By Judy Abel

Special to the Santa Ynez Valley Star

Seeing a total solar eclipse is a phenomenon for the ages. For many, viewing this celestial event is a once in a lifetime experience. For others, a first viewing leads to a lifetime of eclipse chasing. 

Planning to see an eclipse takes a little science and researching weather conditions, luck in finding accommodations, and patience. Honestly, once you have arrived at your destination for chasing an eclipse, it’s like waiting for the Great Pumpkin: Have you been a good boy or girl? Is your pumpkin patch sincere? And most importantly, will the weather hold clear skies?

After much effort and a little luck, I successfully saw the Great American Eclipse in 2017, alone with my son in a wide open field in Salem, Oregon. It was a spectacular sight to see my first total solar eclipse under perfect conditions. 

For this week’s eclipse, I chose to chase it in Buffalo, New York, for no particular reason other than I had never visited Buffalo before and was curious about its fascinating history of opening American commerce to the Midwest in the early 1800s with the construction of the great Erie Canal. 

The weather Sunday, April 7, was gorgeous, blue cloudless skies and in the 60s. The forecast for Buffalo on April 8 didn’t look promising with a prediction of clouds. 

It seemed my fate and the hopes of 1 million visitors to Buffalo would be dashed by Monday morning under a thick layer of overcast.

Crowds began gathering at the lawn of the former Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, reimagined into the new Richardson Hotel, a perfect location for viewing. The architecturally significant building is an imposing Romanesque tower and campus. The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, best known for Manhattan’s Central Park. 

As a live band played for an eclipse watching party folks lined up in eclipse finery including T-shirts and hats. 

I wasn’t the only person from LA who came to Buffalo. Tiffany Begin from Cypress, California, wanted to view the eclipse in the path of totality which includes Buffalo. “We planned this trip in October,” Begin said as the crowd started cheering as the clouds parted. 

The city of 273,000 residents was expected to swell to 1 million by April 8. I was turned away for dinner Sunday night at two separate restaurants because they literally ran out of food. 

With cloudy skies on Monday, even a minute before the eclipse started, I was unsure if the weather would allow for even a glimpse.  

While my last eclipse was special because it was just solely my son and myself, this was special due to the community feel. People of all backgrounds and ages united in awe and wonder each time the clouds parted revealing the gradually increasing eclipse. Snatches of blue sky elicited cheers from the friendly crowd all wishing each other a great experience. 

As the moment of totality approached, the event’s loudspeakers switched from playing Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” to the Beatles’ “Here Comes The Sun” as the sky drew eerily dark and lamp posts lit up along with large windows of the former asylum. 

Fortunately, Buffalo had over three minutes of totality allowing the assembled crowd to witness the corona of the sun peeking out from the sides of the moon’s blockage. We witnessed solar rays without the need of eclipse glasses. 

With the path of totality stretching across North America from Mexico over 15 states and into Canada, my family members near Austin, Texas, were able to view totality before New York. Austin, also cloudy, got lucky as Buffalo did with clouds parting as if on cue. 

Buffalo public schools were closed Monday so parents could supervise their children’s viewing while hopefully using eye-protective lenses. 

Buffalo native Carol Pasek took in the spectacle of the day with humor, saying, “The best part about looking up at the eclipse for a person of age is we have no double chin.”

For anyone interested in seeing an eclipse, it’s worth noting that outside the band of totality, you will only catch a partial eclipse and, of course, weather depending, you may not see it at all. 

Jeff Goldberg of Pasadena, California, said, “Wow! We just all saw it and the clouds moved away for us. Unbelievable! I would have to say that the difference between 99.9 and totality is literally the difference between night and day.”

As the crowd dispersed in search of Buffalo chicken wings and roast beef on weck, Buffalo specialties, some were heard to remark that they needed to start travel plans for the next eclipse. 

The next eclipse will be in parts of Europe, including Spain and Iceland in 2026. For those staying closer to home, the next coast-to-coast U.S. total eclipse will be in August 2045.

Feature Image: People gather on the lawn by the Richardson Hotel in Buffalo, New York, to view the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. Photo by Nina Skriloff

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Solvang (SolvangUSA.com), affectionately known as “The Danish Capital of America,” has been voted as second-best in the “Best Small Town in the West” in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards, the results for which were publicly announced on April 10. The unique Southern California destination joined category winner Seward, Alaska, and third-place holder, Grants, New Mexico, in the top three spots.

In 2024, Solvang was nominated by a panel of experts and the 10Best editorial team for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in two different travel categories: “Best Small Town in the West” and “Best Main Street.” The travel awards contest and online voting launched for the “Best Small Town in the West” category on Monday, March 4, and online public voting ran through Monday, April 1. (Results for the “Best Main Street” awards category have not yet been announced.)

No stranger to the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Solvang was one of the 10 Best Historic Small Town winners in 2016 and 2018. In 2017, USA TODAY named Solvang as one of “10 great places to enjoy global Christmas traditions in the USA.” More recently, Solvang was nominated for the 2022 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in two different categories, “Best Historic Small Town” and “Best Small Town Cultural Scene,” and secured seventh place in the 2022 winners’ listing for the latter category.

Solvang is the only California town represented in the top 10 winners’ list for 2024’s “Best Small Town in the West,” and jostled for first place among the top finishers throughout the voting period. The fourth through 10th place winners in the category are: Cody, Wyoming; Manitou Springs, Colorado; Gig Harbor, Washington; Bainbridge Island, Washington; Williams, Arizona; Durango, Colorado; and Ashland, Oregon.

The annual USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice awards feature the top 20 nominees in contests covering travel and lifestyle topics such as food, lodging, destinations, travel gear, things to do, seasonal family fun, and more. The 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest launches new categories every other Monday at 12 p.m., revealing each category’s 20 nominees. After four weeks of digital voting, the contest closes on the 28th day at 12 p.m. Rules allow the public the right to vote online for one nominee per category, per day. More information about the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards may be found at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/about-usa-today-10best-readers-choice-awards/.

Dog-friendly and ideal for kids, Solvang, known for its Danish-American vibe, architecture and design details, pastries and bakeries, and array of wine tasting options, also boasts dozens of unique boutiques, restaurants and gourmet food purveyors. Carefully curated indie booksellers and high-end home goods suppliers mingle with fairy tale-like children’s stores and museum gift shops. Solvang’s foodie destinations offer everything from elevated street cuisine – like locally-sourced fish tacos on hand-made tortillas, and comforting ramen noodles – to European-style pretzels and sausages, to Italian standbys or iconic Danish dishes, to elevated new-Californian fare in the form of MICHELIN-honored menus. Solvang visitors sip small-batch, locally-roasted coffee, shop for exotic, hand-bottled spice blends, or enjoy Tiki cocktails and craft beer, all part of an indulgent and one-of-a-kind, year-round shopping and playing escape.

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The fish will be biting at Cachuma Lake the weekend of April 20-21, and multiple anglers will be looking to take advantage of that as the lake’s Neal Taylor Nature Center will be holding its 27th Annual Fish Derby.

The Fish Derby is the major fundraiser for The Nature Center at Cachuma Lake, which is a nonprofit organization.

This year’s Fish Derby will again include prize categories for multiple types of fish such as crappie, bass, catfish, trout, and carp. The prize pool has been increased this year which means everyone has a chance to win great cash prizes, fishing gear, and more!

Anglers of all ages are encouraged to enter the derby on April 20 and 21. Registration fee for adults is $40 if sent in advance or $45 if paid on-site Friday, April 19 to Sunday, April 21, and Youth Registration for ages 4-15 years old is always $10. Registration forms are available at Cachuma Lake Park entry gate, store, marina, Nature Center, and local businesses. To receive information and a registration form in the mail, leave your name and address on the hotline (805) 693-8381 or visit TROUTDERBY.org

Cash prizes amounting to more than $5,000 plus thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise prizes will be awarded in many categories and to anglers of all ages. Certain prizes are designated for children and for teens. 

All anglers 16 years and older must have a fishing license, which may be purchased at the marina. 

Free arts and crafts activities will be offered to children Saturday afternoon of Derby weekend and the Nature Center will also host a special Books & Treasure Sale on Saturday.

The Derby fishing begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, and ends at 12 noon on April 21. Contestants must fish in Cachuma Lake during the tournament hours and may fish from shore at any time during the Derby including Saturday night. A flare will be fired at the harbor to start the Derby on Saturday and to end the Derby on Sunday.

Due to the threat of quagga mussels, Cachuma Lake has a 30-day quarantine and inspection of all boats except those with a Cachuma Lake Tag and kayaks/canoes. 

Please check for updates to the inspection protocol at sbparks.org

Other Fish Derby activities include:

Visit the Neal Taylor Nature Center:

Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission: Donations welcomed.

Children’s Activities will be on the lawn in front of the Nature Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Donations welcomed.

Purchase raffle tickets (open to general public) for valuable prizes starting at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 19, and throughout the Fish Derby. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Sunday Awards Program, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Fireside Theater. You need not be present to win the raffle.

One-and-a-half hour wildlife cruises on the lake, led by the Park Naturalist, are $18 for adults; $12 for children 5 to 12 and 62+ years. Reservations required: Call the Naturalist office at 805-688-4515

Books and Treasures Sale: At the Nature Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Awards Program at the Fireside Theater on Sunday, April 21, at 1 p.m. 

To make reservations for cabins, yurts, individual campsites, or full hook-up sites go to  www.sbparks.org/reservations or call (805) 686-5050. For other camping information, call (805) 686-5054.

About the Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake

The Neal Taylor Nature Center (NTNC), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, is located within Cachuma Recreational Area in a picturesque old ranch house. Developed and operated by a corps of committed volunteers, it offers exhibits on the local valley and mountain environment for all ages, emphasizing hands-on exhibits for children of all ages. There is also a Native Garden behind the Nature Center.

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The post CORRECTION in Jan. 16 issue appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

I cannot speak highly enough in praise of Supervisor Joan Hartmann and her commitment to the residents of Santa Barbara County’s 3rd District.

We live in an amazing place, but it comes with challenges. Rural residents are facing increasing threats from illegal activity, especially rooster-keeping operations where hundreds of birds are kept close together. The noise is inescapable at all hours. The traffic is an increasing problem on our narrow roads. And the associated criminal activity is a threat to law abiding families. (There is a strong correlation between these operations and cockfighting — why else would you have hundreds of roosters living close together, when they aren’t raised for food and they aren’t needed for egg laying hens?)

Some of us approached Supervisors Hartmann and 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson for help. Hartmann’s response was amazing. When it turned out that the law wasn’t there to address the problem, she worked with staff to create a new law that will limit the size of non-commercial rooster operations. She made sure to exempt commercial poultry farms as well as 4-H and FFA project participants. 

While Nelson sided with the rooster keepers — even when they shouted threats at the Board of Supervisors for reining in their activities — Hartmann held firm and shepherded through an ordinance that will protect legitimate poultry farms as well as rural residents. 

We need leaders who will put in the time to help their constituents, and do what is necessary to protect law abiding business people and community members.

Susan Ashbrook

Lompoc

EDITOR’S NOTE: Susan Ashbrook is the author of this letter. The wrong name was attributed to this letter in the Santa Ynez Valley Star’s Jan. 16 print edition.

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Staff Report

The Solvang City Council meeting original scheduled for Monday, Jan. 8, has been canceled.

“Notice is hereby given that the Solvang City Council meeting of January 8, 2024, is cancelled due to lack of business,” said a statement released on the cityofsolvang.com website issued by City Clerk Annamarie Porter.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Solvang Municipal Center, 1644 Oak Street, in Solvang. The City Council generally meets on the first and third Mondays of every month.

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By Dave King

Buellton Mayor

As the year of 2023 comes to an end, the City of Buellton can look back at several great events. A local company bought the property where the bowling alley was planning to go in, so stand by for that. 

As many of you have heard, the proposed In-N-Out Burger was denied by the City Council due to concerns over traffic congestion at the US 101 and McMurray intersection. However, we are hoping they will come back to the table with a better location. 

Several other events this year included Fall Fest on Avenue of Flags, and Cowboy Christmas and the Festival of Lights at Riverview Park. It was a great time for everyone that attended. All of these will be an annual event. Hope to see you there next year.

The city has several areas of focus for 2024 to implement its community vision. They are highlighted below, in no particular order:

Quality of life enhancement for Buellton’s residents: This will take the form of maintenance and improvement of existing infrastructure, such as the city’s water, wastewater, and road systems, as well as existing parks and public facilities. Actions will be taken to improve these facilities where possible, and protect them from being overburdened where improvement is not possible.

Additional enhancements will be found in the relocation of the Buellton Public Library to the former Willemsen House, the opening of the Santa Ynez Valley Childrens’ Museum on the Willemsen property, the opening of the Buellton Community Garden at the corner of 2nd Street and Central Avenue, and the expansion of the Senior Center programming into the current library building. The city will also pursue the construction of the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail, and will strive to facilitate the development of additional youth-serving uses, such as a bowling alley, community aquatic facility, and possible sport field facilities joint venture.

Renewed push for economic development: Construction projects are anticipated in 2024 that will begin the revitalization of Avenue of Flags, bringing new business opportunities and renewed investment in the city. These efforts will be built upon by reconvening the city’s Economic Development Task Force to engage the existing business community and prospective developers and investors in discussions to implement Buellton’s long-standing vision that sees the city as the economic engine of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Enhancement of transparency and efficiency of city government operations: With the forced adoption of councilmember election by districts in 2022, the City Council will be looking at changes to norms and procedures of the City Council, Planning Commission, city staff, and other city functions to ensure that residents within the various districts receive adequate representation, while ensuring that decisions are made from a “whole city” point-of-view rather than a parochial perspective which pits the interests of each district against the others.

Continued focus on improving public safety: The city will continue to seek approval of physical infrastructure improvements to enhance traffic safety on city roadways, including Highway 246. A multi-pronged approach emphasizing vehicular, cyclist, and pedestrian safety will be pursued with Caltrans to provide safe passage for non-motor-vehicle users of Highway 246, while maintaining the capacity of the roadway to accommodate anticipated traffic volumes. Additionally, the city will be reviewing alternative service models to enhance the traffic enforcement function within the city, with a particular focus on vehicular speeds on Highway 246, with a primary goal being the reinstatement of regular traffic enforcement patrols by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff or, if unable to obtain such service from the sheriff, from the California Highway Patrol.

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Staff Report

The book signing and reading of “From White to Black: One Life Between Two Worlds,” a memoir of her life by local author Iris Rideau, scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3, at Rideau Winery has been canceled for personal reasons. It will be rescheduled at a late date, according to Rideau.

Rideau, owner of the winery and vineyard that bears her name, spent 32 years in the insurance industry and also spent time on the California political scene, fighting for the rights of the underprivileged. The book is an intimate look into her life as a Creole woman born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936, when Jim Crow was the law of the land, through her journey to become the first black woman to own her own winery and vineyard in United States.

Despite the cancellation, her book may still be purchased at Rideau Winery, at 1562 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang, accessed on Amazon.com, or at The Book Loft, 1680 Mission Drive in Solvang.

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PARc Place at 1623 Mission Drive in Solvang will be holding an Artisans Market on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 12 to 5 p.m.

The event is billed as the first of what will be a monthly Artisans Market, to happen on the last Saturday of each month.

For more information, go to @solvangartisansmarket on Instagram.

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The Book Loft in Solvang will hold a book signing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, for Christina Walsh, whose latest book, “Political Poetry: Finding the Words for Real Communication,” came out in June.

Walsh is an internationally published abstract artist and poet, where her written works are focused on environmental justice, civil rights, and living as a human in our natural world.

In discussing “Political Poetry,” Walsh calls it “a celebration of the human spirit, resilience, and our shared humanity. It highlights the importance of empathy and understanding urging us to listen to each other’s stories and appreciate the beauty in our differences and our shared connection to the natural world all around us.”

The Book Loft is located at 1680 Mission Drive in downtown Solvang. 

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