There are few fandoms in film and television that rival the passion and numbers of the group of super-fans, affectionately known as “Trekkies.” Well, it looks like Star Trek is going to “boldly go” to the Santa Ynez Valley. 

During San Diego Comic-Con, the Star Trek panel released a load of new information about CBS’ new show, Star Trek: Picard. Along with images, and panel discussion from the stars of the show, fans were treated with a new trailer of the show.

Many Star Trek: The Next Generation fans began swooning as they saw the beloved character, Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, along with a large amount of favorites from that “generation.” From what is gathered, the character Jean-Luc Picard, which has not been seen on the silver screen since 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis or on the small screen of Enterprise in 2005, and has since retired from the Starfleet, taking time to make Bourgogne wine at “Chateau Picard” in his native country of France.

Contributed

Funny how his amazingly fictitious futuristic french villa and vineyard look in no way like Sunstone Winery in the beautiful Santa Ynez Winery today. Actually, they’re one and the same. The Sunstone Villa can be seen in the opening shots of the newly released trailer and also makes an appearance in the recently released poster. It also appears later in the trailer where Picard makes contact with someone who will be bringing him (assumingely) back into the thick of it in outer space. 

Production on Star Trek: Picard started on April 29, 2019 under the working title, Drawing Room and is expected to continue through October 1, 2019. The show is set to air on CBS early 2020, which is the same year that the Central Coast Film Society will be premiering the Central Coast Film Festival in Santa Ynez Valley. 

Are you excited for Star Trek: Picard? Ready to visit Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez Valley? Can you spot Sunstone in the poster? Leave a comment below after watching the trailer for yourself!

Daniel Lahr is the Executive Director of the Central Coast Film Society. Follow their blog on the website regarding filming and media on the Central Coast, as well as the upcoming Central Coast Film Festival in the valley in 2020. 

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A local 15-year-old is determined to help her peers in the developing world escape sex slavery and childhood marriage by getting them to school safely, and she is hoping that other Santa Ynez Valley residents will contribute to her cause.

The focal point of her Lotus Pedals campaign is a bike ride on Saturday, May 11, starting at 8 a.m. at Sunstone Winery at 125 N. Refugio Road. For every $75 she raises, the nonprofit Lotus Outreach International will give a bicycle, a pump, a lock and tools to a girl in rural Cambodia who lives more than a mile from the nearest school.

Tsering Hauenstein, shown in last year’s event on Refugio Road, has organized a second fundraising bike ride for May 11 to help girls in rural Cambodia escape rape, sex slavery and childhood marriage. Photo by Mac Duncan

“These girls have a hard time getting to class without a bicycle, which can lead them to drop out,” said Tsering Hauenstein, the Santa Ynez High School ninth-grader who is organizing the effort. “This is especially sad because then they can end up getting married and having kids before they are 12! And there is also the danger of sex trafficking.”

“Girls who walk to school in rural India and Cambodia are raped at staggering rates. Studies have shown that riding a bicycle to school is much safer, and girls often ride together,” said Tsering’s mother, Kristi Hundt.

The ride offers two relatively flat routes of 6 miles and 13 miles. Both are “kid-friendly,” but riders of all ages are welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with logistics, but not required.

Tsering became involved with Lotus Outreach International last year during a two-day internship while a student at Dunn School. (Dunn requires all eighth-graders to connect with a nonprofit organization for two days.) Her mother has known board and staff members of the organization for years, but the internship prompted Tsering to organize their first Lotus Pedals ride a year ago.

“Last year, we raised $7,500, which was our goal. That means 100 bicycle scholarships, and therefore school for two years for 100 girls in the developing world,” Hundt said.

When Lotus Outreach gives a girl a bicycle scholarship, her parents or guardians must sign a contract agreeing to keep her in school for two years. Lotus Outreach and their partners then monitor the students’ progress and verify their attendance.

This year’s goal is another 100 bicycles. People can help by donating any amount of money, riding in the event, asking civic clubs or employers to donate, spreading the word on social media (using the hashtags #LetsRideTogether and #EducateAGirlChangeTheWorld), or volunteering during the ride. With two separate routes this year, more volunteers will be needed.

Tsering intends to continue the ride every Mother’s Day weekend until she reaches the overall goal of 1,000 bicycles.

Riders should meet in the Sunstone parking lot at 8 a.m. on May 11; rides begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. The beginners will take an out-and-back route starting south on Refugio Road and turning around at the end of the pavement, a total distance of about six miles. The 13-mile route goes north on Refugio, west on Roblar Road, south on Alamo Pintado Road, and back to Refugio via the dedicated bike path that parallels Highway 246.

At the end of the ride, refreshments and vouchers for Figueroa Mountain beer will be provided in the Sunstone staging area. The event ends at 10:30 a.m.

To volunteer or get more information, send email to 1000bikecampaign@gmail.com.

To register, to donate online, and to learn more about the local ride and about Lotus Outreach International, go to lotusoutreach.org/1000bikescampaign or just go to lotusoutreach.org, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on “1000 Bikes.”

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“Bel Canto by Candlelight,” the only annual opera event in the Santa Ynez Valley, returns to Sunstone Winery on Saturday March 23.

The fundraiser for the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community begins at 6 p.m. with Sunstone wines and dishes prepared by Chef Jeff Olsson of Industrial Eats, Chef Chris Joslyn of Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, and the Lucky Hen Larder. Desserts will also be served.

The musical program, the heart of the evening, will take place within Sunstone’s cave, taking advantage of its unique acoustics. 

This year, the event will feature three outstanding singers: Greek-American soprano Jamie Chamberlin, called “spellbinding” by the San Francisco Chronicle; mezzo soprano Danielle Bond, whose performances were hailed with a “Brava!” by the Los Angeles Times; and cantor Mark Childs from Santa Barbara’s Temple B’Nai B’rith, who has been a featured soloist with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony and the Santa Barbara Grand Opera. 

Renee Hamaty will accompany the singers in the night of grand opera, musical theater and Jewish traditional music, including works by Mozart, Verdi, Bizet and Leonard Bernstein. 

The evening will also include a silent auction.

“Bel Canto is a magical evening. The food, the spectacular setting at Sunstone Winery, and the musical performances in this acoustically perfect cave will be absolutely breathtaking,” said Susie Margolis Pierson, president of the SYVJC.

General admission tickets are $130, which covers the pre-performance buffet with wine as well as the concert. Seating is limited and tickets can be purchased directly from syvjc.org or by calling 805-693-4243.

For more information, visit www.syvjc.org.

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Staff Report

The Santa Barbara Wine and Food Festival’s 30^th anniversary is just around the corner, and several Santa Ynez Valley vintners and restaurants are among the 100 vendors participating this year.

The annual event in the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s backyard has become one of the museum’s largest fundraisers, and this year its name has been modified to recognize the participation of local bakers, chefs and confectionaries. Visitors will sip, snack, and nibble the afternoon away from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, next to the Mission Creek.

Some of the local purveyors participating are Alma Rosa Winery, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Bedford Winery, Au Bon Climat, Fess Parker Winery, Grassini Family Vineyards, Rideau, Sunstone Winery, Industrial Eats, Mr. E’s Freeze, PICO, and Bear and Star.

“My hope is that the name change will help to attract even more of Santa Barbara County’s incredible food vendors and highlight the ones that have been participating all these years,” said Meredith Moore, the museum’s event manager.

The fundraiser will host more than 100 different wine and food vendors, including half a dozen sparkling wines that will return to Sparkling Way, a festival feature introduced last year.  In what has become a tradition for local wine- and nature-lovers, the festival also doubles as the perfect venue to promote the most popular vintners and culinarians in Santa Barbara County.

To that end, the VIP Redwood Lounge returns, granting guests early admission and a private, secluded tasting area. VIP tickets for the Redwood Lounge are $125 for museum members and $150 for others.

General admission for museum members is $75 and $100 for others.  All proceeds benefit the museum’s exhibits and education programs.

The Every Cork Wins raffle guarantees prizes after a $40 donation to pull a cork. Winnings can include a prize from a wine or food vendor, a museum membership, or even a pair of tickets to next year’s Santa Barbara Wine and Food Festival.

Guests 21 and older may purchase tickets at sbnature.org/winefestival, and guests must present valid identification for admittance.

For more information, visit sbnature.org/winefestival. Anyone interested in participating in the festival should contact Moore at 805-682-4711, ext. 112, or mmoore@sbnature2.org.

The museum is at 2559 Puesta del Sol in Santa Barbara.

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In a tumultuous meeting before the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday afternoon, dozens of people gathered to protest passionately that the winery ordinance should be rejected or the very least tabled until a task force can be organized, and the Board decided unanimously to continue the issue until they could accept input from the Santa Barbara County Vinters Association.

“Since we aren’t agendized for creating a task force, come back tell us what you want and detail how to fix them,” said Supervisor Steve Lavagnino.

The board decided to come back at a special meeting at 9 a.m. on November 22 at the Santa Maria board room to discuss in detail the concerns the wine industry has with the new ordinance.

“After the planning commission meeting that was when all the information was made public and we organized a town hall meeting and that is why you have all these people before you. The process here not been a transparent one; it was in 2004 it was but then the door was shut. This is peoples livelihoods we are talking about,” said Morgen McLaughlin, executive director for the Santa Barbara County Vinters’ Association as she berated the county staff for not involving the wine industry more into the process.

The proposed ordinance includes updates and changes to the permitting process for winery tasting rooms, the number of daily visitors allowed, and special events rules based on size of the winery and acreage of grapes grown.

“I feel like the wine industry is saying they aren’t being heard and we need to have their input on what they like and don’t like. It’s hard to believe that there isn’t anything you don’t like about this. I need more specifics and details as to how it can be fixed,” said Supervisor Doreen Farr.

In the weeks before the supervisor’s meeting there was a petition that was circulated by the industry and some of those who have spoken said the new draft fails to streamline or clarify the winery permit process, and they are seriously concerned their businesses might close because of it. They said the ordinance is more prohibitive than the current ordinance. There are more than 1,800 signatures gathered currently.

“It took us three years and more than $300,000 and studies after studies to get through the first time we applied for a winery permit, and we honestly don’t know where we would fall if this ordinance goes through,” said Harvey Saarloos, of Saarloos and Sons in Los Olivos.

Once enologist from Sanford Winery in Lompoc said this ordinance is more stifling than France, and they like laws, he said which drew laughs from the crowd.

“The primary use of my land is to make a living, if I cant sell I’m done. I should be poster boy for environmentalist by planting hundreds of oak trees and making a monarch butterfly preserve on my property. I urge your to go back to the drawing board,” said Bryan Babcock of Babcock Winery.

Another winemaker said this ordinance is not respective of the democratic process as it has not even had any input from the winemakers the multiple revisions.

“Look at the reality of what’s going on and what the people are telling you and to input their perspectives,” said David Dascomb of Dascomb Cellars.

“I know nothing about making wine but appreciate fruits of their labors. I do have degree in planning from Stanford and we have a failure of process and product but hearing clearly these people it’s time to go back and make it more collaborative. Especially concerned about the numbers and sent to mentors at Stanford they agreed it’s more of an events ordinance with grapes thrown in,” said Bruce Porter, candidate for Third District Supervisor.

“I am proud of my family’s business and we won Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce small business of year because of the charitable works we do. This ordinance has ability to stranglehold those wineries that support the charities, this ordinance is flawed and will have adverse afffect on charities and the industry as a whole,” said Katie Grassini, of Grassini Family Vineyards.

Planning Director Dr. Glenn Russell commented that while he respects the winemakers and the people who spoke he said it’s wrong to say the ordinance will destroy the wine industry.

“The planning commission decision spent much time and testimony to recommend ordinance and they considered much detail. The one no vote said it wasn’t strict enough. We had extensive public outreach in 27 events from wine industry and citizens to make input, and out of that testimony we crafted the ordiinace that balances interests. We are trying to prevent over commercialization of ag land so it stays in ag production,” Russell said.

Supervisor Peter Adam countered he doesn’t think of agriculture in the right way to prevent over commercialization of ag.

“When you try to preserve something like this ends up in fromaldayhe and it dies. This is not what they are trying to say, just that it’s too narrowly defined, to the literal growing of grapes and not all the things that come from it. It’s just wrong in my mind and I am a farmer I get what they are saying and hope you all heard. I have never been prouder to be in agriculture than to listen to all of you that come up to us,” Adam said.

This issue centered overwhelmingly in third district and no matter what we decide to do such as heed advice of speakers I have a lot of questions as to the impact of the current wineries,” said Supervisor Salud Carbajal.

The new ordinance would have no impact to the current wineries, only to changing use or new permits, said county staff.

Carbajal also asked What would trigger the new requirements, How does this ordinance effect events on ag parcels without wineries, What level of special events and what they can do on winery properties, and What would happen if we took special events out of this ordinance.

“We need a separate ordinance for events that applies to everyone equally. If you push the little guy out it will only breed the big companies that will do away with our quality which we don’t want. We can’t say one size fits all with this ordinance, and we urge you to reject this,” said Shelby Sim, executive director of Visit Santa Ynez Valley.

Staff responded taking special events out would inappropriately be splitting projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and no one that is currently operating would be affected unless they change uses or a new .

Supervisor Doreen Farr stated she won’t throw the winery ordinance out because too many people have been involved.

Supervisor Janet Wolff said she didn’t appreciate the attack on the process and the time and energy that county staff has been involved was a demonstration of the level of quality.

“There was a lot of discussion and you may be unhappy and offer tweaks to the ordinance, but to say to throw out the whole thing, I am not in a position to make those recommendations,” Wolff said.

Adam said this industry sorts itself out the weak from the strong and approving this ordinance will make it winery Disneyland instead of individual creativity.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and focus on the language and you wine industry stand up and tell us how intricately interwoven these things are. We can’t just look at it as just vines with grapes. We see harvest and then wine. God forbid someone makes money on it. The agricultural use is the whole thing none of this secondary and incidental uses because all of agriculture will be affected,” Adam said.

Wolff said the restrictions are in place and very reluctant to spend another cent.

“Just because you spent a lot of money doesn’t mean you should go ahead with it. A bad decision is a bad decision,” Adam retorted.

To view the current Winery Ordinance update click here.

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