I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately, and the general consensus seems to be that school was way better “back then.”  No matter when it was, anything before now is always better. Whether it is before tardy sweeps, or before restrictions on the parking lot, or before this or that. . . the grass always seems to be greener in the past. So I started to think, what was it that was so great?
One could look back five or ten years to compare, but that wouldn’t really do it. To see just how much our school has changed, I went all the way back to 1979. And boy, were things different.
To lay the scene, just imagine Mr. Gruendyke and Mr. Gunning as the new, young, up and coming teachers of the day. Make the New Gym actually fairly new, add lights to the tennis courts, and change the turf football field to grass and you will begin to see the differences. But, are these differences good or bad?
The major complaint I hear about school and classes in particular today from the vast body of students is that nothing is practical. Nothing that is being taught is what students will use in their swiftly approaching lives entering into adulthood. This was not the case at Santa Ynez High School back in 1979. In fact, they offered such a wide variety of classes that it is almost belittling to see the plethora of past options to the slim pickings of today’s classes. There were such classes as backpacking, home economics, oceanography, sewing, typing, living and dying, speed reading, marriage and family, taxes and check books, cooking, and wood shop. There was a Language Club, taught by Drivers Training teacher Mr. Mullet,that traveled across the world to places like Mexico and Australia. The music department was enormous. The Search and Rescue club could often be found zip lining and rock climbing. And with activities such as the flag team or the gymnastics team, the variety of choices for classes is mind blowing. It would appear that the students have it right on this one; the award for practicality definitely goes to the SYVUHS of the past.
But not only were there good class choices and diversity, but the essence of the school was different as well. There was no senior parking lot. In fact, the cool place where all the seniors hung out was labeled the Senior Lawn. This seniors-only location was the lawn area under the tree between the C building, the library, and the administration building. Football and pirate pride were big. Very big. At every game the Alma Mater was sung faithfully. There were bonfires, floats, and dunk tanks at Pep Rallies for the football games, with Larry Popkin as the coach at the time. There were even Donkey-Basketball competitions where students would all ride donkeys and attempt to play a game of basketball in the old gym. The spirit and energy was thriving and the students were extremely involved. That’s two points for the old Santa Ynez High School, and zero for the contemporary.
So what are we now proud of, Pirates? How can we look to the past in order to change our future? Teenagers want change; it is in the air. The only problem is that everyone knows things they want to change away from but no one has ideas of what to change the high school to. Let’s use our past to shape our future. We are the new generation. Let’s learn from the graduating classes of the past and be progressive as well as optimistic. Let’s be a high school where the students 30 years from now look back and say, “Hey, let’s be like them.”

Want to get crafty? Knit Fit in Solvang is
just the place. From yarn to scrapbooking, it has all the supplies. The store
also offers craft classes.

Have a band , but no place to play?
Do you want to display your art? Or simply need a place to study? Santa Ynez
coffee shop, The Valley Grind, covers it all. In fact, some of our peers have
already discovered the laid-back atmosphere. Sophomores Jacob Jones and Matt Kulp
featured the shop in a video for their film class. And, Addison Mills has
preformed her captivating Indie music on the porch.

If your New Year’s resolution was
to get in shape, check out All Sports Fitness. Located in Buellton, the gym
offers memberships for only $29 a month. The price covers all classes,
including spinning, kickboxing, zumba and much more.

For $95, you can get a two hour ATV
tour, including majestic views and an agricultural education. The Nojouqui ATV
tours are put on by a husband and wife team, the Giorgis. Both are Santa Ynez
graduates themselves.

Looking for a book? Visit Valley
Books. The chairs are comfy and you can trade in books for cash or credit.

On February 3rd, Parks and Recreation will put
on its Rec N’ Roll at the Vet’s Hall. The event lasts from 6-9 and is $6 to get
in (with skates) and $10 without.

Don’t forget! Solvang’s Farmers
Market is every Wednesday from 4-7. The market is set up on First Street.

Contact Information:

Knit Fit (805)688-0686

Valley Grind (805) 688-1506

All Sports Fitness (805)691-9096

ATV Tours-(805)765-1288

Valley Books- (805) 688-7160

Solvang Rec-(805)688-7528

             In honor of the 100th anniversary of Solvang, our own town has become home to the Julefest. The Julefest is a series of events to get members of the town in the holiday mood. Throughout the town, there are 100 Christmas trees and the town is having a competition to see which business can decorate theirs the best.

               Stocking Stuffer’s are a must this Holiday season, and why not check off one of your shopping trips, while giving to the less fortunate. Snag-free hair ties are helping to change the lives of many women in the country of Nicaragua. Kori Rider was on a trip to Nicaragua where she saw firsthand the effects of poverty and mal nutrition. Rider wanted to help in any way she could, and in that strive to help, she came up with a simple solution. Rider taught the women of a village there how to make Snag-free hair ties. A Santa Ynez High School student, Mckensey Richmond heard about the project and is now selling the hair ties. The proceeds go to the women and their children. The money also helps set up health clinics and food programs. Rider decided to call these hair ties, the “Nika Collective”. “Nika” coming from a nickname for Nicaragua and the Greek-root meaning to conquer. By purchasing a simple hair tie, you can better the lives of mothers and children of Nicaragua.

              Within our own High School, the Christmas spirit of giving is alive. Teachers are doing their part by hosting canned food drives within their classrooms. The canned foods will go to People Helping People, in order to provide those less fortunate with meals. The season continues to draw closer with the arrival of Holiday Grams and Vaudeville. The Holiday Grams will be passed out Thursday the 15^th and Vaudeville, the winter talent show, starts at 7 on Thursday. There’s a refreshing spring in student’s steps as they begin to countdown the final days until Winter Break begins.

                 The big, puffy jackets are coming out from the back of the closet, the hats, scarves, and mittens are becoming everyday appeal. Wreaths are going up on doors and the house smells like warm cookies. It’s the season of love, joy, and giving. This holiday season, amongst the present shopping, Starbucks holiday mugs, and ugly Christmas sweaters, take the time to spread the Holiday joy and kindness to those not only in our valley, but around the world. What a beautiful gift; to make someone’s life a little bit brighter this season.

     On a crisp October day I joined family friend Darcy Wright for coffee at the Valley Grind. Darcy is a witty woman with a contagious smile and a knack for storytelling. She is also a survivor of breast cancer. After growing up in the Valley and living a healthy and successful life, she was diagnosed with cancer at 40. I asked Darcy what went through her mind when she was diagnosed. “My first thought,” she said,” was, oh my god, I am going to die.” I looked at her as she laughed and explained that within twelve hours that idea completely changed. Darcy told herself that cancer wasn’t going to win, she was!

     After her diagnosis, Darcy faced what she says was the hardest part of her battle with cancer, telling her parents. Her father’s birthday was two days after she found out. “I watched the color drain from their faces,” she says sadly. She would later find out that her grandmother had died of breast cancer. Darcy was soon given a handful of doctors and the planning began.

     Treatment is different for every patient and the things to consider are numerous. Darcy’s tumor was in her right breast and was 8 cm in size. Her path of treatment began with surgery, followed by chemo, and ended with two months of radiation. Chemotherapy is a mixture of drugs that is made to target cells which grow rapidly. Cancer cells are therefore killed, but so are other healthy cells that have rapid growth. Cells like those in hair, bone marrow, and the digestive tract are attacked by chemotherapy. Darcy was positive and collected when it came to losing her hair. “It was a nice day like today,“ she says, recalling memories of when she shaved her head. With vivid imagery she explains the cool and relieving sensation of the sun on her head. “It was so different and freeing.”

     Darcy explains radiation as being similar to an intensified x-ray. She points out a small black dot on her chest. “It’s my tattoo,” she says. In order to be sure the radiation machine is focused on the same spot, Darcy was given a handful of these little black tattoos. She believes her optimistic attitude and otherwise strong health are what got her through cancer.

     As I sat there listening to her story, I could not help but feel inspired and yet ridiculous for all my own worries, which are miniscule in comparison. I asked Darcy how cancer changed her life. She says, “Every day is special to me.” She goes on to say that seeing other people worry about useless things has become humorous to her. Darcy recommends avoiding processed foods and toxins, eliminating stress, paying close attention to your body, and laughing A LOTas the best ways to prevent cancer and the keys to living a fulfilling life. She now spends her time passing on her brilliant attitude as the Business Director of The Integrative Medicine Center of Santa Barbra, Chapter Leader of SYV Heart Link Network, and a Mentor at the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbra

            Located on Copenhagen Drive, this quaint little store will surely sock it to you! With a plethora of festive socks, trendy clothes, shoes, jewelry, scarves, and hats, this is more than a store; it’s an experience.

            Owner Janeen Gongola started the shop three years ago after being inspired by a similar sock store in Carmel. She takes pride in the fact that The Sock Loft is unique, with more than 1,000 styles of socks for everyone, from babies to adults. The store is a great place to find a birthday gift for a friend or to find a variety of ways to express your pirate pride! The Sock Loft is also a melting pot of seasonal wear that provides for the needs of any holiday enthusiast. From Christmas to Easter and all those in between, one can discover festive wear including knee high reindeer socks or ghoulish black and orange stockings. Gongola remarks, “You just never know what you’re going to find.” The store meets the needs of all kinds of customers, including unprepared grooms needing dress socks for their wedding or distraught travelers who desperately need a pair of socks for their camping trip.

            What once started as a mere family business, The Sock Loft has expanded to a bigger occupancy and to have six additional employees. Because of its success on the main drag in Solvang, Gongola still aspires to open a second store, possibly in Santa Barbara. Gongola claims that the best part of her job is going to trade shows which allows her to be current with upcoming fashions; she takes pride in being the link from Solvang to the outside world.  Open every day from 9:30 AM to 6 PM, Gongola warmly opens her doors to the community to enjoy the unique and trendy style of her whimsical sock shop.

                          Cart lady. That was all we knew her by, simply the cart lady.  But her real name is Jane Lindberg and she is the retired golf coach. She was always there at lunch and nutrition with her big cart full of sandwiches, snacks, and drinks; always full of smiles and small talk.  Getting food from her was a great alternative to going to the cafeteria ,which is always packed in the beginning of break and all the good things are gone near the end.  This year, however, it seems as if the cart lady has disappeared. Not only that, but also all of the vending machines are closed during school hours. Now the only food you can buy at school is from the cafeteria.  Interestingly enough, when I asked around, it seemed as if only a few people knew what had really happened and of the few, their stories were somewhat obscure and not entirely factual.  The main story though that everyone agreed on was that her business and the vending machines were discontinued because all  the revenues went directly through the school and seeing as the cafeteria is a federal program provided by the state, it was competition for the state and took away money it would otherwise gain. There were, however, many people who are disappointed that she has left and when getting the opinions of some of the students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, there were mixed feelings.  Sophmore Emily Foss stated “Well what does the school need money for exactly?   If it’s for important things then yea I guess but I miss the cart lady.” But freshman Ygnacio Robles disagrees saying, “It’s wrong. I want food!”  Another sophomore Ashley Davidson has mixed feelings.  “Well that’s tough. I think it was right for two reasons. 1) Yes, the school needs money to educate us, keep the facilities running, and pay teachers. 2) Junk food isn’t good for us and we waste our money and snacks.  But it is also wrong because now the cart lady isn’t getting as much business and also we don’t get as much delicious treats anymore.”  The majority of students that were interviewed want Jane back at the school to serve her snacks, but it seems that we won’t be seeing her anymore. Unless, of course, the state miraculously allows schools to have their own sales to bring in their own income and be able to support themselves independently.  For now, we’ll just have to be dependent on the state and look forward to the future when things might be different and schools will be allowed to have good people like Jane to serve us.   Jane Lindberg will always be known as the cart lady in our minds and even though the freshmen this year do not get to enjoy her on campus, the sophomores, juniors, and seniors will always remember her.

             Last weekend was the 75^th anniversary of Solvang’s annual Danish Days celebration. The theme was “Memories of the Past, Visions for the Future.” As expressed by the theme, 2011 seems to be the Valley’s bridge between what has been and what is to be. It has been a century since Solvang was founded by a group of Danish teachers. Since then life in the Valley has carried on with much tradition. However, there is excitement to be had in the “Visions for the Future.” 

            A press conference was held Friday morning to announce a new tie between Denmark and Solvang, a tie in education. Next August, thirty Danish students, ages 15 to 18, will walk the halls of Santa Ynez High. The students will come from Niels Brock, Denmark’s renowned business college. Each teen will stay with a local family for one semester. They will take classes adopted from Niels Brock, taught by Santa Ynez teachers. The classes they take are part of Niels Brock’s three year International Business Baccalaureate program. Everyone involved hopes the program will bring good to the schools and the community. Santa Ynez students will gain firsthand experience with people of another culture. The teachers will have a chance to learn new techniques and instruct different curriculum. The town will have stronger ties to Denmark, and the students of Niels Brock will be able to put their international business learning to an immediate test.