Tuesday, October 27, 2015 SECTION B • SYVNEWS.COM

T h e p e o p l e , p l a c e s a n d e v e n t s o f t h e S a n t a Y n e z Va l l e y

Gathering old, young, canine, neighbor, visi-tor, singer, tri-tip cook

– such is the stuff of our Valley towns’ annual celebrations, and Los Olivos Day in the Country hit all the right notes! Besides benefiting from a cooler week-end than we have had in weeks, a sense of calm was evident, and the special crossroads was the scene of many a reunion. Keith Saarloos and Jim Farnum provided their unique brand of parade announcing, as the Dietenhofer family was hon-ored as grand marshals of what is usually the shortest Valley parade. The Los Olivos Rotary’s tri-tip quartet of David Brown, John Matthews, Jim Lohnas and Steve Berg kept the crowd fed, while stroll-ing crowds included Brenda Ball, Larry Saarloos, Sandy Mastramonaco, Lowell Lash, Marnie Diamond and Suzanne Hamilton-Todd. Kudos to Paige Lindquist, who picked up the leadership baton for this event.

Still in Los Olivos, I caught up with Jaime Dietenhofer as his high school friend, Ingrid Wolff, was voted Best Pie at a fundraiser for the Grange. Also congratulating her were class-mates Andrea Jackson and Kristin Farnum. A classic apple pie using Ditmar Granny Smiths was the winner, but I confess I liked the one baked by Amy DiPego just as much. The rest of the DiPego clan, Jerry, Chris-tine, Justin and Zack were on hand, as were John Copeland and Sarah Chamberlin, selling pies for $5 a slice (I had two).

Not surprisingly, the Los Olivos cast showed up in big numbers as well for that eve-ning’s annual Real Men Cook, benefiting Arts Outreach. Sandie Mullin, executive director, corralled Mullins fam-ily members Chris, Charles and Dolly into RMC duty, and all provided a warm welcome, as did Elizabeth Breen. Monty Roberts’ Flag Is Up Farms provided the perfect setting, and the continuation of cool breezes made tasting all the chilis, soups, and yes, wine and beer, particularly pleasant. Real Men who cooked and brewed included Chris Burroughs, Pete Fohl, Larry Schafer, Brent Melville, and Erik Kess, many of whom turned out to be award winners in their categories. Eating and drink-ing one’s way through RMC is a particular challenge, with so many choices. Strolling, bidding on silent auction items, greet-ing friends Mark and Erika Herthel, Billy Hurbaugh and Ike, Tyler Story, Rich Nagler, Cyndi Shaffer, Leslie Zeller, Chelsea Ward, Angelo and Kris Anne Caciola and Jeanne Hollingsworth allowed a break in the hours of noshing.

Mary Harris welcomes your sug-gestions and feedback. Email her at maryharrisconnects@gmail.com

Saturday stroll and

savor

Mary Harris

Valley Viewed

For the second year, John and Kathleen Fosmire are spear-heading a collection drive for Operation Christmas Child. They’ve made their hair salon, John Patrick Hair Design in Santa Ynez, a drop-off point for shoe boxes filled with gifts for suffering children in war-torn countries.

“Many local churches were involved last year and it was a great success, we hope to do the same this season,” said John Fosmire.

Operation Christmas Child was launched by Dave and Jill Cooke of Wales to help chil-dren in Romania during that country’s bloody revolution in 1989. The couple filled nine trucks with medical supplies, food, clothing and Christmas gifts. In 1993 Operation Christ-mas Child began operating under the auspices of Franklin Graham’s nonprofit, Samari-tan’s Purse.

More than two decades later, shoe boxes filled with gifts

and essential supplies are still being distributed by Operation Christmas Child all over the globe via cargo planes, and ulti-mately shuttled by motorcycles, kayaks, horses, elephants, don-keys, yaks, or carried by locals on foot to kids in need.

Empty boxes are now avail-able for pick-up at Fosmire’s salon. Filled boxes must be received back by Nov. 14. For packing guides and other infor-mation, call 688-9889 or visit www.samaritanpurse.org.

Operation Christmas Child drive at hair salon

Ron Nickel, Contributed photo

A child in the Philippines receives an Operation Christmas Child package in 2013.

Denise Donatelli, a Grammy Award-winning jazz singer who performed at the Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival in June, has released her sixth CD, and it has a local connec-tion.

The title track and the album title are “Find a Heart.” It’s a soul-baring song written by Santa Ynez resident David Crosby for his 2014 solo album, “Croz.” Donatelli said the

lyrics found their way to her own heart.

“We put a jazz arrangement to the song. I’d love to get it to him and hear his reaction,” the singer said when she learned of Crosby’s Valley roots.

Donatelli has become a Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival favorite, appearing five times. For more information on her new CD, visit www.denisedo-natelli.com.

Song by Santa Ynez’s David Crosby inspires jazz artist

Denise Donatelli’s new CD is titled “Find a Heart.”

Contributed photo

Mary Ann NorbomM NO R BO M @ L E EC E N T R A LCOAST N EWS.CO M

A new Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society fundraising, adoption and aware-ness event has been deemed a success by Executive Director Emily Grossheider.

“We had one dog adopted and two kittens. Hurray!” said Grossheider. The dollar amount raised from the Oct. 21 Wine, Wash & Wag event is still being calculated.

Wine, Wash & Wag spread out around the downtown village of Solvang. It was the brainchild of Lucas & Lewellen events manager Anjie Parker and Pam Koga, owner/operator of Pam’s Pampered Pooches mobile grooming.

“Pam came over to do my dog — he’s a rescue named Angus — and her truck was parked outside the tasting room for a long time,” said Parker, whose husband, Andy Moore, is the tasting room manager and frequently photographs dogs visit-ing their Copenhagen Drive location. “A customer came in and asked if we were doing grooming. Pam and I almost instantly thought of ‘wine and wash’ as a fundraiser for the Humane Society and thought we’d give it a try.”

With Grossheider happily on board, organizers pulled together several of Solvang’s dog-friendly tasting rooms as

‘Wine, Wash & Wag’ a dog-gone success

Fundraiser helps Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society

Groomer Pam Koga dries Yoshi after a bath during the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society’s Wine, Wash & Wag fundraiser on Oct. 21.

Frank Cowan photos, Contributor

Sue Rudd, of Lompoc, sits with Chorizo, a dog up for adoption, in a makeshift pen at the Lucas & Lewellyn tasting room during the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society’s Oct. 21 fundraiser, Wine, Wash & Wag.

See WAG, B3

B2 | Tuesday, October 27, 2015 | Santa Ynez Valley News

Tennessee, a 2-year old Australian shepherd, is avail-

able for adoption at La PAWS Adoption Center. Tennessee

is smart, obedient and loving. He came in with a red/

white border collie named Texas that is also available.

These boys get along really well and can be adopted

together or separately. Tennessee’s adoption fee includes

neuter, vaccinations, flea treatment, deworming, food

sample and complimentary health exam. To meet

Tennessee, come by La PAWS Adoption Center, 1501 West

Central Ave., Lompoc. For more information, call 737-7755

or visit www.facebook.com/CapaofLompoc. La PAWS

is open to the public: M-F 9 a.m to 4:45 p.m. (closed for

lunch 12:30-1:30), open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CAPA PET OF THE WEEK

The weather is mellow. The summer crowds

have dispersed and the holiday hordes haven’t yet arrived. November is an ideal time to visit Las Vegas.

Not so much ‘Sin City’ as it once was, Las Vegas has a something-for-everyone approach to tourism, and you don’t have to gamble to enjoy yourself. There’s fine din-ing, a vibrant nightclub scene, live shows, super-luxury accommodations, and even touches of — dare we say it — refine-ment.

The culinary scene is perhaps unrivaled any-where in the country when it comes to the number of celebrity chefs per square block. Jose Andres, Gor-don Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer, Michael Mina, and Tom Colicchio all have restau-rants in Vegas.

Great meals can also be had without the fancy names. For classic steakhouse fare, it’s hard to beat SW Steakhouse at Wynn Las Vegas, and executive chef Mark LoRusso has brought Costa di Mare, also at the

Wynn, to a new level of sophistication with sus-tainably sourced Mediter-ranean seafood.

Live entertainment from A-list names is experiencing a resurgence on the Strip. Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and Donny & Marie Osmond all have residency shows with dates in November. You can also catch one night shows during the month with Jay Leno at the Mirage, R. Kelly at Mandalay Bay, and Diana Ross at the Venetian.

For low key entertain-ment of a different sort that’s a product of the season, The Palazzo Las Vegas has completely renovated its Waterfall Atrium and Gardens with 8,000 pounds of pump-kins and 16-foot cattail sculptures, and a fall color palette. It will de on display through Nov. 16.

Visitors enter Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botani-cal Gardens via a vine-covered bridge guarded by 16-foot root-engulfed trees speckled with mushrooms. An ever-wise talking tree (this is Vegas, after all) stands at the base of a waterfall. The display runs through Nov. 30.

The biggest gamblers — “whales” — as they’re known, are almost always given free suites by the casino hotels vying for their business at the tables. If you’re not in that animal grouping, many rooms at top name resorts like the MGM Grand are available for under $100 a night.

If money is no object the Encore Three Bedroom Duplex at Encore Las Vegas offers nearly 6,000 square feet of luxurious excess. The suite has its own billiard room and exercise rooms, a dining room that can seat 16 of your closest friends, and floor-to-ceiling views of Las Vegas. Pricing is available only by request but this is one of those cases where if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.

Get Your Travel On runs monthly. Is there a desti-nation you’d like to learn more about? Email me at mnorbom@leecentral-coastnews.com.

This fall, viva Las Vegas

Brian Jones, Las Vegas News Bureau, Contributed photo

The Las Vegas Strip

Get Your Travel On

By Mary Ann Norbom

Charity Yard Haunt

The Courtney Fam-ily Charity Yard Haunt will be open Oct. 30-31 beginning at 5 p.m. each night. Big Joe’s Brats will be serving dinner and cider. The haunt is spooky but suitable for all ages. Admission is the dona-tion of a jacket, backpack, non-perishable food or cash, with 100 percent going to Trunk Full of Miracles, a nonprofit

aiding the homeless. Location is 1381 Calzada Avenue, Santa Ynez.

‘A Collection of Works’ at Gallery Los Olivos

Plein air and studio works by artists Sheryl Knight, Linda Mutti, and Gerry Winant have been curated into an exhibi-tion called “A Collection of Works,” on display at Gallery Los Olivos in Los

Olivos from Nov. 1-30. For more information, call 688-7517 or visit www.gallerylosolivos.com.

Halloween Dance & Costume Party

The Los Alamos Val-ley Men’s Club and the Los Alamos Foundation “Summer in the Park” are sponsoring a Hal-loween Dance & Costume Party from 7-10:30 p.m.

on Oct. 30 at the Men’s Club. Costumes will be judged and prizes awarded. The Atascadero band, Code Blues, with “Big Daddy” Dingman on guitar and vocals, will be playing blues and dance-able grooves. Ages 21 and over. All proceeds benefit youth and families in Los Alamos. For more information and tickets, call 478-3934 or email monna@thelosalamos-foundation.org.

IN BRIEF

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO DO Wed., Oct. 28: 4-6 p.m. Book signing with author Lida Sideris on the occasion of publication of her first novel, “Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters.” The Book Loft, Solvang. For more informa-tion call 688-6010.

Thurs., Oct. 29 : 7 p.m. Water and fisheries biologist Dr. Tim Robinson lectures on “Hydrology of the Santa Ynez River: Past, Present and Future.” Veterans Memorial Hall, Solvang.

Fri., Oct. 30 : 12-1 p.m. “Healthy Halloween Treats.” Free nutrition and diabetes education class with clinical dietitian Stacey Bailey, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital front conference room. For more information call Bailey at 694-2351.

Fri., Oct. 30: 6-9:30 p.m. Solvang haunted house and Halloween Streetfest at Solvang Festival Theater. For more details and tickets visit www.cityofsolvang/com/hauntedhouse.

Fri., Oct. 30: 7-10:30 p.m. Los Alamos Halloween Dance & Costume Party. Benefit for youth and families of Los Alamos at the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club. Ages 21

and over. For more informa-tion and tickets, call 478-3934 or email mona@thelosala-mosfoundation.org.

Sat., Oct. 31: 4-8 p.m. Santa Ynez Halloween Street Faire. Pony rides, tricycle race, obstacle course, bounce houses, live music, costume contest. For more information, call Chris McClurg at 688-8289 or email brents3@verizon.net.

Sat. Oct. 31: 6-9:30 p.m. Solvang haunted house and Halloween Streetfest at Solvang Festival Theater. For more details and tickets visit www.cityofsolvang/com/hauntedhouse.

Sat., Oct. 31 : 9 p.m. 20th Annual Halloween Party at Maverick Saloon, Santa Ynez. Cal King and his band. Costume contest, light show. For more information, call 686-4785.

Mon., Nov. 2 : 8 p.m. Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Hector Tobar discusses his best-selling book, “Deep Down Dark,” the true story of 33 men buried in a Chilean mine for three months. UCSB Campbell Hall. Free event. For more information,

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Santa Ynez Valley News | Tuesday, October 27, 2015 | B3

Frank Cowan photos, Contributor

Leonora Rovtar, right, clips a dog’s nails as the dog’s owner, Helen Bundgen, left, and Rovtar’s husband Joe hold it. The Rovtars’ Dogs Unlimited grooming truck was one of three mobile groomers helping to raise funds for the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society during the Wine, Wash & Wag event in Solvang.

WagContinued from B1

well as three local mobile groomers, with all donat-ing a percentage of their sales that day to the Humane Society.

There was a drop-off location for desperately needed blankets and towels. Makeshift pens with dogs and cats avail-able for adoption were set up. Dogs wearing “adopt me” signs were walked around the village by Humane Society volun-teers, including Lois Craig and Bonnie Pieper, who paraded down Copenha-gen Drive with chihuahua mixes, Harley and Dolly.

The SYV Humane Society, with its shelter in Buellton, has a “100 per-cent live release rate,” said Grossheider. That means every animal that comes in goes out to a new home. The shelter placed 225 ani-mals in 2014. Three hun-dred animals have already been placed in 2015.

A not atypical backstory to one of the potential adoptees was that of a chihuahua mix by the name of Chorizo. She was one of 10 dogs in a local home. The owner contacted the Humane Society asking for some assistance with training issues. He was clearly overwhelmed, explained the Humane Society’s Amanda Weston. They convinced him to keep only his three adult dogs and have them spayed or neutered, and to turn over the seven babies — including Chorizo — for adoption.

Leonora and Joe Rovtar had their Dogs Unlim-ited mobile grooming truck set up in front of the Olive House on Mis-sion Drive. In addition to donating a percentage of

any grooming fees, they offered free nail trim-ming. Happy customers were gladly dropping $10 or $20 into the Humane Society donation jar for the convenience.

One customer was even a Humane Society board member. Helen Bundgen brought her adopted Ger-man shepherd, Heidi, to the Rovtars for a quick pedicure.

PlacesContinued from B2

call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Tues., Nov. 3: 8 p.m. Actor/musician Jeff Daniels performing with the Ben Daniels Band at The New Vic, Santa Barbara. Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures. For more information and tickets call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.UCSB.edu.

Fri., Nov. 6 : 5:30-9:45 p.m. Parents Night Out at SYV Presbyterian Church. A night out for parents while their kids have supervised movies, snacks, crafts, play time. For more information and to register a child, call 688-6323 or Liz at 757-2797.

Sat., Nov. 7 : 3-6 p.m.: Vino de Suenos, wine tasting and sale benefiting People Helping People to assist farm and vineyard workers. At Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel, Buellton. For more informa-tion and tickets, call Erica at 686-0295, email her at erica@syvphp.org, or visit www.vinodesuenos.com.

Sat., Nov. 7: 5-8 p.m. Jewelry Bazaar at The C Gallery, Los Alamos. Four new jewelry designers, live music. For more information, call 344-3807, email connie@thecgallery.com or visit www.thecgallery.com.

Sat., Nov. 7: 8 p.m. Acoustic Evening with Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt, presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures at UCSB Campbell Hall. For more information and tickets call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.UCSB.edu.

Sun., Nov. 8: 3 p.m. Story Pirates. Musical improvisation and story telling for kids with cats flying, ninja babies fighting crime, and tickle mon-sters taking over the world. Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures at UCSB Campbell Hall. For more information and tickets call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.UCSB.edu.

Fri., Nov. 13 : 6:30 p.m. Viva Los Vaqueros Preview & Dinner Celebration, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, Santa Ynez. Special recognition hon-oring Jim and Linda Paisch Grimm. For more information and tickets, call 688-7889 or visit www.santaynezmuseum.org.

Numerous Valley wine-makers who are members of the Rhone Rangers will be galloping into Los Angeles next month. The Rhone Rangers is an influ-ential marketing organi-zation whose mission is to promote varietals that originated in France’s Rhone Valley such as gre-nache, mourvedre, syrah, marsanne, rousanne, and viognier.

On Nov. 6-7, over 50 wineries will be par-ticipating in winemaker

dinners, seminars, and tastings. A silent auction benefits the Rhone Ranger Scholarship Fund, provid-ing financial support to students studying viticul-ture and enology.

The Central Coast will be represented by Andrew Murray, Bernat, Epiphany, Fess Parker, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Kita Wines, Qupe, and Tercero Wines.

For more information, call 800-467-0163 or visit www.rhonerangers.org.

Rhone Rangers on the move

Contributed Photo

Bob Lindquist of Qupe is one of the original Rhone Rangers.

Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society board member Lois Craig holds Dolly as tourists walk by during the organization’s Oct. 21 Wine, Wash & Wag fundraiser in Solvang.

The Humane Society makes sure that all the animals it places are current on vaccines, are spayed or neutered, dewormed and flea-treated.

“Our goal is to get them in new homes as quickly as possible,” said Grossheider.

Dog lover and mobile groomer Pam Koga is all in favor of that. As

she washed and dried her first two custom-ers — both rescues — the Pam’s Pampered Pooches owner related that she’s a former den-tal technician.

“This,” she said while blow-drying one of the canines, “is so much more fun.”

For more information on the Santa Ynez Val-ley Humane Society and the animals available for adoption, call 688-8224 or visit www.syv humane.org.

Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society Director Emily Grossheider holds Kratof in front of Pam’s Pampered Poochies, one of the mobile grooming vans that participated in the Oct. 21 Wine, Wash & Wag fundraiser in Solvang.

STREET FAIREHALLOWEENCOME JOIN THE PARTY!

OCT. 31ST 4 P.M. - 8 P.M.GAMES - BOUNCE HOUSES - FOOD

LIVE MUSIC BY

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COSTUME CONTEST AT 6 PM

SCARECROW VILLAGE

at The SYV Historical Museum

HALLOWEEN