serves more than 14 local philanthropies with hands-on support.

By incorporating mission-based programming, National Charity League develops socially responsible community leaders and strengthens the mother-daughter bond through philanthropy, culture, and leadership. Through the mother-daughter relationship, with focus on NCL, the organization strives to develop strong women leaders serving and impacting communities today and for generations to come. 

The NCL honors the mother-daughter bond by together learning, growing and modeling responsibility and graciousness. It empowers women with the skills and confidence to lead. It nurtures through mentorship, inspires a legacy of social awareness and compassion, provides a depth of support in local communities and integrity and excellence in everything they do. National Charity League recognizes the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences to meet the needs of the communities it serves. 

Currently, the philanthropic organization has over 200,000 members and alumnae in hundreds of chapters across the nation. Last year, members contributed more than 2.7 million volunteer hours to more than 6,000 local philanthropy partners and their chapters, resulting in a $68.7 million fiscal impact. National Charity League will proudly celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2025. 

For more information on how to get involved, visit nationalcharityleague.org.

Feature Image:

The National Charity League graduating class of 2023 are (from left) Ava Hamaoui, Zoë Kazali, Mae Urquidez, Lily Mazza, Hannah Allen, Khaki Allen, Quinby Janes, Sophia Lawrence, Allie Linane, and Gabbie Robles. Contributed Photo

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By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Tucked away in a charming little alcove, unofficially named Fairytale Lane, is the newest fine art gallery in Solvang, called A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery and Art Studio.

His parents naming their son “Art” seemed to foreshadow the career path he would take in life, one of a lifelong dedicated artist. Alvarez has been painting since 1980, but his love of art started in childhood.

Alvarez likens his life story to that of Forrest Gump with surprise encounters with “just the right people” at “just the right time.”

“I was one of those kids who couldn’t put a pencil down and was constantly getting into trouble drawing monster hot rods,” said Alvarez who, in his youth, considered himself a rebel artist.

He attributes some of his artistic inspiration to his seventh-grade teacher, Marjorie Hasley, who was not only a teacher, but an artist in her own right. She saw that he had talent and supported it.

Born and raised in Santa Ynez, Alvarez moved to Modesto after graduating from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

“At that time, I didn’t know I was an artist and attended Turlock College, focusing on business,” he said.

His parents, Leo and Elvira Alvarez, arrived from Jalisco in the 1950s. Leo gradually built a small empire, selling animals to stockyards while his wife raised their daughter and six sons.

“I was a first-generation American and, of course, like any parent, they wanted me to go into a field they thought would be lucrative and secure and art was definitely not in the cards,” said Alvarez.

Alvarez quickly landed a job with Foot Locker when the brand was new to the athletic scene, having only 40 stores in the country at the time.

“Because I had played football and baseball in high school, it was so easy for me to know what the athletes wanted and I sold everything the store carried,” said Alvarez. “I went from assistant manager to manager within four months.”

However, Alvarez fell into the art scene in a decidedly unexpected way, while on an outing to a car show in Turlock.

“I made friendships with all the managers in the mall, and one day we decided to go to a car show,” explained Alvarez. “It was the first time I had ever been to a car show. They were few and far between at the time. My jaw dropped when I saw a guy painting a car on T-shirts using a metal tube, which blew out colored mists of paint. It was the first time I had ever seen airbrushing and from that moment on, I was hooked. 

“I saw all these hot rod T-shirts with crowds of people standing around watching the artist painting them. I also saw a lot of money changing hands. I thought to myself, ‘I can do that,’ eased up to the artist, and asked a few questions. He knew immediately that I was potential competition. He saw the wheels in my head turning and he made it seem like he had the corner on the market and there was no room for me.”

However, that meeting did not deter Alvarez.

“The next day, first thing, I went to Aaron Brothers in Modesto and tried to explain to the store manager what the instrument the artist had been using the previous day looked like,” said Alvarez. “She told me it was an airbrush, but that I had to wait until the next day to purchase one. She recommended that I speak to an older gentleman the following day to learn more about airbrushing.

“Bright and early the next day I was at the old gentleman’s counter and he sold me everything I needed to get started airbrushing.”

Alvarez said he got hooked on it immediately.

“I took it all home and didn’t sleep for two days — I was so excited, I couldn’t stop airbrushing and having fun, creating, and learning how to control the instrument,” said Alvarez. “Two weeks later I returned to Aaron Brothers to show the older gentleman what I had created and he asked, ‘Who is teaching you?’ and I said, ‘Myself.’ He said my work looked great but that I needed a little help with the finer details and he showed me how to adjust the instrument to create a finer line.”

On the advice of his new-found mentor, Alvarez worked for another three weeks practicing with the pen and learning how to mix the paint. He returned to the store to show the man what he had done and the man, Alvarez said, was “absolutely amazed.” He asked Alvarez to return the next day as he had something to show him.

“As I approached his counter, he pulled out five illustrations of automotive design. It turned out that he was an automotive illustrator who worked for major automotive companies in the ad department,” Alvarez said. “He was an airbrush expert. That opened my eyes to a new genre: airbrushing. Three weeks later, I was selling my airbrushed T-shirts at an outdoor swap meet in Ceres, California — right out of the back of my car. Within a three-month period, I was making more money in one or two days at the swap meet than I made as a manager at Foot Locker. 

“So, I started doing car shows in Los Angeles and worked with ‘Big Daddy’ Ed Roth, who was my childhood hero and is considered the father of airbrushing and hot rod building. I toured with Ed for two years and became a top airbrush apparel artist opening a store in Puente Hills Mall, California. where ‘Back to the Future’ was filmed.”

By that time Alvarez was enough of a circuit celebrity that airbrush manufacturers hired him to demonstrate their products at shows. Exhibiting his art work at an art show in Anaheim, representatives from Disney were scouting for background artists to work on “Beauty and the Beast,” creating dioramas for windows on Main Street in Disneyland. They saw his work and offered him a job in their Sign Department. 

“What was a three-month job turned into a five-year stint with Disneyland in Anaheim,” said Alvarez. “I loved the Disney characters, there was so much life in them. And being associated with even the park’s Sign Department was a dream come true for me.”

At Disneyland, he continued to hone his art.

“At Disneyland, I spent my breaks recreating Disney artwork around my cubicle and around my art station,” continued Alvarez. “One day some Disney Imagineers and executives came by and saw my artwork and asked why I was working at Disneyland and not at the Walt Disney Studio. They recommended me to become an apprentice for Eddie Young, a senior illustrator designer working freelance for the Disney Company. He hired me as an apprentice and that’s where I learned how to do Disney illustrations the ‘Disney way.’ Three months later, I had surpassed him as an illustrator of Disney characters. Young arranged for me to show my work to art directors at Disney’s Burbank offices.”

Alvarez interviewed for the upcoming international home entertainment release of “Pocahontas” and three months after quitting Disneyland, he was the senior illustrator/designer for that movie. At a screening of a couple of clips to the marketing and creative people, Alvarez was handed a copy of the “Pocahontas” marketing guidelines. The credits read “Art Director — Vivian Guzman, Illustrator — Art Alvarez.”

“Suddenly, I was hit by a wave of emotion,” said Alvarez. “Everything I’d been working for was right there in the words ‘Illustrator — Art Alvarez.’ I wanted to go out into the hallway and scream at the top of my voice like I’d just won the Academy Award for artistry. It was a great feeling.” 

Alvarez said that he knew that when he saw that airbrush for the first time that that’s what he wanted to do with his life — he wanted to be the very best airbrush artist and Alvarez has accomplished his goal. He is being inducted into the Airbrush Hall of Fame this summer.

“What I did with airbrushing I now am doing with oils. I am focusing on creating fine art in oils with the same motivation that I had at the very beginning,” said Alvarez. “I want to leave behind a body of art work that people will see and enjoy over and over again after I’m gone.” 

Alvarez returned to the Santa Ynez Valley and opened up his gallery after suffering a personal loss.

“Laura, my wife of 32 years, and I were in the process of moving from Victorville, California, back to the Santa Ynez Valley when she passed away in 2021,” said Alvarez. “It was my goal to open an art gallery in three years, but due to fortuitous circumstances, I opened this past January.”

As he displays his work in the gallery, Alvarez’s mind harkens back to those who helped him along the way.

“I am grateful to all the people I met in my life who supported my art and gave me the stepping stones I needed to fulfill my passion,” said Alvarez. “I feel blessed. God provided me with a gift and I have used it to the best of my ability. I am now happy to be back home in the Santa Ynez Valley where it all started.”

The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery and Art Studio walls are filled with original paintings and Disney prints, art collections, and works by Kelly Hine, an oil pastels landscape artist, as well as blown glass pieces by artist Seth Brayer, sculpture pieces, and a collection of vintage airbrushes, and Disney memorabilia.

The A. Alvarez Fine Art Gallery and Art Studio will celebrated its Grand Opening on Sunday, May 21, and is located at 1683-A Copenhagen Drive in Solvang. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, call the gallery at (805) 691-9058.

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