SOLVANG
Los Padres National Forest revises fire restrictions
With the continuing potential for a wildland fire start, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that elevated fire restrictions will remain in effect on the Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara, and Ojai Ranger districts. The Monterey and Mt. Pinos ranger districts have received adequate amounts of rainfall to safety lift fire restrictions on those districts.
These restrictions affect the use of campfires, stoves, smoking materials, and internal combustion engines, and will remain in effect until March 31. Effective immediately, the following restrictions will be in effect:
- No open fires, campfires, or charcoal fires will be permitted outside of developed recreation sites or designated Campfire Use Sites, even with a valid California Campfire Permit. Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel will be permitted, but only with a valid California Campfire Permit, which can be obtained free-of-charge at any Forest Service office or by visiting readyforwildfire.org. Forest visitors must clear all flammable material for 5 feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person always attends the stove during use.
- Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or a designated Campfire Use Site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Internal combustion engines may be operated only on roads or designated trails. This restriction is in effect year-round. Please make sure your engine is tuned, operating properly, and has an approved spark arrester.
- Fireworks — even the “safe and sane” variety — are not permitted at any time or in any location within the forest.
- Recreational target shooting is prohibited within Los Padres National Forest except for the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and Ojai Valley Gun Club, both of which operate under special use permits.
For a list of Developed Recreation Sites and Campfire Use Sites in Los Padres National Forest, or further information regarding Fire-Safe Camping, visit fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/home or contact the U.S. Forest Service district office nearest you.
Stephen B. Palmer joins Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Board
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation (SYVCHF) has elected a new member, Stephen B. Palmer, to join the Board of Directors and serve as treasurer.
Palmer received a Bachelor of Arts in business economics with an accounting emphasis from UCSB. He served for 37 years as a certified public accountant at C&D llp in Solvang before retiring in December 2024.
“Steve has always been receptive to contributing to the success of the Santa Ynez Valley,” said Richard Nagler, SYVCHF Board president. “He has shown great insight and willingness to lead, and he will be a great asset to the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation.”
Palmer has been an active participant in the Santa Ynez Valley community for nearly 40 years. He is currently a member of the Solvang Rotary Club and serves on the board of Nature Track Foundation. He has previously served on the boards for Solvang Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Library and was a founding board member for the Los Olivos School Foundation. He also enjoyed coaching with Pony Baseball and the American Youth Soccer Organization.
“I am honored for this opportunity to join the Board of Directors for SYVCHF,” said Palmer. “My family has decades of personal experience with local Cottage Health providers, including the immediate care provided in the SYVCH emergency room. I’m excited to work with my fellow board members to help ensure SYVCH continues to provide the best possible facilities and high-quality care our residents need and deserve.”
SYVCHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to develop, manage and channel the community’s financial support on behalf of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, thereby serving not only to protect, but also enhance the hospital as a valuable community asset. Since 1978, the Foundation has provided more than $36 million to the hospital in support of critical capital projects, programs and services.
The SYVCH Foundation 2025 Board of Directors are Barbara Anderson; J. Robert Andrews; Charles Chester; Richard Crutchfield; Judith Dale, vice president; Gustavo Dascanio, MD; Jonathan Grunzweig; Charles “C.J.” Jackson; Richard Nagler, president; Steve Palmer, treasurer; Tresha Sell, secretary; and Ernie Zomalt.
For more information about the SYVCHF, visit cottagehealth.org/syvchfoundation.
SANTA YNEZ
Sydney Vogel of Santa Ynez named to Muhlenberg College Dean’s List
A graduate of Dunn School, Sydney Vogel, of Santa Ynez, has been named to the fall 2024 Dean’s List while studying biology at Muhlenberg College.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during a semester.
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, four-year residential, liberal arts college in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with nearly 2,000 bachelor’s and master’s degree-seeking students. The college’s curriculum and experiences are designed opens doors to new ideas, discoveries, friendships, and a lifetime of personal and intellectual growth.
Santa Ynez High Alumni Reunion Luncheon scheduled for April 28
Santa Ynez High’s annual reunion luncheon is being held at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel in Buellton on Monday, April 28. The event is for those who graduated in 1975 or earlier. (50+ years). The luncheon, featuring chicken/veggie/salads will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lunch being served at noon.
Cost is $50 per person, with check submitted by March 28th so the Marriott can get a headcount. Email susanbott@aol.com to receive a sign-up sheet or ask any questions.
The idea for and all-class reunion was hatched in 1981 when Ed Christianson and Dennis Fitzgerald (Class of 1931) decided to celebrate their 50th class reunion by having a luncheon with their classmates and spouses. There was 19 in the class. The lunch was a huge success.
The following year (1982), Ed’s wife Dorothy Doty Christianson was celebrating her 50th reunion, when asked what she would like to do, she said she would like to have the lunch also but to include all previous year’s graduates that would like to join them and that started to annual all class luncheon.
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE
Unarmed Minuteman III test launch scheduled for Feb. 18-19
An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled between 11:01 p.m. on Feb. 18 and 5:01 a.m., Feb. 19, from north Vandenberg.
The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.
This test is routine and was scheduled years in advance. Consistent with previous test launches, this ICBM test launch will validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system.
In accordance with standard procedures, the United States has transmitted a pre-launch notification pursuant to the Hague Code of Conduct, and notified the Russian government in advance, per our existing bilateral obligations.
For questions regarding the launch window or Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) range operations, contact SLD 30 Public Affairs at (805) 606-3595 or SLD30.pa.workflow@spaceforce.mil.
For queries regarding the ICBM test launch mission and missile, contact AFGSC Public Affairs at (318) 456-1305 or afgsc.paworkflow@us.af.mil.
SANTA BARBARA
Learn about ‘The Secret Lives of Snakes’ in Zoom webinar
Dr. Emily Taylor, a distinguished professor and the director of the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab (PERL) at Cal Poly, will conduct a Zoom seminar “The Secret Lives of Snakes,” hosted by Los Padres Forest Watch, on Thursday, Feb. 20. Contributed Photo
Los Padres Forest Watch is excited to announce a captivating Zoom seminar, “The Secret Lives of Snakes,” featuring Dr. Emily Taylor, a renowned professor of biological sciences at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo.
The webinar will take place from 12 to 1 p.m. PST on Thursday, Feb. 20.
To join this virtual event, register via the link lpfw.org/snakes-webinar. This seminar is free and open to the public.
This engaging webinar will delve into the hidden world of snakes, offering a fresh perspective on their unique behaviors, ecological roles, and the importance of their conservation.
Taylor is a distinguished professor and the director of the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab (PERL) at Cal Poly, where she leads research focused on the ecology, physiology, and behavior of free-ranging reptiles in Central and Southern California. Since joining the faculty in 2005, Taylor has become a recognized leader in her field. Taylor earned her Ph.D. in Biology from Arizona State University, where she developed an expertise in the environmental physiology of reptiles, including reproductive, endocrine, hydric, and thermal physiology.
As the founder of Project RattleCam (rattlecam.org), Taylor is also a passionate advocate for improving the public perception of snakes, particularly rattlesnakes. Through this community science initiative, she engages the public in monitoring rattlesnake populations, fostering greater respect for these often-misunderstood creatures. In 2024, she published “California Snakes and How to Find Them,” where she combined her passion for rattlesnakes and other legless reptiles to dispel common myths and celebrate the biological traits of California’s snakes. With profiles of nearly 50 species, from the common garter to the elusive Alameda striped racer, the book offers valuable identification tips, handling advice, and insights into their behaviors.
“I’m excited to share the incredible, yet often misunderstood, lives of snakes,” Taylor said. “Snakes play vital roles in maintaining balanced ecosystems, and it’s crucial for us to understand these fascinating creatures.”
During the webinar, Taylor will share captivating stories from her 25 years of studying snakes around the world, offering a unique perspective on their lives. Taylor’s encounters are brought to life through stunning photographs and videos, including footage captured from her lab. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of these elusive creatures and the importance of snake conservation.
About Los Padres Forest Watch: Los Padres Forest Watch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Los Padres National Forest and the surrounding public lands. Through a combination of education, advocacy, and hands-on conservation efforts, we work to protect wildlife, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainable land stewardship.
For more information about Los Padres Forest Watch, visit lpfw.org
Cachuma Lake center to continue ‘Food for Thought’ speakers series March 9
The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake will host its next installment of its “Food for Thought” speakers series on March 9. The presentation is titled “Planetary Emergencies,” with guest speaker Chancellor Lorne Everett
Dr. Everett will share his experience over 35 years as a chairman within the World Federation of Scientists, headquartered at CERN (home of the Large Hadron Collider) in Geneva, Switzerland. The meetings on nuclear war and planetary emergencies are chaired by the science advisor to the Pope and are held in three repurposed monasteries in Erice, Sicily. Over 124 Nobel Laureates have participated in these meetings including numerous key players in the Manhattan Project.
Everett will present insights into nuclear war, world pollution, plastics, the world water crisis, asteroid impacts, and other Planetary Emergencies. Although the annual meeting in August is held in three monasteries in Sicily, a second meeting is often held in the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican. Rare pictures of the pope’s private quarters and gardens will be shown. The pope often sends a letter of welcome to our meetings and has been the keynote speaker.
There will be a meet-and-greet with light refreshments after the presentation.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Draft Recreation Master Plan published; comment period lasts until Feb. 24
The County of Santa Barbara, Community Services Department, Parks Division (County Parks) has published the Draft Santa Barbara County Recreation Master Plan, available at Santa Barbara County Recreation Master Plan, additional information on the project can be found at sbcrecplan.com. Comments on the Draft Plan are welcome until 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24.
The Recreation Master Plan’s goal is to enhance the quality of life and leisure experience for Santa Barbara County residents of all ages. It fosters new parks, trails, and recreational facilities in unincorporated communities throughout Santa Barbara County in strategic coordination with other public recreation providers in the county, such as cities and special districts.
The county is also preparing a Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the Draft Plan.
If you would like to make a comment on the Draft Recreation Master Plan or the scope of the Program Environmental Impact Report please submit your comments by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, via email to RecPlan@countyofsb.org or mail to Jeff Lindgren, Deputy Director of Parks Division, Community Services Department, Parks Division, 123 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.
The Recreation Master Plan is a long-range plan to fund and construct public parks, trails, and facilities to meet recreation needs. The Draft Plan proposes capital improvements, programs, funding, and implementation strategies for the unincorporated area over about 20 years. It includes the proposed Recreation Benefit Project (RBP) Program, allowing private developments to contribute to the public recreation system. The county also proposes amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinances to support the Recreation Master Plan and the RBP Program.
The Draft Recreation Master Plan is the result of over two years of community engagement, with nearly 8,000 survey responses and 86 outreach events. The County thanks all contributors, including the multi-jurisdictional steering committee, local cities, districts, and community partners.
