Included is a fire-roasted gourmet dinner, live music by the Bryan Titus Trio, and “action-packed” live and silent auctions led by Auctioneer Kenny Hollister.

Circle JB Polo Ranch is located at 560 McMurray Road in Buellton, for tickets and more information, visit givebutter.com/c/atterdagharvestparty.

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Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Valley Grange, in partnership with Apples to Zucchini Cooking School, is excited to offer two series of cooking classes for both families and adults/teens: Family Cooking will be offered monthly on second Monday evenings starting July 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Batch Cooking for adults and teens will be offered monthly on second Sunday afternoons from 2 to 3 p.m., starting July 13.

The classes, led by Chef Bethany Markee, will meet at the Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall Kitchen at 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave. in Los Olivos.

The Family Cooking class brings the family together to learn side-by-side how to prepare delicious meals. Classes are tailored for children and teens with a family adult. Share your favorite food memories and traditions, build healthy relationships with food and cooking, and let the kids show off all their emerging kitchen skills! The class will meet to prepare a meal and eat it together! 

Recipes to be covered include scratch-made pizza and seasonal garden salad; macaroni and cheese and roasted vegetables; chicken or vegetable soup and freshly baked bread; tomato bisque and toasted cheese sandwiches; and French crepes with a variety of “add-ins.”

Batch Cooking is a class for adults as well as teens who are 14 or older. The group will work with seasonally available local produce, using simple and repeatable cooking techniques such as roasting, sautéing, pickling, making soups, salad dressings, and sauces. Students will get to take home all the food prepared in class.

Attendance is limited to 12 per class. Participants may register online at AtoZcookingschool.org.

To find out more about other SYV Grange programs and membership, please visit syvgrange.org or email President Carey McKinnon at syvgrange@gmail.com. To check out more cooking classes from Apples to Zucchini, visit them at AtoZcookingschool.org or email Markee at bethany@atozcookingschool.org. 

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Staff Report

Rich Gamble, author of the Zack Tolliver series of books, and his wife Ann, will be moving from Los Alamos this fall to be closer to their son, who lives in northern California. They will be holding an “Overstock and Farewell” party from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the Bedford Winery in Los Alamos. 

“It will be an opportunity offering readers to ‘fill in the blanks’ of books in the Zack Tolliver series, for a reduced price, that they may not yet own, and, of course, the chance for us to see friends and neighbors once more,” said Gamble. “We would love to see all of you there.” 

Gamble says he will continue to write books, and, in fact, his next one is already in the works.

Bedford Winery is at 448 Bell St. in Los Alamos.

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One of the blessings of living on the Central Coast is the weather, and Elna’s Dress Shop wants to create something that inspires, brightens, uplifts, and puts a smile on your face. If you are going to make one addition to your wardrobe this season, make it a print.

From polka-dots, stripes, florals, or checks, every pattern offers a world of stylish possibilities. This is added to some of the basic items you have in your wardrobe: A pair of black, navy, grey, white, and tan pants. Brown pants in the fall are also important. Also, a basic is a black dress and/or black skirt. Let’s not forget a pair of denim pants, skirt, or dress for all seasons: fall, winter, spring, or summer.

Pick a basic piece of clothing that you feel is incredibly striking while also being understated and yet gives you confidence.

We will help you build a complimentary new piece of clothing to update your wardrobe.

A new season, as of Memorial Day first day of summer, brings in new styles. Elna’s Dress Shop is the place to come.

If planning your perfect wardrobe is something you have on your “ to do” list, you must select clothes you haven’t
worn for some time (say a year or more); perhaps it’s time to part with them. They are taking up valuable closet space for all the new “must haves” for the coming season. It is nice to air clothing out, as believe it or not, dust does settle in our closet.

Let us make suggestions, coordinating fashions with your lifestyle in mind. Wardrobe building is a free service at Elna’s.

All local customers are entitled to a 10% discount. If you aren’t on our mailing list, come in and sign up. Our service includes a 25% discount the month of your birthday if on the list. Also don’t forget the third Wednesday of each month is a 20% discount on all merchandise excluding Danish Costumes and already discounted clothing.

We are looking for part-time help. Apply at the store or call for an appointment at (805) 688-4525 or my cell number at (805) 570-3400.

Our hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We’re open Monday, closed Tuesday, and open Wednesday through Sunday.

The post ELNA’S FASHION CHATTER: With summer season upon us, pick up a print appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

A stroke can come on silently and unexpectedly, but the truth of the matter is that the cause of a stroke has been a smoldering fire, growing in size over time … almost literally. 

A stroke occurs due to the poor function of the heart and kidneys, which results in bad circulation of the body’s fire and water chi elements. 

Ideally, the two need to be kept in constant movement, with one pushing energy upwards and the other pulling it downwards to create an almost gravitational pull of proper energy flow. When this is disrupted, the heat travels too far upwards and problems begin. 

In someone with advanced fire/heat circulation problems, the heat (which causes pressure) travels to the brain and causes weakened veins and arteries to break, which disrupts the blood flow to the brain, thus resulting in stroke. Veins and arteries become damaged with stress and improper care over your lifetime, usually assisted greatly by diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure medications, which weaken them quite a bit. A blood deficiency and blood clot also weaken the area by disallowing oxygen and nutrition to this location.

The good thing is that your body gives many warning alarms before a stroke occurs. Each alarm is part of your body’sline of defense. In a stressful moment when your body’s fire energy rises, it causes pain in the chest area. You can press in the area of your breastbone and test for pain there. If pain in that area goes ignored and your life continues on as it has, your defense line weakens, and the next line of defense is located in the shoulder area between the spine and scapula. If pain here is ignored, the next alarm is neck pain, and the last alarm is behind-the-ear pain. Pain in this area is very dangerous, and when it occurs, a stroke is usually imminent, typically within the night you feel pain there. It is very important to get to an emergency room if you’re feeling pain there. 

Another lesser sign of a fire/water management problem that you should also keep an eye out for is coldness in the body in and below the abdomen. This means the heat that should be traveling down through to your feet is residing in your upper body instead of completing the cycle of circulation throughout your entire body. In a healthy person, the body will keep the brain area cooler and the feet warmer, with everything in between at a comfortable temperature. 

Stroke is something that is very important to prevent. After you have had a stroke, your body malfunctions, and it is very difficult to work your way back. If you are recovering from a stroke, it is very important to pair your physical therapy with acupuncture, as your body needs to be balanced, well-circulating, and receptive for the retraining. 

For those who have had warning signs and are preventing stroke, a lifestyle change is necessary, beginning with stress management, as stress needs to be seriously limited. In addition, constitutional food, acupuncture to help detoxify the blood, and herbs all help to restore the proper heat and water circulation in the body. 

The body’s aches and pains are often brushed off as general aging, but it is important to see them as your body’s way of communicating problems to you. Covering them up with medications and ignoring them is not the right approach. Listen to your body, and it will tell you all you need to know. 

Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles and Paso Robles. To make an appointment, call (805) 693-5162 or (310) 666-8021

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The USRowing Youth National Championships, held in Sarasota, Florida, from June 12 to June 15, brought together the best youth rowers from all across the country for four days of intensive racing one of them was Santa Barbara Community Rowing’s Jacie Dingman, 15.

The Santa Ynez Valley teen came home from the 2025 USRowing Youth National Championships as the seventh-fastest U17 single sculler in the nation. 

Dingman clocked a time of 8:28.97 for her seventh-place finish in the A Final. The winner, Sydney Vilhelm of the South Orlando Rowing Association, had a time of 8:03.24. 

“We were super excited going into the race because this is the first time that Jacie has raced a single at Nationals whichis one of the most competitive boat classes alongside the 8+,” said SBCR coach Gracie Barbara. “She raced last year in a double and placed seventh with partner Elsa Loya, but the single is a whole different kind of race — mostly mentally.

“There were 27 girls in this category, and we did some research and knew Jacie was going up against some girls who were in this category last year and did well, so we knew she was going up against some speed — especially girls from the southeast region who row year-round and have raced on this course before,” Barbara continued. “So, our goal was to make top 16 in the time trials Thursday, and top 4 in the semis on Friday, which would put Jacie in the A finals on Sunday — both of which she did. Jacie does super well doing head-to-head, which was evident in her semifinal on Friday.”

Dingman was in agreement about her semifinal.

“ I had a really good semifinal,” she said. “I went in with the goal of making the finals and was able to execute my race plan and be very aggressive. Plus, I was able to time my final sprint well and start it early enough to make a difference.”

Barbara confirmed this, saying, “Jacie was neck and neck with a girl from Winter Park Crew for the first 1,750 meters, but Jacie has an amazing sprint, which meant she was able to get the last stroke and beat her by .02 second to come away with a second-place finish.”

However, by day 4 the heat and humidity in the Sunshine State were starting to take a toll on Dingman. 

“The heat is always a factor in Florida and we prepped for it, with Jacie rowing in long sleeves in the sun on Cachuma in the weeks leading up to Nationals. And we flew out early to Sarasota to acclimate,” Barbara said.

Dingman, though admitted she couldn’t fully counteract the high temperatures.

“By Sunday I wasn’t really feeling my best,” she said. “And the wind was crazy. I got blown off the starting block and was hitting buoys for the first 250 meters before I was able to get straightened out. So I started pretty far behind.”

Continued Dingman: “I wasn’t sure how much ground I could make up because I also just got hit by fatigue, but I decided just to try not to lose more ground.”

That presence of mind earned her a seventh-place finish and the admiration of many.

“This really something to cheer about —for our club and for Jacie — especially as she was the  youngest girl in the race,” Barbara said. “Jacie is only 15 — She’s technically U16 — but we raced her in the U17 group because she’s fast enough and she’ll be in this category next year, so it’s good practice.”

Barbara said Dingman has the potential to return to nationals in 2026.

“If she’s lucky enough to qualify again next year there are obviously things we’ll work to improve, but we’ll also for sure be trying for a medal,” Barbara said.

Reflecting on the experience, Dingman said, “Nationals is so much fun and such an incredible experience, and I have so much respect for everyone I met there. I’m also so grateful to everyone for making it happen — parents, Coach, my fellow rowers at SBCR, and I’m ready to come back and try to medal next year.”

For now,  the work continues. Following Nationals, Dingman went straight to USRowing’s Pathways Development Camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she was invited to participate in the Girls Elite Pairs Camp, which places the top 16 athletes in the camp into pairs — a kind of boat with 2 rowers, each with one oar — coached by former Olympic medalists.

Santa Barbara Community Rowing is the only rowing organization in Santa Barbara County, based at Cachuma Lake. SBCR offers summer camps for youth ages 11+, as well as Learn to Row programs throughout the year for adults and kids.. For more information visit www.rowsbc.org/

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Get ready to orbit the extraordinary at the Santa Barbara Zoo’s signature fundraiser, Zoofari Ball: Out of this World, on Saturday, Aug. 23. One of Santa Barbara’s most iconic charitable events, Zoofari Ball invites guests to experience the zoo like never before — under the stars in celestial style.

This year’s theme celebrates the mysteries and marvels of the cosmos, inviting guests to journey through the galaxy in support of the zoo’s mission to preserve, conserve, and enhance the natural world and its living treasures. Guests are encouraged to embrace the theme with inspired attire — from space cadet casual or futuristic vogue, to starlight chic or extraterrestrial avant-garde. 

Whether you’re in a space race through the silent auction or moonwalking on the dance floor, Zoofari Ball: Out of This World promises to be a stellar evening of entertainment, wonder, and wild fun. Celestial libations will flow freely while Events by Rincon returns to serve up a feast for the stars. A live DJ will spin galaxy beats during the silent auction, followed by a live band that will keep guests dancing into the night.

Always a highlight of the event is the Zoo’s summer travel raffle. This year’s experience, “Glamping Under the Stars,”offers the chance to win a celestial getaway for two with Under Canvas® including a five-night stay in a luxury, safari-style tent at the winner’s choice from America’s most breathtaking national parks. Only 200 tickets will be sold at $100 each; the package is valued at $4,000.

The Zoofari Ball Honorary Chairs are Amy & Jeff Pryor, and the event is supported by a dynamic committee including Marcy Bazzani, Nikki Bazzani, Sarah Berkus Gower, Danielle Bolster, Alexandra Bongiovanni, Christy Borneman, Alison Brainard, Lauren Bryson, Wendy Campbell, Brooke Costello, Hillary Courtemanche, Colleen Dennis, Mindy Denson, Whitney Duncan, Alexandria Ferris, Jessica Fisher, Patricia Griffin, Liz Hahn, Ian Harrison, Kelly Herting, Michael Hurst, Rachel Johnston, Kim Kirkhart, Cathy Kling, Sophie Koh, Tracy Krainer, Carol Ann Mayner, Sierra Muller, Sue Neuman, Kevin Nuss, Robyn Parker, Pam Powers, Shelley Schulte, Heather Schuyler Gray, Amy Shamus, Shannon Silk, Amy Sloan, Nana Talevi, Betsy Turner, Shannon Vernon. Alumni Committee members include Elaine K. Mah Best, Sue McCue, Nancy McToldridge, Elissa Rubin, and the Zoofari Ball event coordinators are Tyler Speier & Megan Nuss.

All proceeds from Zoofari Ball support the Santa Barbara Zoo’s ongoing work in animal care, wildlife conservation, and education — ensuring a future where both people and animals thrive.

For tickets to Zoofari Ball, please click here.

For more information on sponsoring the event, please contact Megan Nuss at mnuss@sbzoo.org or (805) 679-8442. 

About the Santa Barbara Zoo

The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m. General admission is $35 for adults, $25 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Buy online and save $7 per ticket. Parking is $11. The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA zoos are dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great visitor experience, and a better future for all living things.With more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and is the public’s link to helping animals in their native habitats. Visit sbzoo.org.

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The A.T. Still University Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program has two incoming students at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. (SBNC). The program seeks students who align with their mission and whose personal goals include serving diverse medically underserved populations and who are professional, culturally humble, and have a desire to serve these communities. Applicants who are first-generation college students will also be given special consideration in the review process.

Gabriel Estrada has gained firsthand medical experience as a medical assistant at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics for three years. The UCSB graduate earned a degree in biological sciences in 2022. He learned that SBNC had become affiliated with the A.T. Still CCPA program and believed that, for him, the PA route was preferable to medical school.

“PAs collaborate much more with other healthcare workers as part of a medical team than physicians, and that team approach appealed to me,” Estrada said. “I also appreciate the program’s mission to work with vulnerable populations.” 

Estrada, 25, grew up in Lake Los Angeles outside of Lancaster and feels a real connection to SBNC. “This clinic reminds me of where I grew up,” he said. “I enjoy working with kids, adults, seniors and I get to speak Spanish…I like helping those who need it the most.” 

A.T. Still University (ATSU) has partnered with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) to develop the Central Coast Physician Assistant (CCPA) program. The goal is to educate community-oriented physician assistants who will provide “whole-person” primary care to our nation’s underserved communities. The program requires a minimum of 1,000 hours of medical work prior to starting the program.

Morgan Bienias, another incoming student in the ATSU program and medical assistant at SBNC, agrees that the community health care model is ideal for her. “The nature of the communities we serve attracts the kinds of providers and personalities I’m drawn to which makes the work environment much more positive and meaningful,” she said. “The PA program is a perfect match for me.”

Bienias, a 24-year-old from Corona, California, and a biology graduate from Westmont has also been working as an MA at SBNC for the past year.

Dr Mahdi Ashrafian, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics CEO, established the PA program because he wanted to create growth opportunities within SBNC for the staff. “These employees are now able to move up the ladder in their career as well as improving both their professional life and their finances,” said Ashrafian. “The program provides a pipeline for entry-level positions and demonstrates to them that they can come work here for couple of years and we will support them to further their careers.” 

The CCPA program is a 24-month Master’s degree program based in Santa Maria. Students spend one year on campus in Santa Maria for the academic phase of the program, and then students will enter the clinical phase, including 35 weeks of supervised clinical practice experiences in various medical centers and hospitals in the US. This includes six clinical rotations covering internal medicine, pediatrics, psychology, family medicine, surgery, OBGYN — each rotation is approximately six weeks and could be various health care locations, most likely in Santa Barbara County for Estrada and Bienias.

Students will spend at least one portion of their clinical year at a Community Health Center (CHC) to fulfill the goal of producing PAs who enter the CHC system and will provide primary care.

Both Estrada and Bienias hope they can eventually return to work at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and work inpediatric care.

The post Partnership growing next generation of health-care leaders appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

“As fire seasons grow longer and more intense, it’s critical that we work together to prepare, not just react,” shared Steve Windhager, executive director of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. “This forum is focused on empowering people with knowledge — grounded in science and collaboration — that can make a difference. At the Garden, we see this as part of our mission to help both nature and people thrive.” 

Facilitated by Garden staff, the forum reflects a shared effort among government agencies, nonprofit partners, and private-sector leaders. Speakers include the Garden’s Executive Director Steve Windhager Ph.D., Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps, Supervising Capt. Chris Olmstead from Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Vice President Matthew Caligiure from Allen Construction, Executive Director Anne-Marie Parkinson from Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council, and others. Each organization brings unique, vital knowledge to the conversation, from policy and emergency response to practical steps for firewise landscaping and home hardening. Together, these voices highlight the power of collaboration in building a more resilient region. Live Spanish interpretation will be provided, and the forum will also be recorded and available on the Garden’s website as a free resource to the public. 

Key Topics Will Include: 

• How Santa Barbara County is preparing for wildfire 
• What fire crews prioritize when entering a burning neighborhood 
• How to harden (fireproof) your home against flames and embers 
• Landscaping with native, water-wise plants to reduce risk 
• Community resources for renters, homeowners, and neighborhood groups 

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required (sbbotanicgarden.org/classes-events/ready-for-wildfire-smart-strategies-for-fire-safe-living/).

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Saturday, Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free for the show at Nipomo High, located at 525 N. Thompson Ave. in Nipomo.

This spectacular showcase promises an unforgettable experience with activities and offerings for all ages.

What to Expect

• Over 60 qualified dealers: Explore an incredible range of high-quality rocks, minerals, and gemstones offered by more than 60 experienced and reputable dealers.
• Club displays: Marvel at fascinating exhibits of various minerals and rocks that have been carefully collected by our society members.
• Lapidary arts: Witness the artistry of lapidary as skilled artisans demonstrate their craft, showcasing how raw stones are transformed into stunning works of art.
• Exciting raffle: Participate in a raffle for a chance to win beautiful and valuable collectibles. Don’t miss this opportunity to take home a treasure!
• Kids’ activities: Bring the little ones along for fun and engaging activities such as “Spin the Wheel,” designed to entertain and educate young minds.

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of gems and minerals. Whether you’re here to shop, learn, or simply enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, there’s something for everyone.

For more information about the Annual Gem and Mineral Show, please email joegoetz289@gmail.com or Nipomocowgirl55@yahoo.com, or go online to oms-inc.org.

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