Kacy Caplan has been chosen as Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation Queen for 2025. She will represent the Santa Ynez Valley and perform the various duties that the title Queen requires.  

Caplan is the daughter of Robyn and Brian Caplan and her grandmother is Paula Albrecht. She also has an older sister, Boe, and a twin brother, Cole. She is currently a junior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Caplan says she is looking forward to raising funds for the youth in the Valley so that they can experience the same outstanding programs and facilities that she has benefited from and has had the opportunity to enjoy. She believes in giving back to the community that has given her so much.

“Growing up in the Valley, I have had the opportunity to experience so much, such as raising turkeys and pigs in Lucky Clover 4-H, playing in a variety of sports, dancing, and spending time with my friends at our local parks,” stated Caplan in her application letter. “In high school, I took on leadership roles such as FFA President and ASB class officer. I am also a varsity athlete in girls’ golf (for three years) and track (for two years). The incredible sports facilities in our community, many of which have been built and maintained by SYV Youth Recreation, have had a lasting impact on student athletes, just like me.

“Beyond school, I am also an active member of the National Charity League, where I have volunteered at numerous community events, including the Youth Rec Queen events in years past. I have seen first-hand how much SYVRC has provided for local youth, and I am grateful for the excellent opportunities it has given me, and many others.” 

Caplan said she is proud of serving SYV Youth Rec, whether or not she is Queen.

“Ever since I started volunteering at the youth Rec Queen events, I have had people ask me if I wanted to become queen. I would always respond with a ‘maybe,’ to not seem like the only reason I was volunteering was to become queen, because that was not the case at all,” said Caplan. “However, the more people asked (which was not a ton) themore I saw it as a great opportunity and something I would love to do. I was really surprised when I became Rec Queen, and I am very honored to be given this position.”

Caplan explained what some of her duties are, now that she has been chosen Rec Queen.

“A lot of my duties revolve around the three main events. For instance, I help a lot with the auction part of the events: asking businesses and people for donations, picking those donations up, setting up baskets for different items, making sure it is all organized, and, of course, showcasing the items during the live auction,” she said. “All the money made at the auction goes to the Youth Rec, and they use this money to help the youth in our Valley. For example, they have built several facilities at the high school, including the weight room, supplying all the weight systems, the swimming pool, the softball diamond, the tennis complex, rebuilt the baseball complex and built the Ag Barn for the FFA. They also built the enclosure for the paint booth at the auto shop and continue to help the various teams and clubs at the high school. Amazingly, I have been chosen to help run these events, because I want to give back to the community that has blessed me with so many great things.”

Caplan is looking forward to attending college after she graduates from SYHS next year.

“After graduation, I plan to attend a four-year college outside the state. I want to major in ag communications,” she said. “I have a few schools in mind, such as Texas A&M and Kansas State.”

Caplan realizes the work that is involved with being Rec Queen, and is honored to be a part of it.

“I was really surprised when I became Rec Queen. However, after the initial feelings wore off, I was very honored,” she said. “Getting closer to the events, I realize that it is going to be a lot of work, but it is also going to be a lot of fun.These events are really fun to attend and volunteer at. Knowing that these events are helping raise money for the youth in our Valley makes all the work worth it in the end.”

SYV Youth Rec got a fitting and deserving individual to take the Queen’s crown (which in this case is embroidered on a 10-gallon hat), according to Frank Kelsey, the executive director of Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation. 

“We chose Kacy based on her interest in our program and her outstanding success as a student at Santa Ynez High School,” Kelsey said. “For the last several years she has attended and helped at all of our events. Kacy is an athlete, an ASB officer, and president of the SYFFA.”

The events which Queen Kacy Caplan will preside over are as follows:

• The Kick-Off event will be a barbecue and auction held at noon on Sunday, April 27, at River View Park in Buellton.
• The second event will be held on Monday, May 5, at Gainey Winery in Santa Ynez. It will feature a luncheon and an auction.
• On Friday, May 16, New Frontiers Market will be donating 5% of its sales to the Santa Ynez Valley Rec Queen Campaign. Come shop, meet Queen Kacy Caplan, and help her with this fundraising event.   
• The final event will be held on Friday, May 23. A dinner and auction will be held at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Solvang. 

“I look forward to raising funds for the youth in our Valley to experience the same outstanding programs and facilities that I have,” Caplan said. “We are ready to start the 2025 Queen’s Campaign and I would greatly appreciate your support! Please save these dates for upcoming events — I cannot wait to celebrate with my family, friends, and all of you!”

SYV Youth Rec was started in 1955 to raise money to build a pool at the high school. It was completed in 1965 andSYV Youth Rec has raised over $4 million for local youth programs and facilities and has funded many projects at Santa Ynez High School, fields at local elementary and middle schools, and the volleyball, baseball, and soccer fields at Sunny Fields Park, among other accomplishments.

For more information on SYV Youth Rec, or information on attending the events or donating to Caplan’s campaign, visit www.syvyouthrec.org. 

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The annual Boar’s Head Festival and Feast is a celebration honoring the Feast of the Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, which is the day the Three Kings are said to have arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts for the infant Jesus.

It was held on Saturday, Jan. 4, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos. The event has been held at St. Mark’s since 1977 and was well-attended by members of the congregation and the community who came to enjoy the closing of the Christmas season with pageantry, song, and dinner.
 
The history of the Boar’s Head reaches back into the days of the Roman Empire. The festival was a popular Christmas event of the great manor houses of England in the 17th century. The custom of the Boar’s Head and Yule Log was carried to colonial America. The ceremony serves as an offering of praise to Jesus Christ of His Epiphany and to remind us the great gift of love given to us all at Christmas.

The festival began with members of the Central Coast Pipes & Drums marching up the center aisle of the church playing bagpipes, followed by the Yule Sprite, carrying the Yule candle ahead of Father Christmas. 
Interim Rector Rev. Scott Claassen welcomed the congregation and explained the meaning of the Boar’s Head Festival.
 
“We gather this evening for an enjoyable celebration of the birth of Jesus at the end of this Christmas season, marked by the Feast of the Epiphany,” he said. “The traditional English boar’s head dates back to the 1300s in Queen’s College, Oxford. The serving of the boar symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.” 

Claassen then went on to tell the story of the origin of Santa Claus, or Father Christmas (played by Greg Johnson), a real fourth-century bishop and Saint, Nicolas of Myrna.

“Father Christmas is here to remind us that the real Santa Claus was a saint who loved Jesus and did good and unusual things, because of this love,” he said.

The Yule Sprite, played by Anita Finifrock, then came to remind us of our Christmas memories and of all the Christmases to come. She then lit the candle in the stand as those attending sang the traditional carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” while several little angels, shepherds, and little ones dressed as sheep walked up the aisle and seated themselves around the altar. 
Rev. Claassen then read from the Gospel of Matthew, telling the story of the three Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem and brought the newborn baby Jesus gifts of gold (symbolic of his kingship), frankincense (symbolic of his high priesthood), and myrrh (his suffering and death) and ultimately outwitting Herod.

While the congregation sang “We Three Kings,” the three kings played by Nichole Dechaine, Nathan Kreitzer, and Carl Johnson arrived bearing gifts.

Then Claassen spoke of the Good King Wenceslas, played by Scott Wolfe, who along with the Page (Martine Surey), recognized the need of a poor person (John Surey), and responded to that need. The audience sang “Good King Wenceslas.”

The time had arrived for the feast to begin, but not before The Ruler of Misrule, played by Sean Duggan, arrived on the scene to disrupt the festivities. He was invited to join the guests at dinner and the Steward of the Feast beckoned the Boar Bearers, to carry the boar’s head down the aisle as the congregation sang the “Boar’s Head Carol.” 

Everyone then proceeded to Stacy Hall to enjoy a feast of pork, potatoes, red cabbage, and applesauce, along with wine or beer and a plethora of desserts.

“The Boar’s Head Festival feels a lot like family and has a real sense of community,” said Maisy Curtis, a dinner guest.

Following dinner, the traditional singing of “The 12 Days of Christmas” was acted out by guests at each table to a great amount of laughter. A sincere round of applause was given to those who worked for days arranging this event, and Chef Mike Chadsea for roasting the pork and preparing the side dishes that were enjoyed by all. 

“The Boar’s Head Festival is a warm community family-filled event,” said Cori Curtis.

The evening came to a close with the singing of “Silent Night” and all the guests helped with the clean-up.

“The Boar’s Head Festival is a simple Christmas pleasure,” said Finn Curtis. “It’s not something that people think a lot about when listing popular events.”

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