Office closed

In observance of Memorial Day, the Valley Journal office will be closed Monday, May 28.


Honorable mention

The Memorial Day program for the Veterans of Foreign Wars is slated for 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, at Solvang Park on Mission Drive.


Get physical

Santa Ynez High School will be conducting athletic physicals for all 2012-13 athletes (including incoming 9th graders) on Friday June 1, from 2:15-4:30 p.m. in the training room behind the pool. Cost is $25 made payable to Santa Ynez Athletics and physicals are good for one year. Athletes must have a medical history form completed and parent-signed prior to the exam. Forms can be printed from the school’s website at “syvpirates.org"” or obtained in the business office at the high school.


Water workshop on tap

Members of the public are invited to take part in a workshop on the update of the Santa Barbara County Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24.


No tobacco

In recognition of “World No Tobacco Day,” Valley teens from the “Drug-Free” clubs at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Santa Ynez School and Jonata Middle School, will create a visual message in Solvang on Saturday, May 26, for the community to see.

For more information about the Coalition and the strategies used to prevent underage substance abuse, visit www.syvdrugfree.org.


School gets $5K

Pioneer Valley High School has been awarded $5,000 as part of State Farm California’s Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant Program. The school will be recognized for their environmental science program.

A check presentation will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, May 25, at the high school, which is located at 675 Panther Drive in Santa Maria.


Buellton benefit

Simply Aloha Luau, a benefit for Nora Zepeda, is on the horizon from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at Buellton Riverview Park. Admission, which includes, food and beverages is $25 per adult; kids 12 and under get in free. For ticket information, call 350-1331.


What’s new

New Frontiers has its own organic farm, called Nojoqui Farms, located south of the Solvang store, off Highway 101. These 85 acres of fields supply fresh, organic produce to all five New Frontiers stores. A free tour is scheduled for Saturday, June 2 at 9 a.m.

Nojoqui Farms is located at 1889 Highway 101. Sign up is required; call marketing Manager, Amy Derryberry, at 693-1746 or email aderryberry@nfmarket.net.


Family ties

The Solvang Library is partnering with several community organizations to present “Noche de la Familia,” a monthly series of programs aimed at early learning with families. The program will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday May 31, with “Soup and Stories.” This first Family Night will revolve around agriculture, food, seeds, and sprouting of plants and ideas.

The family time will continue each month through the fall on: June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20 and Oct. 25. The Family Night is free, but participants are encouraged to call the library, located on Mission Drive, at (805) 688-4214.


Art exhibit at Saks

Artist Margie Bowker, well-known internationally and on the Central Coast of California, will be showing her specially chosen collection of paintings now through Aug. 12 at Saks Fifth Avenue, located at 1001 State Street in beautiful Santa Barbara (State Street and Carrillo Street). A reception will be held at Saks Fifth Avenue on Thursday, June 7, from 5-8 p.m. Members of the public are cordially invited to attend. Margie’s artwork can be viewed at www.margiespalette.com.

For more information, call Margie Bowker at (805) 937-0665 or Saks Fifth Avenue at (805) 884-9997.


June carnival

The Solvang School Community Carnival will be Saturday, June 2 from 11-3 p.m. on the lower campus. School families and community members are invited to join in the festivities which will include a variety of games booths with prizes, face painting, cake walk, dunk tank, bounce houses, food booths, pony rides and more. Music will be provided by “Valley Road” and admission is free. Tickets will be sold at the event for the various booths and activities. For more information about the carnival, contact Megan Ricci at crazykeani@aol.com or Melisa Shelly at jsesinc@comcast.net.


August gala

Valleystock, a Santa Ynez Valley celebration, music festival and fundraiser, will be held out at Live Oak Camp on Aug. 4-5. Currently, there are 10 bands scheduled to perform with more being added weekly. Any local musicians or groups interested in donating their talent and time to this charity event, use the contact information below. The Santa Ynez Elks will provide barbecue dinners Saturday and Sunday with a Sunday morning breakfast. Price per adult is $60, which includes admission to Live Oak (camping optional), all meals, live music and other activities. Optional pricing is available.

Money raised at Valleystock will go to benefit various SYVUHS Music and Arts Programs. Registration forms can be obtained at local businesses with the Valleystock poster, or online at http:EMAILADDRESS.


Walk the Moon

The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Program Board will be sponsoring indie-rock band Walk the Moon in the UCSB Hub on Thursday, May 31. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. and local psychedelic bliss rock band Givers and Takers will be opening the show at 9 pm.

Walk the Moon, a band consisting of Ohio natives Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman, and Eli Maiman, released their debut album i want! i want! in November of 2010. They played the main stage at the 20th Anniversary of Lollapalooza in 2011, and are scheduled to play the Sasquatch and Firefly Music Festivals later this year. Also in 2012, they will be touring across Europe with indie pop band Fun.

Tickets are free for UCSB students with valid Access cards. They can be picked up from the A.S. Ticket Office beginning on Tuesday, May 29, and will available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets can also be purchased by the general public for $5 presale and $10 on the night of the show. The A.S. Ticket Office is located outside the Multicultural Center (MCC) at UCSB. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at (805) 893-2064.


On the lake

Adult Fishing Workshop at the Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake on Saturday, June 2 (8:45 a.m. to noon.)

A workshop to teach adults basic fishing skill is being offered at the Nature Center Saturday, June 2nd. Registration fee is $10 and limited to the first 30 adults. This workshop will be taught by local fishing experts in honor of Neal Taylor.

Call (805) 693-0691 for additional information or mail a check to the Nature Center and designate that it is for the workshop. Address: 2265 Hwy. #154, Santa Barbara, 93105.

The Nature Center was founded in 1988 when the dream of naturalist, Neal Taylor, became a reality. With Neal’s passing in Feb. 2011 - the Cachuma Lake Nature Center in his honor has been renamed The Neal Taylor Nature Center at Cachuma Lake.