The Chumash Casino Resort’s annual concert to highlight the area’s Toys For Tots campaign couldn’t be held this year due to the pandemic, but the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is still playing a role in supplying toys to less-fortunate children this holiday season.

The tribe is announcing it has donated $25,000 to this year’s Central Coast Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots campaign, which serves families in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties through partnerships with local agencies, such as Unity Shoppe, People Helping People, the Salvation Army, Community Action Commission, Tribal TANF and the Boys & Girls Club.

“While we couldn’t get together and enjoy a concert in celebration of the work Toys For Tots does for our community, we’re proud to remain partners with an organization that provides such a positive impact on children in our area,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Past Chumash Casino Resort concerts to benefit Toys For Tots have featured acts such as Melissa Etheridge, 98 Degrees, Clint Black, The Judds and even a young, up-and-coming Taylor Swift at the 2006 show. This year’s donation brings the tribe’s total contributions to Toys for Tots, since its first benefit concert in 2004, to $425,000.

“The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has been a crucial component of the Marines’ annual campaign and the mission of the Toys For Tots program,” said 1st Sgt. (retired) Soledad Kennedy, the Marine Corps League 1340 Toys for Tots Coordinator for Santa Barbara County. “These funds will assist our efforts to purchase toys and help economically disadvantaged children enjoy this Christmas.”

For more information on how to donate a toy or make a monetary donation, visit www.toysfortots.org.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $25 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe’s long-standing tradition of giving. To find out more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation and its giving programs, visit www.santaynezchumash.org.

The post Chumash donate $25,000 to Toys for Tots appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Chumash Casino Resort Hotel, the tribe’s Hotel Corque in Solvang and its Willows fine-dining restaurant all maintained their long-standing AAA Four Diamond Award status, earning spots on the American Automobile Association’s lists of hotels and restaurants that achieved excellence during inspections in 2019.

This marks the 16^th consecutive AAA Four Diamond Award for the Chumash Casino Resort Hotel, the 15th straight year for Willows restaurant and the ninth in a row for Hotel Corque.

The Chumash Casino Resort Hotel and Hotel Corque are two of 11 properties to be honored within Santa Barbara County. Among restaurants, Willows, The Gathering Table in Solvang and Bouchon and Angel Oak in Santa Barbara were the only AAA Four Diamond Award honorees in the county. 

A total of 2,400 establishments (1,718 hotels and 682 restaurants) throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean have earned the AAA Four Diamond designation in the last year. California had the greatest number of hotels (179) and restaurants (76) to earn the distinction.

“For our establishments to remain on AAA’s lists for so many years is a point of pride for our tribe,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Our longevity on these elite lists is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team members who go the extra mile to make sure our guests enjoy an elevated level of hospitality when they visit to our properties.”

The Chumash Casino Resort Hotel features 320 rooms, including 58 suites, a full-service spa and a rooftop pool deck that spans 15,000 square feet. Hotel Corque, at 400 Alisal Road in Solvang, offers 122 rooms, including 17 suites, and more than 7,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space for business or special events.

The Chumash Casino Resort’s Willows restaurant specializes in prime steaks and seafood while boasting a full menu that features flavorful ingredients from local farms, ranches and gardens. The restaurant’s entrance features a wine wall with 160 bottles showcasing Willows’ award-winning wine list.

Other Santa Barbara County hotels earning Four Diamond Awards are Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa in Los Olivos, the Santa Ynez Inn, The Ballard Inn in Solvang, Inn on Summer Hill in Summerland and Santa Barbara’s Harbor View Inn, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, Santa Barbara Inn, Simpson House and The Ritz-Carlton Bacara.

Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara was one of just 17 in the state to earn the AAA Five Diamond Award.

            For 80 years, AAA has used professional inspectors to conduct in-person property inspections. AAA offers the only rating system using comprehensive, on-site professional hotel and restaurant evaluations guided by member priorities.

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians owns and operates the Chumash Casino Resort, which is located on the tribe’s reservation on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California. The tribe also owns Hotel Corque, Root 246 and Hadsten House in Solvang, two gas stations in Santa Ynez and its own wine label – Kitá Wines. As the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the tribe employs more than 2,000 residents of Santa Barbara County.

The post Chumash Hotels and Restaurant Earn AAA Four Diamond Awards appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

On Nov. 12, during America Recycles Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Chumash Casino Resort for its outstanding efforts in recycling, food recovery and moving toward “zero waste.”

EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, Mike Stoker, toured the Chumash Casino Resort to celebrate its “green leadership” during America Recycles Week.

“The Chumash Casino Resort’s Zero Waste initiatives are making a real difference for the environment,” Stoker said. “By diverting more than 90 percent of their total waste stream from landfills and sharing their expertise with other tribes, they are true recycling champions.”

“It’s an honor for our tribe to be recognized by the EPA during America Recycles Week,” said Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn. “By forming local partnerships and participating in innovative programs, our Chumash Casino Resort’s Facilities Department has taken our recycling efforts to new heights.”

In 2018, the Chumash Casino Resort diverted 2.9 million pounds of waste, representing over 90 percent of its overall waste stream, from local landfills through its successful Zero Waste program. To reach this ambitious target, the Chumash Casino Resort has formed both local and national partnerships and participated in several innovative programs to complement its extensive in-house recycling efforts.

The Chumash Casino Resort has won several EPA awards, including the Food Recovery Challenge award in 2014 and 2016. The resort has also been an EPA WasteWise partner since 2008 and has received national WasteWise Partner of the Year awards in 2012 and 2015.

For more information on joining America Recycles efforts, visit https://www.epa.gov/americarecycles.

The post EPA honors Chumash recycling achievements appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Contributing Writer

Central Coast boxing favorites John Leo Dato and Angel Flores remain undefeated, collecting victories to close out an action-packed night of World Fighting Championship 114 at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez on Friday, October 4.

As the crowd chanted “Dato, Dato, Dato,” veteran boxer German Meraz (62-58-2), of Sonora, Mexico, was taken to the six-round limit by Dato (13-0-1, 8 KO) in the 132-Pound Lightweight Division bout to force a decision by the judges’ scorecards.

Fighting out of Santa Maria, Dato won by unanimous decision to earn his second victory inside Samala Showroom this year.

“This is like a dream come true. Being a winner, working hard, training hard every day, anything is possible if you train hard,” Dato said. “I love what I did today. All this crowd from Santa Maria, 805 and the Central Coast, it’s the best feeling ever. Hearing them cheer my name, it’s a win-win for me.”

Dato controlled much of the fight, continually cutting the ring off to prevent Meraz from escaping the head and body attacks from the Philippines native. Fatigue was setting in on Meraz as Dato maintained his pace forcing Meraz to tie-up with Dato to try and slow the fight down.

“He’s a veteran. He has more than 100 professional fights, he knows how to survive,” Dato said. “I give him props but one more round and I would have finished him off.”

Following Referee Jack Reiss deducting a point from Meraz for an illegal hit to the back of Dato’s head in the sixth round after repeated warnings, the Santa Maria based fighter won on all three judge’s scoresheets 60-53.

Meraz was a recent addition to the fight card to challenge Dato, who was originally scheduled to fight Luis May (21-16-1), of Cancun, Mexico.

Taking center stage in the co-main event was Santa Ynez resident Angel Flores (7-0, 5 KO) in a 135-pound lightweight bout, defeating Braulio Avila (3-5), of Tlaxcala, Mexico, at the conclusion of the second round by technical knockout.

“I grew up here, it means a lot to me,” Flores said about fighting in his hometown. “Just winning and being here fighting at the casino is like a dream come true. I’m grateful for all the people that game out and all the sponsors and supporters that came and supported me.”

Flores was attacking aggressively in the second-of-six schedule rounds, driving Avila into the ropes delivering a barrage of shots and nearly getting the knockdown as Avila was saved by the ropes.

“I thought the ref told me to backup,” Flores said when Avila fell into the ropes. “I kind of paused but once I didn’t hear anything else, I continued to go back to work.”

As the final moments ticked away in the round Flores connected with a head strike that left Avila off-balance at the bell.

As the fighters returned to their respective corners, Referee Marcos Rosales evaluated Avila and called a stoppage to the fight giving Flores his seventh win and fifth knockout. Flores has collected three of his seven fight wins at Chumash Casino Resort.

Representing Central Coast Boxing in Santa Maria, Manuel Romero had a slow start against the debuting Donald Gonzalez, of Hilo, Hawai’i, in the opening round of the 132-pound bout. After allowing Gonzalez to gain the upper hand Romero took charge, sending Gonzalez to the mat after several shots to the body.

Romero (5-5-3) maintained control of the ring, sending Gonzalez (0-3) to the canvas twice in the second and again in the fourth before the ref stopped the match. Romero won by knockout in the fourth at the 2:03 mark.

During the post-fight interview with ring announcer Dreu Murin, Romero announced he was retiring from boxing. “Tonight was my last bout, I ended it on a knockout,” Romero said. “I ended it successfully.”

Opening the professional fights on the card at 132 pounds was Rufino Serrano, of Central Coast Boxing, challenging Aaron Hollis, of Price Hill, Ohio. Serrano make quick work of Hollis in the first round, sending the Ohio boxer to the canvas three times forcing referee Jack Reiss to end the contest.

Earning his fifth career knockout, Serrano improves to 16-6 as Hollis (4-10) loses his fourth match consecutively by knockout.

The night also featured seven amateur fights that was capped off with the crowning of a new WFC 130-pound Division Championship between Santa Maria’s Eddie Perez, Jr. and Tyrone Salmo, of Los Altos. Perez set claim to his first WFC championship taking the split decision over Salmo.

“It feels good being able to come out here, still amateur, and fighting alongside these pros, Dato, Angel, Ruffino and Manny,” Perez said.

Rounding out the amateur card, Valentino Ruiz won two-of-three rounds all three judges scorecards to defeat Adrian Gonzalez by unanimous decision. Chris Graham remains undefeated with a 170-pound win after the referee stopped the fight for Marcelino Pena, who made his amateur debut.

AB Sosa collected a win in the 114-pound division over Johnathan Esqueda following three knockdowns in the third round resulting in referee Steve Solderman calling a stoppage to the action. In the 120-pound weight class, Isaiah Magana took the split decision against Ivan Meraz.

Taking a first-round victory at 165 pounds was Daniel “The Apache Kid” Flores, knocking Jorge Rivera to the canvas twice before Rivera was examined by the ringside doctor and Solderman called the bout. Winning by unanimous decision in the opening fight of the night, Miguel Aguilar beat Nicko Agapay at 140 pounds.

World Fighting Championships is set to return to the Santa Ynez Valley at Chumash Casino Resort on January 10.

The post Central Coast boxing favorites remain undefeated appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Country pop singer Brett Young and “King of the Accordion” Ramon Ayala will perform in September at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom.

Young is bringing his “Ticket to L.A. Tour” to the casino at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Tickets are $69, $74, $79, $89 and $99.

Brett Young was named the 2018 ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year for his latest album, “Ticket to L.A.”

Young was named the 2018 ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year for his latest album, “Ticket to L.A.” The 13-track project hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country Albums Chart upon its release and features the lead single “Here Tonight,” which topped the Medibase and Billboard Country charts. 

Young began developing his singing talent in the late 1990s. While in attendance at Calvary Chapel High School in CoastMesa, CA, he stepped in to replace an absent leader of the band during a Christian worship meeting.

Young also excelled in high school baseball, leading his team to a CIF championship. He earned a full ride to the University of Mississippi in 1999 after turning down pre-draft selection by both the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Minnesota Twins, but his baseball career was cut short due to an elbow injury in 2003.

Ramon Ayala is one of the founders of modern norteño music

Ayala is returning to the casino for two performances, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 28. Tickets for each show are $49, $59, $69, $74 & $79.

Throughout his career of more than four decades, Ayala has become one of the most popular and esteemed personalities in Regional Mexican music. As an innovative accordionist and vocalist, he has been at the helm of two of the most successful norteño bands in the history of the genre – Los Relampagos Del Norte and Ramon Ayala Y Sus Bravos Del Norte.

He has recorded more than 100 albums and continues to be remembered as one of the founders of modern norteño music. Offering his unique style of a wide range of love songs, rancheras and corridos, he is known to serenade the crowd.

Ayala has won and has been nominated for several Grammy awards. In 2001, he was awarded with an American Grammy Award for the album “En Vivo … El Hombre Y Su Música.” He has also been awarded with two Latin Grammy Awards for albums “Quémame Los Ojos” and “El Numero Cien.”

Tickets for all events are available at the casino or at www.chumashcasino.com.

The post Casino to feature Young, Ayala in September appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Chumash Casino Resort has announced that tickets are on sale for five upcoming shows – Big and Rich, The Fray, Chiquis Rivera, Three Dog Night, and Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker.”

Chiquis Rivera, who is the eldest daughter of the late Latin star Jenni Rivera, has posted two No. 1 albums on the Regional Mexican chart and currently stars on her family’s reality TV show “The Riveras.” The singer makes her debut at the casino at 8 p.m. Friday, June 14. are $39, $44, $49, $59 and $69.

The Fray, the Grammy-nominated band that debuted in 2002 and scored with hits such as “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How to Save a Life,” will make their first appearance in the Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. Friday, July 19. Tickets are $69, $74, $79, $89 and $99.

Country music duo Big and Rich — singers and guitarists Big Kenny and John Rich — bring their “Peace Love and Happy Hour” tour to Santa Ynez in support of their latest album “Did it For the Party.” The multi-platinum recording artists and self-proclaimed “America’s Technicolor Cowboys” hit the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. Tickets are $69, $74, $79, $89 and $99.

Three Dog Night, which is celebrating five decades as a band, tallied three No. 1 hits with “Mama Told Me (Not to Come),” “Joy to the World” and “Black and White” amid a string of 21 consecutive Top 40 singles on the pop charts during the 1970s. The group will bring its North American tour to the casino at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Tickets are $29, $39, $49, $54 and $59.

The world-renowned Moscow Ballet returns to the Samala Showroom to perform its “Great Russian Nutcracker” at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. Tickets are $29, $39, $49, $54 and $59.

Tickets for all events are available at the casino or at www.chumashcasino.com.

The post Tickets on sale for Big & Rich, The Fray, Three Dog Night and others appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Tickets are on sale for upcoming performances by “The Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight and “The King of the Accordion” Ramon Ayala at the Chumash Casino Resort.

Knight, the seven-time Grammy Award winner who’s best known for her smash hit “Midnight Train to Georgia,” returns to the Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Tickets are $49, $59, $69, $74 and $79.

Ayala, the legendary Norteño performer who sold out the showroom nearly a month prior to his appearance last year, returns at 8 p.m. on Sept. 27. Tickets are $49, $59, $69, $74 and $79.

Tickets are also on sale for the recently announced debut of The Midtown Men – stars from the original cast of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys” – who will perform on Friday, July 5. The show features Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer as they bring their favorite 1960s hits to life. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20.

The showroom also welcomes La Septima Banda, a 19-piece band specializing in narcocorridos, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 12. Tickets are $29, $39, $49, $54 and $59.

And on April 19, Grammy Award-winning Nelly, who delivered the unforgettable nightlife anthem, “Hot in Herre,” will perform at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49, $59, $69, $74 and $79.

Tickets for all events are available at the casino or at www.chumashcasino.com.

The post Gladys Knight, Ramon Ayala coming to casino appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Members of the volunteer group Team Chumash, which included food and beverage staff from the Chumash Casino Resort, prepared and served a special dinner for more than 40 people at the Buellton Senior Center’s monthly Senior Dinner on Feb. 26.  

The chefs prepared a three-course meal with a first course of a baby spinach salad with avocado, butternut squash, Italian pancetta, pecorino and apple cider dressing. The second course was a stew of braised beef, cremini mushrooms, bright green peas and carrots on homemade pappardelle noodles, served with a large, fresh-baked roll on each plate. Dessert was a freshly baked apple turnover with homemade cinnamon ice cream.

Helping make everything go smoothly during the evening were Senior Center board president Irene Covington, who greeted everyone and checked them in as they arrived, and Executive Director Pam Gnekow. Also helping were staffers Linda Linton, Jim Nichols, Miro Sixto, Gracie Love and Rick Nichols.

The post Team Chumash hosts dinner for Senior Center appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Comedian Tom Segura, country singer-songwriter Randy Houser, and Austrian mentalists The Clairvoyants will perform on consecutive Fridays in February at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez.

Tickets for all shows are available at the casino or at www.chumashcasino.com.

Comedy

Segura, a stand-up comedian and podcast host, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8. Tickets for the show are $29, $39, $49, $54 and $59.

Segura is best known for his Netflix comedy specials, but he has also made multiple stand-up appearances on Comedy Central and has been seen on well-known television series, including “Conan,” “Workaholics,” “Happy Endings,” “The Late Late Show” and “How To Be A Grown Up.” 

In 2010, he started the podcast “Your Mom’s House,” which he co-hosts with his wife and fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky. In 2012, the podcast was a finalist for Best Comedy Podcast at the Stitcher Awards and was profiled by VICE.

Country music

Houser brings his North American tour to the Santa Ynez Valley at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15. Tickets are $39, $44, $49, $54 and $59.

Houser is touring in support of his latest album, “Magnolia,” which will be accompanied by a full-length film of the same name. The title draws its name from his home state of Mississippi, the Magnolia State, where the platinum-selling artist has been cultivating a homegrown, organic sound over the past two years. The film will feature live performances by Houser and follow a storyline that embodies the sentiment of the album’s lyrics.

The first track off the new album, “What Whiskey Does,” featuring Hillary Lindsey, was released in 2018 and became a Top 40 hit on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

His first album, “Anything Goes,” featured a title track that cracked the Top 20 on the Hot Country chart, and “Boots On,” which climbed to No. 2 in 2009.

Houser’s first No. 1 hit, “How Country Feels,” was the title track to his third studio album, which also featured the No. 1 smash “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and Top 5 hits “Goodnight Kiss” and “Like a Cowboy.” The singles “How Country Feels” and “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” were certified platinum and put Houser on the country music map in 2013.

Prior to his success as a performer, Houser co-wrote singles including “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” for Trace Adkins, “Back That Thing Up” for Justin Moore, and “My Cowboy” for Jessie James.

Mind reading

The Clairvoyants, an Austrian mentalist duo seen on “America’s Got Talent,” promise to mesmerize the audience at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22. Tickets for the show are $19, $29, $39, $49 and $59.

The Clairvoyants’ recent return to compete on “America’s Got Talent: The Champions,” helped earn NBC more than 9.9 million total viewers, making it the most watched unscripted premiere on broadcast this season.

Amélie van Tass and Thommy Ten were both born and raised in Austria and now split their time between Austria and America. In 2011, they brought their “second sight” act to the stage and within a year, they had developed a full-length show and began touring Europe.

In 2016, they decided to compete in season 11 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Their second-place finish won them a performance at the Sydney Opera House and also an opportunity to headline the show “The Illusionists – Turn of the Century” in the Palace Theatre in New York City on Broadway. The show was the best-selling magic show in Broadway history.

The Academy of Magical Arts and The Magic Castle Hollywood awarded the duo the “Stage Magicians of the Year 2016.”

The post Casino announces Friday lineup for this month appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Trombone Shorty, a beloved New Orleans bandleader, singer, songwriter and horn-blower, will heat up the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25.

Over the years, Shorty has gained international acclaim for his trombone and trumpet virtuosity, his songwriting, and his ability to blend traditional New Orleans styles with rock, funk, soul, and hip-hop.

Born Troy Andrews in 1986, he grew up in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. He got his nickname when he picked up his very first instrument – the trombone – at the age of 4. By the time he was 8, he led his own band in parades, halls and even bars. (The bars would have to lock the door so the police wouldn’t come in.)

In his teens, Shorty played in shows abroad with the Neville Brothers. After graduating from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts high school, he became a featured member of the horn section in Lenny Kravitz’s world tour.

At the age of 20, he performed with U2 and Green Day in the Superdome to mark the New Orleans Saints’ return home after Hurricane Katrina. He has since played everywhere from the White House for President Barack Obama to Eastern Europe, where he joined the Rolling Stones for their last stop of their European No Filter tour.

In 2007, New Orleans music magazine “Offbeat” named Shorty their Performer of the Year. He also received honors as Best Contemporary Jazz Performer.

He and his band, Orleans Avenue, have toured the globe and performed on television shows, including “Conan,” “Late Show with David Lettermen,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Between 2010 and 2013, Shorty appeared in seven episodes of the HBO series “Treme,” which often featured local New Orleans performing artists.

 His most recent album, “Parking Lot Symphony,” released by Blue Note Records, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart.

 Tickets are $29, $34, $39, $49 & $59, available at the casino or at www.chumashcasino.com.

The post Jazz sensation Trombone Shorty to play at casino appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.