As both Presidents Clinton and Obama have stated, “We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of
laws.”
 
At the same time, we must always be willing to acknowledge difficult truths. While the vast majority of those who have entered this country illegally did so in search of a better life and have remained otherwise law- abiding, there have also been many serious crimes committed by unlawful entrants. Americans across our nation worry about criminal activity by members of violent gangs, organized theft groups, smugglers, and dealers of illicit and often lethal drugs (which killed almost 350 people in our county in just the last three years), and other serious and violent crime committed by undocumented criminals. These have included some
notorious homicides here in Santa Barbara County, including the brutal murder of Marilyn Pharis, a 64-year-old Air Force veteran who was sexually assaulted, strangled, and fatally beaten with a hammer by a repeat undocumented offender who broke into her home in Santa Maria in 2015. The following year, during a sting called Operation Matador in Santa Maria, 13 of the 16 suspects arrested for the MS-13 gang-related murders of 10 victims — and the attempted murder of 14 others — were identified by ICE as undocumented.

These heartbreaking tragedies underscore the need for immigration law and enforcement reforms that protect public safety while still upholding our collective values. Over the past two years, while president of the MCSA, I engaged directly and candidly with members of both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as with members of Congress and other law enforcement leaders, on the issues of border security, immigration enforcement, their impact on local jurisdictions, and the urgent need for reform. As MCSA president, I was present at the White House when the bipartisan-supported Laken Riley Act was signed into law in January 2025. This law was named after a 24-year-old nursing student who was assaulted with intent to commit rape and beaten to death by an undocumented, repeat offender in Georgia in 2024. The act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented criminals who are arrested for certain crimes like burglary, assault on a peace officer, and some thefts, several of which her killer had previously committed. Although I recently passed the gavel to a new MCSA president, I’ll continue my efforts as a member of its executive board, advocating for secure borders and fair, effective, and humane enforcement practices that will keep our nation and its communities safe.
 
It’s important to remember that Americans don’t think alike on undocumented immigration. A Jan. 20, Harvard CAPS (Center of American Political Studies)/Harris Poll of 2,000 likely voters, divided almost equally between Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, showed that the vast majority favored the deportation of undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crime (82%), any crime (73%), and a majority of them (52%) still supported the deportation of all immigrants who are here without legal status. With our nation split in half on the issue of immigration enforcement, there is plenty of contention on both sides. Even though we are polarized, we are all part of the same democratic republic. Again, listening to one another is important. Each side has valid points to make, and both sides matter. Although our country is deeply divided on immigration, sooner or later we must find a solution to this problem. This complex and deeply emotional issue will only be resolved through meaningful changes to existing immigration law, with related changes in enforcement policy, training and practices. I believe there are some areas where consensus or compromise is possible. That change should include thoughtful reform that properly addresses border security and public safety, while at the same time ensuring fairness, proportionality, and humanity in enforcement and detention operations. That reform should also allow federal authorities appropriate access to our nation’s jails, so they can safely take undocumented criminal offenders into custody there, instead of doing so unsafely and alarmingly in our neighborhoods.

In the meantime, everyone should adhere to the law, and it should be enforced fairly, courteously, and professionally. We can support the law, or we can work to change it, while still having empathy and compassion for others. We must support the right to peaceful protest and civil discourse, whether we agree or disagree with what’s being said. Respect and decency must remain the standard.
 
Abraham Lincoln once warned that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” While the challenges before us are complex and difficult, we owe it to one another to engage on issues respectfully, seek common ground, and urge our congressional leaders to work together in good faith, compromise, and craft and pass comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform. That is the key to meaningful change in the immigration quandary.

The post On immigration, two viewpoints: Can both be valid? appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Buellton City Council, in its Thursday, Feb. 12, meeting, heard and then ultimately approved new Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) guidelines in an effort to improve communications to developers about what will be expected, and to claim more local input on developments on roads like Highway 246, the main drag of the city that’s under Caltrans jurisdiction.

Councilmember Elysia Lewis and City Manager Scott Wolfe were absent from this meeting.

The Business Item 8 was the first of two on the agenda, and ultimately, the only one it took action on.

In introducing the item, Contract City Planner Irma Tucker said that city staff was instructed in May 2025 to work with traffic engineers to update the Interim Traffic Impact Analysis guidelines that were adopted in 2020-21. Buellton’s Public Works and Planning Department staff worked with Associated Traffic Engineers (ATE), a Santa Barbara consulting firm, and the General Plan Update team.

Tucker said the new TIA guidelines “represent a more user-friendly and implementable tool for traffic impact evaluation, with standards that reflect traffic, circulation, and mobility issues specific to Buellton.”

Among the key policy and operational issues are implementation into the city’s General Plan update, addressing the needs of Buellton’s small-town nature and location at the crossroads of two major highways, and identifying realistic assessment thresholds and standards in regards to major development projects planned along Highway 246.

Tucker identified two main aspects of the new guidelines are a Local Traffic Study (LTS), which would generally be required for all development projects in Buellton, and a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) study, which may or may not be required and assesses how a new project could affect the distance a motorist may have to travel with the new development installed.

“The LTS is the most sensitive to local circumstances and consistency with city policy and gives the city the most local control with how traffic issues are mitigated,” Tucker said.

During council questioning, Councilmember Hudson Hornick asked about certain exceptions made for the LTS requirement along Highway 246 intersections, including Highway 101, Avenue of Flags, and McMurray Road, among others. Tucker said they had a lower standard (LOS D) because they were the busiest intersections and there is limited ability to make required changes to reach the regular standard, and ability of approve development.

“Sounds like you’re striking a balance between getting developments approved and the limitations on what developments can reasonably do; is that fair to say,” Hudson said. Tucker replied that it was an accurate statement.

Tucker added that another aspect of the congestion is that traffic going slower across town can benefit businesses.

“Businesses can thrive on going slowly by and seeing your business, instead of just flying by,” she said.

Mayor David Silva pointed out that the VMT, which he said was a greenhouse gas issue, could offset the declining effectiveness of the state CEQA requirements.

“At some point, CEQA was a really great tool to block development; over time state has weakened that,” he said. “Now we have created objective standards for LTS; predictable, developers now know. As CEQA becomes less utilized, we’ve strengthening local ability to examine that in more efficient, objective standards.”

However, Councilman John Sanchez interpreted that to mean the new guidelines could be used to stop development, as CEQA has had the repuation of doing.

But Silva answered back that, “As CEQA becomes less utilized, we’ve strengthening local ability to examine that in more efficient, objective standards.”

City Attorney Greg Murphy then chimed in that the role of CEQA, and the LTS standards, is misconstrued.

“CEQA was used by people to stop development,” he said. “CEQA not meant for that — it’s to study impact and mitigate them. CEQA is about studying impacts.”

Vice Mayor Carla Mead has praise for the new standards before it went to vote.

“I feel this is being proactive,” she said. “I asked what’s best way to get developers to Buellton, it is to get standardized policies that are clear, so builders know.
Having this proactive policy makes their job easier, that’s where developers want to be. It helps us greet people who want to invest in this city.”

The council was scheduled to hear Business Item 9, adopting Resolution No. 26-02, which would raise the city’s employee insurance contribution to $2,190 from the current $1,800. However, Sanchez recused himself due to having a finanical interest in the matter, leaving three councilmembers to hear the item.

Then, Hornick request to table the item because he wanted to ask questions about the topic to Wolfe, who was absent. Murphy then informed the council that unless the vote on the item was unanimous, it wouldn’t be able to pass because two votes is less than the majority required to pass an item. With that, the council decided to table that item for a future meeting.

The next Buellton City Council meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m.

The post Buellton City Council approves new traffic impact guidelines appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Live music and nighttime business suddenly emerged as a main topic at the Solvang City Council’s Monday, Feb. 9, meeting — more specifically, how a recently installed $200 temporary use permit is affecting the city’s nighttime businesses to provide that music.

During Public Communications, Lisa Mesa, who along with her husband Alfred has owned and operated The Good Life craft beer and wine establishment, told the City Council the TUP was adding another difficult expense to her business, and others in town who like to provide people a place to go and listen to live music after 6 p.m.

“I’m hear to speak for the businesses that give this city a heartbeat after the sun goes down,” Mesa said. “I ask the city reconsider the $200 temporary use fee requirement for businesses hosting live music. Adding a reoccurring financial hurdle is a step in the wrong direction for our local economy.”

Mesa, whose business is located on Mission Drive in the middle of Solvang’s tourist district, said the TUP fee is another tacked on to expenses that are already making it difficult for nighttime businesses to operate.

“The cost of doing business has reached a breaking point, and small businesses here have been squeezed from every side,” Mesa continued. “We have increases in business license fees, rents continue to climb. This fee might seem nominal, but to us it’s another death by 1,000 cuts.”

Mesa pointed said her establishment has hosted live music “every Saturday night for 14 years” without any trouble.

“We have not had any noise complaints or visits from law enforcement or safety, and thousands of happy guest who stayed in Solvang and extra hour or two,” she said. “I ask the council to remove the $200 fee on places that host live music. Let’s not put a price tag on the vibrancy of our town.”

Another local business owner, Peter Lancucki, who operates Final Girl Wines, also requested the fee be removed and pointed out the music at businesses like his and Mesa’s are not very disruptive.

“The thing is, the events in the [Solvang] park have bands that are louder, although I really like those too,” he said. “There’s always people asking ‘what is there to do after 6 in Solvang?’ Well, we’re providing that. The city is always spending money to bring people here, but you put barriers to have nightlife.”

Also speaking was Keith Cox, a part-time musician from Santa Maria, who said the fee could bring an end to live music at local hangouts.

“The fee is punitive for businesses, who also have to pay BMI, and ASCAP licensing fees for cover bands,” he said. “It’s very expensive, and three out of five venues have stopped playing music.”

Councilmembers could not formally discuss the matter at the meeting because it was not on the agenda; however, after Mayor Dave Brown and Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona expressed interest in revisiting the issue during Ex Parte Communications, it was announced that staff would work on getting an item on the agenda for a future meeting.

As for agenda items, the council heard a Mid-Year Budget review and budget adjustments from Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry. The budget has benefited from the Tourist Occupancy Tax (TOT) to the tune of $1.4 million so far in the fiscal year, which after expenses came to a change of $1.195 million for the current budget.

Elizabeth Orona asked about a line of $132,000 for addtional water pumping, which Berry said was due to the city having to pump more water with the lack of rain so far in the year. Claudia Orona later pointed out a discrepancy in the legal fees budget, which turned out to be a typo, with the actual figure being 411,000.

Ultimately, the council voted 5-0 to accept the budget adjustments with the corrected typo.

In the second, and final, discussion item, Public Works Director Bridget Paris introduced a budget adjustment to enable a citywide curb marking inventory project.

The Citywide Curb Marking Inventory Project is designed to create an inventory that will document, including through photographic evidence, existing curb conditions, such as curb color, restriction type, signage presence, and segment length. The resulting data will provide a reliable baseline for evaluating on-street parking capacity, curb utilization, and roadway marking needs.

The database and mapping will also support future development of a Curb and Street Marking Code, informed by California Vehicle Code requirements and best practices, to clarify installation criteria and enforcement standards. Findings will be used to analyze where curb markings may be installed, modified, removed, or maintained and to inform future temporary
and permanent parking strategies.

Councilmember Mark Infanti, who said he liked the project, moved to approved, with Claudia Orono seconding, and the item passed 5-0.

The City Council will meet next on Monday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m.

The post Business owners speak out at Solvang City Council meeting against city fee for live music appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

It’s not often — or ever, for that matter — that you expect to see local mayors and councilmembers jump into the pool in support of a new aquatic center, but in the early morning of Feb. 7, that’s exactly what happened at Santa Ynez High School.

The occasion was the SYV Community Aquatics Foundation’s Polar Bear Plunge, which highlighted the foundation’s effort to build a new two-pool Aquatic Center to replace the single-pool complex where the Polar Bear Plunge was held.

The occasion was attended by several members of the Solvang and Buellton city governments, including Solvang Mayor David Brown and Buellton Mayor David Silva. The two then kicked off the plunge by doing cannonballs into the pool, with Silva wearing some floaties to get into the spirit of things. They were followed by City Councilmembers Claudia Orona (Solvang) and John Sanchez (Buellton) and Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy, SYVCAF President Lisa Palmer, and Buellton Rec Coordinator/SYVCAF Board Member Kristen Thomsen.

After that Valley residents of all ages were invited to jump in and enjoy the current SYHS pool for about an hour as coffee and donuts were served and information on the proposed Aquatic Center and signups for current aquatic programs were made available.

Before all the officials cannonballs, Palmer was able to kick off the series of speakers by the pool by making a promised “big announcement” that the fundraising campaign, which has a $13.7 million goal, has passed a notable milestone.

“I’m happy to report we have gone past the $5 million mark,” Palmer said as the crowd applauded. “We reached the mark after a $250,000 donation from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.”

Another big part of that $5 million was a joint agreement by the cities of Solvang and Buellton, who will share in the management of the Aquatic Center, and earlier this year agreed to each pledge $500,000 toward the project.

“We’ve been hearing for almost decades the need for a new pool,” Buellton Mayor David Silva said. “But this is more than just building a pool, it’s providing access. That means access for student-athletes to have first-rate facilities, access for students and community members to learn about aquatics”

“I think the effort to bring it this far has shown the courage and tenacity of this group,” Silva continued and lauded Palmer for spearheading the effort.

Solvang Mayor David Brown said the progress of the project is an example of neighboring communities working together.

“It’s not just the fundraising and putting the pool together, but all of us putting in a little bit and a little more,” he said. “This project mean safety for children, who will learn how to swim, therapy for seniors, and togetherness for a pool that serves the whole community.”

Also speaking on behalf of Santa Ynez High were District Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Sheehan, and SYHS aquatic athletes Atticus Heimerdinger and Jake Montejano.

Sheehan praised the support of the community for the school’s activities as well as academics, and said the development of top-notch facilities breeds success.

“Last year we were able to renovate the tennis courts, and last fall our girls tennis team won the CIF championship,” she said. “Last year we had donors put in the [sand] volleyball courts, and our beach volleyball team made it to the CIF semis.”

Sheehan added that the current pool used by the water polo and swimming programs aren’t up to CIF standards, so the athletes spend a lot of time on the road for playoff games. That point was echoed by Heimerdinger when he spoke.

“A new pool really would mean a lot to us,” he said. “Our pool does the job, but really needs a lot of work. A few days ago, the heater went down and we had to practice in freezing water, and I know the girls water polo team had to go to Lompoc every day for a week for practice and games because they couldn’t have games here.”

Heimerdinger also said there are plenty of aquatic athletes to come in the future who would love to have a new facility.

“I coach swimming at the YMCA, and there are a lot of kids who are passionate about swim, who are looking forward to swimming at the high school, and if they have this great new pool, I think it would bring out the best in them.”

The Aquatic Center, as projected would consist of two Myrtha pools — one a competition-ready 33-meter pool with the same depth all-around for water polo matches and swim meets. The addition of this pool would allow the SYHS programs to host postseason CIF events. The second one would be a warm 25-yard pool for fun, lessons, and fitness. The center would be located at the present pool location southeast of Rio Memorial Field and next to the SYHS gym.

According to the SYVCAF, the target date to raise the $13.7 million to build the center will be December 2026, with construction to hopefully begin sometime in 2027 once full funding is secured and building permits are secured, and the center to open in summer 2028.

For more information on the Aquatic Center project, its progress, and how you can keep track of the project, go to www.syvaquatics.org/

The post Mayors, councilmembers among those taking early plunge for aquatic center appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

How did they all do? Here the roundup:

Molera’s treys, team defense carries girls basketball over Taft

The Pirates girls basketball team finished the regular season with a 12-10 overall record, including 4-6 in the Sunset League, and earned the fifth seed in Division V and a home game in the first round.

SYHS drew 12th-seeded Taft in the first-round game on Feb. 14, and the Pirates’ defense made its presence known early, shutting out the visiting Wildcats in the first period, and then riding the hot hand of senior guard Lexi Molera on its way to a 58-27 victory.

Molera led the team with 23 points, on the strength of seven 3-pointers, which was one short of the school’s single-game record. In fact, with the game well in hand late, Molera’s teammates kept feeding her the ball to tie or break the record, although she fell one short.

“I’ve been trying to beat the record forever, and I got close but just missed,” Molera said after the game. “Once I hit the first, it just kept flowing.”

The Pirates defense also impressed, rolling to a 12-0 advantage at the end of the first period, and a 27-7 margin at halftime.

“We’re a very defensive team overall,” Molera said. “We have short guards so we’re always hand checking to keep them off-balance.”

Pirates head coach Jennifer Rasmussen was very happy with the defensive performance.

“They were hustling, and they were just dominant,” the coach said. “We had Helina Pelice out there and she’s really good at anticipating steals and being in the right place to stop them.”

Pelice added 9 points for SYHS and dominated the boards along with teammate Elliette Rasmuseen as they had 15 rebounds apiece.

It had to be a gratifying performance from Pelice, who continues to recover from a sprained ankle suffered a couple weeks earlier.

“Yes, she really picked it up tonight,” said Coach Rasmussen of Pelice. “I’ve been bringing her along slowly with the injury; I think tonight was the first time since the injury she’s put in a full game.”

The Pirates moved on to a second-round matchup and a long road trip to Bishop to play fourth-seeded Bishop Union on Wednesday, Feb. 18 (results were not available at press time). If SYHS was able to pull that out, they would be playing again tonight (Feb. 20) against the winner of No. 1 Coalinga and No. 8 Sanger West. If Sanger was able to pull off the upset the game will be at Santa Ynez, but if Coalinga wins, then its back on the road for the Pirates.

Ladera scores twice as Pirates girls soccer beats Lompoc

While many Central Coast schools get matchups with San Joaquin Valley teams during the CIF playoffs, for the SYHS girls soccer team, their opponents were very familiar: the Lompoc High Braves.

The Pirates, 10-2-2 on the season a first-place finish (7-1-2) in the Ocean League and the fourth seed in Division III, met a Lompoc team that was 5-11-3, and 2-4-2 in the Sunset League (fourth place).

SYHS dictated the pace of the game all night, and Kailani Ladera scored two goals to lead the Pirates to a 3-0 victory.

Though the Pirates have been successful all this season, head coach Rob Cantrell feels his team is just now hitting its stride.

“This is our 14th game, and with a usual 28-or-so game season these players are used to, we feel we’re at midseason,” he said. “We’re working through the things a team needs to be working on at a midseason level. Tonight, we didn’t depend so much on our front and midfield, but we brought the defenders into the attack. That’s what they call ‘total football.'”

Cantrell felt his team started out a little hesitant, but picked up their game shortly into the first half, and junior midfielder Kailani Ladera opened the scoring with a long-range shot into the top corner of the net in the 13th minute, and that 1-0 lead would hold until halftime.

In the 43rd minute, junior Isabella Rubio added to the Pirates’ lead taking advantage of a funny bounce of a Braves defender and put it in the net, and Ladera scored off a shot in the 75th minutes to close the scoring.

For its second-round game on Tuesday, Feb. 18, SYHS played another Central Coast school, Pioneer Valley (14-5-3, 4-3-1 in the Sunset), with the result unavailable at press time. The winner of that game played the winner of No. 1 Torres and No. 8 Reedley in Thursday’s semifinal.

Boys basketball eliminated by Bakersfield North

The Santa Ynez High boys basketball team saw its season end Friday, Feb. 13, in Bakersfield as North High Stars beat the visiting Pirates 52-44 in a first-round Division III contest. The home Stars were a seventh seeded, while the Pirates were No. 10.

Despite 21 points from Mason Skidmore, SYHS was battling from behind since North jumped out to a 7-2 early lead. Aside from a brief 29-29 tie in the third period, the home team lead for the entire game.

The Pirates (16-12, 6-2 in the Sunset League for second place) finished the regular season in strong fashion, winning seven out of their last eight before the first-round loss.

SYHS boys soccer falls to host Riverdale

Santa Ynez, ranked No. 12 in Division IV, lost to fifth-seeded Riverdale High 4-2 in a first-round game played at Lemoore High School. 

Santa Ynez went down to an early 2-0 deficit, until senior Marcos Rivera tied the score with two direct free kicks by halftime. 

However, Riverdale’s Xaidyn Camacho, who had three goals and an assist for the game, helped Riverdale regain the lead and the Cowboys got one more goal, to close it out.

The Pirates end at 7-5-4, 3-2-3 (third place) in the Sunset League. Rivera and Vince Guerrero, both seniors, led the team with six goals apiece on the season.

Six Pirate wrestlers advance to Central Section Masters

The Santa Ynez Pirates qualified six wrestlers for the Central Section Masters Tournament, taking place on Feb 20-21 at Fresno’s Selland Arena.

Dallana Margarito (145 lb. sophomore) took fourth at the Girls D2 CIF tournament to qualify. Joey Duarte (285 lb. junior) took second, Neal Cunningham (157 lb. senior) took third, Curren Lane (144 lb. sophomore) and Kaj Kretzschmer (175 lb. senior) took fifth and Hayden Pahler (165 lb. junior) took seventh at the Central Section D3 Boys CIF Tournament. Out of the 4 girls and 9 boys competing we had 6 qualify for Masters.

“The Pirates have been working hard all year and are performing their best in the postseason,” said Sean Yamasaki, the first-year wrestling coach. “I am beyond proud of this team and the effort they have put in and I am super excited for this next tournament and the future of our team.”

Some notable matches from the weekend were Hayden Pahler winning his seventh-place match with a last-second takedown to qualify for Masters. Luke Elliot, despite not qualifying had his best tournament of the year with two pins to make the second day of the tournament. And Neal Cunningham won his third place match in overtime.

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For its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 26, the Solvang City Council discussed land use at Mission Santa Ines, more specifically the 2024 zoning change made to give the mission more flexibility in use of its property.

In the item, the first of five discussion items on the evening, was prompted by public comment during the Nov. 10, 2025, City Council meeting. During that session, Char Goetz, who owns the Flying Miz Daisy Vintage Market that periodically operates on the mission’s property and also serves on the city’s Design Review Committee, stated her objections to what she saw as overly restrictive oversight by the city’s Community Development Department while conducting her event. She requested that the zoning return to its designation before the 2024 change.

In the Jan. 26 meeting, Community Development Director Rafael Castillo reported that the current land use and zoning framework, adopted in July 2024, with and supported by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was intentionally crafted to convert the Mission from a non-conforming use to a conforming “quasi-public” facility while preserving parish activities, historic resources, and future flexibility. Staff also reviewed the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) process established under the 2024 Zoning Ordinance, which provides a streamlined and flexible mechanism for regulating temporary events on private property, and recommends no changes to the existing land use designations, zoning, or TUP regulations at this time.

The TUP allows for events such as the Vintage Market and the annual Fourth of July fireworks event to be held on mission grounds.

Castillo said prior to the adoption of the Land Use Map and General Plan, Mission Santa Ines was designated “Agriculture (AG)/Institutional (I)” (Figure 1). The Mission’s ancillary offices, and residential uses were located in the Institutional zone, considered an “allowed use”, and the remainder of the Mission was in the Agriculture zone, which required a conditional use permit (CUP) for meeting facilities, and the remainder was considered existing, non-conforming uses.

Castillo pointed out that the complaint was made by someone who was not the property owner or a representative, and that the zoning changes were approved by City Council in 2024 and supported by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which has authority over the mission.

“So at this point, the city staff is recommending no change to any of the land uses that has been designated as part of the General Plan by the zoning ordinance,” Castillo said.

However, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona questioned whether the zoning was appropriate, suggesting that the mission receive its own zoning designation. “Something singular like with the Alisal Guest Ranch or the mobile home park,” she said.

City Manager Randy Murphy repeated that the current zoning is fine with the archdiocese, which then prompted Elizabeth Orona to ask if the local administration had been consulted on this. Murphy answered that the city just deals with the archdiocese in those matters.

“I have concerns that the mission administration haven’t been consulted,” Orona answered. “The church should have more jurisdiction than the city on what happens on their property.”

To that, Mayor Dave Brown, who said he is a parishioner at the mission, said the local administration approves of the current setup.

“I’ve talked to the priest,” Brown said. “We’re in agreement to keep it the same.”

Meanwhile, Goetz was present for the Jan. 26 meeting and spoke at public comment, agreeing with the notion that the local mission hierarchy should be consulted.

“I have a wonderful relationship with staff there,” Getz said. “While city staff collaborated with archdiocese, the mission staff themselves were not consulted. Talking to archdiocese is not adequate.”

Goetz also repeated her desire to revert to previous zoning designation.

Ultimately, council decided to table the discussion, and consult the local mission staff before bringing it back at a late date. No action was taken.

In other business, the council approved four first readings of regulations, all meant to “clean up” language and disrepancies in city ordinances. One was Ordinance No. 26-0388, Amending Certain Sections of Title 1 (Administration), Chapter 3 (General Penalties) and Title 4 (Business Regulations), Chapter 9 (Business Certificates) of the Solvang Municipal Code to strengthen enforcement tools.

City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan said the item is the city’s effort to increase enforcement tools, make them less of a “paper tiger.” Under the change, the default violation on a citation would be a misdemeanor instead of the lower standard of “infraction,” with O’Sullivan pointing out they can lower a charge to infraction when reviewing it. And while criminal citations are allowed in code enforcement, they aren’t issued as such unless in extreme cases.

Councilmember Claudia Orona asked about the possibility of bringing criminal charges for code violations and whether that was necessary. Murphy repeated the “paper tiger” term and said they were putting some teeth into it.

“How sharp are the teeth?” asked Claudia Orona. “Could I spend six months in jail for not taking out my A-frame out of public?”

O’Sullivan said that while the option of jail time is in the ordinance, she said there was no way a judge would issue that for a city code violation. The point of it, O’Sullivan said, is that it would require the violator to go to court to take care, adding some “gravitas,” to the citation and emphasizing the seriousness of it.

Ultimately, council voted 5-0 to pass the first reading.

The City Council will next meet on Monday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m.

The post Solvang City Council reviews 2024 zoning changes at mission after past public comment appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

With the City of Solvang’s designation as the “Danish Capital of America,” many locals have taken interest in President Donald Trump’s recently stated desire to make Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, to become part of the United States, arguing that Greenland is vital to U.S. security.

That idea has prompted opposition from Greenland itself, and many others worldwide, including the U.S.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, local demonstrators showed up at Solvang Park to protest the U.S. administration’s potential attempts in a rally titled “Hands Off Greenland! Solvang Stands With Denmark” — a community rally to affirm respect for national sovereignty, democratic values, and the longstanding cultural ties between Solvang and Denmark.

Solvang resident Peter Wright and Santa Barbara County resident Gary Caris were the main organizers of the event, but the person who got the ball rolling on it was a pastor from Simi Valley.

Rev. Jim Burklo is the pastor of the United Church of Christ of Simi Valley and former Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, and has been a supporter of progressive causes.

When thinking about the situation in Greenland, Burklo said at the rally he thought Solvang would be a great location, knowing about the origin of the town founded by Danish settlers in 1911.

“This [Greenland] issue comes up and I’m thinking what can I do about it, and I’m thinking, of all places, Solvang would be a great place to hold something like this, with our affection for Denmark and our opposition to this invasion,” Burklo said. “So, I didn’t know anybody here, but I was able to call Peter and Gary, and they did most of the work.”

Carig maintained that while members of the Santa Ynez Valley Democratic Organization have helped to organize the rally, this demonstration was “a grassroots response to the widespread distress felt across the community. It
is for Solvang and for anyone who supports the rights and integrity of both Denmark and Greenland.”

“Of course, our town has close ties to Denmark,” Carig continued. “This is something that’s bringing the community together, not necessarily a left or right issue.”

During the event, protesters lined up with signs along Mission Drive in front of Solvang Park. Many displayed the sign given out by organizers that said, “Hands off Greenland! Solvang Stands With Denmark,” although some brought their own signs with sayings like “Greenland is not for sale,” and “LE’GO Greenland and Denmark,” alluding to Denmark’s famous toy building blocks.

As the group demonstrated, many motorists honked in support, although Burklo admitted a few gave “one-fingered salutes” from their vehicles.

Later on, a group of singers accompanied by Lompoc resident Bill Carlsen on guitar, led the crowd in songs like “We Shall Overcome,” and “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and also versions of “This Land is Your Land” and “Hallelujah,” with modified lyrics from Carig (“with apologies to Woody Guthrie and Leonard Cohen”) with references to Trump and the Greenland issue.

One attendee to the event was Karen Johnson, a retired first-grade teacher who had taught in the College District and at Solvang Family School.

“We want to support Greenland and Denmark, because of the Danish roots here, but because it’s really important,” she said. “I have a couple of Danish friends who couldn’t be here today, they had go up north, but they thanked us for being here in support of Denmark. And they were a country that helped in World War II and many do not know that they did a lot to hide Jewish people from the Nazis during that time, so, yeah, they need to be stood up for.”

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February is here and soon to follow is Valentine’s Day, the time for couples, young and old, to celebrate their love and their good times together.

And with that usually comes a night out, and many restaurants and establishments are getting ready to serve those people who choose to celebrate. It could be a fancy eatery, a bar-type atmosphere, or a good old-fashioned barbecue place like Whiskey ‘N Rye in Solvang.

Joe Padilla, the chief operating officer for Whiskey ‘N Rye, located at 442 Atterdag Road, admits his place isn’t the one people would think of for a romantic night out, but he is still expecting a big crowd on Feb. 14, which happens to fall on a Saturday this year.

“We’ve always had good business on Valentine’s Day,” said Padilla, whose restaurant has been at its current location for three years. “We don’t do any specials for Valentine’s or anything, but we think our menu is strong enough on its own.”

That menu a robust list of cocktails, BBQ, vegetarian and even vegan options. Cozy in at Whiskey ‘N Rye and enjoy items including the Loaded Mac N Cheese, a Sampler Trio with ribs, brisket, and pulled pork tossed in Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, and Smoked Spaghetti Squash with Squash noodles tossed with hickory smoked tomato, garlic, shallots, basil, spicy chili flakes.

But Padilla said drawing customers is more than just the food.

“One thing we always stress in hospitality,” he said. “We want to have the absolute best service and filling all the diners’ needs to give them that full experience on a special day.”

It’s a strategy no doubt many other restaurants share no matter the atmosphere or cuisine. One of those is Pico, located at 458 Bell St. in Los Alamos, which describes itself as “Upscale comfort food made with local ingredients, sourced from farmers committed to organic, regenerative, and humane practices. [A] historic dining room with the charm of fine dining, your grandmother’s favorite recipes, edible gardens, and a small town vibe.”

With reservations available on Feb. 14 from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m., couples can enjoy a four-course dinner featuring house favorites such as the Avocado Crudo, Finley Warm Broccolini and Kale Salad, Kiani Preserve Filet Mignon with Mighty Cap Mushroom Demi and Flourless Chocolate Cake — all made with the freshest seasonal ingredients from neighboring farms and ranches. Go to www.losalamosgeneralstore.com/special-events to get a reservation.

And there are other special events for Valentine’s Day in The Valley. Among them:

Romance at the Ranch, Alisal Ranch, Feb. 13-15

Searching for a unique romantic experience this Valentine’s Day?  Nestled in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal Ranch is the perfect California resort destination for a dreamy getaway. Whether you’re joining us for our exclusive “Romance at the Ranch” package or celebrating at home, we’ve got some heartwarming ideas to spark romance, ranch-style. Our 2-night “Romance at the Ranch” package from Feb 13-15, is thoughtfully curated to add a western-style magic touch to your love story. Here’s what you can expect at our luxury dude ranch:

Welcoming gifts: Flowers, champagne, and chocolate in your room ready to celebrate your arrival in true romantic fashion.

Outdoor adventures: Two activities per night like horseback rides, golf sessions, and more.

Wine-Country flavors: Get a taste of ranch life with fun classes like wine tasting and cheese pairing. 

Learn more about our Romance at the Ranch package.

Plenty on Bell Three Course Prix Fixe Dinner on Friday, Feb 13.

Plenty on Bell, at 508 Bell St. in Los Alamos, jump the gun a bit, opening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with a dinner                                    

on Friday, Feb. 13, which includes a glass of wine or Champagne. Go to plentyonbell.com

Chocolate and Wine-Tasting Pairings at Sunstone Winery, Feb. 13-15

Celebrate love and indulgence this Valentine’s Day weekend at Sunstone Winery with our guided Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience. From Feb. 13-15, savor the romance of perfectly paired wines and handcrafted chocolates from the renowned Twenty-Four Blackbird in an intimate and enchanting setting.

These exclusive tastings will be offered throughout the day, with limited spots available. The cost for this romantic and delectable experience is $50 per guest. Go to sunstonewinery.com/

Valentines Wine & Truffle Weekend in Santa Ynez with Live Music at Brander Winery & Vineyard, Feb. 14-15

Includes artisan chocolates from Jessica Foster Confections, a flight of five signature Brander wines, and music from Hayli Carleton (Saturday) and Lindsey Marie (Sunday). For more info, go to www.brander.com/winery-events/

Looking for more, see www.opentable.com/events/valentines/region/santa-ynez-valley

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Buellton resident Joe Chavez will be the first to tell you he has traveled a difficult road over the past decade or so, but he is very pleased with where it has taken him.

“I lived in Ventura County with my mom, and then she passed away and I was evicted from the home,” he said. “After that, I spent about eight years as an unhoused person.”

However, after coming to Santa Barbara County, Chavez said he was able to get assistance from, among others, the local branch of People Helping People.

“I spent a lot of time trying to get help getting back on my feet, but couldn’t find it in Ventura County,” he said. “I came up to Santa Barbara County and was able to get help getting a place to live, and now here I am.”

“Here” is the Village Senior Apartments in Buellton, located at 332-334 Valley Vineyard Circle, off McMurray Road. Chavez, who’s lived at the complex for the past few months, spoke about his experience during a ribbon-cutting at the complex, the latest in the efforts to supply affordable housing for seniors and veterans.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), which facilitated the project, celebrated the grand opening of Village Senior Apartments on Wednesday, Jan. 28, with an afternoon event at the complex. The newly completed community offers 50 units of affordable housing, including options for seniors, senior veterans, and formerly unhoused senior veterans, with 13 units specifically designated for veterans.

Buellton Mayor David Silva, Santa Barbara County Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, and local affordable housing leaders joined CEDC leadership, including CEDC Board President Aiza Galdo, as speakers during the event. Representatives for for State Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limon; Congressman Salud Carbajal, CA-24; and Assemblymember Gregg Hart also were on hand to offer certificates of achievement.

“We’re excited to open the doors of Village Senior Apartments and welcome more than 50 seniors into their new homes,” said CEDC Chief Executive Officer Victoria Brady. “This community was built with care, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe and beautiful place to belong. Seeing our residents begin this new chapter surrounded by neighbors and support truly reflects what CEDC is all about.”

Brady also credited McCarthy Construction for building the project “ahead of schedule and under budget.”

Silva, who lives in the complex next to Village Senior Apartments, spoke about how he was able to witness the progress of the complex up close.

“I remember when I saw the first shovel go into the ground and I thought ‘Oh boy, here we go'” he said. “The work that comes between the shovel in the ground and this moment is very often undervalued and under-celebrated.”

Silva also recounted the efforts the city made with community members and organizations, as well as CEDC, to get the project off the ground.

“We worked so closely with this team about outreach and communication. We went to weekly Zoom meetings and there were tense conversations,” he said. “I’m so grateful for the community partnerships with SYV Outreach and People Helping People to help us find people in this community that needed these housing resources, and make sure this worked for the city of Buellton.”

According to the CEDC, Village Senior Apartments provides thoughtfully designed affordable homes where seniors can live with comfort, dignity, and independence. Designed specifically for senior living, half of the homes include mobility features. Each residence includes central air conditioning; durable, easy-to-clean surfaces; modern kitchens with Energy Star–rated appliances, ample storage, and a private balcony.

The two-story community encourages connection and well-being with elevator access, multipurpose gathering rooms, supportive social services, EV charging stations, and landscaped courtyards featuring gardens and shaded seating. On-site solar panels help keep utility costs low for residents. Built to California Green Building Standards and GreenPoint Rated, the fully ADA-accessible community reflects CEDC’s commitment to
sustainability and long-term resident quality of life. Units are still available for individuals earning at or below 50% area median income (AMI).

Residents will have access to free confidential supportive services as well as an onsite coordinator who will develop and provide social, educational, and recreational programs and workshops through collaborations with volunteers, local nonprofits, government and community resources.

“CEDC is proud to celebrate the completion of Village Senior Apartments, which will provide much-needed affordable housing for seniors in Santa Barbara County,” said Derrick Wada, director of real estate development for CEDC. “This milestone reflects the power of collaboration between local, state, and federal partners who share our belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, secure, quality housing to grow and thrive.”

This project is the latest in the efforts to put more affordable housing in Buellton. Village Polo Apartments, located just a short walk away from Village Senior Apartments, was opened in August 2025, and includes a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments that are reserved for households earning between 30% and 60% of Buellton’s median income. That complex was developed through the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara (HASBARCO)

The Buellton Garden Apartment, a project being done through People’s Self-Help Housing and located at 10 and 12 McMurray Road (behind the Albertson’s shopping center), had its deadline for applications pass on Feb. 3 and will be conducting a lottery for prospective residents this Tuesday, Feb. 10. The complex hopes to starting moving people in sometime this summer.

The grand opening event is co-hosted by Legacy Builder Sponsor McCarthy Companies, which also provided preconstruction and general contracting services for Village Senior Apartments. Additional sponsors include Rural Community Assistance Corp, Office42, Sean Leonard, and Y&M Architects.

And with the efforts of those business and organizations bearing fruit, people like Joe Sanchez can enjoy the pleasure of their own place to live.

“This place is wonderful,” he said as the ribbon-cutting event came to its conclusion. “It beats living under a bridge.”

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The Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge recently announced its choice for December Student of the Month, and the honoree is Santa Ynez High senior Danielle Hyland.

Danielle is known an exceptional student whose academic drive, leadership, and compassion make her a standout in every setting. She is an only child who was adopted from China at the age of 3, and she has proudly called the Santa Ynez Valley home for many years.

Danielle speaks warmly about her close-knit family and the steady support she receives from her parents. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Tillie and Bailey, and she brings a wide range of talents and interests to everything she does — from seven years of dance and violin to basketball, track, and eventually discovering a true love for tennis in eighth grade.

One of the achievements Danielle is most proud of is her leadership as president of the SYV Medical Club. She recognized that students interested in health care didn’t yet have a space on campus to explore careers, connect with peers, and learn from professionals. So she helped build that community herself — organizing projects and guest speakers and creating real opportunities for students to envision futures in medicine and service.

Danielle’s commitment to helping others extends far beyond the classroom. She is a tennis co-captain, a CIF individual competitor, and a member of last year’s CIF Central Section championship team. She also works as a waitress at the Copenhagen Sausage Garden in Solvang, balancing her job with school and athletics. Perhaps most remarkable is her nearly 200 hours of volunteer service at Cottage Hospital, where she has been able to observe health-care professionals firsthand. Those experiences have strengthened her desire to become a nurse and reinforced her passion for caring for people in meaningful, practical ways.

After graduation, Danielle plans to pursue college — either beginning at SBCC or attending a four-year university such as San Diego State, Cal State San Marcos, or Cal State Long Beach — with the goal of entering the nursing field. She is excited to build a career where she can help people, comfort those in need, and make a real difference in her community.

And if Danielle could share one piece of advice with younger students, it would be this: Don’t let anyone stop you from believing in yourself. Have confidence, stand up for yourself, give yourself grace, and remember that perfection isn’t the goal — growth is.

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