Contributing Writer

 The annual Los Alamos Christmas tree lighting event took on greater dimensions this year with the addition of a Christmas giving program, “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

 In spring of 2018, a committee of Shirley Williams, Gloria Diffenderfer, Suzanne Tosti and Laura Beax asked the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club to start a Christmas program for Los Alamos families in need. The board members voted and initially donated $1,000.

“I’ve been wanting to do this project for a few years now. My vision was to have a Unity Shoppe-type Christmas event where people in need had the opportunity to acquire gifts for their families for Christmas,” said Williams, a Men’s Club board member.

Photo by Jeffrey Bloom Photography
The Senior Center was festively decorated with an array of gifts under the Christmas tree.

“We started early and planned on helping an estimated 15 needy families. We took nominations from the local school and people who knew people that needed help, and the list rapidly grew to 33 families, including seniors. We went back to the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club with our list of families and they generously gifted us with another $1,000,” she added.

Kathy Christoferson, vice president of the Los Alamos Senior Center, then got involved.

“We wanted to have the Senior Center available for the ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ Christmas program and the Men’s Club open for a community event. We also thought it would be a good place for kids on the nominated families list to play while their parents were picking up Christmas gifts at the Senior Center,” said Williams.

Each of the nominated families was asked to fill out a “wish list” of what they wanted for their families. There were no names, just a number at the top of each list. The parents were then given that number so they could pick up their gifts at the Senior Center on the day of the party.

The Ladies of Los Alamos (LOLA), members of the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club and other volunteers each adopted a family, becoming their Secret Santa.

“We met the first week of October to pull things together,” said Williams. “This community is truly unbelievable. The Secret Santas bought nearly everything that was on each of the wish lists. We also had a toy drive at the same time. Then Los Alamos residents started sending monetary donation to help with the event, which allowed us to give gift certificates to each of the families to shop for food at Walmart for their Christmas dinner. It was truly amazing to see the overwhelming generosity of our little community.

“The day of the event was more than I ever expected,” she added. “It all worked out perfectly. We were all on the same page. We all wanted everyone in our community to have a happy, bountiful Christmas, and none of it could have been accomplished without the help of the community.”

The Men’s Club was beautifully decorated, thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. Tables were filled with Christmas cookies donated by Decadence Bakery in Buellton along with goodies made by local residents. There was a Hot Cocoa Bar, and little gift bags with candy and little trinkets were handed out to each child. There was also a photo booth to commemorate the day. Santa’s Helper, Louie Magdaleno, helped with the festivities.

The event was open to all the children of the community and their parents. With the children busy at play at the Men’s Club, parents were able to sneak out to the Senior Center and pick up the gifts.

Upon entering, each family signed in under their individual number and received a gift certificate. They then received all the gifts on their Secret Santa wish list and could then visit the tables brimming with toys and clothing, donated by the community, picking out one gift for each child. The gifts were then brought to the wrapping station where volunteers wrapped each gift.

“They were told to tell their children that these gifts were from them, not the Senior Center,” said Christoferson.

“It was wonderful to see the absolute joy and wonder on the faces of the parents when they saw all the presents under the beautifully decorated Christmas tree at the Senior Center,” said Christoferson. “They couldn’t stop thanking us. It was a wonderful experience. Bringing joy to people is the greatest gift.”

“It was heartwarming to see how many of the families, after secretly taking home all the gifts, returned to help with the activities at the Men’s Club and stayed to help with the clean-up afterwards,” said Williams. “Not only did we help them, but they then helped us.”

Later in the evening numerous Valley residents and visitors joined in the Christmas tree lighting event. Santa arrived and Joe Dana, principal of Olga Reed School, officiated over the tree lighting. The Olga Reed School and Orcutt Academy Choir sang traditional Christmas carols ushering in the season. The Vineyard Voices, an a cappella harmony quartet consisting of Anne and Rich Gamble, Robb Manchester and Allison Reitz, entertained guests singing Christmas carols at various local restaurants.

“The ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ event was brand new this year and we have already been contacted by foundations offering matching grants for next year,” said Williams.

“There’s a lot of love in this community,” she added. “What I like most is that everyone contributes for the right reason – love of neighbor … It was a blessing to those in need in our little town and to the town itself. … A special thank you goes to both Kathy Christoferson and Sheryl Wood, president of the Senior Center, and to all those who made this event a huge success.

“In the end, we couldn’t have done any of this without the support and generosity of the community. People were so generous. It was just incredible.”

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SYV Star Staff Report

The “Greatest Little Small Town Parade” on Sunday, Sept. 24, featured more than 350 participants in 37 entries from around the region during the 71^st annual Los Alamos Valley Old Days celebration.

The parade and other weekend festivities attracted an estimated 3,000 people to Los Alamos, according to organizers.

“I love the horses and eating candy,” said Sasha Burnett, 4, of Santa Ynez, who attended the parade with her parents, Rory and Nicole.

Old Days is sponsored, coordinated and hosted by members of the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club (LAVMC), a nonprofit group of men, women and families that is dedicated to preserving the town’s unique Western character and hospitality.

The club provides scholarships and funding to local students and other nonprofit organizations, as well as offering its facilities to rent for private events.  LAVMC is supported by tax-deductible donations from individuals, families and businesses.

The grand marshal of this year’s parade was Los Alamos resident and community volunteer Jim McCullar, affectionately known around town as Big Pops, Papa or Jimbo. Since moving to Los Alamos in 1994, he has tirelessly volunteered with LAVMC, serving on many committees and now in his second term as a board member.

He has been seen decorating the town with pumpkins, setting up luminaries, assisting with sandbag placements during wet months, removing graffiti and doing maintenance for the LAVMC clubhouse at 429 Leslie Street.

He is employed as a property manager by area businessman Dan Thompson.

The parade coordinator was Los Alamos resident Mary Anne Christensen. The parade began with the singing of the national anthem by Ilysia Pierce, a professional singer who serves as cantor at Temple of the Arts of Beverly Hills and performs in concerts, musicals and theater. She is part of long-time LAVMC volunteer Mary Caldera’s extended family.

Winners of parade awards were:

– Best Overall Entry: LOLA (Ladies of Los Alamos) Social Group

n Best Theme Oriented: Brigette Lopez, Queen of the Black & White Ball, sponsored by the Mexican Ladies Social Club of Santa Maria

– Best Float: Righetti High School Future Farmers of America Club

– Best Equestrian Entry: Santa Maria Elks Outriders & Historic Officers Wagon

– Best Vehicle Entry: Boots-N-Chutes All Airborne Association 1942 World War II military Jeep

– Best Musical Entry: Righetti High School Warrior Band

– Best Performance Group: Los Tequileros

– Best Youth Group: “Once a Bronco, Always a Bronco,” Olga Reed School students and faculty

– Best Tractor: 1925 John Deere, Jim Martin of Lompoc

For more information, visit www.LosAlamosValleyOldDays.com.

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With the theme “Embracing our Heritage,” the 71st annual Los Alamos Valley Old Days Celebration is set for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 22-24, with plenty of fun for all ages in the historic, Western-style town.

With no admission charges, residents and visitors gather every year to honor, preserve and celebrate the town’s authentic Western culture.

Highlights include Friday evening’s Chili Kick-off Party & Dance, two-day Peddlers’ Mart & Artisan Faire, Saturday’s car show and Sunday morning’s “Greatest Little Small Town Parade.”

The celebration is sponsored by the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, a nonprofit organization of men, women and families dedicated to preserving the town’s unique Western character and hospitality.

The club, supported by tax-deductible donations, provides scholarships for local students and funding for organizations, and offers its facilities to rent for events.

To get more information or to register to enter the parade, log onto www.losalamosvalleyolddays.com.

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C.A.R.E.4Paws—short for Community Awareness, Responsibility & Education—works to reduce pet overpopulation, keep animals out of shelters and improve quality of life for pets and their families in Santa Barbara County. The nonprofit hosts weekly spay/neuter days and vaccine clinics for cats and dogs as well as larger vaccine events that usually attract hundreds of pet owners. C.A.R.E.4Paws hosts these clinics as part of its bilingual Community Outreach Program, which targets “critical” areas countywide—communities with high numbers of unaltered, unvaccinated animals and where pet owners have limited access to affordable, accessible pet services. To facilitate the spay/neuter surgeries, the organization has its own mobile clinic and also partners with a dozen veterinary clinics countywide.

C.A.R.E.4Paws focuses most of its outreach and spay/neuter efforts on cities such as Lompoc, Guadalupe, Santa Maria and Santa Barbara’s East- and Westside. While the organization has helped many Los Almost pet owners since its founding in 2009, the April 8 clinic marks the first time its community outreach team and Spay Mobile will be working directly in the city. “Our goal is always to work closely with pet owners in need and ensure they have access to affordable services,” says Carlos Abitia, Cofounder and Community Outreach & Youth Program Director. “This way you avoid the birth of countless unwanted litters of kittens and puppies and reduce the likelihood of more animals ending up homeless or neglected.” Through its work, C.A.R.E.4Paws has made a big dent in Santa Barbara County’s pet overpopulation problem and, even more importantly, has helped changed mentalities around pet ownership, Abitia says.

At the April 8 clinic, C.A.R.E.4Paws will provide $5 rabies vaccines, $10 distemper parvo (DHPP) for dogs and $10 feline distemper (FVRCP). Microchips, dewormer and topical flea treatment also cost $10 each. Low-income pet owners can schedule a free spay/neuter, to take place at one of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ partner veterinary clinics or in its Spay Mobile. Additionally, Project PetSafe will be onsite to sell pet licenses from $25.

Supporters of C.A.R.E.4Paws’ Community Outreach and Spay/Neuter Programs include Roy & Ida Eagle Foundation, Chrissie’s Fund, Petco Foundation, Santa Barbara Humane Society, Wood-Claeyssens Foundation and C.A.P.A. (Companion Animal Placement Assistance).

For more details, visit care4paws.org or contact C.A.R.E.4Paws at 805-968-2273 or info@care4paws.org.

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By Drew Esnard

drew@santaynezvalleystar.com

Crowds gathered on Sunday under warm, sunny skies to eat, shop local vendor stalls, and watch the “Greatest Little Small Town Parade” at the 70th annual Los Alamos Old Days. The three day event, which kicked-off with a chili dinner and dance on Friday evening, is a held each year to honor, preserve and celebrate the town’s authentic Western heritage.

The parade’s theme was “Celebrating Our Community” and featured more than 400 participants in 41 entries from around the region. Mia Vazquez, a 26-year old native of Los Alamos began the parade with a heartfelt performance of the national anthem. Jim Gravitt, 20-year Los Alamos resident and active member of the community, honorably sported the title of 2016 Los Alamos Old Days Parade Grand Marshal

A group of seven unbiased, non-local judges declared the following Los Alamos Old Days Parade Winners: Best Theme Oriented Central Coast Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 982; Best Float Righetti High School FFA; Best Equestrian Entry Lienzo Charro’s Juan Chavez of Santa Ynez; Best Vehicle Entry 1949 FarmaLl Tractor owned by Charles Linquitl; Best Musical Entry Righetti High School Warrior Marching Band; Best Performance Group Olga Reed School Students & Faculty “Once a Bronco, Always a Bronco”; Best Overall Entry Small Farmer Andrew Wightman with his 1/3 size hay baler.

Los Alamos Old Days is sponsored, coordinated and hosted by all-volunteer members of the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club—a philanthropic 501(C)3 not-for-profit group of men, women and families—dedicated to preserving the town’s unique Western character and hospitality.  LAVMC provides scholarships and funding to local students and other non-profit organizations, as well as offering its facilities for rent for private events.  The Club is supported by tax-deductible donations from individuals, families and businesses.

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With great honor the Los Alamos Valley Mens Club members have selected long-time Los Alamos resident and community volunteer Jim Gravitt as the 2016 Los Alamos Old Days Parade Grand Marshal. The 70th annual Los Alamos Old Days Celebration is Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25, with plenty of fun for all ages in this historic, western-style town.

“Looking back on those who preceded me, I am especially honored. I will stand tall and wear the badge proudly. I have had a wonderful life with many blessings,” Gravitt said.

Admission is free and the public is invited to join residents and visitors who gather each year to honor, preserve and celebrate the town’s authentic Western heritage. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Community.” 

Gravitt retired after being an Electronic Engineer with Raytheon in Goleta for 40 years. He had a great job designing microwave systems. Now he fills his life with nonpaying jobs like Valley Community Mentoring, Cottonwood Community Fellowship, and Los Alamos Valley Senior Center. He also was Chaplain at the Men’s Club.

“We have a great little community here in Los Alamos. Where else can you go to find a small friendly town with so much to offer? Old Days has been one of our highlights that we have been proud of for 70 years. Thank you Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club members for this honor,” Gravitt remarked.

Los Alamos Old Days is sponsored by the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club (LAVMC)—a philanthropic 501(C)3 not-for-profit group of men, women and families—dedicated to preserving the town’s unique character and hospitality.  Highlights of the LAVMC Old Days weekend-long celebration include Friday evening’s Chili Kick-off Party & Dance,two-day Peddlers’ Mart & Artisan Faire, Saturday’s Car Show “Deeply Rooted in the Community”; the evening “Happy Hour & Silent Auction” with more than 100 items and Sunday morning’s “Greatest Little Small Town Parade.”

Los Alamos is located at the intersection of US Highway 101 and State Route 135 (Bell Street); just an hour north of Santa Barbara and 20 minutes south of Santa Maria in the heart of Santa Barbara County ranch, farm and wine country. The Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, founded in 1946, provides scholarships and funding to local students and organizations, as well as offering its facilities to rent for private events. The Club is supported by tax-deductible donations. Additional support for 2016 Los Alamos Old Days celebration is being provided again this year by Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

Organizations and individuals interested in participating in the Car Show as well as the Parade are encouraged to visit the website for applications; and for complete schedule of 2016 Los Alamos Old Days events, see www.LosAlamosValleyOldDays.com

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