ARCHIVES

ARCHIVES

Buellton ready for ‘State of City’ event

By Raiza Canelon/Staff Writer

Buellton is gearing up for two important annual events, the “State of the City” address next week and the Oscar Gala next month.

“We are making some good, positive changes here in Buellton, and these two events are a really nice way to highlight Buellton’s features,” said Kathy Vreeland, executive director of the Buellton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

The address, coming next week, is an annual report of the city’s progress in the past year from all its department heads, including parks and recreation, planning, and officials from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, which serves as the city’s police force.

“Our new city manager, John Kunkel, will be doing a presentation which will be a way for people to get to see him, and he’ll be touching on the Buellton Visioning Process, which is on everyone’s minds right now,” Vreeland said.

The State of the City will be held at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott in the Ballroom. Tickets cost $20 per person.

Tickets cost $20 per person, which includes lunch.

This year’s Oscar Gala, with a theme of “Champagne and Diamonds,” will be getting back to the event’s formal roots by requiring formal attire.

“The last few years it’s been losing its appeal, so we thought getting back to formal attire would make it more elegant and desirable to come to,” Vreeland said. Children won’t be allowed as they have been in some years.

“We want to make it fun for couples to put on their best and have a chance to have a ‘date night’,” Vreeland said.

The Oscar Gala will be held in the Turf Club Ballroom at the Marriott, featuring the Oscar telecast on three large screens with hosts Andy Morris and Chad Stevens from Mega 97.1 FM. The even will include a silent auction, local business Oscar presentations and a diamond giveaway.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will start at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, with dinner and the Oscars to follow. Individual tickets are $65 per person and a business sponsorship is $250.

For more information on either event, call Vreeland at 688-7829.