By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

The 88th annual Solvang Danish Days Parade was held on Saturday, Sept. 20, as part of the three-day celebration of all things Danish. This year’s theme was “Be Happy — Vær Glæde!.” 
Approximately 25 parade entries joined in the festivities with the Color Guard leading the way, followed by the Boy Scouts carrying a banner welcoming everyone to Danish Days. Next up was the Danish Maid, Addie Madrid, riding in a red Mustang, followed by the Nordhoff High School Rangers Marching Band, then the Grand Marshals of this year’s parade, Brenda and Mark Anderson. Celebrating the famous author Hans Christian Andersen was John Clark wearing his top hat, City of Solvang staff and officials,
two colorful Solvang Trollies, members of the Viking Charities, the Viking Ship filled with cheering Vikings, Danish Maid 2040, residents of the Atterdag Village, the Authentic Leather Patch Co., and the gaily decorated ribboned float flanked by the beautifully garbed dancers from Fossemalle Dance Studio.

A group of elves announced Julefest, the “Nesser are Coming,” and advised us all to “Be Happy.” The Perrin family waved to onlookers, followed by an entry by the Padilla Tile & Construction Company throwing candy to the children lining the sidewalks. Next along the parade route was Birkholm’s Bakery,
Franciscan friars dressed in their brown robes, Kay Dominguez directing the Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band, beautifully dressed señoritas, one on horseback, then the Figueroa Mountain Brewery bus displaying images of its colorful brews, followed by the Carlsberg Pilsner float carrying the Solvang Village Band.
And for the grand finale, a huge Beehive float, as tall as the surrounding buildings, rolled by with a group of men and women all dressed in bright yellow beehive T-shirts complete with bee antennae on their heads, courtesy of the Nielsen Building Materials family and friends.
A group of ladies from the Visalia Gadabouts, a senior group, came by bus just for the day. A visit to Solvang for Danish Days is on their yearly agenda. They said they did a lot of shopping. “Now I’m broke,” said one of the ladies. They bought T-shirts for their grandchildren, socks they said “were so cute,” cookies, thread, and a ring for one of them and, of course, a mug. “Whenever I go to a new place, I buy a mug and a magnet,” said another, all gleefully speaking in unison.
“This is the first time my friend and I have been to Solvang in more than 25 years,” said Lupe Ramizez. “The parade was wonderful. We caught lots of candy — we were just like kids. I even got a little wet from the water sprayed from one of the floats. We had a great time. Our whole visit was awesome.”

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By Pamela Dozois

The 79th annual Los Alamos Old Days celebration, a three-day event, was held on the weekend of Sept. 26-28, featuring a Classic Car Show, an Artisan’s Faire, the Old Days Stampede 5K Run, dinner and dancing at the Men’s Club, food, music, and games for the children, and the Biggest Little Hometown Parade. The theme of this year’s event was “How the West was One.”
The festivities began on Friday night at the Men’s Club with dinner and dancing to the music of “Red Oak
Country.”
Saturday morning saw one side of Bell Street filled with an array of vintage and antique cars and trucks
and the other side lined with vendors offering their wares. Children were treated to a variety of games, face painting, and bounce houses in Ferrini Park, and a petting zoo behind the Men’s Club. There were food trucks and tri-tip sandwiches available for hungry attendees. Also, there was a “Wild Woof West Dog Parade and Contest” sponsored by That’s FETCH!, Santa Barbara County Animal Services, and Ron and Betty Ziegler. And, of course, what would an old-time Western celebration be without Cow Pie Bingo, which was won by Esto Carrillo.

The winners of the car show were: Best in Show — Pete Gaalswy’s 1939 Plymouth Coupe; Best
Hot Rod — Paul Cetti’s 1933 Ford 3-Window Custom; Best Custom — Mario Angulo’s 1972 Chevrolet K5
Blazer; Best Classic Truck (pre-1990) — Mike Tremper’s 1972 Chevy C-10 Pickup; Best Muscle Car (stock
1960-1987) — Rick Wahlberg’s 1968 Chevy Camaro; Best Rat Rod — Cody Castagna’s 1935 Ford Pickup;
Best Classic Antique (pre-1942 stock) — Rob Rohrer’s 1915 Ford Model T Depot Hack; Best Patina (rods,
customs, trucks) — Teddy Broussard’s 1949 Chevrolet Carpenter School Bus; Best Sports Car 2-seater —
John Shockley’s 1954 Austin Healey 100; Best Volkswagen — Russell Newell’s 1966 VW 21 Window Bus;
Best Classic 1927-1941 (all makes and models) — Robert Mainor’s 1937 Chevrolet 2-door Sedan; Best Tri
Five (all makes and models) — Chris Chiavoni’s 1955 Chevy Bel-Air; Best 1946-1959 (all makes and
models) — Jose Negrete’s 1948 Chevy Fleetline; and Best Low Rider — Joe Hernandez’s 1954 Chevy Bel
Air. Due to overcast skies, many of the automobiles left soon after the judging in hopes of not getting
their cars wet, but dry weather prevailed for the entire weekend.
Saturday came to a close with everyone packing up for the night anticipating the next day’s events, but
the fun continued at the Los Alamos Men’s Club with a Cook Your Own Dinner/Dance with live music by
The Fossils, who played into the night. But there was more fun to be had the following day with the 5K
run and the “Biggest Little Small-Town Parade.”
On Sunday at 9 a.m., a 5K run/walk sponsored by CalSwoosh began with more than 40 people participating in the event. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit sports club, part of CalSwoosh, which uses the proceeds to help underprivileged kids to play sports. Trophies were awarded to the first-place male, Matthew Seurria whose time was 16.45, and first-place female, Halle Hamilton, whose time was 20.01. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in seven divisions.

“This was the 14th year that CalSwoosh has participated in Los Alamos Old Days, and we had the most
people ever, with more than 40 participants,” said Coy Kendrick, organizer of the event.

Following the 5K run, Bell Street began to fill up with hundreds of people anticipating the parade, which was said to be the largest in its history with 48 entries. The sidewalks throughout Los Alamos were filled with people, in some places four or five deep awaiting the parade.

Seeing the parade approaching, Jacob Dana began to sing the national anthem while everyone stood
silently with hands over their hearts. Shirley Williams and Charlie Gonzales were the parade’s
announcers.

This year’s parade Grand Marshals were Ron and Betty Ziegler.

“The Zieglers have been a cornerstone of the Los Alamos community for decades, embodying the values of generosity, friendship, and dedication that define small-town life,” which was stated in part in their bio. “Both are well-known for their active support of local traditions, lending their time, resources, and encouragement to events that bring neighbors together year after year. Their belief in preserving community spirit has made them familiar and trusted faces at nearly every town event. Their commitment to family, friends, and neighbors reflects a deep love for the town they call home.” They have been married for 67 years.

The King and Monighetti families led the parade carrying the American flag, which has been their tradition since 1966. They were followed by the first-ever 2025 Old Days Queen, Lucy Martin, and Old Days Princess, Arena Longoria, and their court, dancing horses, and a brass band from Cabalgata Guadalupana de la Costa Central, and then the parade’s Grand Marshals.

Following the dignitaries was a variety of parade entries featuring dancing horses, hounds, fun floats,
vintage vehicles, beautifully costumed dancers, marching bands, vintage tractors, and floats by local
schools and businesses.

The 2025 Los Alamos Old Days Parade winners are as follows: Best Antique Vehicle 1st Place — Coastal
Vineyard Care Associates; Best Community Service Organization 1st Place — Sleep in Heavenly Peace;
Honorable Mention — JLD Boxing Academy; Best Equestrian Group 1st Place — Lienzo Charro Juan Juavez;
Honorable Mention — Santa Ynez Valley Hounds; Best Float 1st Place — Righetti FFA; Honorable Mention —
Lemos Feed & Pet Supply; Best Locals Entry 1st Place — Peppertree Farms Pumpkin Patch; Best
Elementary School — Olga Reed Broncos and Orcutt Academy K-8 Spartans (tie); Best Performance Group
(musical, marching) 1st Place — Orcutt Academy High School Marching Band; Honorable Mention —
Lompoc High Sapphire Dance; Best Restored Tractor 1st Place — Al Bennett; Honorable Mention — two
Farmall Tractors (Charles and Kelli Linquiti); Best Use of Theme 1st Place — Bundle ADU; Honorable
Mention — St. Joseph High School; and Best Military — Lompoc PD / Armored Rescue Vehicle.

Back at the Men’s Club, a barbecue contest was taking place, and this year’s winner was Priedite Barbecue.
Queen Lucy Martin, and Princess Arena Longoria, and their court — Xiomora Rubio, Elizabeth Flores, Sadie Greenwal, and Monica Diaz, raised $15,000 for the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club who sponsored the event.

“It was a privilege to raise money for such a worthy organization,” said Longoria. “This incredible weekend doesn’t just happen on its own. I want to recognize the amazing group of volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and talents to make Old Days possible. These committee chairs and leaders give up countless hours they could be spending with their families to organize, plan, and prepare. They juggle phone calls, emails, permits, and county/state requirements – all while working to create an event that brings joy to our town. Their dedication is inspiring, and I am beyond proud of what they have accomplished,” said Ray Williams, president of the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club.

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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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The Santa Ynez High football team’s record stands at 2-2 with a stretch of three straight home games starting this Friday. The Pirates followed up a big home win over San Marcos with a loss at Mission Prep to stay at .500 so far in the seaons. A look at both games:

Santa Ynez 41, San Marcos 14

On Sept. 5, the Pirates trailed early in the second quarter, but then dominated the rest of the way, avenging their loss at San Marcos last year.

After taking the opening kickoff, SYHS drove down the field and opened the scoring when quarterback Jude Pritchard threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jaxson Glover. After the missed extra point, the Pirates led 6-0.

However, San Marcos came back to scored two touchdowns, included an 87-yard scoring run by Cole Dominguez, to give the Royals a 14-6 lead with 9:44 left in the second quarter.

After that, though, the Pirates took control with three touchdowns before halftime. Pritchard hit Diego Pulido with a 38-yard scoring strike, and then ran in the two-point conversion to tie it at 14.

SYHS then had two scoring runs, with Pritchard scoring on a 9-yard run, and then Greyson Foy taking it in from the 1-yard line, to give the Pirates a 28-14 lead at the break.

The Pirates defense kept the Royals scoreless in the second half, while the offense had two touchdowns from Mason Skidmore, a 4-yard run on a reverse in the third quarter, and a 17-yard pass from Pritchard in the fourth to close the scoring.

Pritchard continued to prove his worth as a double threat, completing 16 of 23 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushing for a team high 91 yards on 10 carries and another TD. Cael DeForest (76 yards on nine carries) and Ayden Finley (46 yards on five carries) also added to the ground game. Skidmore (four catches, 91 yards) and Pulido (five catches, 87 yards) excelled as Pritchard favorite passing targets.

On defense, Hayden Pahler was credited with a team-high 15 tackles, while Adrian Merritt (fumble recovery) and Dylan Zepeda (interception) had turnovers for SYHS.

Head coach Josh McClurg had blamed the Pirates’ previous-week loss to Lompoc on players “not doing their jobs.” When asked if they did against San Marcos, he said “to an extent. We gave up some plays early on, but the defense settled down and really played well in the second half.”

McClurg had high praise for the Pirates’ offense.

“I’m really proud of our quarterback,” McClurg said about Pritchard. “We had a good game plan and he pulled it off really well. Overall, after the loss to Lompoc, we had a good week of practice and did some soul-searching and came back.”

Mission Prep 24, Santa Ynez 7

On Sept. 12, the Pirates were worn down by the host Royals’ twin rushing attack of Robert Kardashian and Aiden Shelton in a 24-7 loss on the Mission Prep campus.

MP’s Kardashian led all runners with 172 yards on 26 carries and one of the Royals’ three touchdowns, while Shelton tallied 101 years on 10 carries, including a 41-yard TD run in the first quarter.

The Pirates’ offense had trouble getting untracked for most of the game and were behind 24-0 in the fourth quarter before getting a scoring drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Pritchard to Pulido for its only points.

The Pirates will play three straight home games starting Friday, Sept. 19 against Nipomo. After that is a Sept. 26 contest vs. Santa Maria, and then the team’s first Sunset League game Oct. 3 against Atascadero.

Girls water polo team heads into Ocean League play

The Santa Ynez girls water polo team got a couple of big non-league wins last week before heading into Ocean League play.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Pirates defeated Santa Maria 14-3. In a balanced scoring attack, Elena Sleiman, Paige Reynolds, and Adriana Bilac had 2 goals apiece. Angelina Lefemine added a goal and 3 assists, while Juliet Kerr had a goal, 4 assists, and 5 steals.

Two days before, on Sept. 9, SYHS beat Lompoc 20-10, after jumping ahead 9-0 in the first period. Rylan Agin had 3 goals, 4 assists, and 4 blocks, and Eleanor Murphy had 2 goals and 5 blocks.

The Pirates played their first Ocean League game, at Morro Bay, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, and will return home to play Cabrillo on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Girls tennis squad falls to strong Cate team in non-league finale

The Santa Ynez High girls tennis team ended its non-league schedule with a 9-0 loss to Cate of the CIF Southern Section to drop to 7-4 going into the Pirates’ Mountain League opener.

“We were short four of our varsity players but played some great matches against a strong, Southern section team,” said head coach Jennifer Rasmussen, who’s team played Lompoc at home in the first league game on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

The doubles team of Ainsley Haws and Clair Tipich gave Cate it toughest test, taking some games at No. 2 before losing 8-4.

SYHS was more successful on Sept. 9 with a 7-2 win at Cabrillo. Keegan Withrow, Haws, Tipich, and Clea Malkmus posted singles wins, while the Pirates swept doubles with the teams of Withrow/Haley Townes, Haws/Rylee Arellano, and Tipich/Avery DeJohn.

The Pirates traveled to Arroyo Grande on Thursday, Sept. 18, and return home Tuesday, Sept. 23, against St. Joseph at 3:30 p.m.

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As the curtains close on another stellar summer of live theatre during Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s residency, Solvang Festival Theater is excited to share that live entertainment in the iconic venue continues well beyond summer. A diverse lineup for the fall offers something for every taste and age group.

“There are many within the community that think Solvang Festival Theater is only open during the summer months when PCPA brings their incredible live shows to the open-air theater,” says Chantel Green, executive director of Solvang Theaterfest, the nonprofit that operates Solvang Festival Theater. “Our theater hosts a variety of programming nine months out of the year! From headlining acts in the spring and fall, to our popular Music in the Garden each summer; we are thrilled to present an incredible variety of live entertainment for locals and visitors to enjoy.”

The theater has already hosted concerts from musician Mat Kearney (Sept. 10) and comedians Orny Adams and Frazer Smith (Sept. 13). The upcoming entertainment schedule includes:

Nashville Nights, Benefitting Friendship House – Saturday, Sept. 27
Tickets: Limited Availability, visit nashvillenights.org for details.
This beloved benefit for Friendship House sells out every year! The 2025 lineup features award-winning Nashville songwriters including Marv Green, Carson Wallace, Steve Moakler, Leslie Satcher, Rivers Rutherford, and Caiden Wallace.

The Robert Cray Band – Saturday, Nov. 1
Tickets: $65–$95. A limited Autographed Merchandise Package is also available for $78.
Blues icon. Soul man. Rock and roller. Grammy-winner Robert Cray has spent five decades carving out a distinctive space in American music with his soulful voice, searing guitar work, and unmatched integrity. This legendary performer and his band are making Solvang one of their first stops as they kick off a nationwide tour.

Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience – Saturday, Nov. 8
Tickets: Adults – $25; Children 12 and Under – $15
Famed trainer Chris Perondi and his cast of rescue dogs entertain audiences of all ages with high-energy excitement from beginning to end. During the Stunt Dog Experience, you will witness some of the most incredible stunts and behaviors ever performed by dogs. With amazing tricks, big-air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, and athletic feats, it is the most entertaining show of its kind!

One Night of Queen – Friday, Nov. 14
Tickets: $75-$90
Gary Mullen & The Works will have you dancing in your seat during their two-hour show, while the band pays tribute to the stage theatrics, showmanship, and music of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees Queen. If you are ready to rock ‘n’ roll, don’t miss your chance to celebrate One Night Of Queen!

Tickets for these exciting shows can be purchased online at solvangtheaterfest.org; in person at the Solvang Theaterfest Box Office located at 433 Second St., Solvang (across the street from the theater); and by phone at (805) 686-1789 x 0. All tickets are subject to a $5 facility fee to assist with necessary repairs and maintenance of the theater facility and grounds.

For theater enthusiasts eager for Broadway shows to return, Solvang Festival Theater offers the exclusive Star Patron program! This unique opportunity includes VIP tickets to each of PCPA’s 2026 summer shows on an exclusive Star Patron evening, a pre-performance catered reception with hosted bar, an intermission reception with dessert and coffee in the Patron Garden, discounts to select Solvang Festival Theater shows throughout the year, and a tax-deductible donation that benefits our theater directly!

The Star Patron Program allows supporters of Solvang Festival Theater to secure their seats for PCPA’s next season early, while supporting the ongoing care and maintenance of our beautiful venue. Details about the Star Patron program and the 2026 performances can be found at https://solvangtheaterfest.org/star-patron

The mission of Solvang Theaterfest is to provide a unique, live performing arts venue that promotes the highest quality experience for artists and audience members in a space that is safe and accessible to all. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, every donation received and every ticket purchased plays an essential role in helping us remain a vibrant part of the Santa Ynez Valley community.

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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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The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District has restructured its leadership team in order to strengthen leadership, provide greater accountability, and prepare the district for the important work ahead, the district announced in a statement released on Friday, Sept. 5.

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Board approved the appointment of Tori Martinez on Sept. 9, as the district moves from a combined principal/superintendent model with three assistant principals to a more balanced structure where Dr. Kimberly Sheehan will continue in her role as district superintendent, Martinez will be appointed to the role of principal, and Jasmine Day and Kelley Carter will continue in their current roles of assistant principals.

“Last year, when Dr. Sheehan was hired, the board chose to combine the roles to better align leadership, goals, and vision,” said Board President Chris Johnson at the meeting. “While Dr. Sheehan has worked diligently to fill both roles, the scope of the superintendent and principal roles has expanded significantly, making it impossible to fill both positions effectively.” 

Johnson added that as vice principal, Martinez had willingly taken on the expanded duties of the principal condition despite them falling outside her job description, and said that it is important to formally to recognize the scope of responsibilities fall under a principal’s job description, necessitating her appointment.

The district’s Sept. 5 statement said, “This change reflects the district’s commitment to aligning with best practices in education as it prepares significant initiatives in the coming years. With a dedicated principal in place, the district can more effectively address instructional leadership priorities and the continued expansion of educational program opportunities for students. At the same time, Superintendent Dr. Sheehan will have the capacity to focus on additional executive leadership responsibilities, including financial oversight, facilities planning, consortium management, charter authorization, accountability measures, and labor negotiations.

“The restructure also strengthens an important system of checks and balances. By separating the superintendent and principal roles, the district adds an additional layer of oversight and internal control. This change provides additional clarity for students, families, and staff.

The district also noted the change is essentially budget-neutral. The adjustment eliminates the need for payment of additional assistant principal work days and reallocates existing funds, including a reduction to the superintendent’s professional development stipend. In return, the district gains a leadership model that is more efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

Martinez has been a dedicated leader in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District since 2019. Most recently, she has served as an assistant principal at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, where she has coordinated and drafted master schedule development, overseen the Counseling Department and the Health & Wellness Center, provided oversight of WASC accreditation, and drafted the district’s LCAP. Prior to that, she served as the Refugio High School’s administrator and a teacher on special assignment, where she developed the district’s Independent Study and Online Learning programs. With a background in teaching English and communications, Martinez brings both classroom experience and extensive leadership expertise, all centered on her deep commitment to student success and community engagement.

“With Sheehan, Martinez, Day, and Carter leading the way, the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead while keeping student success at the heart of every decision,” the statement concluded.

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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.

The post Carla Mead officially named winner of Buellton’s District 4 Special Election appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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.

The post Annual Cars and Cowboys show returns at a new site appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

NOTE: The Buellton Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting for Hudson’s Grill at Fig Mtn Brew on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 12 p.m. The public is invited to attend and have lunch at the new eatery.

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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