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John Ormand and his family decided to turn a bad situation into a good one after a sign in his yard was vandalized. He didn’t realize just how many people were wanting to join in and was pleasantly surprised when more than 200 people showed up to the Unity SYV: Rally for Inclusion Oct. 18 at Solvang Park. 

“We had a sign in our yard vandalized and we were really shaken that someone would go to those lengths to destroy our property,” Ormand said. “I am not new to acts like this, but my wife and daughter have never experienced anything like it, and we decided to do something about it.”

More than 200 people showed up to the Unity SYV: Rally for Inclusion on Oct. 18 in Solvang Park. The event was put together by a group of friends who wanted to make their voices heard for more tolerance and inclusion.
Photo contributed

Together with a few friends and neighbors like Sarah Gonzalez and Jessy Verkler, they decided to put their energy into something positive and hopefully their rally is not the first, but rather the reason to spark conversation and understanding. 

The rally was an opportunity for people to come together and talk about all sorts of difficult topics such as diversity, racism and inclusion, and how people in the Santa Ynez Valley can unite to make the area a better place. 

Speakers included Pastor Chris Brown of Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang, Rev. Randall Day of St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church and Rav Debi Lewis from the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community. 

“I choose inclusion, I choose tolerance, I choose unity,” Lewis said at the rally. “I want you to look around at the children here and what are you going to tell them you were doing in this time, in this place? They are watching.” 

Event goers were excited to also have a surprise live performance by Grammy-winning singer Pink, (Alecia Moore) who lives in the valley. 

“We are different here in the valley,” Gonzalez said. “There really is this little bubble that keeps us safe for the most part from hard topics and issues such as these, but we aren’t immune, and we shouldn’t look the other way when incidents happen.” 

She added this event was not about politics, but rather how we can put aside differences and understand we all have different stories to tell. 

“The past few months have been hard on everyone for many reasons whether it’s from COVID-19 and all of its affects like distance learning, depression, job loss to conversations of race.” Gonzalez added. “We just wanted to make our presence known that we call our community to recognize we are all one, and should be inclusive of everyone.” 

Several kids from the Santa Ynez Valley did a Call to Action, asking for better examples of inclusion and tolerance.
Photo contributed

The poignant moments for Gonzalez and Ormand were that the kids stood up and did a Call To Action, asking the community to be better examples of what community is. 

“My kids are darker skinned and we have had those hard conversations in our house that no one should be judged because of what they look like or where they come from,” Gonzalez added. 

She said with the plethora of negative news that is divisive, people should actively seek out good stories like valley local Vashti Wilson and her daughter Madison who are creating a line of multicultural crayons. (See our Oct. 20 cover story at www.santaynezvalleystar.com). 

“People like Vashti and Madison are really changing the world and doing something great,” Gonzalez said. “We should be celebrating what makes us different and understand that sometimes growth comes from the sticky parts and hard conversations.” 

While there aren’t any dates set for another inclusion rally, Gonzalez said they are working to do more in the future and they want to highlight several groups in the valley that are starting the work like Inclusion SYV and the SYV Community Action Alliance and businesses like ONEderChild in Solvang that promote diversity with a selection of books that are geared for all ages. 

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In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Chumash Casino Resort’s food outlets will be selling pink-colored desserts, drinks and bracelets throughout October to raise funds for breast cancer research.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society, California Division, specifically for breast cancer research. The special pink items will featured in the Café, the Buffet, the Sweet Stop, the Food Court and Willows, the resort’s AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant.

“Our Food and Beverage Department has put a lot of thought and creativity into ways of making special items for our guests while raising money and awareness for a great cause,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “Our ‘Team Chumash’ program gives our team members a way to donate their time and encourages them to give back to their community. It’s great to see that spirit take hold throughout our organization and have an entire department get behind a worthy cause.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer risks, the value of screening and early detection, while also raising funds for cancer research.

Located on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California, the Chumash Casino Resort is open 24/7 and an age 21-and-older facility. For more information on menu items, visit www.chumashcasino.com/dining.

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Star Report

The annual parade of men on horseback and in carriages through the streets of Solvang will be back again when the Rancheros Visitadores, or “Visiting Ranchers,” begin their week-long ride around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.

This will be the 87th ride for the Visitadores, who have partnered with Wrangler Jeans and the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Foundation to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. This year, all the men will again be wearing pink button-up shirts as they ride along Alisal Road to Old Mission Santa Ines.

“The river of pink shirts was a delightful surprise the first time they decided to partner with the Tough Enough To Wear Pink group back in 2012. Each year since, more and more onlookers are wearing pink also – it is a vibrant, powerful, emotional experience. We are indebted to the Rancheros for their part in ensuring all aspects of our patients’ physical, mental and psychological needs are tended to throughout treatment, recovery and survivorship, all while doing our part to help find a cure,” said Director of Philanthropy Rob Dunton at the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara Sansum Clinic.

Through the Rancheros’ efforts, more than $500,000 has been contributed to the Cancer Center in support of local breast cancer programs, which include clinical research trials, wellness classes and support programs, hereditary cancer risk counseling, nurse navigation, and lymphedema education and screening. These services are available to all breast cancer patients who reside in Santa Barbara County regardless of where they receive treatment or their ability to pay.

The Visitadores group rides through Solvang after the Kentucky Derby broadcast to receive a blessing at Mission Santa Ines before riding to the group campground near Lake Cachuma. People line the streets to watch the hundreds of riders make their way up to the mission.

Many local men have been members since the group started in 1930, but some members have come from many states and several foreign countries.

The first ride was organized by John J. Mitchell, co-founder of National Air Transport, which became United Airlines. He married meat-packing heiress Lolita Armour and owned the 6,000-acre Juan y Lolita Rancho. Mitchell and his friends hitched up their wagons and rode horses to Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos the first year, according to the group’s records.

A few notable past Visitadores have been President Ronald Reagan, Gene Autry, Walt Disney and Bob Hope.

Within a mile of the Rancheros’ parade route is the Cancer Center’s Solvang office at 2040 Viborg Road, No. 140, which provides Santa Ynez residents with access to Cancer Center of Santa Barbara’s cancer doctors. The Cancer Center also offers oncology appointments in Lompoc, and is opening a new world-class regional center in September in Santa Barbara that will bring enhanced technology, genetic testing, immunotherapy and enhanced collaboration to the region.

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By Pamela Dozois

PHP’s Polo Classic was hot, windy, fast, and furious. This year’s sold-out event was held at a new venue, the Piocho Ranch in Happy Canyon, owned by Tom Barrack.  More than 365 VIP tickets were sold and an estimated 500 people attended the Club Seating and General Admission section of the field.

The morning started off with a VIP Champagne Reception followed by a Preliminary Polo match spotlighting up and coming young, local, and international players, supported by seasoned professionals.  On the Blue Team were Alfonso Giannico, Tommy Costello, Athena Malin, and Hilario Figueras. On the Red team were Lucas Escobar, Luis Escobar, Nicolas Escobar, and Lizzy Peck.

Charlotte Bredahl-Baker then gave a stunning dressage demonstration.

“I rode Hamilton (Leo) in a freestyle to a Grease Medley and he was an absolute saint. He didn’t mind all the hoopla and was totally focused on me and our performance. I just love this horse,” said Bredahl-Baker. “What made this extra special for me was that Olivia Newton-John, who has been my idol for years, was at our table and watched my performance. I really wanted to do a good job for her and she approved.”

A VIP & Wine Club Luncheon followed. It was then time for the feature Polo Match of the day. The flag was presented and the National Anthem was sung by Shaken Reed. The field welcomed players from Team Piocho, Tom Barrack, Guillermo “Memo” Gracida, Jr., Nacho Figueras, and Sterling Giannico. On Team USA were Joel Baker, Remy Muller, Jesse Bray, and Felipe Viana.

Bo Derek threw the first ball. The game was fast and furious with one of the riders, # 1 on Team USA losing his seat as his horse ran into some hay bales. The rider landed on his feet and kept hold of the reigns so as not to lose his horse too. During half-time guests were invited out onto the field for a divot stomp, replacing the clumps of grass that had been churned up by the horses’ hoofs.

With the field now in order again, winners of the Hat Contest were announced. Charlotte Becerra won for Most Classic; Terrie Patterson won in the Most Creative category; Alicia Hart took home the Most Dramatic Hat award, and Nancy Chuda won for Best Ensemble sporting a beautiful vintage ensemble.

Play resumed and Team Piocho won the match 7 to 5.

“We out-did ourselves this year,” said Mila Hart, co-chair of the event along with Nancy Hunsicker. “All our VIP tickets were sold out before we advertised it and people kept calling for tickets. We added six more tables and we then had to turn people away. This was the best year ever!”

Following the game, awards were presented to all the players. They each received helmet bags. In honor of his late brother, Gracida presented the Carlos Gracida Sportsmanship Award to Bray. Bray also won the award for the Best String of Horses while Gracida’s horse, a 5-year-old thoroughbred, in his first season, won Best Horse. The horse was from Santa Ynez.

Members of Team Piocho took home this year’s trophy for winning the match.

“What a glorious day for one and all! I couldn’t think of a greater cause and what fun it was,” said Laurel Roberts of Flag is Up Farm.

Freddy Zepeda put the finishing touch to the day by coming to the rescue in his “mule”, offering a lift to the car, which was parked quite a long distance away. Zepeda, who grew up on the ranch, was a charming and delightful example of just how special this event was.

For more information on People Helping People visit their website at www.syvphp.org.

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