Although the Buellton Chamber of Commerce wasn’t able to host its normal Winter Fest activities this year, they were still able to host a Farmer’s Market with a little touch of Christmas.

The City of Buellton, Parks & Rec, Buellton Chamber and Visitors Bureau brought joy to those who came to the Farmer’s Market. Guests got to take a socially distanced photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus and their helpers, children wrote letters to Santa and grabbed a craft kit to take home while parents picked up a few things at the Farmer’s Market. 

The Chamber also hosted its first Poker Run on Dec. 5 as another fun activity to do in a safe manner. 

“We had a great number of participants from local and out of town who came to participate in our First Annual Poker Run,” said Kathy Vreeland, executive director of the Buellton Chamber. “They spent the day visiting the stops along the run and enjoyed venturing around Buellton and learning more about our city.” 

Vreeland said she also thanked the event’s sponsors and locations for hosting people on their property as a stop along the Poker Run. Among them were Mendenhall Museum, Ostrichland USA, The Tavern at Zaca Creek, Santa Ynez Valley Marriott and the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden.

For more information on the Buellton Chamber visit www.buellton.org. 

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Blood donors can help Make-A-Wish kids

During National Blood Donor Month in January, blood donors can double their impact by giving blood at Vitalant while also helping to grant wishes for children through Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties.

Vitalant will track the number of blood donations received at all four of its donation centers and nearly 85 community blood drives throughout the Central Coast. Vitalant centers in California and Northern Nevada will contribute money to Make-A-Wish in a collective effort to grant six wishes.

“Many young wish recipients also receive countless blood transfusions for their treatment, all made possible by Vitalant donors,” said Susan Noone, regional director for Vitalant. “For the third year of our amazing partnership with Make-A-Wish, we are growing to reach an even bigger goal of granting six wishes in California and Northern Nevada, thanks to the generosity of volunteer blood donors.”

Donors can also support Make-A-Wish by visiting their Rewards Account at blood4life.org and donating their rewards, equaling a personal monetary donation to help grant wishes.

In the past two years, more than 6,000 Vitalant donors have given blood throughout the Central Coast to save patients’ lives while raising more than $10,000 to help wishes come true for children with critical illnesses.

To schedule a donation appointment, visit Vitalant.org or call 877-25VITAL.

Livestrong for cancer patients returns to YMCA

 The free Livestrong program for cancer survivors will return Feb. 5 to the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez and Feb. 4 to the Lompoc Family YMCA.

Cancer is a life-changing disease that takes a tremendous physical and emotional toll on those affected. By focusing on the whole person and not the disease, helps survivors move beyond cancer in mind, body and spirit, a Y spokesman said.

Trained wellness coaches work with participants as they transition from treatment to regaining their physical and emotional strength.  Participants will receive a three-month membership and will participate in classes two days per week.

For more information, contact Regional Wellness Director Nicki Marmelzat at 805-686-2037 or nicki.marmelzat@ciymca.org.

The Buellton Chamber of Commerce and City Council welcomed Just LED Lights with a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Dec. 19.

Just LED Lights opens in Buellton

Just LED Lights, owned by Jez and Lynzi Blacker, recently opened a showroom and design studio at 132 Easy Street, No. 8, in Buellton.

Just LED Lights offers a wide variety of LED lighting for indoor/outdoor, residential and commercial uses as well as design services.

The Buellton Chamber of Commerce and the Buellton City Council welcomed Just LED Lights with a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Dec. 19.

For more information, call 805-686-4100 or visit www.ledandlights.com.

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The crowd erupted in laughter as Buellton City Manager Marc Bierdzinski used his State of the City address to tease Solvang City Manager Brad Vidro about the extensive technical trouble that marred Vidro’s comparable presentation in January.

“I might be asking a lot of questions,” Vidro called out, which drew more laughter from the crowd Feb. 21 at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott.

Buellton officials and other local dignitaries, including 3^rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann and Solvang Mayor Jim Richardson, joined a crowd of about 150 people to hear about Buellton issues and to have an entertaining lunch.

Holly Sierra, the city’s first mayor to be elected directly by voters, gave a brief history of the city, including the source of the nickname “Service Town USA. Before the paving of Highway 101, travelers on the dirt road would frequently pop tires and had to stop in Buellton to get their vehicles fixed, she said.

“Nowadays ‘service’ has a little different meaning, as we have become a destination with our amazing wineries and restaurants, but we welcome them all the same,” Sierra said.

Executive Director Kathy Vreeland of the Buellton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau also announced Ron Anderson as the recipient of the Vincent B. Evans award, which he had received at a recent chamber mixer in recognition of his extensive volunteering.

“Ron has touched every corner of Buellton, and there is no one more deserving of this award,” Vreeland said as Anderson stood up and waved and the room exploded in applause.

An entertaining video presentation from the Recreation Department depicted people participating in its many programs and activities, ranging from day trips to the Los Angeles Zoo to longer excursions to Australia and New Zealand, as well as after-school programs and summer camps.

The city and the chamber host many festivals each year, creating opportunities for both residents and tourists to experience the growing city. Those include the upcoming Buellton Wine and Chili Festival on March 18, the Easter Eggstravaganza, a July picnic, a big haunted house in October in collaboration with Solvang, and the popular Winterfest weekend.

Bierdzinski told the audience that Buellton is growing and holding to its visioning process, including the addition of more trails and parks and moving forward with developing the Avenue of Flags into a prosperous downtown area.

“I am excited about working with property owners and developers with implementing the Avenue of Flags Specific Plan,” Bierdzinski said.

Revenue from property taxes and transient occupancy taxes are helping Buellton maintain a healthy budget, he added, saying that about half of the top sales tax and property tax generators are local businesses such as AJ Spurs, Flying Flags RV Resort, Platinum Performance, Farm Supply, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Buellton Self Storage, Todd Pipe and Supply and others.

More than a dozen new businesses have opened or plan to open within the next year, such as People Helping People Thrift store, La Botte Bistro, Gypsy Studios and others.

The city recently updated its hazard mitigation plan and has a goal of updating its emergency management plan.

The city has a budget of $14.5 million for the 2017-18 fiscal year. General fund revenues are projected at $6.6 million and general fund expenditures of $6.3 million. The city has a $1.7 million reserve, which increased $927,220 from the prior fiscal year due to sales and property tax receipts.

The city’s water resources remain under conservation mandates. The city gets most of its water from upland wells, combined with river wells. It also receives state water shipments. Water rates have increased slightly, but the city continues to supplement a portion of the cost so they aren’t a burden ratepayers, Bierdzinksi added.

Public works projects in 2017 included storm drain cleaning, annual road maintenance, installing a fire alarm in the post office, decorative streetscapes along Highway 246, water treatment and wastewater treatment repairs and sewer line cleaning.

Projects in 2018 are to include installing streetlights on Industrial Way, painting the post office, library and sheriff’s buildings; designing a pedestrian crossing at Sycamore and Highway 246; and potential Avenue of Flags improvements listed in the street’s specific plan.

New commercial projects in Buellton include The Commons, a public market-type building, the ongoing Vineyard Village condominium complex and upcoming Live Oak Lanes bowling center near Antonio’s Pizza.

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The Buellton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau recently installed its new board and presented its 2017 Vincent B. Evans award to Ron Anderson for his commitment to Buellton.

The award is presented each year in honor of the late Vince Evans, who was a very active member of the Buellton community and an established leader in the Santa Ynez Valley.

At its January mixer, the chamber installed President Tessi Martinez of First American Title; Vice President  Janeen Bouslaugh, Firestone Walker Taproom; and Treasurer Mark Mendenhall, Mendenhall Construction.

Also installed were board members  Ron Anderson, Ron Anderson Real Estate; Sonia Jimenez, Rabobank; Chris Merz, Santa Ynez Valley Marriott; Camden Wirick, Hampton Inn & Suites; Amber Schmaeling, Chumash Casino Resort; and Rudy Henderson, Military Affairs.

In bestowing the Evans award the chamber noted that Anderson, a local commercial real estate broker and life-long resident of Buellton, has been instrumental in a multitude of projects and events and has volunteered time for community betterment.

In 1965, Vince Evans bought Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant and continued to improve on what was already a thriving business.

However, on April 23, 1980, Evans and his wife and daughter were killed in the crash of a small plane just minutes from the Santa Ynez Valley Airport.

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Thousands of people turned out on the first weekend of December around the Santa Ynez Valley for Christmas-themed activities that included tree-lighting ceremonies, parades, and much more.

The festivities started Friday, Dec. 1, with a tree lighting in Santa Ynez and the annual Julefest tree lighting in Solvang. In Santa Ynez, people enjoyed carolers and a mini-parade of equestrians while kids sipped hot chocolate and got to meet Santa Claus.

“It’s a true small-town Christmas, straight out of the storybooks,” said Christina Panameno of Santa Ynez.

At the Solvang tree lighting, people enjoyed tap and ballet dancing by students of the Fossemalle Dance Studio, including ballerinas dancing around the tree after it was lit.

Family School students made several gingerbread houses for the auction during Los Olivos’ Olde Fashioned Christmas.

The audience was also thrilled by the singing group Mystique led by vocal teacher Heidi Jacobs; the Santa Ynez Jazz Band; and a soulful rendition of “Silent Night” by Elizabeth Padfield, accompanied on trumpet by Alan Satchwell.

“It’s great to see people get into the spirit of the season, and we embody the holidays here in Solvang,” said Tracy Farhad, executive director of the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau.

The next morning thousands of residents and tourists stood along the streets of Solvang to watch the annual Julefest Parade. More than 400 participants in 52 entries danced, pranced, rolled, strolled, cruised and cantered along festively decorated Mission Drive, Copenhagen Drive and adjacent streets. This year’s Julefest theme was “A Danish Tradition.”

“It’s great to start the holidays with the festive spirit and attending some of the many functions. We love watching the parade every year,” said Alice Murphy of Solvang.

Murphy and her husband William and their two young boys, Billy and Robert, enjoyed the many floats, especially those whose riders threw candy for the boys and other children to pick up.

“We have been making the Julefest Parade an annual tradition, coming up from L.A. and also making a gingerbread house at Solvang Bakery. We make it a weekend by camping and also visiting the Ostrich Farm in Buellton,” said Deborah Henderson, who was attending with her 8-year-old son, Connor.

Henderson said it’s a nice escape from the city life and reminds her of growing up in a small town and riding in parades with her family. She is an executive producer on a new television series, “Liberty Crossing,” a workplace comedy focused in the National Counterterrorism Center.

After the parade, families lined up for visits with Santa in Solvang Park, took part in the new “Nisse Adventure” game and the “Shop, Mingle & Jingle” bargains at local retailers, and took part in other food and fun activities.

On Saturday evening, the streets of Los Olivos were packed with people attending the grand reopening of Mattei’s Tavern and then heading over to the Gingerbread Wonderland, a fundraiser at St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church for Arts Outreach.

We captured Santa kissing Mrs. Claus during Breakfast with Santa at the Buellton Rec Center.

“It’s great to see so many families coming out to support the kids who made the gingerbread houses and Arts Outreach,” said the Rev. Randall Day of St. Mark’s.

After dark, people strolled to the center of Los Olivos to see the lighting of the Christmas tree at the community flagpole and to enjoy food and live music.

The weekend was brought to a close Sunday when about 350 people gathered in Buellton and got to play in snow that had been trucked in for the annual Winterfest celebration. In the morning families got to visit with Santa and make holiday crafts at the Buellton Rec Center, and in the evening kids made and threw snowballs on the Avenue of Flags.

Julefest Parade winners

Here are the 2017 winners of Solvang Julefest Parade awards:

• Best Theme-Oriented: Vikings of Solvang
• Best Float: Toy Town, Julia Tipolt Insurance Agency
• Equestrian Entry: Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Unit
• Best Vehicle Entry: 1963 VW Beetle “Herbie the Love Bug” by the Sherieff family
• Best Musical Entry: Santa Ynez Valley Jazz Band
• Best Performance Group: Paws at Play
• Best Overall Entry: Sleigh by the Santa Ynez Valley High School Robotics Team 5136

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Star Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Valley is known for world-class wine and craft beer, but Buellton has laid claim to one of the more popular local food events with the Buellton Wine and Chili Festival.

This year’s event, which hosts a competition to see who makes the best chili on the Central Coast, will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, at Flying Flags RV Resort.

Those who enter the contest are competing in three categories: Red Chili, Chili Verde, and Salsa, and will be judged according to the International Chili Society rules. The cost to enter is $25 for unlimited entries.

n Traditional Red Chili is defined by the International Chili Society as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with red chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta — which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.

n Chili Verde is defined by the ICS as any kind of meat or combination of meats, cooked with green chili peppers, various spices and other ingredients, with the exception of beans and pasta — which are strictly forbidden. No garnish is allowed.

n  Salsa must be homemade by the contestant whose name and ICS number appear on the contestant application. The salsa may be brought to the site that day or it may be prepared at the cook-off.

Those interested in the Community Challenge have to provide at least five gallons of chili or salsa.

General admission costs $45, which provides unlimited samples of wine, craft beer, spirits and chili. A chili-only ticket costs $10. Children 12 and under get free admission. Those who purchase $45 tickets also get a souvenir wine glass.

There will be live entertainment by The Caverns and the Dusty Jugz and family games including bocce, horseshoes, table tennis, mega-sized beer pong, and corn hole.

Flying Flags RV Resort has been going through major renovations throughout the past year. It offers overnight camping from large RV’s to furnished cottages, tents and more.

More than 20 wineries are participating, including Sevtap, Standing Sun, Lucky Dogg, and Alexander and Wayne. Breweries from the valley and Santa Barbara will also be pouring.

For a complete list of vendors, lodging, or more information on signing up for the competition, log onto www.buelltonwineandchilifestival.com.

Chili history

Canary Islanders, transplanted in San Antonio as early as 1723, used local peppers, wild onions, garlic and other spices to concoct pungent meat dishes. They were improvising upon ones they had cooked for generations in their native land, where the chili pepper also grew, according to the International Chili Society.

ORIGINAL SAN ANTONIO CHILI

2 pounds beef shoulder, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 pound pork shoulder, cut into ½-inch cubes

¼ cup suet

¼ cup pork fat

3 medium-sized onions, chopped

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 quart water

4 ancho chilies

1 serrano chili

6 dried red chilies

1 tablespoon comino (cumin) seeds, freshly ground

2 tablespoons Mexican oregano

Salt to taste

Place lightly floured beef and pork cubes in with suet and pork fat in heavy chili pot and cook quickly, stirring often. Add onions and garlic and cook until they are tender and limp.

Add water to mixture and simmer slowly while preparing chilies. Remove stems and seeds from chilies and chop very finely. Grind chilies and add oregano with salt to mixture. Simmer another 2 hours.

Remove suet casing and skim off some fat. Never cook frijoles with chilies and meat. Serve the beans as a separate dish.

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Co-founders and co-operators of Brother’s Spirits in Buellton, California are Jeff and Joanne Lockwood. They are originally from Santa Barbara and were real estate developers for 25 years and retired. For the past 10 years they have owned and operated Bella Cavalli Farms and Vineyard, next to Monty Roberts Flag is Up Farms. Jeff is a dedicated winemaker and he and Joanne make hand crafted small batch wines which they sell to an exclusive wine club membership only. Also operational on this ranch, and under the tutelage of the Lockwood’s, is an equine facility which is renowned as a performance horse training and rehabilitation center.

Jay Lockwood, the Master Distiller, has been a General Contractor and worked in the Custom Home industry for more than 38 years. He built Custom Homes, Kitchen and Baths. Jay is also an accomplished musician and earned his degree in Recording Arts and Science in San Francisco in his younger years and worked in local recording studios and clubs doing live sound and recordings in Austin, Texas. His passion for the perfection in the homes he built and the music he produced show in the quality of the spirits they produce.

Here’s one of their recipes!

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