Every high school football coach has to deal with roster turnover from year to year — you know, with the pesky reality that every player is going to move on eventually, most because of graduation.

It’s something that Santa Ynez High football head coach Josh McClurg deals with every year, but this year it’s pretty steep: Thirty-three seniors have moved on from last year’s Pirates team that finished 1-3 in the Sunset League and 4-8 overall, but did gain the Pirates’ first postseason victory in over a decade.

However, McClurg isn’t lacking any confidence as Santa Ynez gets ready for its season opener this Friday, Aug. 22, when the Pirates travel to Goleta to take on Dos Pueblos. After all, there’s alway reinforcements coming.

“Yes, we got hit by graduation, but I think we’re looking good,” McClurg said at a recent practice. “We’re two-deep at most positions, and I think we’re well-stocked at middle linebacker and defensive line.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt when you have last year’s Sunset League Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jude Pritchard, back for one more season. In 2024, Pritchard passes for 1,661 years and 12 touchdowns for the Pirates, and also led the team with 513 yards rushing.

“Jude looks the best he’s ever looked back there,” McClurg said. “This is his third year starting and he seems very comfortable. I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”

Pritchard should benefit by some decent weapons in the receiving corps, senior WR Mason Skidmore had 28 catches last year, good for second-most on the team, for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Diego Pulido will return after being the Pirates’ Swiss army knife. Despite being hampered by an injury for most of the season, he was able to help SYHS at wide receiver, defensive back, and as kicker.

In the offensive backfield, returning seniors Greyson Foy and Levi Snow, two of the Pirates’ captains this year along with Pritchard and senior lineman Kaj Kretzschmer, are expected to pick up most of the carries though juniors Austin Willis and Cael DeForest could also make their mark.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we have whole lot of talent,” Foy said. “I’m looking forward to playing a lot, at running back, linebacker, and maybe even kick returner.”

On the offensive line the Pirates got some beef, as Joey Duarte (6’3”, 290), Deagan Johnson (6’1”, 290), Javier Nungaray (6’1”, 285), and Vincente Perez (6’1”, 275) anchor the group.

“I really like what he have on the line,” Johnson said. “There are some big guys for people to deal with, and we’re becoming a real tight group.

On defense, many of the offensive group will be playing both ways; Johnson is looking forward to seeing some time at noseguard, while Jaxon Glover, who had four sacks last year, will play some at defensive end, and Pulido looks to excel at free safety.

Although the Pirates start the season on the road, they will have a bonus this year: an extra home game.

Santa Ynez was scheduled to play at Lompoc for its second game on Aug. 29, but an extensive revamp of the lighting systems at LHS’s Huyck Stadium means that Lompoc and Cabrillo will have to play their home games during the daytime this year.

However, according to McClurg, who’s also the athletic director at SYHS, Lompoc wanted to play the Pirates under the lights and offered to come to Rio Memorial Field for what’s usually a well-attended.

“They called and said, ‘hey this needs to be under the Friday Night Lights,’” McClurg said. “So we said ‘sure.’ Truth is, it’s not as huge a home-field advantage as you might think: Lompoc always travels well and they’ll be here in droves. It should make it a very exciting atmosphere.”

Elsewhere on the schedule, Santa Ynez will have its Homecoming game on Sept. 26 against Santa Maria. Other nights of note include Sept. 19 against Nipomo, when the newest members of the SYHS Wall of Honor are recognized; the Go Pink game Oct. 3 against Atascadero, and Senior Night (which is also Halloween night) Oct. 31 against Righetti. All home games will start at 7 p.m. at Rio Memorial Field.

2025 SANTA YNEZ FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 22 at Dos Pueblos

Friday, Aug. 29 LOMPOC

Friday, Sept. 5 SAN MARCOS

Friday, Sept. 12 Mission Prep at Cal Poly

Friday, Sept. 19 NIPOMO

Friday, Sept. 26 SANTA MARIA (Homecoming)

Friday, Oct. 3 ATASCADERO

Friday, Oct. 17 at Pioneer Valley

Friday, Oct. 24 at San Luis Obispo

Friday, Oct. 31 RIGHETTI

The post Pirates ready to restock for 2025 football season appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The owner of the Farmhouse Motel on Avenue of Flags objected to the Buellton City Council’s attempt to remove his business’ standing as a housing unit, as the council introduced a first reading of a proposed update that would limit hotel rooms to just short-term rentals, during the council’s regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The council put the public hearing, Resolution 25-06, on the agenda to eventually prohibit hotels rooms from being long-term rentals, or single-room occupancies (SROs). Farmhouse Motel was one of the lodging establishment that eventually became residential units for low-income individuals that the city believes does not fit in with the planned redevelopment of the Avenue of Flags corridor. The city also desires hotels on that street that will bring in more Transient Occupancy Tax (TOR).

However, due to the state of California designating the motel as a low-income residence, the city would have to arrange alternate housing for any displaced residents to move into.

During Public Comment on the item, Kerry Moriarty, owner of the Farmhouse Motel, protested the proposal to take away his business’ designation for long-term residence, believing his motel is being singled out.

“My property is really the only one that’s affected by this proposal,” said Moriarty, who noted that the nearby Red Rose Court was deterimined to be exempt from the ordinance, and the San Marcos Hotel, which only rents long-term to “three or four” tenants.

“I’ve had this property for 20 years; I’ve operated it as an apartment building, I’ve got a mortgage on it underwritten as an apartment building,” he said. “If it goes back to being a motel, guess what happens to that mortgage — I go in default.”

“I don’t know how you’re even considering this with the state mandate on affordable housing,” he continued. “My property is what the state mandate is trying to preserve.”

Later on, one of Moriarty’s tenants spoke on behalf of the owner.

“I’ve been a Farm House resident 14 years, disabled 15 years ago and this is the only place I can afford,” said the man, who did not give his name. “It just doesn’t seem right, it’s a nice place .Cary keeps it up nice. With the homeless problems in that state, to take our home away from us, I don’t understand.”

When it went to council, it was pointed out that this was just a first reading, and wouldn’t have a chance to pass until the next council meeting on Sept. 11.

Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis said she was uncomfortable with the Dec. 31 deadline for residents of the Farmhouse to move out, citing the probable cold weather at the time. Councilmember Hudson Hornick thought the deadlines were too tight also, while John Sanchez (who incidentally was on remote from Nottingham, England), suggested the Farmhouse could get an extension and noted that his son had stayed there at one point.

Ultimately, council moved to approve first reading, but with the ameneded dates of April 1, 2026 (instead of Dec. 31), to vacate the motel, and Oct. 31, 2026 (instead of June 30, 2026) to be moved into other affordable housing. The motion passed 3-1 with Sanchez dissenting.

In other business:

The City Council approved a $48,800 outlay to the upcoming Buellton Theatre Project, a 14-week theatre arts program that will culminate in a performance of the Broadway musical “Annie.”

City Manager Scott Wolfe introduced the item because the original choice, Allison Firey of Buellton Parks and Rec, will be a volunteer on the project and recused herself. In fact, it was Firey who made the presentation to council, noting that her love of performing was inspired by being in a production of “Annie” as a child. Council passed the item 4-0, with Hornick calling the proposal “awesome.”

After the approval last month of Hundred Hills School operating on the Willemsen site by the library for up to five years, council discussed initiating the process of investigating possible uses for the Dairyland Road parcels once the school finds another permanent location in Buellton and leave it temporary site. If approved the council would then appoint two members of council to appoint an ad hoc committee to lead the effort.

While three of the councilmembers backed the idea, Sanchez opposed it, citing animosity in the debate over the school’s location, and said they should let the school settle in at the site before thinking about a replacement. “Let the school have its time there. Put it off for a year,” he said.

However, Lewis believed that with the complaints during the HHS debate about the lack of transparency and notification on the proposal, the council needs engage with the public early. “Getting ahead of future project, being proactive would benefit city more,” she said. “Also it would be a show of faith to public.”

Interestingly, when the council decided there was a consensus to go forward with the committee, Sanchez immediately volunteered to serve on the committee. However, Wolfe believed that the Distict 1 representative, Hornick, should serve along with Mayor Silva. Silva and Hornick agreed and were voted as the ad hoc committee by a 3-1 vote, Sanchez dissenting.

The City Council will not meeting on the next scheduled Thursday, Aug. 28, and will return to session on Thursday, Sept. 11.

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The Solvang City Council culminated a busy Monday, Aug. 11, regular meeting by directing staff to draft a new ordinance focused on short-term rentals (STRs) in the city in an effort to limiting them to the Village Mixed-Use zone. The council on this evening was just four members, with Councilmember Claudia Orona absent.

During the meeting, the council also voted to change how the city handles retirement benefits, discussed plans for the upcoming Julefest Christmas celebration and next year’s Wine County Half-Marathon.

Back in March, the City Council had directed city staff to begin revisions to the City’s short-term rental (also known as vacation rental) ordinance, which would include a framework of an ordinance for further input from the City Council and residents.

Planning Development Director Rafael Castillo in giving his report, said the main objective of the ordinance is determining where the rental (which by definition are homes where people reside for 30 days or less) was where the council would allow the STRs in the city.

Currently, the areas in the city zoned for STRs are the Village Mixed-Use Area (VMA), and some lots in the R-3 zone of the city, along Copenhagen Drive, east of Fifth Street. Castillo said staff recommend that the STRs be limited to the Village Mixed-Use Area only.

Residents who spoke in Public Comment agreed the STRs should be kept in the VMU area. Dennis Beebe said the council needs to make the VMU boundaries “explicitly defined,” along with the limits for STRs. C.J. Jackson and Aaron Peterson reiterated their views that city’s should not allow STRs in residential areas. “Have a nice neighborhood and put in transient people is not something we should not consider,” Peterson said. “Hotels basically are vacation rentals.”

Although the council was on board with limiting the rentals to the VMU area, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona did remind her colleagues of the importance of tourists and visitors, including those using STRs, to the city’s economy, and wondered if there could be a way to allow them outside the VMU with further conditions like caps, allowed usage, and a minimum distance betweens STRs.

However, Councilmember Mark Infanti said his problem was with the “outside the VMU part of that,” and Mayor David Brown agreed the rentals should be focused within the VMU.

“I’m not sure the juice is worth the squeeze — doing the entire city,” Brown said. “If we can limit it to Village we’ll be OK, outside that, there would be lots of problems.”

Castillo then suggested the compromise of limiting STRs outside the VMU to “homestays” where the property owner would have to be present, Mayor David Brown also favored limiting them downtown.

Castillo and staff were directed to draft an ordinance limiting the STRs to the VMU, but adding the possiblity of allowing the homestays outside the VMU and listing the conditions of them. Castillo said the draft could be presented at the next meeting in September.

In other business:

The council voted 4-0 to move its city employees retirement plan from the management of CalPERS to that of the Public Agencies Post-Employment Benefits Trust administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).

Administrative services director Wendy Berry introduced Rachel Sanders from PARS to make a presentation on the program to the council. Sanders said benefits of the program would be complete local control over assets, pension rates stabilization, establishment of a “Rainy Day Fund,” and more diversification

The plan would see the city’s retirement fund go into two “buckets” — a Pension bucket and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) bucket —, require a plan adminstrator, and would be subject to annual reviews or more frequents reviews, if desired. It also gives the city the option of active and passive approaches to investments within the plan.

The council approved the item, along with an add-on to add language that council will select strategy and annually review the strategy.

Solvang Marketing and Events Coordinator Candice Libera addressed the council on two discussion items, one regarding plans for this year’s Julefest Celebration in December, and next May’s Wine Country Half Marathon.

She first spoke on the half-marathon, which has run in Solvang every Mother’s Day weekend since 2008, and draws approximately 2,500 participants plus their friends and families, Libera said. However, she also said that there were complaints about restricted access to businesses with the race’s finish line on Copenhagen Drive, as well as concerns about litter and damage to the grass at Solvang Park, where the post-race gathering is held. Libera said that changes would be made to the race course, placing the finish line at a new location that wouldn’t inhibit access to merchants, and measures would be taken to mitigate the litter and placement of equipment at the park to protect the grass.

She also said advertising and promotional materials would more prominently feature the Solvang name, another point of contention.

For the Julefest, Libera said that the city was close to a deal to bring in snow at some point during the monthlong celebration, and with consideration for traffic and safety on Copenhagen Drive, the street would be closed to vehicles between Alisal Road and 1st Street for the entire Julefest and the light diplay at Solvang Park would be expanded.

Libera said options to address parking concerns were being looked at, including the opening of Lot 72 east of Alisal Road for additional parking.

The City Council will take a scheduled break, with no meeting on Aug. 25, and will next meet on Monday, Sept. 8.

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By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

August is a time of bustling activity on our local schools’ campuses: Students coming back to classes, seeing old friends, getting started on extracurricular activities. And, of course, it means late summer practices on the turf in anticipation of playing the season for the Santa Ynez High varsity football teams.

Wait, did you say teams? As in plural?

That’s right! Because in addition to the traditional football season played by the male students, the females will also have their time on the gridiron as the Pirates field their first girls flag football team this year.

Eighteen girls came out for the school’s inaugural campaign, which begins Tuesday, Aug. 26, with a game at Dos Pueblos in Goleta. After another road game at Paso Robles on Thursday, Sept. 4, and tournaments at Pioneer Valley (Sept. 6) and Lompoc (Sept. 13), the Pirates will have their home debut on Tuesday, Sept. 16, against Lompoc.

The team will be led by co-head coaches Maddie Quiroga and Hannah Wright, who also coach the junior varsity girls basketball team. The two established their own legacies while at SYHS: Quiroga, a 2014 graduate of SYHS, was the captain of the varsity girls basketball team her junior and senior year, and also broke the school record for 3-point shots in a game and points in a season. Wright, then known as Hannah Cantrell, graduated in 2015, and was a captain of the girls volleyball and basketball teams before playing volleyball at Santa Barbara City College and eventually graduating from UCSB.

“We’re so appreciative of being trusted with this new program,” Wright said during a recent practice. “It’s going to be hard work, but it’s exciting — we don’t know what’s coming, it’s a big unknown.”

Quiroga echoed her colleague’s thoughts.

“It’s a huge deal to launch this program and we’re honored to do it,” she said. “It’s great to give back to the school we went to.”

While Wright and Quiroga didn’t get the chance to play football while they were at SYHS, their families have a history with the sport, and with SYHS in general. Wright is the daughter of Rob Cantrell, the Pirates girls soccer coach, and her brother Austin Cantrell played football for SYHS for four years, and her cousin Brennan Swanson played for the Pirates in the ‘90s and eventually had a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers.

Meanwhile, Maggie’s late father MIke Quiroga was a standout was a standout in four sports (basketball, football, baseball, and tennis, during his time as a Pirate. She also is sister to Ashley Quiroga, a standout in basketball, and niece to David and Lydia Quiroda, who were also athletic standouts at SYHS.

“I think there are a lot of things from other sports that we can translate over for football,” Wright said. “Plus, my husband is a huge football fan, so I watch the games with him, and I’ve even gotten into fantasy football,” she said laughing.

The football bloodline doesn’t stop at the coaching staff: Pirates junior Campbell McClurg is the niece of head football coach and SYHS Athletic Director Josh McClurg, while players like Leighton Casey and Ella Gotschall are names that have been found on the boys football roster in past years.

But the girls are thrilled to make their own legacy as trailblazers in a new sport.

“We knew in the middle of the last school year that this was probably going to happen,” Casey said. “I played basketball for Coach Quiroga and Coach Wright so I was clued in on it pretty early, and when they asked me about it, I told them I’d do it.”

“I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble learning this, because we played Powder Puff football and it’s been a good crutch to lean on, so I think we’ve got a head start””,” McClurg said.

The game will have some differences from the boys game, most notable of which is the lack of contact. As indicated by the sport’s name, a ballcarrier is down when a defender takes the flag off her belt, and blocking with any contact in prohibited — you can try to impede a defender’s effort to get to the quarterback, but you can’t touch her.

“If you want to try and keep a defender away, you need to do it like a screen in basketball,” Wright said. “So that’s familiar to us.”

Also, the field is 80 yards, split into four 20-yard zones. There are no yard markers, so the midpoint 40-yard line and each 20-yard line are each known as the “line to gain,” meaning the offensive team must get past that line to keep possession. And, every player other than the quarterback (or “passer”) is an eligible receiver when the ball is snapped.

Helping out Quiroga and Wright with the game plan is Allen Pinoli, the current track head coach who is also on the boys football staff and is considered the offensive coordinator for the girls team.

“Josh (McClurg) saw this was going to happen, so he asked me if I would step in and oversee the offense, and I was happy to do so,” Pinoli said. “I’ve actually coached my son in flag football when he was young, so I’m pretty familiar with this.”

Pinoli has been very impressed with the girls’ progress so far.

“They’re showing the things they’ve leared on a daily basis; they’re really stepping up,” he said. “The positions are being filled by girls who are showing interest in what they do. It’s really filling out nicely — I think they’ll be fine.”

The addition of Santa Ynez gives the Central Coast eight girls flag football teams this year. League opponents for the Pirates will be Lompoc (coached by former SYHS Athletic Director Ashley Coehlo), Santa Maria, Righetti, Cabrillo, Pioneer Valley, and San Luis Obispo.

Those on the roster for the Pirates include (asterisks for team captain): Isabella Rubio*, Leighton Casey*, Presley Pinoli*, Myah Dunn*, Regina Guerrero, Skyla Oslin, Angela Guerrero, Campbell McClurg, Ella Gotschall, Maleah Knightley, Lylah Rueff, Chelsea Stepien, Karely Vasquez, Danaka Cantrell, Anna Carpenter, Lucianna Chavez, Alexandra Herrera, and Chanel Batastini.

All of whom, no doubt, are looking forward to the beginning of the season.

“I’m just super-excited to get the season started,” Casey said. “We’re making history.”

2025 SYHS GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Dos Pueblos                      

Thursday, Sept. 4, at Paso Robles (Parish Field)

Saturday, Sept. 6, Pioneer Valley Tournament

Saturday, Sept. 13, Lompoc Tournament

Tuesday, Sept. 16, LOMPOC*

Monday, Sept. 22, Madera South at Lompoc HS

Thursday, Sept. 25, at Santa Maria*

Tuesday, Sept. 30, RIGHETTI*

Tuesday, Oct. 7, CABRILLO*

Thursday, Oct. 16, at Pioneer Valley*

Tuesday, Oct. 21, SAN LUIS OBISPO*

The post Are you ready for some (girls) football at Santa Ynez? appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

Every high school football coach has to deal with roster turnover from year to year — you know, with the pesky reality that every player is going to move on eventually, most because of graduation.

It’s something that Santa Ynez High football head coach Josh McClurg deals with every year, but this year it’s pretty steep: Thirty-three seniors have moved on from last year’s Pirates team that finished 1-3 in the Sunset League and 4-8 overall, but did gain the Pirates’ first postseason victory in over a decade.

However, McClurg isn’t lacking any confidence as Santa Ynez gets ready for its season opener this Friday, Aug. 22, when the Pirates travel to Goleta to take on Dos Pueblos. After all, there’s alway reinforcements coming.

“Yes, we got hit by graduation, but I think we’re looking good,” McClurg said at a recent practice. “We’re two-deep at most positions, and I think we’re well-stocked at middle linebacker and defensive line.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt when you have last year’s Sunset League Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Jude Pritchard, back for one more season. In 2024, Pritchard passes for 1,661 years and 12 touchdowns for the Pirates, and also led the team with 513 yards rushing.

“Jude looks the best he’s ever looked back there,” McClurg said. “This is his third year starting and he seems very comfortable. I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”

Pritchard should benefit by some decent weapons in the receiving corps, senior WR Mason Skidmore had 28 catches last year, good for second-most on the team, for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Diego Pulido will return after being the Pirates’ Swiss army knife. Despite being hampered by an injury for most of the season, he was able to help SYHS at wide receiver, defensive back, and as kicker.

In the offensive backfield, returning seniors Greyson Foy and Levi Snow, two of the Pirates’ captains this year along with Pritchard and senior lineman Kaj Kretzschmer, are expected to pick up most of the carries though juniors Austin Willis and Cael DeForest could also make their mark.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we have whole lot of talent,” Foy said. “I’m looking forward to playing a lot, at running back, linebacker, and maybe even kick returner.”

On the offensive line the Pirates got some beef, as Joey Duarte (6’3”, 290), Deagan Johnson (6’1”, 290), Javier Nungaray (6’1”, 285), and Vincente Perez (6’1”, 275) anchor the group.

“I really like what he have on the line,” Johnson said. “There are some big guys for people to deal with, and we’re becoming a real tight group.

On defense, many of the offensive group will be playing both ways; Johnson is looking forward to seeing some time at noseguard, while Jaxon Glover, who had four sacks last year, will play some at defensive end, and Pulido looks to excel at free safety.

Although the Pirates start the season on the road, they will have a bonus this year: an extra home game.

Santa Ynez was scheduled to play at Lompoc for its second game on Aug. 29, but an extensive revamp of the lighting systems at LHS’s Huyck Stadium means that Lompoc and Cabrillo will have to play their home games during the daytime this year.

However, according to McClurg, who’s also the athletic director at SYHS, Lompoc wanted to play the Pirates under the lights and offered to come to Rio Memorial Field for what’s usually a well-attended.

“They called and said, ‘hey this needs to be under the Friday Night Lights,’” McClurg said. “So we said ‘sure.’ Truth is, it’s not as huge a home-field advantage as you might think: Lompoc always travels well and they’ll be here in droves. It should make it a very exciting atmosphere.”

Elsewhere on the schedule, Santa Ynez will have its Homecoming game on Sept. 26 against Santa Maria. Other nights of note include Sept. 19 against Nipomo, when the newest members of the SYHS Wall of Honor are recognized; the Go Pink game Oct. 3 against Atascadero, and Senior Night (which is also Halloween night) Oct. 31 against Righetti. All home games will start at 7 p.m. at Rio Memorial Field.

2025 SANTA YNEZ FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 22 at Dos Pueblos

Friday, Aug. 29 LOMPOC

Friday, Sept. 5 SAN MARCOS

Friday, Sept. 12 Mission Prep at Cal Poly

Friday, Sept. 19 NIPOMO

Friday, Sept. 26 SANTA MARIA (Homecoming)

Friday, Oct. 3 ATASCADERO

Friday, Oct. 17 at Pioneer Valley

Friday, Oct. 24 at San Luis Obispo

Friday, Oct. 31 RIGHETTI

The post Pirates ready to restock for 2025 football season appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Addie Madrid has been chosen as Solvang’s Danish Maid and will preside over this year’s 88th Solvang Danish Days celebration, whose theme this year is “Be Happy–Vaer Glaede!” Madrid will fulfill her “royal” duties during this year’s event weekend — Friday through Sunday, September 19 through 21 — and throughout her year’s reign. She is the fourth woman in her family to hold the title of Solvang Danish Maid. That title was also held by her grandmother, Glen- da Jaeger Madrid (1971); her mother, Ashlee Madrid (1999); and her sister, Aleena Madrid (2022). 

Madrid, who is 17 and will be a senior this year at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, applied last spring to the Solvang Danish Days Foundation for a chance at becoming this year’s Danish Maid. Due in part to her familial background and involvement in previous Danish Days events “every year since I was born,” she was chosen to be this year’s Danish Maid. 

Both sides of Madrid’s family ancestry run deep in the history of Solvang and are rooted in Denmark. According to information provided by the foundation, Madrid’s great-great-grandfather, Viggo Tarnow, came to the United States from Copenhagen in 1914. He settled in Minnesota, where he met and married Cora, later moving his family, including their daughter, Marie, to California. Tarnow taught at Solvang’s Atterdag Folk School and helped to shape what is now the Atterdag Village of Solvang senior care center. His love for the Santa Ynez Valley ran deep, and through his dedication, Addie’s family became woven into the very fabric of Solvang. 

The foundation also stated that Madrid’s great-grandfather, Johannes Jaeger, came from Tindbaek, Denmark, in 1948, with hope in his heart and carpentry tools in his hands. In Solvang, he met and married Marie Tarnow, and together they built not just homes but a life of service and commitment to the community. Johannes became a partner in the Madsen & Jaeger Contracting Firm, and many of the Solvang structures that he helped build still stand today — such as the large windmill on Alisal Road and the Solvang Brewing Company windmill on Mission Drive. Alongside Marie, he gave back to the community through volunteer work at Atterdag College, Bethania Lutheran Church, the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, and more. 

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Designers who are looking forward for clothing ideas often glance inspiration. The new motto is “wear now, wear later.” It’s time to put an end to seasonal madness! Why should your clothes get half the year off? Unless a piece serves a specific weather-related purpose, one-season clothing is no longer valid, especially in California and warmer climates. Versatility equals value, so while traditional items may cost a bit more, they also work hard.

With creative layering, pieces you may have dismissed as too trendy or too summery can actually become your newest wardrobe staples.

To add versatility to your neutral latte colors, add toast, blue, dusty rose, sage green, or black. For gray, add shocking pink, vibrant orange, lemon or royal blue. For ivory, add eggplant, espresso, pine or ruby. When it comes to expanding your wardrobe, building from pieces you have and adding something new gives you extra wearing capabilities, and who doesn’t want to expand their wardrobe while saving money at the same time.

Remember, wardrobe building is a free service at Elna’s Dress Shop. Our expert staff specializes in this area. With fall just around the corner, fashion can seem intimidating and inaccessible. We think we need the “total” look, but not all things belong together. Some do, some don’t.

Fall gives us the option of being free-spirited, so feel free to mix and match! Forget the norm; mix prints, textures and colors. This fall, look for leopard and leather, earth tones, plush textures, tapestries, florals, plaids, and flannels. Floral textiles have a history in fashion design. From bold statements to muted prints, they give fashionistas a chance to express their personality. One thing is for sure … floral prints are always in style.

Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and early modern Europeans have all used the color blue. Probably the most popular color in history, it maintains its strength in today’s fashion world. Whether its denim, silk, cotton, or synthetic fabrics, it rules in apparel and home fashions. Known for its “quiet authority,” nude and beige textiles provide a background for bold statements. The popular trend is suitable for everyday as well as on the runway.

Major denim trends for fall and winter range from key silhouettes to surface finishes. This season’s denim is all about elevating this closet staple. No longer just a casual classic, contemporary denim pieces are being put together with sharp tailoring, surface textures, and eastern aesthetics for a fresh, fashion-forward take on utility wear. Stop by Elna’s during the month of August for our special sale featuring 50% off if you buy three items or more, 40% off if you buy two or more, and 30% off if you buy one.

You’ll find the quality name brands we are known for, but hurry, because when they are gone, they are gone. Elna’s is open Mondays, closed Tuesdays, open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located in the heart of Solvang at 1673 Copenhagen Drive.

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In most of my articles, you’ll hear me recommending herbs to pair with acupuncture in order to treat or cure a problem. In this article I’d like to elaborate a bit on how herbs work and why they are so effective, using war as an analogy.

When there is a problem in the body — such as knee pain — we can consider that the body is at war with something in the problematic area. If our body is a country and we use World War II as an example, we can assume that the Axis has infiltrated our knee. The Allied forces need to overtake the enemy, but to do so, there has to be a secure battle strategy (diagnosis). In order to develop this plan, we must know what the terrain of the area is like in order to send out the appropriate forces and equipment. Is it mountainous? Is it surrounded by ocean? Is it a desert landscape? What is the climate like? Hot or cold? Dry or damp? What weaponry is being used? All of these indications need to be accounted for in order to devise the best plan of attack.

The herbs serve as our soldiers. Some soldiers are stronger than others. Some are armed with guns, while others have tanks, missiles, or other explosives. Knowing what you’re fighting and where the fighting is taking place indicates which soldiers to send out.

Oriental medicine is like the strategists. To win the war, you need all the enemy’s information you can acquire to form the best strategy. Then you need the ideal weapons and equipment to attack the enemy, win the war, and return the country to peacetime. Oriental medicine is also used to maintain peacetime and avoid situations of battle; we refer to this as preventative medicine.

Western medicine has a very different approach. Often, to win the war, they skip the strategic battle and go directly to dropping an atom bomb (surgery). In this instance, the war might be over, but the land has now been altered and is no longer in its natural state. Life in this area is now forever changed.

Once a proper diagnosis (battle strategy) is made, I prescribe the various herbs that will win the war but leave the terrain intact, just as it was found before the fighting began. Some herbs are stronger than others, some are beneficial to a specific organ, and some increase or decrease an element or “weather” issue. Having the correct strategy tells me if herbs are needed to eliminate heat, dampness, dryness, etc., or which organ needs aid.

My herbs are very high quality, cleaned, and boiled together to extract the essence of each. As a master herbalist, I design the mix and have them created especially for me, tailored to the individual constitutions as well as the patient’s needs. I primarily use liquid herbs, as they are distributed throughout the body quickly and easily. I prefer them over capsules of powdered herbs because pills are slower to disperse and can often end up being wasted by the body more than they are used. Just think of herbs like a prescription that a doctor gives you. You wouldn’t expect to get better if you didn’t take the medication he prescribes. It’s the same with herbs.

Nobody wants war, but unfortunately in most generations war is inevitable, both externally and internally (illness). Peace is always the best strategy, but should your own “country” start fighting, it’s good to know that you have access to the best military for proceeding to victory.

Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles and Paso Robles. To make an appointment, call (805) 693-5162 or (310) 666-8021.

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Robbie Kaye is creativity in motion. As an artist, composer, classical musician, photographer, and former gymnast, she has never stopped exploring the myriads of ways of bringing beauty into this world. Kaye has performed and composed music for many years in New York and Portland, Oregon, before she transitioned into photography and painting. Kaye’s work has been exhibited internationally in museums and galleries and has been featured in numerous publications such as LensCulture, Lenscratch, Gourmet, and Marie Claire magazines.

Three years ago, Kaye returned to her music roots after receiving a box of her old cassettes and started writing and recording again. She will be performing at Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang on Thursday, Aug. 7, in a Songwriters in the Round event with Arwen Lewis, Toni Land, and Emily Zuzik. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance will start at 8 p.m. Lost Chord Guitars is at 1576 Copenhagen Drive, Ste 101, Solvang.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she says her first experience of life consisted of the big city until her parents sent her to summer camp at the age of 5. It was then that she said she took her first breath of fresh air, experienced nature in all its glory, and realized that she was destined to replicate the wonder and beauty she had experienced in those summer months. They were the foundation for her love of art and all the elements of nature.

As a child, she studied gymnastics and was trained in classical piano. After graduating from high school, she attended a college in Georgia because it had a good gymnastics program, and as a gymnast, she wanted to compete collegiately. However, Kaye really didn’t fit into the more-rural area, she said, and quit the gymnastics team. She eventually returned, but an injury derailed her athletic career.

“During spring training, I landed incorrectly and hurt my back,” she said. “Since I couldn’t do gymnastics any longer, I turned to my other love, which was music. I had been classically trained in piano in New York, so I took music courses instead. When I returned to New York for Christmas vacation, I was immediately put into the hospital for back surgery. I had a herniated disc and never returned to school.”

She then applied to Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying jazz and majoring in composition and piano. After a year and a half at Berklee, Kaye returned to Long Island and joined a rock ‘n’ roll band in 1979.

“We made a 45 record, performed in New York City, got on the radio, and, like most bands, we broke up,” she said. “At the ripe age of 22, I moved to Manhattan and pursued a music career by collaborating with other musicians. In the interim, I tried working 9-to-5 jobs, but I just couldn’t handle it for very long.”

In the early 1990s Kaye had her own band, five girls and one guy, called Reverend Tribble & the Angels. Kaye’s journey as a songwriter is rooted in a deep love of music and a dedication to her craft.

“I started writing my own songs when I was 16, when my parents told me they were getting a divorce. It was a means of expressing my sadness at the time, and I continued writing lyrics for my own music,” she continued. “I also had the good fortune of being signed to Warner Chappell Music as a staff songwriter. The following year, one of the songs I co-wrote was for Disney Records, and the following year, the same song was placed in a Disney film.”

A change in her personal life meant a change in location. She got married and moved to Portland, continuing to put out music and playing in her own band. Entering the new millennium Kaye decided to change course and return to school.

“I quit the music scene for the first time in 2000 and went back to school to study creative writing and literature. I continued writing and recording but got out of the business side of it,” she continued. “I moved to the Oregon coast for six months, where I traded music for my room and board. While I was there, I took writing classes through Portland State University in Cannon Beach, Oregon, then moved to Santa Cruz to continue studying and got a job at UC Santa Cruz while attending school there.”

Kaye then moved to Santa Monica and worked for the Dean of Admissions at USC while continuing her studies, taking photography and poetry classes, and then working with one of her professors, California Poet Laureate Carol Muske-Dukes, on a project for the 125th anniversary of USC in 2005.

“We created a poetry/photography book for the occasion focusing on the school’s architecture and landscapes. I pursued a photographic career, and in 2009, I traveled the country interviewing women who were in their 70s and older at their weekly beauty parlor appointments and created a photographic book called ‘Beauty & Wisdom.’”

In 2013, Kaye moved to the Valley, launched her book, and started painting motorcycle tire treads on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and on canvas, selling them in a business she started.

“I continued with my photography and transitioned into abstract expressionism, painting trees for a collection called ‘Naked Trees’ and another called ‘All Dressed Up & Everywhere to Go,’ which can be viewed and purchased at Helen’s Hair Studio in Santa Ynez,” said Kaye.

Kaye’s new single, “Clear Blue Sky,” was released Aug. 5 on Spotify and all listening platforms, and she is presently writing and recording songs for film, TV, and ads. Robbie’s song, “Big Red Truck,” has been played on NPR Radio and national daytime television. She has an art studio in Santa Ynez, and is continuing to be a creative force of nature.

For more information, visit www.robbiekaye.com or email robbie@robbiekaye.com.

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