Last April, when sisters Jessica Yacoub and Maria Bellefeuille opened ONE Consignment Store in Buellton, they embraced the adage “do what you love.” Since then, the shop has signed up 300 consigners and received an equal number of fresh inventory items just about every day. “I love shopping consignment,” says Yacoub, a Santa Barbara native,… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Spring 2008
Reading Meters by Stealth
Endless driving, parking and peering at tiny numbers make reading utility meters a repetitious task. Add fumes from an idling engine and the back-wrenching calisthenics of climbing in and out of a truck, and the task can take its toll on workers’ health. Every month, Bill Albrecht, Director of Public… Continue Reading
Life at Atterdag
Norman Skau lived at Atterdag College as a child and is now the food service director at Atterdag Village. To celebrate and reinforce their culture, Solvang’s Danish immigrants founded Atterdag College in 1914. Students lived on campus, where educators from around the world taught everything from literature to folk dancing. The college quickly flowered as… Continue Reading
Gigi’s Flying Dog Ranch
Just as some people heed an inner calling to pursue medicine or ministry, one local woman followed her heart and fashioned a lifework devoted to dogs. To care for canines of all shapes and sizes, Gigi Gustelius founded Gigi’s Flying Dog Ranch, an innovative boarding and day-care facility in Santa Ynez. Dogs staying at Gigi’s… Continue Reading
From Figueroa Mountain – The Grey Fox
The wonderful thing about living on Figueroa Mountain is you never know what you may experience. As recently as October we had a young grey fox in an oak tree near our back door. It seemed strange to us, but in doing a little research I think I know why this beautiful and elusive creature… Continue Reading
The Grey Fox
From Figueroa Mountain. The wonderful thing about living on Figueroa Mountain is you never know what you may experience. As recently as October we had a young grey fox in an oak tree near our back door. It seemed strange to us, but in doing a little research I think I know why this beautiful… Continue Reading
Design Alternatives
In 2003, long-time local Cheri Baldacchino launched an interior design business specializing in window treatments and Hunter Douglas blinds. Six years and three store locations later, her Design Alternatives fills a 3000-square-foot showroom in Solvang’s Denmarket Square. “I moved to this new location about eight months ago,” Baldacchino says, “and I love it! The store… Continue Reading
Life at La Sonrisa
A handsome couple celebrating 63 years of marriage, Gay and Owen Johnston have made their home in the Santa Ynez Valley for more than three decades. Bearing a friendly demeanor common among long-time locals, the pair embraces a venerable Valley ethic that celebrates both community service and respect for the land. Residing on a remote… Continue Reading
Dancing from the heart
Santa Ynez Valley residents enjoy a startling variety of careers and pastimes, from ranching and retailing, to dressage and mountain biking. Despite demanding jobs and busy lives, however, many still find time amid the homework and hectic schedules to bask in a little magic. Since 1994, area youngsters and their families have frequented Los Olivos Dance… Continue Reading
Art is where you find it
Just because that keepsake is old, lumpy or just plain odd doesn’t mean it can’t be framed to good advantage. In fact, Susan Granger, proprietor of Solvang Gallery & Frame, prides herself on her ability to skillfully showcase everything from photographs to fine art—and a whole lot in between. “I love picture framing,” she admits.… Continue Reading