Buellton
Chamber sets installation dinner
An outstanding member of the
community will be presented the annual Vincent B. Evans Perpetual Award during
this year’s Buellton Chamber of Commerce December Holiday Installation Gala,
scheduled Dec. 12 in the Turf Ballroom at the Marriott in Buellton. Beginning
with dinner at 6 p.m., the program includes installation of the 2008 officers
and directors by Mayor Diane Whitehair. The evening’s entertainment will be
ballroom dance lessons with David & Marie from King’s Dance Studio.
Prepared by the Marriott chefs, the dinner will feature carved roast beef,
Chicken Marsala, salmon with dill sauce, special holiday side dishes and the
Marriott’s dessert and coffee buffet.
The event is open
to the public with pre-paid reservations of $30 per person accepted
through Dec. 3. More information is available from Candy at the Chamber office,
688-7829.
Still
time to cash in on water rebates
Santa Barbara County
officials are encouraging local businesses to cash in on Save Water rebates,
part of the Save a Buck Program sponsored by the county and scheduled to end on
Dec. 31. Funded by the California Department of Water Resources Proposition 13
Water Use Efficiency Grant Program, the rebates are open to businesses as well
as to individuals.
Details and restrictions are
available at www.sbwater.org. County businesses receiving awards and rebates so
far this year include Casitas Village Homeowner’s Association and Cate School,
both Carpinteria; The Acupuncture Clinic, Santa Barbara; and SB Mail Works and
Suds City Laundromat, both in Goleta.
Grants for some of the
rebates were from the water resources department, which offers cash rebates for
installing water efficient products, such as toilets, urinals, industrial and
commercial clothes washers as well as those shared in multi-family housing, and
landscaping upgrades.
“These retrofits just make
sense,” said Helena von Rueden, senior program specialist with the County Water
Agency, “especially when you consider the money saved from avoided water, sewer
and energy charges in addition to the rebate. We applaud these businesses for
their efforts to save water during this dry year.”
County
gives OK for new winery
Foxen-Dore Winery and
tasting room will have a new home on Foxen Canyon Road near Los Olivos, thanks
to the recent approval of its winery plans by the Santa Barbara County Planning
Commission.
The plans for the new
winery, to be on a 218-acre site now planted with 10 acres of vineyards, will
include a wine processing facility, a wine tasting room, a conference hall,
administrative offices, storage, and lab space, for a total of 22,509 square
feet.
All the structures will use
solar power. The permit allows production of 20,000 cases of wine annually, 12
annual events, and an expanded vineyard. At the commission hearing, the
approval received a 5-0 vote.
Celebrating
25 years
This past week Solvang
Restaurant owner Jeff Paaske celebrated his company’s 25th anniversary. Known
for its numerous varieties of Aebleskiver, round Danish pancakes served with
raspberry jam and a dusting of powdered sugar, the restaurant is located at 1672
Copenhagen Dr. It is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week and until 5
p.m. on weekends.
While Aebleskiver
traditionally is served during Christmas and Easter holidays in Denmark, Paaske
offers the dish year-round with such treats as Medisterpoise, a Danish sausage.
Visitors at the restaurant
also enjoy the restaurant ‘s handcrafted woodwork, built by the late Ferd
Sorensen, who was knighted by the Queen of Denmark. Danish proverbs cover the
interior beams and the booths are embossed with authentic crests of Danish
Villages. Murals of Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales decorate the walls, as
well as works by local artists.
Construction
underway on wine facility
Construction is in progress
on the Terravant Wine Company wine production facility at 35 Industrial Way,
Buellton. The project, being built by Rarig Construction, winery builders from
San Luis Obispo, will include a 130,000-square-foot production facility, which
has a 2,500-ton capacity building for smaller premium winemakers, and a 7,500-ton
structure for large lot producers.
Architect for the project is
Val Milosevic, with mechanical engineering being provided by MK2 Engineering,
and Wallace Group, providing civil and landscape engineering. Other contractors
include D.L. Electric, electrical, and Boneso Brothers, mechanical.
Terravant Wine Company will
provide an end-to-end solution for winemakers from grape sourcing and crush to
long-term storage and bottling. Randy Pace will serve as general manger. The
company is affiliated with Los Angeles based equity investment firm Fortune
Financial. Developer and general partner is Buellton Industrial Partners II,
owned by Tom Davidson.
Founded by Fred Kayne and
Associates, Terravant Wine Company is part of the Fortune Financial group’s
portfolio, which includes business ventures in retail and manufacturing.
Currently Fortune Financial oversees eight operating companies, which it
founded, including Fortune Fashions, Big Dog Holdings, Paige Premium Denim,
Fortune Swimwear, The Walking Company, Visionaire Lighting, Cottonsmith, and
Terravant Land Company. Combined revenues of these companies, which have more
than 3,000 employees, exceed $600 million annually. Principals of these
businesses also own property in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Open houses scheduled for Winterfest
Numerous businesses in
Solvang will hold open houses throughout the month-long celebration of
Winterfest. Beginning Friday, Nov. 30, open houses will be held at Ingeborg’s
Danish Chocolates, 1679 Copenhagen Dr., from 4 to 8 p.m.; at Lucas &
Lewellen Wine Tasting Room, 1645 Copenhagen Dr., from 5 to 8:30 p.m.; at
Wandering Dog Wine Bar, 1539 Mission Dr., from 6 to 8 p.m.; and at Mole Hole,
1656 Mission Dr., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Dec. 1, open
houses include Solvang Toyland, 1664 Copenhagen Dr., all day; Gingerbread House
Workshop, 460 Alisal Rd., noon to 8 p.m.; Laura’s Trading Co. and Zarabella,
444 Atterdag Square, 4 to 6 p.m.; and Home Connection, 425 Alisal Rd., #D, 5 to
8 p.m.
Museum
reports successful annual fundraiser
More than $50,000 was raised
this year during the annual Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum’s 23rd
annual Vaquero Show held in mid-November. With almost 1,000 visitors attending
the three-day event, the museum focused on an auction that featured excursions
to Australia as well as fine Western art.
Sales of Western art, tack,
saddles, and apparel, offered by 50 vendors, added to the funds, which are used
to support the museum and carriage house. As an added attraction during the
Vaquero Show, Heritage Ranch cattle brands were burned onto the doors of the
carriage house, an annual ritual for selected local ranchers.
Benefit raises funds for hospital
A fashion show featuring
clothing and jewelry for a silent auction, raised more than $20,000 during a recent
fundraiser for the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. The benefit, sponsored
by the hospital’s auxiliary, held the show, luncheon and boutique at the
Marriott Hotel in Buellton.
Models displayed fashions
from local boutiques, including Berengaria, Cherry Blossom, Del Sol, Cabi,
Elna’s, First Street Leather, Details, Jedlicka’s, Outpost Trading Company,
That Special Look, Pamper Me Boutique, Tin Roof and Tumbleweeds. The auction
also included handmade bags and food.