SOLVANG
Candidate forum planned for mayoral candidates on Oct. 23
A Candidate Forum for the three City of Solvang mayoral candidates is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers on Oak Street. A translator will be provided.
Jamie Baker, David Brown, and Denise El Amin are running for the city’s mayoral seat in the Nov. 5 election.
You can attend in person, via Zoom, or watch on the City of Solvang YouTube Channel. Details for the links to Zoom and YouTube will be made available closer to the Forum. The League will require preregistration to attend in-person and the link will be open the week before the Forum.
The Forum is being moderated by the Santa Barbara League of Women Voters.
Solvang takes second place as ‘Best Christmas Town’ in Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards
Solvang (SolvangUSA.com), affectionately known as “The Danish Capital of America,” has been voted as second “Best Christmas Town” in the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards, the results for which were publicly announced on Oct. 3. The unique Southern California wine country destination joins category winners in the top 10 spots: Grapevine, Texas, at No. 1; followed by Healdsburg, California; Fredericksburg, Texas; Santa Claus, Indiana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Aspen, Colorado; Frankenmuth, Michigan; Leavenworth, Washington; and Prescott, Arizona, at No. 10.
Solvang was nominated by a panel of travel experts and the Newsweek editors for the Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards in the category of “Best Christmas Town.” The awards contest and online voting launched for the holiday-themed category on Thursday, Aug. 29 at 12 p.m., and online public voting ran through Thursday, Sept. 26.
“We’re less than two months away from the start of our annual Solvang Julefest holiday celebrations, and this Newsweek award win provides an extra dose of inspiration for our city as we make this year’s Julefest even more ‘Christmassy’ than the last,” said Solvang City Manager Randy Murphy.
One of the California Central Coast’s largest holiday event productions, Solvang Julefest will run this season from Nov. 29 through Jan. 5, 2025.
Solvang’s Maxon Horton named to Dean’s List at Biola University
Maxon Horton, an art major from Solvang, was named to Biola University’s Dean’s List for academic excellence.
Horton was one of approximately 1,500 students who were named to the dean’s list in spring 2024. Biola students are placed on the dean’s list to honor those with a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.2.
“Inclusion in Biola University’s Dean’s List is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional performance in their academic studies. This honor signifies hard work, engagement, and investment in scholarship,” said Dr. Tamara Anderson, senior associate provost. “These attributes are the building blocks of continued success, not only in the classroom, but in the workplace and in the student’s personal lives. We celebrate these students and their achievement, looking forward to their future accomplishments.”
Founded in 1908, Biola University is committed to the mission of biblically centered education, scholarship and service — equipping men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. With more than 5,000 students at its Southern California campus and around the world, Biola’s eight schools offer more than 250 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Recognized as the most comprehensive Christian university, ranked highest in North America for operationalizing its mission (OCIG) and ranked as one of the “Best National Universities” by U.S. News and World Report, Biola offers its students a premier educational and co-curricular experience. For more information, visit biola.edu or call (562) 777-4061.
‘The Visual Feast of Roland Petersen’ debuts Oct 26 at Elverhøj Museum
In a community as appreciative of art as Solvang, it takes something special to get people really excited about an art event. The upcoming exhibition of acclaimed Bay Area painter, Roland Petersen’s paintings at Elverhøj Museum of History and Art (October 26-January 5) is that kind of event: colorful and bold, exciting, and revelatory—and for an artist who has been at work for more than 50 years—wonderfully current and fresh.
The Danish-born American painter was born in 1926 in Endelave, Denmark. He received a B.A. and M.A. degree from U.C. Berkeley before studying with Hans Hoffman at his School of Fine Arts in Provincetown. Recipient of both Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellowships, Mr. Petersen’s work is in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Hirshhorn Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art to name a few.
A seminal Bay Area painter, printer and emeritus professor at U.C. Davis, Petersen makes his mark at Solvang’s Elverhøj Museum with vibrant figurative art. His works synthesize gestural abstract expressionism, painterly realism, and advanced color theory using rich, saturated colors, thick pigment, and striking geometric designs to bring still life, figures, and landscapes together into complex constructs.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for admission.
Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, located at 1624 Elverhoy Way in Solvang, is open Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, visit elverhoj.org.
BUELLTON
City unveils featured art for October
Each month over the coming year, the City of Buellton will feature a different design and showcase the contributing artists from their community art project — “Exploring the Ocean.”
October’s featured art is sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and includes artwork from Eric Beltz, Michael Escobedo, Eli Smith, Cristian R.Villa Tellez, Austin Andrade, and Georgia McKeen. You can see their original artwork at buellton.art/2024-october-art-feature/.
This project is made possible by Buellton’s Art & Culture Program, the California Nature Art Museum (our nonprofit partner), monthly sponsorships, and the support of the Buellton community.
Go to Buellton.Art to:
- See all of the banners and the original art for each design
- Learn about Buellton’s Arts & Culture Program and see how you or your organization can apply for a grant
- Visit our “Shop the Art” store, where you can purchase the art on posters, magnets, totes, water bottles, and more.
SANTA YNEZ
40th Annual Vaquero Benefit Dinner and Auction coming Saturday, Nov. 9
It’s time once again for the Annual Vaquero Benefit Dinner and Auction at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum in celebration of the traditional Vaquero spirit and way of life. This popular event honoring the ”2024 Vaquero of the Year” will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m. in the beautiful courtyard setting of the museum, located at 3596 Sagunto St. in historic downtown Santa Ynez.
The lifestyle of the Californio Vaquero and its influence on modern ranching in California is celebrated through this event including the naming of the favorite “Vaquero of the Year.” This year that honor goes to local Santa Ynez horseman, Realtor, ”Ranchero” and popular valley friend Joe Olla. Along with the honorary presentation and auction there will be opportunity shopping, and the traditional multi-course dinner served to guests in the museum courtyard, along with a chance to bid on exciting packages, including getaways and unique dining experiences.
This annual event benefits the Santa Ynez Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House by providing valuable funding for various programs throughout the year. Projects include the new Carriage House design, educational programs, “Wild West” Summer Camp, Old Santa Ynez Days, special exhibits, as well as community outreach by providing a central location for local meetings and gatherings, all of which benefit the valley.
Don’t miss this annual celebration. Early Bird tickets through September for the Benefit Dinner are $200 per person. Tickets are available by calling (805) 688-7889 or online at santaynezmuseum.org/40th-annual-vaquero-benefit/.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Official secure ballot drop boxes now available throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County elections officials have announced that 30 official ballot drop boxes are now available in the county for the upcoming Nov. 5 General Election.
“The ballot drop boxes provide a secure and easy way to return a completed and signed ballot,” says Joe Holland, Santa Barbara County registrar of voters. “I encourage voters to use an official drop box to return their ballot; drop box locations are listed in the voter’s guide and on the Elections Office website, sbcvote.com.”
All registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail in early October. Voters are encouraged to vote their ballot and return it early before Election Day, Nov. 5. Drop boxes are available 24 hours a day, beginning Monday, Oct. 7 until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. A list of drop box locations can be found online at countyofsb.org/3265/Current-Ballot-Drop-Box-Locations-by-Area.
“Using the ballot drop box ensures that the ballot will arrive at the Elections Office to be processed and counted timely,” added Holland.
If a voter does not receive their ballot, they should contact the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office at (800) 722-8683.
Voters may mail their ballot with no postage required, postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 5. The United States Postal Service advises voters to mail their ballots early to reach the elections office in time to be counted.
Ballots may also be returned to the County Elections offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria or to a polling place on Election Day.
To make address and other updates to voter registration, or for eligible citizens to register to vote, go to registertovote.ca.gov. Voters can verify the accuracy of their voter registration at sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status or sbcvote.com.
Santa Barbara County Elections can be reached at sbcvote.com or by calling (800) 722-8683.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse donates lifesaving AEDs
New lifesaving AEDs (automated external defibrillator) for immediate installation into the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles for use in the field have been donated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse (SBCSBP).
The initial donation of these 26 AEDs will replace the current inventory of these vital lifesaving devices as they are cycled out of service.
“This is an exciting milestone on our way to supplying 70 new AED units — one for each patrol car in the entire county — to keep Santa Barbara County residents safe with lifesaving equipment,” said Sean Koffel, president of the SBCSBP Board of Directors. The SBCSBP is currently raising additional funds to replace every one of the old AED units.
Immediate access to these state-of-the-art AED devices can improve chances of survival by up to 60 percent. AEDs have a lifespan of about 15 years, meaning that this donation will help Santa Barbara County citizens and first responders for years to come.
This donation is the result of the generosity and hard work of the SBCSBP’s supportive community across multiple fundraising events and donor outreach campaigns. The Posse will continue its AED fundraising campaign efforts with the goal of replacing the entire inventory of AEDs by the end of 2024.
The Sheriff’s Office is adding plaques to each AED to honor the names of donors responsible for the purchase of that AED and this important upgrade in our county’s lifesaving infrastructure. The donors will be informed each time their AED saves a life in the field.
The SBCSBP Board is making a special donation of an AED in honor of long-time SBCSBP Board Secretary Marianne Freeman after her passing last year — to honor her extraordinary service to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse.
The SBCSBP is a 501(c)(3) organization focusing on enhancing relationships between the community and County law enforcement while raising funds to fill the gap between a constrained county budget and the County’s increasing public needs. If interested in supporting the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse or to learn more about the SBCSBP, the AED campaign and additional ways to support County law enforcement, visit the SBCSBP website at SBSheriffsPosse.org.
County receives $4.7 million electric vehicle infrastructure grant
Santa Barbara County has received a proposed grant award of $4.7 million from the California Energy Commission to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This was the second-highest recommended grant award given. This grant requires a $2.3 million match from the county in staff time and capital investment.
The funds will support the county with its Zero Emission Vehicle transition by installing 114 Level-2 and 36 level-3 charging ports at 14 locations throughout the county. The competitive grant was put together by the county’s General Services Department, with support from the Community Services Department and Terra Lumina Consulting.
The grants were offered to fund projects that:
- Support electrification of light-duty government fleets in California by providing reliable and readily accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure dedicated for these fleets.
- Support local government goals of sustainability and/or climate action plans.
- Reduce vehicle emissions in disadvantaged and/or low-income communities
The County of Santa Barbara has made significant strides in its electric vehicle program, which has grown steadily since 2013. What began with the introduction of just four all-electric vehicles into the county’s motor pool has since expanded into a fleet of 93 electric vehicles. As the county progresses with its Zero Emission Vehicle Policy, the goal is to install sufficient charging infrastructure to sustain the entire vehicle fleet and ensure vehicles are adequately charged when needed. To support this growth, the County has also developed an extensive network of charging stations. A total of 217 charging stations have been deployed throughout the region, ensuring easy access for both the County’s vehicle fleet, employees, and the public. The success of the transition to an all-electric vehicle fleet is a major lever in reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The deadline to install the new chargers is April 30, 2028. Once they are installed the County will have more than 367 chargers installed at County facilities throughout the county.
