Seasonal events highlight the holidays

 

Whether it’s a giant 30-pound chocolate Santa, custom-made Christmas trees, or a visit from Santa, himself, the holiday season in the Santa Ynez Valley is in full swing. As a special treat, Solvang Bakery received compliments from Regis and Kelly on Dec 11 during their national morning television show.

The huge chocolate Santa, made by Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, was raffled off this week with the donations going to the Buellton Community Education Foundation, a nonprofit educational group. More than 200 persons helped with the fundraiser, which is a first for the local outlet. The winner, selected Dec. 17, is Steve Bender, Solvang. Bender said he’s never won anything in his life but is happy to have the giant chocolate St. Nicholas as his first win. Angela Janielle, manager, said the Santa is wrapped in cellophane and will last up to two years.

The Santa, on view at the Solvang store, 1655 Copenhagen Dr., is three feet high and would cost $400 on the retail market. Janielle said the delicious treat is made in Durango, Colo., by the store’s parent company and is shipped to California stores every year.  This season persons from as far away as New York contributed to the raffle for a chance to have the Santa shipped to them in time for the holiday.

 

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a national franchise with 300 stores, is owned locally by Hal and Vicki Heinmann, who also operate six other chocolate outlets, one each in San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Bakersfield, Florida, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Janielle has been manager in Solvang for four years. She grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley, attending Jonata School and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She received the job offer while attending Santa Barbara City College, and has loved her job ever since.

 

“What better job could someone have than to work around chocolate all day?” she asked. “Everyone who comes in is happy and when they leave, they have a treat – what better job could you have?” When asked if she could ever tire of being around chocolate all day, she smiled, “No way.”  “Not even close. I love chocolate!” she insisted.

Tickets were $3 each or 5 for $10. More than 200 tickets were handed out. “We selected the Education Foundation because of its wide range of services to many individuals,” Janielle said. “It helps just about every age group and offers grants to such places as nursing homes and day care businesses starting up. We felt it was the right fit for our first fundraiser.”

 

Senior custom-made Christmas trees

Members of the Solvang Senior Center used a silent auction for its annual fundraiser. The group decorated custom-made table top Christmas trees, which were presented to the highest bidder during the annual holiday luncheon Dec. 21. Those donating services for the auction were Elaine “Willi” Campbell, Alice Olla, Jean Gotchall, Diane Olmsted and Jean Albrecht.

The trees included lights and a variety of decorations, such as religious ornaments made from olivewood grown in Bethlehem and Nazareth. All trees have been on display at the Center during the holiday season. The luncheon included a program featuring the Fossemalle Dance Studio.

 

Santa to make Christmas visits

Santa and Mrs. Claus have been very busy this season, visiting neighborhoods throughout the Santa Ynez Valley and attending more than a dozen special events. This week, besides the regular residential tours in Ballard, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez, Santa visited the Farmer’s Market in Solvang.

On Dec. 25 Santa and the Mrs. are scheduled to make an appearance at the Tender Loving Care Home, the Friendship House, Extended Care, Hamilton House, Alzheimer Residence, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, Lutheran Home, Recovery Residence, and Extended Care Facility, beginning at 10 a.m. The visits are sponsored by the Rotary clubs in Solvang and Buellton.

 

Solvang Bakery gets TV mention

For the third year in a row, as a special treat for her friends, Kelly Ripa of Regis and Kelly, the weekday ABC television program, has ordered gingerbread houses from Solvang Bakery. This year, besides her regular order of personalized houses, Ripa ordered 22 plain gingerbread house kits for her son’s school class. Ripa discussed how the children enjoyed the project on her nationally televised show Dec. 11, which can be viewed online at http://bventertainment.go.com.

“Orders just came pouring in after that show,” said Melissa Redell, manager at Solvang Bakery. “It was amazing. The Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors’ Center and other bakeries helped people find us and we have been incredibly busy.”

 

This is always a demanding time of year, Redell explained, but having the added notoriety from Kelly Ripa has kept “Santa’s Workshop” bustling day and night. For example, it’s not unusual for Redell’s mother, Susan Halme, owner of the bakery, to stay as late as 3 a.m. finishing homemade baked goods such as the custom-designed gingerbread houses.

“In order to have them ready to ship and arrive before Christmas, we have to spend late nights and early mornings at the bakery,” Redell stated. “It’s a lot of work but also a fun, happy time of year.”

Since November the bakery, located at 460 Alisal Rd., Solvang, has made 150 personalized gingerbread houses, which are shipped all over the U.S. in time for Christmas. Ripa began calling in her special orders to the bakery after receiving a personalized gingerbread house from a friend, and now she is sending similar gifts to other friends.

 

“It’s been the ripple effect,” Redell said. “The feedback has been amazing. Every Christmas season the orders have increased and with this year’s mention on television, the phone really rang.”

The gingerbread houses are completely fresh and edible, down to the trees, which are pure sugar. The extra personal touches and the artistic finishes are what make them so popular, she insisted. “Mom was the one who designed the different style of shutters and the distinctive little door. She’s the one who places each candy carefully, making sure they all match.”

The houses are just one seasonal specialty for the bakery, which also makes butter rings, strudels, princess waffles, Christmas cookies and Florentines. “We have lots of popular items for this season,” Redell said. “People call us for a wide variety of delicacies, but the gingerbread houses are the most requested and the most fun.”

 

Redell added that the Solvang Bakery is a family operation and the season’s delights are a labor of love. She insisted that two local families help make the season’s treats. “My mom owns the bakery and our family helps every day, including her sister, who makes the best pies, but we also have the Uribe family here as employees and it’s their labor of love as well.” Halme’s sister is Colleen Robertson and the Uribe family includes Armando and Justo Uribe, all residents of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Halme and her sister grew up in the restaurant business so when her husband, Paul, suggested buying the bakery, it seemed a natural fit, Redell said. She was 12 when the family began operating the bakery. Her father is an attorney with Halme & Clark, Solvang.

 

The Halme’s three other children worked in the bakery through high school and college, and now their daughter Maili does catering in Ventura. Their sons are Matthew, an attorney in Florida, and Morgan, a senior copy writer for an advertising agency in Los Angeles. Redell’s husband, Billy, is an attorney with Michael Clayton & Associates in Santa Maria. They have three children, who also love to come and spend time at the bakery every day.

 

The bakery employs 45 persons, who all put in extra long hours during the holiday season. While they enjoy this busy time and the national notoriety the television mention has generated, Redell admitted they are looking forward to January when they can share some family time and get back to a normal schedule.