Solvang Senior Center Dinner
This week club members had fun we serving over 60 seniors! Big thanks from President Alice Berg to everyone who participated by preparing food, serving the meal, pouring wine, and cleaning up. Rich did a great job organizing the event. Rich and Steve grilled a delicious pork loin, Josh prepared a tasty salad, Susan cooked the yummy scalloped potatoes, Candy provided the rolls, and Judy baked some very tasty carrot cupcakes. Check out the video on our club Facebook site by clicking here.
Our International Project in Guayabitos, Mexico
In the spirit of international service, five club members, Alice and Steve Berg, Candy Waldron, Beth Sprague, and international chair Andy Doerr traveled to Guayabitos, Mexico this February to repaint a classroom at the La Joya-Primaria school just outside this seaside town north of Puerto Vallarta. They were joined by Susan Keith and Mark Reinhardt. In partnership with the Rotary Club of Jaltemba Bay-La Peñita and invaluable planning assistance from Greer Graff of the Rotary Club of Berkeley, CA our team spent a week that was productive, rewarding, and fun. Special thanks to Vern, Marie, Mary Anne, Eddie, and Arturo, in Mexico for their hospitality, logistical support, and for shepherding this project along both in planning and execution! The photos below tell part of the story starting with before and after photos. We had many delicious meals, including hot lunches provided by local families and a wonderful potluck hosted by Vern at his hacienda in the mountains above La Peñita. We also had a fine dinner on the beach in Chacala framed by a glorious sunset. Thanks to Mary Anne for planning this and a tour of her town, which included a history of Rotary's longstanding commitment to supporting the local community. We also discovered that the area around Guayabitos is a favorite destination for Canadian snowbirds, many staying several months each year and doing work locally, both as Rotarians in the La Peñita club and independently. One of these groups was also painting at the school. We enjoyed meeting everyone and look forward to meeting again down the road. Thanks to everyone involved for the good cheer and fond memories!
And they’re off! Our Day at the Races fundraiser was a winner, and by several lengths! Thanks to all who attended and supported our club’s work in our local community and internationally. Also, hats off to all our volunteers and foremost to the planning committee, Judy Canby, Candy Waldron, Inge-Lise Pedersen, Donna Eichelberger, Chris Bashforth, and Michele Britton. Speaking of hats, there were so many fancy ones in the room, it was hard to pick a winner, but this year first prize went to Tammy Porter whose Rotary themed creation was in a photo finish with Donna’s race themed entry! Also, congrats to Greg Johnson for winning the betting and huge thanks to, Rick Ineman for generously donating his winnings in the 50/50 raffle to our little club that can and does! Also, take a look at our club Facebook page for more photos of this year's attendees.
Bob and Susan Dullea, Puck Lohnas, Alice Berg, Donna Eichelberger, Steve Berg, Patty Murphy, and Judy Canby
With the spirit of Christmas in the air, Trunk Full of Miracles 2024 and our club joined forces at Patty Murphy Country Estates to sort coats, and stuff backpacks with toiletries, scarves, gloves, socks, lights, gift cards, and more for our unhoused neighbors. Thanks to Trunk Full of Miracles 2024 for their work in our community!
Club Members Michele Britton, Rich Nagler, Beth Sprague, Alice Berg, and Judy Canby
Happy Holidays to our lovely Los Olivos community! Continuing a longstanding tradition, club members stand ready to bring Christmas cheer to the annual Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas! Delighting children and adults alike with home-baked cookies and fresh hot chocolate, members spent the evening bringing a warm glow to everyone who stopped in for a bite or chat. As always, the midtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony added an exclamation point to the evening's festivities!
We had a fun time celebrating President Dave Bemis's successful year as president at the lovely home of club member Candy Waldron. Thank you, Dave, for everything that you do for our little club and for our local community!
With the end of one Rotary year, a new year begins with our new club president Alice Berg. Alice has hit the ground running and our new club and foundation boards are in place to continue the club's support of local and international programs, while seeking out new ways to make an impact! Outgoing president Bemis and the club also awarded several members, Candy Waldron, Judy Canby, Dave Brown, and Steve Berg, with Rotary's highest honor, the Paul Harris Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to our club and to our local community this past year. Thank you all for your extraordinary dedication and service!
Once again, our little club brought the finest in local wines, olive dishes, and jazz to downtown Los Olivos for a fun-filled afternoon under the bluest of skies on Saturday, June 8th! The annual Los Olivos Rotary Jazz & Olive Festival (https://jazzandolivefestival.org/) is our club's signature event and fundraiser. Thanks all around to everyone who participated, including our local winemakers, O' Chefs, volunteers, musicians, and, of course, the over 400 attendees whose support allows us to fund local and international organizations and programs. A special shout out to the Youth Empowered (https://www.facebook.com/YouthEmpoweredSY/) volunteers whose enthusiasm and muscle made the festival set up and tear down so much more manageable!
Los Olivos Rotary is a long-time supporter of Circle V Ranch Camp (https://www.circlevranchcamp.org/). The camp provides life-changing experiences to Southern California youth. As camp director Ray Lopez shared, many city youth experience nature for the first time, including the twinkling of stars in a star
filled night sky. They also set aside their cell phones to form life-long friendships.
Continuing an annual tradition, Los Olivos, Solvang, and Santa Ynez Rotary clubs came together April 27 to paint the climbing structure at Sunny Fields Park in Solvang and do other needed maintenance. The park is a community treasure and Los Olivos Rotary has been part of its history from the outset.
Los Olivos Rotary is committed to supporting the Solvang Senior Center. Our club kicked off 2024 cooking and serving a delicious dinner to over 60 seniors. Many asked for the recipe for the Imperial Chicken main course!
Club members closed out 2023 spreading Christmas cheer at the Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas and tree lighting by serving home baked cookies and hot cocoa. Kids and parents alike delighted in the sweets and Rotary good cheer!
During President Judy Canby's 2018-2019 year, club members built and installed 14 Little Libraries throughout the Santa Ynez Valley! The first one was placed by the Solvang Senior Center. We are grateful for the author-related artwork created by the young artists of Santa Ynez Valley Teen Arts! Everyone is welcome to take a book and we also encourage community members to drop off books at any location any time!
The Little Libraries are located at:
Los Alamos: Senior Center and Public Library
Buellton: Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, Buellton Senior Center, Zaca Preschool
Solvang: Solvang Senior Center, Bethania Lutheran Church, Creekside Neighborhood
Santa Ynez: Santa Ynez Mobile Home Estates, YMCA
Los Olivos: St. Mark's Church, Los Olivos School
