By Pamela Dozois

The 79th annual Los Alamos Old Days celebration, a three-day event, was held on the weekend of Sept. 26-28, featuring a Classic Car Show, an Artisan’s Faire, the Old Days Stampede 5K Run, dinner and dancing at the Men’s Club, food, music, and games for the children, and the Biggest Little Hometown Parade. The theme of this year’s event was “How the West was One.”
The festivities began on Friday night at the Men’s Club with dinner and dancing to the music of “Red Oak
Country.”
Saturday morning saw one side of Bell Street filled with an array of vintage and antique cars and trucks
and the other side lined with vendors offering their wares. Children were treated to a variety of games, face painting, and bounce houses in Ferrini Park, and a petting zoo behind the Men’s Club. There were food trucks and tri-tip sandwiches available for hungry attendees. Also, there was a “Wild Woof West Dog Parade and Contest” sponsored by That’s FETCH!, Santa Barbara County Animal Services, and Ron and Betty Ziegler. And, of course, what would an old-time Western celebration be without Cow Pie Bingo, which was won by Esto Carrillo.

The winners of the car show were: Best in Show — Pete Gaalswy’s 1939 Plymouth Coupe; Best
Hot Rod — Paul Cetti’s 1933 Ford 3-Window Custom; Best Custom — Mario Angulo’s 1972 Chevrolet K5
Blazer; Best Classic Truck (pre-1990) — Mike Tremper’s 1972 Chevy C-10 Pickup; Best Muscle Car (stock
1960-1987) — Rick Wahlberg’s 1968 Chevy Camaro; Best Rat Rod — Cody Castagna’s 1935 Ford Pickup;
Best Classic Antique (pre-1942 stock) — Rob Rohrer’s 1915 Ford Model T Depot Hack; Best Patina (rods,
customs, trucks) — Teddy Broussard’s 1949 Chevrolet Carpenter School Bus; Best Sports Car 2-seater —
John Shockley’s 1954 Austin Healey 100; Best Volkswagen — Russell Newell’s 1966 VW 21 Window Bus;
Best Classic 1927-1941 (all makes and models) — Robert Mainor’s 1937 Chevrolet 2-door Sedan; Best Tri
Five (all makes and models) — Chris Chiavoni’s 1955 Chevy Bel-Air; Best 1946-1959 (all makes and
models) — Jose Negrete’s 1948 Chevy Fleetline; and Best Low Rider — Joe Hernandez’s 1954 Chevy Bel
Air. Due to overcast skies, many of the automobiles left soon after the judging in hopes of not getting
their cars wet, but dry weather prevailed for the entire weekend.
Saturday came to a close with everyone packing up for the night anticipating the next day’s events, but
the fun continued at the Los Alamos Men’s Club with a Cook Your Own Dinner/Dance with live music by
The Fossils, who played into the night. But there was more fun to be had the following day with the 5K
run and the “Biggest Little Small-Town Parade.”
On Sunday at 9 a.m., a 5K run/walk sponsored by CalSwoosh began with more than 40 people participating in the event. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit sports club, part of CalSwoosh, which uses the proceeds to help underprivileged kids to play sports. Trophies were awarded to the first-place male, Matthew Seurria whose time was 16.45, and first-place female, Halle Hamilton, whose time was 20.01. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in seven divisions.

“This was the 14th year that CalSwoosh has participated in Los Alamos Old Days, and we had the most
people ever, with more than 40 participants,” said Coy Kendrick, organizer of the event.

Following the 5K run, Bell Street began to fill up with hundreds of people anticipating the parade, which was said to be the largest in its history with 48 entries. The sidewalks throughout Los Alamos were filled with people, in some places four or five deep awaiting the parade.

Seeing the parade approaching, Jacob Dana began to sing the national anthem while everyone stood
silently with hands over their hearts. Shirley Williams and Charlie Gonzales were the parade’s
announcers.

This year’s parade Grand Marshals were Ron and Betty Ziegler.

“The Zieglers have been a cornerstone of the Los Alamos community for decades, embodying the values of generosity, friendship, and dedication that define small-town life,” which was stated in part in their bio. “Both are well-known for their active support of local traditions, lending their time, resources, and encouragement to events that bring neighbors together year after year. Their belief in preserving community spirit has made them familiar and trusted faces at nearly every town event. Their commitment to family, friends, and neighbors reflects a deep love for the town they call home.” They have been married for 67 years.

The King and Monighetti families led the parade carrying the American flag, which has been their tradition since 1966. They were followed by the first-ever 2025 Old Days Queen, Lucy Martin, and Old Days Princess, Arena Longoria, and their court, dancing horses, and a brass band from Cabalgata Guadalupana de la Costa Central, and then the parade’s Grand Marshals.

Following the dignitaries was a variety of parade entries featuring dancing horses, hounds, fun floats,
vintage vehicles, beautifully costumed dancers, marching bands, vintage tractors, and floats by local
schools and businesses.

The 2025 Los Alamos Old Days Parade winners are as follows: Best Antique Vehicle 1st Place — Coastal
Vineyard Care Associates; Best Community Service Organization 1st Place — Sleep in Heavenly Peace;
Honorable Mention — JLD Boxing Academy; Best Equestrian Group 1st Place — Lienzo Charro Juan Juavez;
Honorable Mention — Santa Ynez Valley Hounds; Best Float 1st Place — Righetti FFA; Honorable Mention —
Lemos Feed & Pet Supply; Best Locals Entry 1st Place — Peppertree Farms Pumpkin Patch; Best
Elementary School — Olga Reed Broncos and Orcutt Academy K-8 Spartans (tie); Best Performance Group
(musical, marching) 1st Place — Orcutt Academy High School Marching Band; Honorable Mention —
Lompoc High Sapphire Dance; Best Restored Tractor 1st Place — Al Bennett; Honorable Mention — two
Farmall Tractors (Charles and Kelli Linquiti); Best Use of Theme 1st Place — Bundle ADU; Honorable
Mention — St. Joseph High School; and Best Military — Lompoc PD / Armored Rescue Vehicle.

Back at the Men’s Club, a barbecue contest was taking place, and this year’s winner was Priedite Barbecue.
Queen Lucy Martin, and Princess Arena Longoria, and their court — Xiomora Rubio, Elizabeth Flores, Sadie Greenwal, and Monica Diaz, raised $15,000 for the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club who sponsored the event.

“It was a privilege to raise money for such a worthy organization,” said Longoria. “This incredible weekend doesn’t just happen on its own. I want to recognize the amazing group of volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and talents to make Old Days possible. These committee chairs and leaders give up countless hours they could be spending with their families to organize, plan, and prepare. They juggle phone calls, emails, permits, and county/state requirements – all while working to create an event that brings joy to our town. Their dedication is inspiring, and I am beyond proud of what they have accomplished,” said Ray Williams, president of the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club.

The post Three days of fun, food, and festivities at Los Alamos Old Days appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Nineteen-year-old Nevaeh Martinez is a recent graduate of Allan Hancock College and was awarded “Student of the Year” award and a scholarship for her accomplishments. She is now off to a new future at San Diego State University on her way to acquiring a degree in criminal justice. Nevaeh is the stepdaughter of Arturo (Cheech) Raygoza and daughter of Griselda and Richard Martinez. Her family dynamic has experienced the consequences of the alcohol and drug addiction crisis and has emerged, not only from
the trauma, but has triumphed, breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration that plagues our society today.
Like so many of our youth who have grown up in dysfunctional families, victims of drug abuse, alcoholism, inadequate familial and societal structures, and incarceration, Nevaeh shares her story to help others attain insight into the struggles of children born into these dynamics and how she overcame them through education, fortitude, and a deep desire for a better life.
“I grew up not having my mother by my side because of her own struggles with addiction, which led to me getting into trouble, growing up too fast, and having a constant worry about what could happen next,” she said. “Although my dad has had his struggles as well, he has always been there and tried his best for all of us, working late nights to provide for us, keeping us warm and safe. Without his love and nourishment, our lives would’ve been much more difficult.”
In a previous story on Cheech Raygoza in the Santa Ynez Valley Star dated Aug. 2, 2022, wherein Griselda told her story of addiction and incarceration, she said that one of the inmates she met while incarcerated had a huge impact on her, inspiring her to realize how much damage she had caused, not only to her own life, but more importantly, to the lives of her children. She decided to get clean for the sake of her children, once and for all.
When Neveah was 12 years old, she and her siblings moved back in with their mother after being in their grandmother’s care for three years.
“My mother helped herself by making all the necessary changes in her life that were required to regain custody of me and my siblings. We then moved from Santa Maria to Los Alamos into an apartment,” she explained.
But with all the changes and uncertainty in Neveah’s life, there were also many struggles along the way.
“When we first moved to Los Alamos, I had to change schools. That was a big change for me,” she explained. “Plus, I didn’t know how to live a normal life with my mom, whom I had been away from for three years. It was a lot to get used to, but I did. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school with my brother. He was in eighth grade, and I was in sixth. He was also getting in trouble, which made his teacher resentful towards him, and once he left to go to high school, the same teacher held the same
resentment towards me, which wasn’t easy because I was now the one getting picked on. This teacher made me think that I wouldn’t amount to anything, constantly bringing up my mother’s past to hold against me, just as he had done to my brother. I began to suffer from depression. When COVID hit, I was thankful because I didn’t have to see him anymore.”
Entering high school is a difficult transition in itself, and with the complications of COVID, her road ahead was fraught with more unexpected hurdles.
“I was 13 at the time, and I didn’t know what depression was until I felt it. I was always in my head, overthinking everything,” she explained. “And when I started my freshman year at Righetti High School, it was still during COVID, and I hated it. I lost all motivation, my depression got worse, I was failing school, and I was just stuck in a dark hole that I couldn’t seem to get out of.
“There were teachers who never really showed they cared because everything was so new. And there were counselors who didn’t guide me in the right direction when I needed the help. COVID changed everything. After that year ended, I transferred to Orcutt Academy High School, which was the best decision I’d made up to that point. The school was so welcoming and supportive, and my
teachers wanted to see me succeed. But after transferring, I had to play catch-up because of failing the previous school year. It was hard and kind of a setback, but I pushed and pushed myself.
During her junior year, she learned that she was able to cross-enroll into community college while still attending high school, and in so doing, it would help her catch up with her credits. She did that for the rest of her time in high school, and she said that it was the best feeling to have that opportunity and to get help from her stepdad and mother, who worked and ran the B.I.G.E. Club at Allan Hancock College, which her stepfather founded. Unfortunately, when her senior year rolled around, she was still at risk of not graduating due to one difficult class, despite all of the hard work she had put into her education. She fell back into a depression but pushed through it. She said that the thought of failing again was just “unthinkable.”
“I seriously thought that I was not going to make it, but I pushed myself again, and by the grace of God, I was able to pass the class,” she said. “During the second semester, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized. Without God’s strength and love, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. I’m very grateful that I made that decision for myself because it allowed me to make a change and start over.”
Despite all the struggles she has faced, Nevaeh graduated from high school in 2024, and this year she graduated from Allan Hancock College in May. She received two degrees in administration of justice and liberal arts: social and behavioral sciences, and received four certificates of achievement.
She was awarded “Student of the Year” because of her accomplishments and also received a scholarship. She said that she is proud to have been accepted at all four universities she applied to: Cal State Long Beach, Chico State, San Diego State, and Fresno State. She is now attending SDSU to further her education and obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“From someone who has struggled with motivation and not liking school to someone who wants to learn and work hard for a life that I’ve longed for is a miracle. It was a long road, but I finally did it, and I’m now walking happily through life knowing that God’s plan is the right plan,” she added.
“My mom has been my greatest inspiration,” she said. “She has shown me so much about what this world has to offer. She alone gives me so much strength and motivation to keep pushing forward. She as a person is important to me because despite all of her pain and suffering, she broke the cycle with the help of my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza. I am very fortunate to have them both in my life. Without them I don’t know where my life would be or how it would’ve turned out. My stepdad has helped us all get out of this cycle of feeling that we don’t belong or aren’t good enough for this world. He is a prime example of God’s grace working in all of our lives. Not only did he help change my life and that of my family, but he also changed himself and now helps change the lives of people around him. They both grew into these amazing people and are willing to help those who are struggling today. They didn’t just turn their lives around; they turned my life and my views around. My mom is now attending Chico State University, working towards her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has two associate degrees in human services addiction studies and sociology to become a drug and alcohol counselor. My stepdad has now earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley and is the founder of the B.I.G.E program, which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education. You can see why they are my inspiration because they taught me that there’s beauty in the struggle and that no matter how big or small a situation is, we will always get through it; we just have to have faith in God and work hard. My family, Richard, Devin, Damion, Josephine, and Allyson, will continue to be my best support system and the best role models. And a sincere thank you to my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza, and my mom, Griselda Martinez, for their inspiration and guidance and for giving me a story that I am proud of.”

The post Breaking the cycle of family addiction and incarceration appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Staff Report

Rich Gamble, author of the Zack Tolliver series of books, and his wife Ann, will be moving from Los Alamos this fall to be closer to their son, who lives in northern California. They will be holding an “Overstock and Farewell” party from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 27, at the Bedford Winery in Los Alamos. 

“It will be an opportunity offering readers to ‘fill in the blanks’ of books in the Zack Tolliver series, for a reduced price, that they may not yet own, and, of course, the chance for us to see friends and neighbors once more,” said Gamble. “We would love to see all of you there.” 

Gamble says he will continue to write books, and, in fact, his next one is already in the works.

Bedford Winery is at 448 Bell St. in Los Alamos.

The post Author Rich Gamble hosting farewell party July 27 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Los Alamos resident Ray Williams has been chosen as one of the participants of Butchers of America’s Team USA, joining with five other members to compete in the World Butcher Challenge (WBC) in France at the end of March. For those unfamiliar, the World Butchers Challenge is known to many as “The Olympics of Meat.”

Butchers of America is a team of butchers that was assembled primarily to compete in the WBC, which started approximately 20 years ago, between Australia and New Zealand. Over the years, the competition grew to incorporate teams from many other countries. This year’s challenge will be held in Paris and will have 18 countries participating.

“I became involved in the WBC in 2022 when the competition was held at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento,” said Williams. “I reached out to the team, and they needed help. I assisted with a couple of practices, and I was the floor manager for the WBC.

“Having been given the opportunity to hang carcasses in an NBA arena was an opportunity of a lifetime. I thought I knew a lot about butchery, but with my experience in the ’22 event, I realized there are so many ways other countries do things that it was a great learning experience for me.” 

Williams began his long career in butchery at the age of 14 when he was invited to a local custom-exempt butchery in Lompoc with a bunch of other Future Farmers of America (FFA) kids to help process chickens for the Santa Barbara County Fair. 

“I was the only one who showed up,” he said. “I spent the weekend with the butcher, Steve Greco, and his family, and at the end he liked the way I worked and offered me a job.”

A custom-exempt butchery is an establishment where you take animals you’ve either raised or purchased to be slaughtered and processed.

“I worked for Steve every summer until I was 18, and then I worked for him full-time,” Williams said. “When I was 19, I started working at the Vandenberg Commissary and worked there for 12 years, ending up being the meat manager. From there I went to work at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc. I was a cook foreman for two years and then moved on to be the vocational training instructor, teaching butchery to out-custody inmates, where I still work. I have been there for 10 years.”

Williams has considered the job very rewarding. 

“I consider this a dream job because I have the opportunity to teach inmates a skill they would not normally have the opportunity to acquire. It is a very fulfilling career,” he said. “In my classes I teach slaughter, carcass breakdown, retail cuts, sausages, and further processing like curing hams and bacon. It is the last meat program in the Bureau of Prisons.”

Because of his experience and the fact that a number of the participants in the 2022 challenge weren’t returning for this year’s competition, Williams decided to try out for the team.

“It was a nationwide tryout, and the winners were narrowed down to 40,” he said. “Initially I had to submit a video and a bio, and then there were additional videos and questions to be answered, and the number was whittled down to 10. The last 10 of us had to go to Sacramento and compete on stage in front of an audience at the Farm to Fork Festival. Historically, butchers don’t like to reveal their methodology in public. From those final 10 contestants, they chose five of us to be on Team USA to join the one remaining team member.” 

However, with that position earned comes the responsibility to raise money.

“The final team of six has to raise $10,000 each to cover costs. As the old saying goes, ‘The cutting is the easy part – the fundraising is the hard part,’” Williams said in jest. “The Los Alamos Men’s Club donated to my efforts for fundraising and I was able to reach my goal.

“Brad and Debra Vidro held a fundraiser at Maker’s Son in Los Alamos, and the community came out in full force to support my efforts. My mother, Shirley Williams, has also helped at every turn, along with my wife, Wendy, and our three children, Anna (age 17), Adam (age 16), and Miranda (age 12). And as co-owner of Whisky Bent BBQ, a catering service, I would like to thank the Rice guys for all their help fundraising. The entire community of Los Alamos has really backed me up, and I am most grateful for all their support.”

Butchers of America’s Team USA will be competing on March 30 and 31 with teams from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, Romania, and Spain.

“It’s going to be pretty wild,” said Williams. “We have three hours and 30 minutes to break down half a cow, half a pig, a whole lamb, and five chickens. Every item is to be processed and displayed with a detailed recipe on how to cook it. The cuts you see in a grocery store are totally unlike what you will see in this competition because they are very innovative. The final display has to also include visually artistic features in the presentation, which you wouldn’t find in any grocery store.”

Williams said the competitors will be working in front of some watchful eyes.

“During the competition, judges walk around checking for safety, sanitation, teamwork, proper use of the equipment, and final display,” he continued. “The judges then pick one item of each protein from each country, which will be cooked according to the attached recipe by French chefs and ultimately judged.”

Williams said the winning team in the competition will get a trophy and bragging rights, but many more will gain benefits from the event.

“On April 1 everyone will attend a gala dinner put on by the WBC. All the meat from the competition is donated by WBC to be distributed to local food banks,” he said.

“Participating in this event is beyond my wildest dreams; being in Paris, butchering in front of a crowd, I know it will be an amazing experience, one to remember for a lifetime.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the Williams and the team can visit www.butchersofamerica.org to purchase merchandise and knives that are used exclusively in the competition. Just mention in the comments section, “Ray sent me.”

The post Los Alamos resident to compete in World Butcher Challenge in Paris appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

What can be better than a good reason to visit the Santa Ynez Valley? Try two great reasons to visit in the new year. 

The popular Midweek Membership Club (Jan. 12 to April 30) presents a limited opportunity to take advantage of a once-a-year deal to stay at the region’s best hotels, wine country inns, and more. Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks(Jan. 19 to Feb. 1), presents a tantalizing exploration of the Valley’s culinary culture at a special price. Together, Midweek Membership Club and Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks give reason to celebrate the new year with an unforgettable trip to the heart of California’s Central Coast wine country. 

“Planning a New Year’s trip to the Santa Ynez Valley is the perfect way to cure the post-holiday doldrums,” says Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. “The Valley’s mild, sunny weather makes for a perfect winter escape all by itself. But the Midweek Membership Club and Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks — two special, once-a-year chances to experience our top dining, wine, and lodging options at affordable prices for nearly everyone — make a winter or early spring visit impossible to resist.”

The Midweek Membership Club

Weekend trips to the Santa Ynez Valley are heavenly. But a midweek visit to the Santa Ynez Valley is a truly special experience, with easy access to the region’s many wine, culinary, cultural, and outdoor experiences. The Midweek Membership Club makes a weekday trip all the sweeter. 

Beginning Dec. 20, anyone who books an eligible consecutive two-night, Sunday-Thursday Midweek Membership Club stay at a qualifying lodging property — from Jan. 12 through April 30 — receives a $100 voucher upon check-in at a participating hotel. The $100 can then be used for wine tastings, dining, shopping, activities, and other experiences during the trip. 

With only 100 Midweek Membership Club packages available, the popular promotion sells out quickly.

Here’s how the Midweek Membership Club works:

• Through April 30, or until all 100 Midweek Membership Club packages are sold, visitors must book at least one two-night consecutive stay, Sunday through Thursday between Jan. 12 and April 30. The stay must be bookeddirectly with one of the Santa Ynez Valley’s qualified lodging properties. Any booking made before the promotion start date or through a third party will not qualify.
• Once booked, forward the original confirmation email to info@visitsyv.com at least 48 hours before check-in. Late entries will not be accepted.
• Receive your $100 at check-in at your qualified hotel, and use your cash to pay for wine tastings, meals, shopping, activities, and more throughout the valley.
• Only one $100 promo may be redeemed per reservation.  

For more information, complete rules and regulations, and a complete list of qualified lodging properties, or to plan and book your Midweek Membership Club visit to the Santa Ynez Valley, visit visitsyv.com/midweek/. For questions about this offer, email info@visitsyv.com.

Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks

Celebrating its 15th year, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks has become a favorite tradition in the Valley. And why not? 

The Santa Ynez Valley’s reputation as a culinary-driven destination — with imaginative chefs, deep agricultural roots, collaborative culinary culture, and cuisine that ranges from contemporary, innovative farm-to-table fare to traditional Scandinavian feasts — is as well-earned as its reputation for making world-class wines. And for two weeks, the valley’srestaurants offer the best of the region’s cuisine at an unbeatable price.

From Jan. 19 to Feb. 1, Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks will showcase the region’s culinary bounty — and being that this is the Santa Ynez Valley, the perfect wine pairings — with a variety of special three-course prix fixe price menus. Dozens of restaurants will participate, each offering curated, chef-driven, three-course menus at prices of $30, $40, or $50, plus tax and gratuity. More than two dozen of the region’s wineries and tasting rooms will also participate at various levels, offering two-for-one tastings, special tasting flights, and discounts on bottle purchases. 

Restaurant Weeks will offer a menu for every taste, from MICHELIN-starred Bell’s Los Alamos and MICHELIN-rated Coast Range to familiar wine-country favorites such as Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café and Trattoria Grappolo. Try a hot new restaurant such as Na Na Thai, The Victor Restaurant and Bar, and Whiskey ’N Rye, or celebrate the triumphant return of a legendary culinary experience at the recently reopened The Gathering Table. Dine in the vineyards at Petros Winery and Restaurant and Vega Vineyard & Farm, or turn wine country into beer country at Firestone Walker Brewing Company. 

For the latest updates on Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks, including menus and participating restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms, visit www.DineSYV.com or follow Visit the Santa Ynez Valley on Instagram,Facebook, and Twitter.

The post Restaurant Weeks, Midweek Club offer two events to draw visitors in January appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Fire crews have been making steady progress on the Lake Fire, which has burned for nearly two weeks on the northern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley.

The blaze, first reported Friday, July 5, is at 38,664 acres, but growth has been minimal and containment is up to 66 percent, according to the latest incident update by Cal Fire (fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire) at 6:04 p.m. Thursday, July 18. That update also reports that firefighters continue to mop up and pull hose off the fire line.

Several evacuation orders were issued since the fire began, mostly in remote areas, but most have been canceled as of July 17. Those remaining include:

EVACUATION ORDER:

• The area between the western fire perimeter and the Los Padres National Forest Fire Area Closure.
• Area east of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, south of the Los Padres National Forest boundary, and north of the Sisquoc River. 

EVACUATION WARNING:

• Area east of Kelly Canyon, north of Sisquoc River, west of La Brea Creek and Forest Route 10N06, and south of the Los Padres National Forest.

Road closures include:

• Forest Road 10N06/Rancho Sisquoc closed east of Foxen Canyon Road. (Not open to the public.). Foxen Canyon Road is open (not a county road and not listed on the county road closure map).
• Zaca Lake Road east of Foxen Canyon at/near burn zone.
• Figueroa Mountain Road east of Midland School at the forest boundary.
• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary.
• 5 closures within USFS Fire Area Closures – 11N909, 11N01, 10N10, 9N11, 9N11 north of 9N11B all at forest boundaries.

After growing from its starting point near Zaca Lake, the fire was split into a North and South Zone for crews as it expanded in acreage and personnel. The fire remains under Unified Command, with two fire camps to support firefighting efforts, with 2,368 personnel currently assigned to fight the fire. In addition to the personnel, multiple agencies have a total of 11 helicopters, 118 engines, 54 dozers 43 water tenders, and 58 crews assigned to the blaze as of Thursday.

A cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but the investigation continues.

The area the fire originated from is approximately 15 miles north of Los Olivos and approximately 20 miles east of Los Alamos. Highway 154, which ends at Highway 101 near Los Alamos is still open, and there were no indications it was threatened by the fire. The blaze had also gotten close to the former Neverland Ranch, which was Michael Jackson’s residence, and the Midland and SYV Family schools nearby, but none were believed to be in danger.

More information on the fire and evacuations can be found at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire or by calling the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551.

The post UPDATE (July 18): Progress made on Santa Ynez Valley’s Lake Fire appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

The Lake Fire, which was first reported Friday, July 5, is now grown to 26,986 acres and is at 16 percent containment, according to the latest incident update by Cal Fire (www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire) at 5:57 p.m. Tuesday, July 9.

At 12 p.m. on July 9, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an Evacuation Orders for the Woodstock and Goat Rock areas the SB Ranger area (remote forest area east of Goat Rock). Anyone occupying the area has been toldto leave the area immediately.

Areas under evacuation orders as of Tuesday evening were: 

• Woodstock and Goat Rock Areas
• SB Ranger area (remote forest area east of Goat Rock)
• Parts of the Figueroa Mountain area as follows: south of Tunnel House at Sisquoc River, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the southern end of Cachuma Mountain, and west of Los Padres National Forest areas
• All areas from Figueroa Mountain Road at Junction Camp (including Tunnel Rd) to Chamberlin Ranch and all areas from Zaca Lake Rd at Foxen Canyon Road north to the Sisquoc River including east of Foxen Canyon Road to the 9000 block.

Those area under an Evacuation Warning are:

• Area east and north of Alisos Rd (L-shaped road), west of Cachuma Creek, and south of the US Forest Service entrance at Happy Canyon Road.
• Area east of Highway 154, north of Armour Ranch Road/Secretariate St, west of Alisos Rd, and south of the Woodstock area.
• Area east of Figueroa Mountain Road, north of Highway 154, west of Calzada Ave/W Oak Trail Rd and south of Woodstock Rd.
• Area of Goat Rock, east of Figueroa Creek, north of the US Forest Service entrance at Happy Canyon Road, and south of Cachuma Mountain
• Areas north of Calzada Ave, east of E. Oak Trail Rd., west of Happy Canyon, and south of the Sisquoc River

A shelter has been set up at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall at 1745 Mission Drive in Solvang.

The fire is burning on Los Padres National Forest’s Santa Lucia Ranger District and adjacent state land. Forest officials reported Sunday that there were approximately 1,000 firefighters assigned to the blaze, along with a full complement of air resources. A cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but the investigation continues.

The firefighting efforts are under the Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, led by Incident Commander Joshua Boehm, and including USFS Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County Fire and Cal Fire, according to LPNF officials. Cooperators working on this incident include Santa Barbara County Sheriff’sDepartment, Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Department of Public Works, the Chumash Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and California Office of Emergency Services.

“Significant fire activity was in the wilderness area on the east side of the fire footprint,” the Los Padres National Forest has stated in a Tuesday, July 9, release. “It resulted in significant smoke and expanded evacuation orders for remote areas. The main priority is to prevent the fire from moving toward communities to the south.

LPNF reported a Red Flag Warning has been issued for the fire area with strong winds, potential for longer fire spotting distances along with hot, dry conditions. Damage assessments are ongoing as crews locate any structures impacted by the fire. 

The area the fire originated from is approximately 15 miles north of Los Olivos and approximately 20 miles east of Los Alamos. The blaze was also getting closer to the former Neverland Ranch, which was Michael Jackson’s residence, and the Midland and SYV Family schools.

More information on the fire and evacuations can be found at www.countyofsb.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident—July-5-2024 or by calling the Santa Barbara County Call Center at (833) 688-5551.

The fire was first reported Friday, July 5, at 3:48 p.m., and flames were visible from parts of the Santa Ynez Valley overnight.

Santa Barbara County Public Information Officer Capt. Scott Safechuck reported on July 6 that temperatures in the area were in the high 90s with a relative humidity of 11 percent. According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association website (wfca.com), “when relative humidity decreases, fire behavior increases because fine fuels like grass and pine needles become drier quickly,” and “low humidity levels dry out vegetation fuels on a short-term basis, and they can also cause a short-term spike in fire danger.” The National Weather Service considers low humidity to be anything equal to or less than 55 percent.

Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County to be in effect until conditions improve. 

“The Lake Fire is producing significant smoke that is aloft in the skies, currently ground level conditions are good to moderate countywide,” the agencies’ joint press releases says. “This is a dynamic situation, and local air quality conditions can change quickly. All Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to stay alert to local conditions by visiting www.ourair.org/todays-air-quality or fire.airnow.gov.”

The Santa Ynez Valley Star will continue to update this story.

The post Lake Fire nears 27,000 acres; containment at 16 percent appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Jen Curtis, a resident of Los Alamos, has had a heart for animals in need since childhood. As a child growing up in Maine, she said she used to pick up neighborhood cats that she thought were homeless and bring them home.

“So, when I brought the cats home, my mother would say that they probably had homes of their own and that I needed to find out where they lived,” said Curtis. “From childhood, I was always wanting to help sick cats in need. Turns out I’m allergic to cats, so I went without any animal in my life until a friend of mine gifted me with a dachshund named Greta.” 

In 2014, Curtis said she recognized the plight of homeless dogs in need of rescuing. So, she started fostering rescues. At first she focused on dachshunds and dachshund mixes.

“Shortly after bringing in a friend for Greta, I began fostering dachshunds who were looking for forever homes,” she said. “I began with dachshunds and it slowly developed into fostering all breeds of dogs.

“I fostered and then adopted Hudson who was going to be euthanized because he had kennel cough. Then I started doing more. I adopted a cocker spaniel who a delivery guy in Bakersfield had seen someone throw out of a truck and it just went on from there.” 

At present Curtis is an independent dog rescuer, but she is in the process of filing for a 501(c)3 nonprofit status. The name of her rescue will be LE WOOF, but for now she is doing this work as an independent dog lover. 

“The word got out that I am interested in rescuing dogs, so people started calling me about animals in trouble,” said Curtis. “My journey is to find every dog a forever home.”

A board member from the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society and Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG) asked Curtis to help with some fundraising and shortly after that, she was asked to join the Board of Directors and she said that she pretty much spearheaded fundraising for them.

“After two years of helping raise funds for the Humane Society I realized that I preferred to focus on things I could control and make a bigger impact,” she said.

When COVID hit, Curtis started doing more fostering and pulling dogs out of high-kill shelters in Los Angeles County and helping Santa Barbara County find homes for their dogs in need while at the same time continuing to foster. 

“I formed a relationship with a rescue group in Oregon who agreed to take 12-15 dogs a month from overcrowded shelters in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. On a monthly basis I have to raise $2,500 to pay for their transport to Oregon alone,” she explained. “Between pulling dogs for the Oregon transport, raising funds for their transport, pulling dogs that I foster myself along with finding them homes and networking with a team of fosters who help with this work, well, I have to say, it is more than a handful. I host fundraisers, GoFundMes, adoption events to get dogs adopted, and continue to pay for spay and neutering, vaccines, and medical care. I also drive to wherever a dog needs rescuing. This weekend I am off to Ventura to rescue a dog in need. This is a lot to handle on top of having a full-time job in software sales, but it’s worth it.”

Although Curtis began by focusing on a particular breed, she has widened here efforts considerably.

“Currently I focus on all dogs in need, not breed or age specific, but I have a soft spot for senior dogs and medical dogs including hospice dogs,” she said. “I have pulled a few end-of-life dogs from shelters and gave them love and medical support until they passed including my very social boy Ziggy who I had for 7 months before he passed away. 

“In my opinion, shelters are no place for a dog long-term, let alone for a senior dog. Currently we have small, medium, and large dogs of all ages available for adoption.”

Curtis said that shelters are overflowing with adoptable dogs, some of them even pure breed.

“People are dumping their dogs in record numbers in shelters, in deserts, in fields, wherever,” she said. “The number of homeless dogs is the worst it has ever been due to backyard breeders and not spaying or neutering animals or people who find their animals inconvenient and dump them because they don’t want them anymore.

“I will continue to do foster care and rescue and ask people to foster, raise money and find loving homes for as many of these deserving dogs that I can. The community of Los Alamos and the Valley and Santa Barbara County residences have been so supportive of the work I do along with help from friends, volunteers, and fosters. I am grateful to the businesses that have allowed me to host adoption events such as Forage Floral, Full of Life Flat Bread, The Well, Priedite Barbecue, and Bell’s, to name a few.”

Curtis is always looking for fosters, volunteers to walk dogs, weekend puppy or dog foster flings, puppy socializers and people willing to transport. 

“Fostering is easier than you think, long-term or short term,” she said. “Volunteering to walk a dog daily helps the primary caregiver take a break and is a big help or raising money to care for these animals; truly, every little bit helps. I know fostering can be a little heart-breaking when you have to say goodbye to an animal you’ve cared for, but you just have to overcome that feeling and be happy that this animal has found a new forever home and you’ve helped make that happen. I will have over 12 puppies available for adoption by the time this article goes to press, so, if you are looking for a puppy to adopt or want to foster one or more of them, give me a call.”

To enquire about helping in any way including fostering and volunteering, email beaheroforadog@gmail.com or call (781) 640-2926.

If you can’t adopt them by the bunch, how about taking this little fellow home.

The post Local woman has a huge heart for dogs in need appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Staff Report

The annual Los Alamos Town-Wide Rummage Sale returns on May 6, from from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The sale is coordinated by Cathy Christoferson and other volunteer members of the Los Alamos Valley Senior Center. The annual event is a way for the nonprofit to raise funds from the sale of donated items that go to benefit the programs, services, and social events the center offers to local seniors.

A list of garage sale addresses and a town map will be released soon. For more information or to sign-up, call Cathy Christoferson at (805) 344-1931 or (805) 878-7909.

The post Los Alamos to Hold Town-Wide Garage Sale appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Staff Report

A barbecue fundraiser has been scheduled for three families left homeless by a fire at Rancho Alamo Mobile Home Park in Los Alamos.

The fire broke out on Thursday, July 21, around 12:50 p.m. Two homes were completely destroyed and the third sustained 50 percent damage, making it unlivable. All the occupants were able to evacuate safely. 

A barbecue fundraiser featuring pork tacos, hamburgers and hot dogs will be held for all three families from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Los Alamos Men’s Club, 429 Leslie St., in Los Alamos. Dinner is $20 for adults and $12 for children. All are welcome to attend.

To purchase tickets online, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/391221452897 or email ticketsforlosalamosfire22@gmail.com

Anyone wishing to donate money to help these families rebuild their lives can go to their Go Fund Me pages listed below.

Fundraiser for Kim #1 and #2: https://www.gofundme.com/f/f22dv-lost-everything-to-a-house-fire?utm_campaign=p_cf%20share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

https://www.gofundme.com/f/home-of-30-plus-years-destoryed-in-house-fire?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Fundraiser for Kris: 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-families-new-trailer-fund?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

Fundraiser for Laura: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ubwznt-lost-everything-due-to-house-fire?member=20825887&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

The post Fundraiser For Victims of Los Alamos Fire Scheduled for Sunday, July 31 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.