In an annual ceremony to honor its athletic past, Santa Ynez High School used the evening of Friday, Sept. 19, not only to stage a football game between SYHS and Nipomo, but also to recognize five former student-athletes and one former coach and faculty member for their induction into the schoo’s Wall of Fame.

In a ceremony preceding the kickoff, the school honored former soccer, swim, and Iain McPherson, former Pirates volleyball star Meghan Mosebar, former football and track star Josh Hartman, water polo, soccer and swimming standout Chris Pace, former football star Kelley Moore, and football and golf standout Parker Colvin.

Retired SYHS teacher Dave Smith accepted the Wall of Fame plaque for Iain McPherson, a native Scot who spent 26 years as a coach and teacher at SYHS before his untimely death in 1999. Known for his tough love approach, he earned respect from students and players by pushing them to achieve more than they thought possible. As an All-American swimmer himself, he coached numerous athletes to CIF, All League
MVPs, and All-American.

Smith was a colleague and good friend of McPherson’s when both were at SYHS.

“I got here in 1975, and he had been here for three or four years already and we became good friends,” Smith said. “I was a swimmer, and I had a sister who spent some time in Scotland, so we had a lot of common ground.”

Smith said McPherson left a lasting legacy with the Pirates’ aquatic sports programs

“He really made a mark in water polo and swimming,” Smith said. “I’m glad I was able to come accept this plaque for him and also happy I got to see some of his former athletes come to see this.”

Meghan Mosebar, who lives in Florida, was also unable to attend the ceremony in person, but Meighan Dietenhofer, a former teammate, was able to accept the plaque for her. After a standout career in high school, she played Division I volleyball at Purdue and William & Mary. She is currently a teacher and club volleyball coach in Rockledge, Florida.

Josh Hartman, who accepted his plaque along with his daughter Willow, was a standout in football and track at SYHS before graduating in 2006. On the football field, Josh was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and honored as the school’s Most Valuable Male Athlete in his final year. After high school, Josh concluded his athletic career at Chapman University, playing football while earning a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in finance.

Chris Pace, who accepted his plaque carrying his young son, Jonah, not only was a three-sport star at SYHS, but outside of athletics was an Eagle Scout, Boys State School Rep, and senior class president. He continued his water polo career at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 2008, and went on to a distinguished USAF career.

“They’ve been calling me for quite a few years, but with me moving all over being with the Air Force, I could never schedule it,” Pace said. “Finally, one year they called and I brought up a few old teammates of mine and asked if they were on the wall, and they said, ‘oh, we got them in years ago!’ So I figured it was time to get this done.”

While some of his fellow inductees came in from out of town, Pace has moved back to the Santa Ynez Valley, bringing his family in to settle here just a couple months ago.

Kelley Moore, whose brother Mitch as on hand to accept his plaque, graduated Santa Ynez in 1972. He went on to play football at Allan Hancock College and Chico State. After graduating from CSU Chico in the spring of 1977, Dr. Kelley Moore has been blessed to have had a lifetime,49 years in the coaching profession. After stints at Hancock and Thiel College, he has been an assistant football coach at Arizona Western University.

Parker Colvin played four years (2005-09) of football and golf at SYHS, earned the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship and was named the most Valuable Male Athlete for the Class of 2009. After graduating
high school, Colvin attended Cal Lutheran University, where he played four years on the golf team, serving as team captain. He graduated from CLU with a degree in exercise science with an emphasis on sports medicine.

“I’m super honored to be inducted, I was at this school for four years and I loved it here,” Colvin said. “I made sure to bring my old letterman’s jacket to wear to this, just to show everyone, I still bleed black and orange.”

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On Sept. 26, Santa Ynez High School held Homecoming and crowned its royalty during halftime of the school’s football game against Santa Maria High.

Edgar Guzman was named Homecoming King and Anelly Tovalin was named Homecoming Queen. Both were selected from field of eight finalists in each category.

Anelly is a senior at SYHS who has competed on the girls wrestling team and is also a talented singer — she was in the school production of “Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock” last spring, where she did a rendition of “Amazing Grace.” In fact, she gave as her favorite high school memory the time she was singing Bruno Mars tunes while selling pizza for OLA at a past Homecoming game.

After high school, Anelly plans to attend the University of Chicago, where she will major in pre-law with a minor in psychology. Her dream is to become an immigration lawyer, working to help families like her own.

Edgar is a senior at SYHS, who has played for the boys soccer and boys volleyball. He was a big part of the Pirates volleyball team’s run to the CIF state playoffs last spring and gave as his favorite memory the team’s victory over Arroyo Grande in the CIF quarterfinals.

After graduation, Edgar plans to attend college, with his dream school being the University of Texas, where he hopes to study sports marketing or marine biology. His dream job is to work in sports marketing, combining his love of athletics with his future career.

Other finalists for Homecoming King included Alex Molera, Yahir Torres, Von Gordon, Jude Pritchard, Greyson Foy, Levi Snow, and Diego Pulido. Queen finalists included Elena Sleiman, Emma Johnson, Alyssa Villareal, Haley Spry, Quinn Robinson, Eleanor Murphy, and Keegan Withrow.

The football Pirates made the Homecoming a happy one with a 41-0 victory over the visiting Santa Maria Saints.

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The Buellton City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, but it was anything but regular, as Carla Mead was sworn in as the new council member representing the city’s District 4, making the council a full unit for the first time since the changeover from the November 2024 election.

Mead, a self-employed math tutor and wine ambassador for Rideau Winery who has served on multiple local boards and volunteer organizations, won a special mail-in election Aug. 26 over former City Councilperson and Mayor Dave King. The District 4 seat had gone vacant when David Silva moved into the mayor’s seat at the beginning of the year after defeating King in the November 2024 mayoral election.

Mead took her oath from City Clerk Linda Reid approximately 15 minutes into the meeting, before the council dealt with its business items on the agenda. She was joined in the audience by many friends and well-wishers, most of whom wore pink at her request. In fact, District 3 City Councilmember John Sanchez got into the spirit with a pink shirt of his own underneath his sportcoat.

In a reception before the City Council meeting started, Mead reflected on her time this year campaigning and getting to know the people who would become her constituents.

“Not for the weak-spirited, but campaigning and door-knocking, it’s been great meeting so many neighbors to get to hear about people’s concerns directly from them,” she said. “The biggest thing is making people aware that there is a kind of person in their district, making them aware of who I am and making them aware that I’m at their service.”

Mead already had a couple of topics she was ready to tackle as soon as she took her City Council seat.

“I’ll continue working on the SYV Pedestrian Trail. And commercial development — what are we doing to develop,” she said. “And, from listening to the people, how do we improve our transportation issues, whether it’s on 246 or at the high school.”

After Mead took her oath of office, which was followed by a short recess, the five-member council got down to business. One change in the agenda was the redesignation of Item 5 in the Consent Calendar, having to do with funding for the Buellton segment of the Santa Ynez River Trail to Business Item No. 13.

First off was the opportunity to fill the vacant spot on the Buellton Planning Commission now that Mead was on council.

The city had an open window for applications last month, and the only applicant ended up being Daniel Contreras, who served on the Planning Commission from 2024 until he had to vacate the spot with the City Council District 4 vacancy.

Contreras addressed the council citing his background and experience on the commission, and Mead has the opportunity to appoint him back to the commission, which she did, saying “We have similar goals. I would like to nominate Daniel Contreras.” The appointment passes with a 5-0 vote from council.

In Item 11, the Council OK’d by a 4-0 vote an $11,000 payment to En Fuego Events for costs in running the Buellton Fall Fest, which will be held Nov. 7-9 in the area of Avenue of Flags north of Highway 246. The event will be held at Avenue of Flags for the fourth year next month. Councilmember John Sanchez recused himself from the item because he is related to the event applicant.

In Item 12, Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 25-27, Amending the Monthly Wastewater Service Fees and Low-Income Program in the City of Buellton. The low-income program is a service provided by PG&E and SoCal Gas that offers a 20% discount monthly for rate-payers that have been heavily vetted by those agencies. Also a part of the resolution was a deep sewer-rate discount for Buellton mobile-home park residents.

Finally, Item 13, which was originally in the Consent Calendar, Consideration of MOU with SBCAG for the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail (Santa Ynez Valley Regional Community Connector) saw the City Council OK a $425,000 outlay in a city partnership SBCAG for the administration, and preliminary plans for the trail which is proposed to start at Buellton’s River View Park and end at the intersection of Highways 246 and 154.

Fred Luna of SBCAG, a Buellton resident, said he looks to hire a consultant to help with the project and said they already have preliminary plans underway for the project.

Before adjourning, Buellton Mayor David Silva announced the next scheduled City Council meeting for Thursday, Oct. 9, will be canceled due to councilmembers going to the League of California Cities conference that week. The council will meet next on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m.

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In Discussion Item 8a, in an approximately 50-minute talk, councilmembers and Community Development Director Rafael Castillo went over the parameters of a new ordinance laying out policy for STRs, also known by some as Airbnbs, in residential area.

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the City Council directed staff to produce two draft ordinances for revisions to the short-term rental ordinance. One ordinance would allow short-term rentals (STR) only within the Village Mixed-Use (VMU) zoning district (formerly TRC zone), while grandfathering in certain existing permitted STR outside the VMU. A second draft ordinance would allow for STRs throughout the City in any zone that allows residential use, except for high-density residential zones. The current situation has most of the STRs in the downtown Solvang area, know as the Village Mixed-Use (VMU) are, with a few located in the R-3 area, a small region cut out in the eastern end of town.

Castillo reminded council that the main thing they were looking to decide was whether to have all the STRs limited to the VMUs or allow them in any part of the city. Council seemed to agree to keep them in the VMU

City Councilmember Mark Infanti said that he noticed that of the so-called STRs in the VMU, there were “22 or 23” (later re-estimated as 25 or 26) of the STRs that didn’t have permits. “We need to chase these people down and get them to obtain permits,” he said.

Fellow Councilmember Elizabeth Orona agreed: “We don’t have any kind of fine, no repercussions. Should we bring back fines for some consequences?”

Castillo answered, “We withheld going after them, because we want to be sure what their intentions are; maybe we can get them to turn in paperwork to make it legal.” It should be noted that STRs are subject to the Transit Occupancy tax, so if the city succeeds in getting the property owners to get permitted, that would mean tax dollars for Solvang.

City Manager Randy Murphy also noted that City Council Chelea O’Sullvian and the staff were working on a new code enforcement policy.

During Public Comment for the item, Solvang Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tracy Beard spoke out against the STRs and the policy allowing them.

“As a representative of the business community; this is a poor decision [to allow the STRs],” she said.
“We need to have more clarity; it’s not compatible with the business community.

“With STRs, you’re taking away from hotels,” Beard continued. “STRs do not comply with ADA standards ([or the disabled. This is a bigger deal than what we think it is.”

Going back to council, Councilmember Claudia Orona said that while he understood the concerns for hotels, the STRs have been established in the VMU, and many of those property owners have been compliant with the city for those properties and shouldn’t be penalized.

“There would be a lot of angry people in the VMU if we told them they can’t do that anymore,” she said. “Rationale people have been compliant for years; it’s tough to suddenly tell them no.”

Council member Louise Smith, meanwhile, said tenants deserve the right to use STRs if that’s their prerogative.

“I don’t want to take away TOT from hotels, but STRs are a better option for some,” Smith said. “We need to look at how to expand, but only if we have a way to control it. We need to look at visitors who may need something other than hotel room.”

Ultimately, the council decided to give staff direction on bringing back an ordinance where the STRs are limited to the VMU, and to just 30 permitted STRs in that zone. Also, the councils agreed that they would not permit “homestays,” STRs where the property owner resides in the house at the same time as the tenants.

In another discussion item, Castillo introduced a report on the possibility of chain retailers in the city, especially the downtown area.

In his report, Castillo said that at the March 24 meeting, the City Council requested information on chain retailers, whether it was a problem, or it might be anticipated as a problem. Additionally, it was requested that information be brought forth regarding “ghost retail stores,” referring to the businesses that take up storefronts, but are more the “fulfillment center” or warehouse for filling online orders.

In discussion, the council determined that it doesn’t foresee a problem with chain stores moving in. National brands have minimal representation downtown as just Subway and Domino’s have location along Mission Drive, and a lesser-known clothing chain, Kahuna’s, took over the space on Alisal Road that housed Rasmussen’s

Claudia Orona even played what she termed as “devil’s advocate,” in expressing support for a story like Kahuna’s in Solvang.

“I’v been in town since 2008, and I’ve seen different chain retailers; they come and go. I’d caution against making regulations,” she said. I’d much rather have a Kahuna’s store or similar retailer than another cheap trinket store. If someone wants to try opening a chain store  , let them and see how it goes.”

The item ended without action or directive to staff.

The next regular Solvang City Council meeting will be Monday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

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Those who have enjoyed their quaffs at Figueroa Mountain Brewery, the Buellton establishment on Industrial Way, now can enjoy some good eats at the place, as it welcomes a new food provider: Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew.

The announcement of the new partnership came in August: After 10 years of operating the restaurant internally, owner Jaime Dietenhofer has teamed up with Alex Uribe to revamp the restaurant offering at the location. The eatery is an American Grill concept with a full menu, open seven days per week.

The place had a soft opening on Labor Day Weekend, with Alex and his family serving up such popular items as smash burgers, Nashville chicken sandwiches, and wood-fired brick-oven pizzas.

“I have known Alex since high school, he has done a great job with his restaurants in the valley here and we are excited to have him focus on the quality of service and food,” he said. “Running a restaurant is an intense task that requires a lot of focus. We are excited to have Alex focus on the food, while we focus on what we do best, making award-winning beer.”

Jamie Dietenhofer started Figueroa Mountain with his late father, Jim, in 2010.

“We opened the brewery but didn’t have any food here,” he said. “People wanted to stay and we would just order in from other restaurants. But we opened our kitchen in, I think, 2015, just to create an environment were people can stay.

“But we found out running a restaurant is full-time and you have to be on top of it, and I’ve watched Alex with all of his restaurants. Just seeing how diligent he is — that’s what you need have a successful restaurant, and our primary focus is beer.”

Uribe is no stranger to the restaurant business — like Dietenhofer, he started a business with his father when they opened California Tacos in Solvang. He has since expanded to locations in Buellton and San Luis Obispo. His family is involved in all of the restaurants, and each one also has a photo of his father, who passed away in 2002.

“I had talked to Jamie about opening a place in here, and we just went back and forth,” Uribe said. “I was ready to do it when he wasn’t and he was ready to do it when I wasn’t. Then this past February we were feeling it’s a good time to do it and started having meetings.”

Uribe is excited about the opportunity and looks forward to the revamp. “We are going to update and improve the menu and the experience for locals and visitors. Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew will be an affordable location so families can eat here regularly for lunch and dinner and not break the bank while having a great experience. The food will complement the already amazing beer offerings.”

And for long-time locals, this Hudson’s Grill has no connection with the Hudson’s Grill that had a location in Santa Maria years ago. “Nah, I named it after my grandson,” Uribe said with a laugh.

With the addition of Hudson’s Grill, Dietenhofer is looking to expand the Figueroa Mountain site, in space and in clientele.

“We opened up the upstairs space with tables, and added more to the ground floor,” he said. “And the outdoor patio will have more seats and tables with a huge flat-screen TV and more scattered inside, and we’ll have games out in the patio for the kids to play.”

And that leads to Dietenhofer’s aim to make his place more of a family establishment, even if there is alcohol served.

“I really don’t want to limit my customers,” he said. “I want to have people to come in and have a drink and good food, but I want their kids to come in too, make this a family-friendly place.”

And that works in with Uribe’s menu, which he plans to keep relatively inexpensive.

“I just like to present a value menu here, where a family can come in and eat and not have to pay a lot,” he said.

Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew, inside Figueroa Moutain Brewery, is located at 154 Industrial Way in Buellton. It is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can also order online at hudsonsgrillatfig.com/

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Five former athletes and one former coach from Santa Ynez High are to be the newest additions to the school’s Wall of Fame. Parker Colvin, Josh Hartman, Coach Iain McPherson, Kelley Moore, Meghan Mosebar, and Chris Pace will be honored Friday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 before the Pirates’ football game against Nipomo High.

Parker Colvin

Colvin graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2009. He played four years of football and golf, and he earned the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship and was named the Most Valuable Male Athlete for the class of 2009.  After graduating high school, Parker attended Cal Lutheran University, where he played four years of golf. During his college career, his team had a NCAA Division III National Championship appearance in 2012, and 2013. In 2011 he was CLU’s golf team MVP and won Athlete of the Week for Southwest California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Colvin graduated from Cal Lutheran with a degree in exercise science with an emphasis in sports medicine.

Josh Hartman

Hartman graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2006, where he was a standout athlete in both football and track. As a senior, he captured the Los Padres League titles in the 100 and 200 meters and also won the 100-meter dash at the Santa Barbara County Championships. On the football field, Josh earned All-League honors twice. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and honored as the school’s Most Valuable Male Athlete in his final year. After high school, Josh concluded his athletic career at Chapman University, playing football while earning a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in finance. Following graduation, he began working under one of his former coaches, Jim Colvin, who helped launch his career in the hospitality industry. Josh now serves as a director of revenue management.

Iain McPherson

Iain “Coach” McPherson left an enduring legacy at SYHS as a U.S. history teacher and a devoted coach of the soccer, swimming, and water polo teams. Known for his tough love approach, he earned respect from students and players by pushing them to achieve more than they thought possible. As an All-American swimmer himself, he coached numerous athletes to CIF, All League MVPs, and All-American. Beyond the classroom and pool, Iain was a proud Scotsman and family man, cherished by his wife Linda and daughters Kerry and Heather. In 1998, Coach McPherson was the winningest coach in SYVHS history with 1,359 wins; however, he passed away in February 1999 at the age of 53. It wasn’t the wins he valued most, but the special relationships he built with his students and players.

Kelley Moore

Moore graduated from SYHS in 1972. He went on to play football at Allan Hancock College and Chico State.  After graduating from CSU Chico in the spring of 1977, Dr. Coach Kelley Moore has been blessed to have had a lifetime, 49 years, in the coaching profession. The high-school portion of his career includes coaching tennis, wrestling, basketball, and track and field (28 years as head coach). Moore also spent four years with Allan Hancock College as the head track and field and cross country coach, and as an assistant coach for football.  That was followed by two years as Head Track and Field Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Thiel College. He has as an assistant football coach the last four years at Arizona Christian University.

Meghan Mosebar

Mosebar graduated from SYHS in 1995, went to Purdue University from 1995-1997, and transferred to and graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2000. Mosebar earned high honors each of her four years of high school: She earned varsity letters in volleyball three straight years as a middle hitter, named All-League First Team her sophomore and junior years. Her senior year, she set a school record for most blocks and kills in a single match, leading her team to a Los Padres League championship, and winning Los Padres League MVP honors. Meghan received athletic scholarship offers from many Division I schools and accepted a full volleyball scholarship to Purdue University in Indiana. During here junior year, Mosebar transferred to William and Mary in Virginia, where she also received a volleyball scholarship, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. While at William and Mary, she earned Dean’s List High Honors, All-Conference CAA Scholar Athlete, and was team Co-Captain 1999-2000. Meghan currently resides in Rockledge, Florida, where she has taught elementary school, and coached club volleyball. She now works with nonprofit organizations on the Space Coast of Florida, serving families with daycare and housing assistance, while enjoying life with her 19-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

Chris Pace

Pace graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2004. While at SYHS, he played water polo and soccer, and was a team captain on the swim team. Outside athletics he was the senior class president, a boys state school representative, and Eagle Scout. He was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in systems engineering management. While at the USAFA, he played water polo all four years, three times winning the varsity’s Hardest Worker Award, and in his senior year won the Derek Argel Memorial Award, for the athlete who demonstrates perseverance and an incredible work ethic, which was named for the former USAFA water polo player and alum of nearby Cabrillo High in Lompoc, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005.

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Buellton will soon have a full City Council. Santa Barbara County certified the city’s Aug. 26 Special Election on Sept. 12, with Carla Mead earning the District 4 seat. The math tutor and board chair for the SYV Humane Society earned 269 votes (60%) to defeat former Buellton City Council member and Mayor Dave King, who received 179 votes (40%). The vote total was unchanged from the previous update that was released on Aug. 29.

“It’s official! Santa Barbara County has certified the election results and I’m honored to share that I’ve been elected to represent District 4 on Buellton City Council,” Mead posted on Instagram after the certification was announced. “Thank you to everyone who believed in me, knocked on doors, and cast a ballot. I promise to be a leader who listens, serves, and works every day for our community.”

Mead also invited Buellton residents to attend the Sept. 25 meeting where she is expected to be sworn in, and encouraged everyone to dress in pink.

The mail-only election involved only those voters living in the city’s District 4, which consists of all the city area east of Highway 101, and a strip of land east of 101 and north of Central Avenue and Avenue of Flags. The county reported 449 of 879 registered voters in the area (51%) sent in ballots.

In Buellton’s Sept. 11 City Council meeting, City Manager Scott Wolfe said the winner of the special election will be sworn in and take the District 4 seat at the Thursday, Sept. 25, City Council meeting.

The seat was vacated when previous District 4 City Councilmember David Silva assumed the mayor’s seat in January. Silva had defeated the incumbent King in last November’s mayoral election.

Mead expressed her interest in the seat early on and had met with the members of the current City Council before stating her case for the position at the Jan. 9 meeting, with many residents coming to support her bid. However, King, also at that meeting, then expressed his interest in the vacancy. The councilmembers, some of whom hoped to appoint a councilmember that night, then deadlocked on the candidates, with Silva and Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis supporting Mead, and City Councilmembers Hudson Hornick (who said at the time he preferred an election to decide the seat) and John Sanchez backing King. At the next meeting, on Jan. 23, the councilmembers deadlocked again and then decided to have a special election.

City Council reclassifies two city positions in short meeting

The Buellton City Council, cognizant of the imminent retirement of two city employees, voted to reclassify two city positions during its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 11. It was the only business item for the meeting, which last about half an hour. The council was at three members on the night with the absence of Hudson Hornick.

The two positions being reclassified were Administrative Assistant to Administrative Assistant/Deputy City Clerk, and Staff Assistant/Planning Technician to Planning Assistant/Code Enforcement Officer. The adjustments are being done because the city will be seeing or have seen a retirement with current employees taking on additional duties onto their own.

City Clerk Linda Reid said the employees whose positions have been reclassified would each get a 10% raise, which would be an increase of $17,942 in the city budget. Reid said the increase would be taken out of a city operating surplus, making the fiscal impact on the city minor.

City Councilmembers were pleased with the move, which they said dealt with the succession of the positions. Reid herself is planning to retire next year.

“I see it as a fiscally responsible move,” Silva said. “I like the idea of additional compensation for employees as they seek retention and growth, and there’s a saving by not having another full-time position. I’m grateful for the staff thinking outside.”

Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis thought it was a forward-thinking move.

“I think it’s also important for retention planning; when you’ve had someone working there for several years and is a staple of the place, you forget and realize you don’t know much they do,” said Lewis, referring to Reid. “Getting somebody new in, it takes awhile for someone new to get that same expertise, and it can burn them out when they don’t know stuff right away.”

Sanchez moved to approve the item, with Lewis seconding, and it passed 3-0.

In other business:

Silva read a proclomation to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

In his council comments, Silva requested a moment of silence for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Silva also inquired about makes a Request for Proposals to look into getting a new vendor for its city website, which Wolfe said he would look into. Silva also mentioned the Chumash tribe being open to sharing artifiacts with Buellton entities, and discussion about a tree canopy, which Hornick has express support for in the past.

In his City Manager’s Report, Scott Wolfe said the new City Councilperson would be sworn in the next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, and the meeting after that, on Thursday, Oct. 9, would be cancelled.

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For the fourth straight year, city and county leaders, car aficionados, and people just wanting to enjoy an afternoon of food, music, and dancing gathered at Rancho San Marcos Golf Course, just east of Lake Cachuma for the Cars and Cowboys car show on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The event is a main fundraiser for the Buellton Meals on Wheels program, which provides daily meals for the elderly in the Santa Ynez Valley. The program is run by the nonprofit Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach.

The site was a departure from the previous three years, when the show was held at Red River Ranch in Los Olivos. However, according to Pam Gnekow, executive director of Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach, Al and Denise Frink, the ranch’s owners, have been doing some renovations on their property and couldn’t host it this year.

That left Gnekow with the task of finding a new site for Cars and Cowboys, but a chance visit to Rancho San Marcos gave her a great alternative. “I came here to attend a wedding, and it was my first time here,” she said. “I thought this was just a fantastic place, and I told the owner, ‘I’ll do anything if you let me have the car show here,’ and he said OK. I’m just thrilled to have this at such a nice venue.”

The Cars and Cowboys show organizers take pride in getting a car or two that’s a bit “out of the box,” like the Batmobile, which made an appearance at the show last year. There was no Batmobile this year, but there was the Platypus, a funky-looking car that actually started out as an airplane.

Dana Newquist of Santa Barbara tells the story of finding the shell of a 1947 Republic Seabee Amphibious Airplane in a friend’s salvage shop. Newquist said his friend resisted his overtures to buy the fuselage for five years until finally agreeing to the deal in 2019.

“And then I met this guy,” Newquist said, pointing to Bruce Terry, who did the metal fabrication. “He said, ‘I can’t use this. If you want a car like this, I have to get fresh aluminum to build this up. I asked ‘How long will that take?’ and he said ‘I don’t know.’ Turns out it’s taken five years and it’s finally here.”

Newquist said he always gets reactions from people at the shows “Oh, everybody comes to see it,” he said. “You know, ‘what is it?’ or ‘How’s it powered?’ so on and so forth. It drives like a car, but we really wanted to make it look like an airplane, so we have stuff on it like the fin that makes it look different.”

The Platypus was one of several cars displayed on one of the greens and fairways of the gold course, right next to the pond. The field of cars, ranging from classics, to racing cars, European models, one of which was a rare 1970 Fiat minivan, which was brought by Mark and Lois Mitchell.

“We’ve had this for six or seven years after buying it from a car website,” Mark Mitchell said. “The original owner was from Vienna, Austria, and took good care of it, really meticulous. Everytime he filled up he would write it in a little book. When we got it, it only had about 40,000 miles on it.”

Mitchell said the van is one of about 18 cars he owns and takes to car shows, and the organizers requested the van.
“I came here last year, and then they asked if I could bring something a little different,” he said. “So I gave them a couple of choices and they said ‘Yeah, bring that van.”

In addition to the cars being shown, attendees were also treated to premium food, wine, and cocktails, and a silent auction of various lodging, dining, and vacation packages from local vendors. Doing the honors as the auctioneer was Taylor Glines of Santa Maria.

“Like last year, I knew I wanted to get a female to do the auction,” Gnekow said. “And I got a good one.”Glines comes from a long line of auctioneers, one of them being the late Jim Glines, who is also known as the founder of the Community Bank of Santa Maria.

“Pam and I are good friends, and I was happy to accept her invitation to do this,” Glines said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, when I was young and listening to my dad and grandfather doing it. I used to ride with my grandpa in the truck and he would be listening to his auction tapes. It just always seemed to be a cool thing to do for me.”

After the auction, the crowd, all nestled in a nicely shaded area next to the clubhouse, were entertained by music from DJ Scott Topper, and near the end of the event were getting together for some line dancing, a fitting end for an event called Cars and Cowboys.

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California’s premier Danish heritage festival, “Solvang Danish Days” (SolvangDanishDays.org), returns with a three-day event weekend lineup Friday through Sunday, Sept. 19, 20, and 21. The 2025 Solvang Danish Days theme, “Be Happy – Vær Glæde!,” will be celebrated during this year’s event, which honors the 1911 establishment of Solvang by Danish-Americans.

The 2025 edition of Solvang Danish Days will once again offer attendees a Danish immersion experience — without the flight to Europe — while helping to preserve Solvang’s authentic Danish heritage. Danish Days guests looking to “live like Vikings” throughout the event weekend have the opportunity to purchase a “Dane For A Day” VIP ticket bundle (only available online atwww.eventbrite.com/e/solvang-danish-days-2025-tickets-1343140412129?aff=oddtdtcreator), while those looking to gain quicker entrance to the Saturday and/or Sunday Æbleskiver Breakfasts may purchase online tickets for the breakfasts in advance. Advance, online tickets for the 2025 Æbleskiver Breakfasts and Dane For A Day ticket packages are currently on sale.

Solvang Danish Days continues to mix “old country charm and customs” with a more modern “way of life” through its varied activities that blend Danish-American traditions with present-day festival highlights, while showcasing everything “Solvang.”

The weekend’s array of offerings includes activities for all ages ranging from fan-following food events surrounding Æbleskiver, the iconic Danish pastry rounds; to a Danish-style beer and wine garden serving Danish import, Carlsberg beer, alongside local brews, wines and festival foods; to an axe throwing arena; a Viking “camp” and presentations; interactive history lessons at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art; story time sessions with fairytale favorite, Hans Christian Andersen; to a future-telling rune reader; and, an Old World artisanal crafts marketplace.

Solvang Danish Days boasts a full weekend of entertainment with multiple parades, Danish folk dancers and musicians performing at locations all over town, plus afternoons and evenings of free, live concerts on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in the middle of downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Viking Beer & Wine Garden. Solvang Danish Days 2025 will, once again, also offer family-friendly pastimes, including the popular, and shaded, LEGO tents in Solvang Park, and an expanded Kid’s Korner with face painting, activities, and games.

Also returning to Solvang Danish Days is the pastry-fueled, all-ages Aebleskiver Eating Contest, which will take place on both Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 AM, crowning 2025 winners able to consume the highest count of aebleskiver in just five minutes, all hands-free. Rejoining this year’s nosh is competitive eater Naader Reda (@freakeating), trying to best his own record from the 2024 Aebleskiver Eating Contests.

Since the 1960s, Solvang Danish Days has been presided over by each year’s Danish Maid, a tradition that remains an honorable accomplishment for each of the Maids appointed by the Danish Days Foundation Board members to become a specific year’s Danish Days “royalty.” Solvang’s Danish Maids serve as goodwill ambassadors during their year of service, making public appearances to promote Solvang and the City’s spirit of Danish hospitality.

The 2025 Danish Maid is 17-year-old Addie Madrid, a Solvang resident and third-generation Maid whose Danish roots reach across the seas to Denmark. Her mother, Ashlee, is of mixed background, including Danish ancestry, and her grandmother, Glenda, traces her Denmark ties to her Danish-born parents, Marie and Johannes Jaeger.

Serving as the 2025 Danish Maid, Addie follows the regal, third-generation path of her grandmother, Glenda Jaeger Madrid, Danish Maid in 1971; her mother, Ashlee Madrid, Danish Maid in 1999; and her sister, Aleena Madrid, Danish Maid in 2022.

“Velkommen to Danish Days 2025,” said Addie Madrid, Solvang’s 2025 Danish Maid. “I’m so excited that we get to gather once again to celebrate our heritage, our stories, and everything that makes Solvang feel like home, for locals and for visitors. Whether you’re here for the traditional Danish foods, the parades and dancing, or simply the feeling of community, I hope this weekend reminds you – just like it reminds me – of where we come from and why we keep returning.”

Meanwhile, it was announced on Monday, Sept. 15, that Brenda and Mark Anderson will be the 2025 Danish Days Grand Marshals. Brenda’s family has been involved in Danish Days since its inception, and the couple and their offspring have been involved with the event for many years (see item in News Briefs, page 2)

More information about Solvang Danish Days including the preliminary schedule a brief history of the event, parade applications, and contact information, is also available at www.SolvangDanishDays.org. Solvang Danish Days is also on Facebook (facebook.com/SolvangDanishDays) and Instagram (@DanishDays). You can also find a day-by-day schedule with this story at santaynezvalleystar.com

Solvang Danish Days 2025 – Preliminary Event Weekend Highlights*

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19

10:30 a.m.: John Clark, Hans Christian Andersen Storytime – Young and old alike will enjoy listening to an hour of tales from Denmark’s favorite author. Friday reading: 10:30 AM at the Solvang Library (1745 Mission Drive).

4 to 7 p.m.: Free Concert – The Rincons, performing live in free concert on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage in Parking Lot 2, in downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome; but one must be 21 years or older to enter Viking Beer & Wine Garden.

4 to 9 p.m.: Axe Throwing – An axe-throwing arena in downtown Solvang. Public invited to give axe throwing a try; must be 13 years of age or older to enjoy. Ages 13-17 need to have a parent or guardian present. Closed-toe shoes required. Axe throwing continues on Saturday and Sunday.

4 to 9:30 p.m.: Viking Beer & Wine Garden – Outdoor beer and wine garden; supports the Solvang Danish Days Foundation. Viking Beer & Wine Garden continues on Saturday. (Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages.)

7:30 p.m.: Torchlight Parade – Free for participants, all ages welcome, candles will be provided. Route begins at Alisal Road and Laurel Avenue, strolling south down Alisal Road and ending at the Midgaard Pavilion Stage

8 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies in Solvang Park introducing the 2025 Danish Maid, Addie Madrid, a welcome by Solvang Mayor David Brown, plus the 2025 Grand Marshals (TBA). Velkommen Street Dance follows with Danish dancers performing to live music.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20

8:30 a.m. to  12 p.m.: Æbleskiver Breakfast on Copenhagen Drive between First and Second streets, $10 per person (with Danish sausage, $12). Tickets available online in advance, or at the event entrance.

9 a.m.: Old World Artisans Marketplace – Demonstrations and artisan hand-crafted items including Scandinavian arts & crafts, woodworking, papercutting, among others. An open-air Nordic shopping district of finely crafted items, on First Street.

Vikings of Bjornstad – The Vikings of Bjornstad, a living history and educational group concentrating on the Viking age, will be in Solvang for this year’s Danish Days.

10 a.m. to. 5 p.m.: Expanded Kid’s Korner featuring the popular LEGO® tents in Solvang Park, plus Luna’s Jumps attractions.

10:30 a.m.: John Clark, Hans Christian Andersen Storytimes – Saturday reading at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (at The Book Loft).

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Living History Festival at Elverhøj Museum of History & Art (1624 Elverhoy Way; www.Elverhoj.org). Exhibits come to life during this free, interactive history lesson for all ages. Craftspeople, artisans, and storytellers demonstrate their skills and entertain visitors. Snap a selfie at the Viking photo stop stocked with costumes and props.

11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Axe Throwing

11:30 a.m.: Æbleskiver Eating Contest – Contest will be held in the Midgaard Pavilion in Parking Lot 2, downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome for this five-minute competition.

12 to 9:30 p.m.: Viking Beer & Wine Garden – Outdoor beer and wine garden; supports the Solvang Danish Days Foundation. (Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages.)

2:30 p.m.: Danish Days Parade – Includes the Solvang Village Band atop the Carlsberg Beer Wagon, floats, equestrians, Village Dancers and more. Line-up starts at 1:30 p.m. on First Street near Molle Way; parade begins by turning east on Copenhagen Drive, then north on Alisal Road, west on Mission Drive, south on Atterdag Road, east on Copenhagen, south on Second Street, finishes through Molle Way (running behind Solvang Festival Theater) back to First Street. NO CHARGE to participate in the parade; applications are available at www.SolvangDanishDays.org/contact-us

3 to 10 p.m.: Free Concerts featuring live performances on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage. Out Of The Blue performs from 3 to 6 p.m.; The Molly Ringwald Project performs from 7 to 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21

8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Æbleskiver Breakfast on Copenhagen Drive between First and Second streets, $10 per person (with Danish sausage, $12). Advance tickets available for sale at solvang-danish-days-2025.eventbrite.com.

9:00 a.m.: Old World Artisans Marketplace

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Axe Throwing

Vikings of Bjornstad

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Kid’s Korner

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Free Admission Day at Elverhøj Museum of History & Art (1624 Elverhoy Way; www.Elverhoj.org). Enjoy a day of free admission to Solvang’s Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.

11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: John Clark, Hans Christian Andersen Storytimes — Sunday readings: 11:00 a.m. at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (at The Book Loft), 1 p.m. at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art.

11:30 a.m.: Æbleskiver Eating Contest – Contest will be held in the Midgaard Pavilion in Parking Lot 2, downtown Solvang, adjacent to the Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden. All ages welcome for this five-minute competition.

12 to 2:30 p.m.: Free Concert – The Lowdown Dudes Band performs live in the Solvang Park Gazebo.

12 to 5 p.m.: Solvang Brewing Co. in Solvang Park – Sip locally-crafted beers at the Solvang Brewing Company tent in Solvang Park. (You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase alcoholic beverages.)

2:30 p.m.: Children’s Parade – Parade begins at Atterdag Square (corner of Atterdag Road and Copenhagen Drive) and meanders down Copenhagen to Solvang Park. All children and families are welcome to join this event; no charge to participate, and costumes are encouraged.

3 p.m.: Danish Days Closing Ceremony in Solvang Park – The 2025 Danish Days Maid closes the festive event weekend.

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For the third time this year, local demonstrators lined up in front of the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building on Saturday, Aug. 16, to protest the policies of President Donald Trump. The latest demonstration, was titled “Protect Our Checks,” amid concerns that the president’s policies will threaten Social Security.

Worries about the federal program came after recemt comments made by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called a new Trump initiative a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.” Bessent later clarified his statement in a social media post and said the Trump Administration is “committed to protecting Social Security and to making sure seniors have more money.”

On Thursday, Aug. 14, Trump signed a proclamation honoring the 90th anniversary of Social Security, and siad he said he will honor his “sacred promise” made on the campaign trail to protect the program.

The Solvang rally, as well as many across the country, including ones in Santa Barbara and Lompoc, was held on Aug. 16 because it was two days after the 90th anniversary of the Social Security legislation being signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The local protest was organized in part by Indivisible SYV, a local political action group.

Crowds stood along the sidewalk in front of the Veterans Building on Mission Drive (a few on the other side of the street) with signs with slogans like “Make America Think Again,” “Democracy Not Dicktators,” and “Crybaby-in-Chief” while some motorists passing by honked their support. While Social Security was the catalyst for this particular protest, demonstrators also had other issues in mind.

“This is happening because we just had the anniversary of FDR signing Social Security into law,” said protester Donna Small. “But we also have our issues with the ICE immigration raids and the redistricting in Texas. We need to keep people aware of what’s going on.”

Also at the protest, leading the crowd in chants via his bullhorn was Benjamin Vizzachero, who had a personal reason for attending the rally.

“I got fired by the Trump administration after the budget cuts,” Vizzachero said. “I got involved with the group [Indivisible SYV] and I thought it needed a little more energy.”

One part-time local resident who wasn’t at the Solvang rally, has been a booming voice in support of Democratic Party causes.

Jon Bauman, who has a home in the Santa Ynez Valley, is the president of a national political action committee called Social Security Works, which advocates for protecting and expanding Social Security, and is also a member of the steering committee of Indivisible SYV, a local branch of the national organization that has established itself as one of the key groups resisting the current administration’s policies.

However, many remember Bauman by his nickname “Bowzer,” and his standing as one of the lead singers for the popular group Sha Na Na in the 1970s and ‘80s, a deep-voiced, musclebound, slicked-back-hair crooner who could belt out the band’s trademark ‘50s doo-wop sounds with the best of them at concerts and during the group’s weekly TV show.

These days he’s still using his booming voice to work up a crowd, but this time mostly with the help of a bullhorn at rallies protesting many of the Trump administration’s severe budget cuts, federal worker layoffs and harsh immigration policies. Small said Bauman was taking part in the Protect Your Checks protest in Bakersfield that day.

The theme of the Aug. 16 rallies is one that’s particularly close to Bauman’s heart. Since his Sha Na Na days, he’s become a nationally known expert on Social Security legislation and an advocate for a variety of senior issues. It has been widely publicized that if no changes are made in Social Security funding, benefits may have to be cut by as soon as 2034. Recent statements from Trump’s Secretary of the Treasury have made Bauman even more worried about the future of Social Security.

“Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent really did say the quiet part out loud the other day when he said ‘Oh, this is a backdoor way of privatizing Social Security,’” Bauman said in a press release before that protests, referring to the $1,000 ‘Trump Accounts’ for newborns that are envisioned in what Bauman calls the “Big Ugly Budget Bill” that Congress passed in July.

To Bauman, the Protect Our Checks rallies was provide a way for people to support not only the future of Social Security, but other threatened programs that are critical to seniors, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

“The biggest line of attack are the DOGE cuts,” Bauman said, referring to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed the number of  Social Security employees by 7,000, or more than ten percent. “They’re trying to destroy the Social Security Administration so that it doesn’t function. And then they’ll say ‘Oh, see this whole program doesn’t work … we’ll have to give it over to Wall Street and they’ll make it work.’”

Back at the Solvang rally, protester Mike Brady, who is a 50-year resident of the city, said he was speaking out for Social Security, but his reason for being there was much broader.

“I’m here because I belive in democracy,” he said. “Our constitution is being taken away, and if we let it, there’s nothing left but a dictator. Do we want that? I say no.”

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