Winters Express: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 by mcnaughtonmedia

including tax

Youth Talent Show offers safe place to be artistic News, Page 2

Local Japanese history roots not forgotten Features, Page 1

Volume 140, Number 50 — Locally-owned since 1884

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

The hometown paper of Lourdes Argenio

Martinez earns Theodore Winters Award By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer For Corinne Martinez, volunteering — specifically in Winters — is something she has been doing since she was in high school and chairing the Youth Day Committee. Receiving the Theodore Winters Award, which comes from the name of one of Winters’ founders, is an honor for Martinez. “I don’t do what I do for recognition,” Martinez said. “I do what I do because I love to do it. I love this place, it’s a special place, I’m trying to preserve that and make it be what everyone loves to have.” The award specifically recognizes Martinez for her work with the Rotary Club of Winters, Winters Downtown Business Association, Visit Yolo, UC Agriculture, Natural Resources Board, St. Vincent de Paul and work with

Open Mic Night. As the chief operations officer, co-president and co-owner of Berryessa Gap Vineyards — on top of all the organizations — Martinez exemplifies volunteering. “To me, it’s just I’m doing what I’m passionate about, and I love to do it,” Martinez said. “When you’re volunteering you do what you can and when you can’t anymore, then other people can do it. And that’s kind of the way it works. The organizations that I’m involved with I get passionate about it in some way, shape or form in my life, and that’s why I continue to do it.” One of the ways Martinez can utilize her skills is by connecting other organizations to unite around a common goal. Back in 2022, as the president of St, Vincent de Paul’s local chapter, Martinez was able to secure a venue for a Thanksgiving dinner along

with getting other churches and community drive organizations to help. Martinez describes her volunteering and serving on boards as a balancing act and that she has to be cautious not to spread herself too thin. “I find I like connecting to the community in a variety of different ways,” Martinez said. “In some organizations, I am in leadership positions, and in some, I’m not. I enjoy doing leadership if I think I have something to contribute.” However, Martinez explains that she is not unique in her contributions. She describes the Winters community as full of people willing to put in the extra work for their town. “There are so many opportunities if you want to give back to the community — there’s endless opportunities to do so,” Martinez

See MARTINEZ, Page 5

Waggoner hosts TK, Kindergarten family information meetings Registration packets will be available at the event By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

EXPRESS

Waggoner Elementary School is gearing up for the next school year by hosting Family Information Night events for incoming Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students and its Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten program at the end of the month. The Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Both events will be presented in English from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and in Spanish from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.. Principal Chris Marcoux said the information sessions allow families to learn more about the programs offered at Waggoner. They will also have the chance to meet the teachers, tour the TK and Kindergarten classrooms, and ask staff questions. Families who attend can pick up the TK/Kindergarten registration packet.

Age eligibility Children who turned 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023, are eligible to register for Kindergarten. Children who turned 5 years old on or between Sept. 2, 2023, and June 2, 2024, are eligible to register for Transitional Kindergarten.

Families who have questions should contact Nicole Brace in the Waggoner office at 530-795-6121. Additional Waggoner Elementary updates are available online https://wes-wintersjusd-ca.schoolloop. com or on Facebook @WaggonerDolphins.

Universal TK Since the state took action for schools to create and offer a universally available TK program by the 2025–26 school year, Waggoner’s TK program has seen steady increases each year as the school district rolls out efforts to make a program to include four-year-olds. A large focus on TK was part of the discussion in the recently approved Winters Joint Unified School District Facility Master Plan on how to best utilize $23M.

Index Features ........................ B-1

We at he r Date

Rain

High

Low

Jan. 03

.31”

51˚

42˚

Jan. 04

.01”

56˚

37˚

Jan. 05

.02”

61˚

39˚

Jan. 06

.00

63˚

46˚

Jan. 07

.20”

53˚

30˚

Jan. 08

TRACE

54˚

36˚

Opinion ......................... B-3

Jan. 09

.00

56˚

40˚

Real Estate ................... B-2

Rain for week: 0.54 in. Season’s total: 7.05 in. Last sn. to date: 17.30 in.

Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2 Eventos hispanos ....... A-2

Sports ........................... B-7

Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

Courtesy photo

Community members nominated Corinne Martinez for her work to connect different segments of the community together and her leadership and passion to better Winters through local nonprofits.

Top Education News of 2023 Express staff Here’s a look at some of the top Winters Joint Unified School District topics that made headlines in 2023.

Principal changes New principals took the lead at three school sites for the 2023–24 school year. Winters High School Class of 2001 graduate Jose Bermúdez returned to Winters Middle School as the new principal. Justin Young, who served as the vice principal from 2017 to 2019 at Winters High School, stepped into the role of principal. And, Waggoner Elementary School welcomed Chris Marcoux as its new principal.

High school updates Many changes happened at Winters High School over the last year. On Monday, Aug. 7, the community joined Winters JUSD staff, students and administrators for the grand opening of the WHS PE and Music Building. The PE and Music Building was one of the final construction projects for the new high school design. While the plan still has items on its wish list, the construction of the new WHS campus design is currently completed. The new building sits behind the gymnasium locker rooms and Student Union building. It houses two classrooms which are dedicated to the WHS music program and serve as the new weight room for the

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy students planted new trees on their new home on the high school site. athletics program. The Board of Trustees also approved moving students from Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy onto the WHS site and a shift of the alternative high school’s curriculum model. Wolfskill CRA’s original one-classroom model with two teachers giving two 180-minute sessions was split into two separate classrooms with one session of 250 minutes per day. The increased time provided a five-period day that allowed the curriculum to be more flexible and remain at a shorter day. With both CRA teachers teaching the entire time, students get more educational value and opportunities for intervention and college career readiness time into the schedule. The move also brought the opportunity for Wolfskill CRA students to have

on-site resources like access to school counselors, nurses, administrators, and WHS courses if they qualify. Young is officially the principal of both the WHS and Wolfskill CRA programs. Additionally, trustees approved changing the WHS to an eight-period block schedule. The approved AB eight-period model extended the block period for classes to all five days of the week, which is one more day from the previous schedule model that only hosts block periods four days a week and an eight-period day with shorter classes on Mondays. All changes were approved ahead of time to launch them for the 2023–24 school year.

Safety measures

To prepare for students returning to school in the fall, Superintendent Rody

See NEWS, Page 6

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Winters JUSD accepting Hall of Fame nominations Special to the Express In 2018, the Winters Joint Unified School District launched the inaugural Hall of Fame, a recognition program that honors those who have gone above and beyond for the school district and community to be recognized for their work and honored for what they do. The Hall of Fame consists of three categories: Alumni, Employee, and Distinguished Service. The eligibility criteria for each group are detailed on the nomination form on the school district’s website at wintersjusd. org/hof. The submission process for this year’s nominations opened on Jan. 8, and closes on Feb. 2. The Hall of Fame honorees will be selected and informed of their selection in mid-February. The 2024 inductees will be recognized at an

Induction Ceremony on April 25. Details about the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Award eligibility Alumni are eligible to be nominated 10 years after graduation from Winters High School, an employee is eligible five years after retirement, and a distinguished service inductee has no time requirements. An alumnus nominee was a student who demonstrated high quality and character and was actively engaged in school programs while in school. An alumnus nominee will have continued those qualities as a professional adult, specifically in their career/ professional accomplishments, military service or community service. Former district employees nominated must have demon-

strated outstanding qualities that had a significant impact on school scholastics, athletics, or other student-centered activities. They must have had an exemplary life of community service and good character. The final category is the distinguished service inductee. This nominee is not necessarily a graduate from Winters schools but is a local citizen or businessperson who made extraordinary contributions to the school district. This person’s contribution was a significant benefit or exceptional honor to the district or one of its schools. Questions regarding the Winters JUSD Hall of Fame should be sent to Anietta Kelley, Assistant to the Superintendent, at akelley@wintersjusd.org or call the Winters JUSD office at 530-795-6100.

Community Youth Talent Show offers safe space to performers By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief As much as community members are fans of their smalltown sports, they are also fans of music and the arts. Although the schools offer thriving music programs, local extracurricular opportunities are few and far in between. Pioneer Church is taking steps to chance that with the launch of a monthly event. The Rev. Bruce Chapman, pastor at Pioneer Church, said his goal is to provide children or teen artists a place to explore their talents through live performances, and the church’s renovated Wesley Hall is the ideal place to host the inaugural Youth Talent Show. “Music, poetry, drama, dance — anything creative can go,” Chapman said. “It’s an opportunity for young people to exercise their artistic gifts in a safe and supportive environment.” Although it’s called a talent show, the event is a celebration of talent and he hopes to regularly host it on the last Saturday afternoon of the month going forward. The first event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. (with sign-ups starting around 2 p.m.) at Wesley Hall, 205 Russell St. next to Pioneer Church. Chapman regularly attends the Winters Open Mic monthly

Music, poetry, drama, dance — anything creative can go.” Bruce Chapman, Pioneer Church Pastor performances and said that for the first event, he is modeling it after the open-mic performances. He plans to develop the program based on the interest of the public and through the experience of hosting the first few events. According to Chapman, there is a lot of flexibility and experimentation in how the program will run and he wants to make sure that everyone who wants to perform gets an opportunity. Wesley Hall houses a stage and a piano. Chapman said he also has two amps available for a guitar and vocals, and microphones. If performers need more equipment than what is currently available, they should plan to bring it with them. Chapman said performers can sign up on the day of the event or can reach out to him to sign up before it at 831-5781018. His contact information is available on the church’s website pioneerchurch.online.

Final days to vote on Best of Yolo County Special to the Express Voting ends soon for the Readers’ Choice 2024: The Best of Yolo County.

The Winters Express and The Davis Enterprise host the awards to allow residents to recognize their favorite local

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Eventos hispanos

Foto cortesía

El equipo de Hooby’s Brewing: Megan Hainze, Chad Stocking, Curtis y Susie Stocking (atrás), Courtney, Melanie y Jackie Stocking celebraron su cuarto aniversario en Febrero del 2023. Continuarán la celebración en el evento Toast to Winters el 3 de Febrero.

Hooby’s Brewing es la Empresa del Año Por Angela Underwood Traducido por Carol Alfonso Cuando visitas el sitio web de Hooby’s Brewing y lees la historia de la familia Stocking, no podrás evitar querer saber más sobre cómo lo que comenzó como una broma se convirtió en la Empresa del Año de Winters del 2023. Lo que comenzó como una fiesta de apertura del Día de los Inocentes (April’s Fool) se convirtió en una taberna que ofrece un ambiente familiar y algunos buenos lúpulos (hops). Hablando de familia, cuando visites Hooby’s Brewing, seguramente verás a alguno de los miembros de la familia Stocking en algún lugar cercano. Ya sean los propietarios Curtis o Susie, o sus hijos Melanie, Chad, Courtney y Jackie, el ambiente de la familia Stocking se siente ya sea jugando el cornhole o escuchando música en vivo en la taberna. Con respecto al comercio en Winters, Courtney Stocking dijo que se trata de individualidad. “Trabajamos muy duro este año para aumentar la singularidad de Winters,” dijo Stocking. “Ser reconocido como una empresa que está generando un impacto positivo en nuestra ciudad es un verdadero honor.” Una carta de nominación llamaba a Hooby’s Brewing “el epítome de lo que significa el premio La Empresa del Año” y elogiaba cómo Hooby’s crea actividades locales para que la comunidad participe, desde la liga regular de cornhole hasta la competencia de jarras de cerveza, además de hacer “un impacto al apoyar el bienestar de la comunidad a través de días de concientización local y organizar torneos de recaudación de fondos para equipos deportivos locales, el grupo Grad Nite Parents, la

fundación contra el cáncer de seno y más.” Otra carta decía que Hooby’s “desde el día que abrieron sus puertas lo han dado todo” por la ciudad reuniendo a la gente y creando “una increíble atmósfera familiar.” Stocking dijo que la familia nunca tuvo la intención de construir un negocio en torno a la cerveza, sino en torno a la comunidad. “Esto se puede ver en el Día de la Juventud (Youth Day), el Mercado de Agricultores (Farmers Market), el Desfile de Tractores (Tractor Parade) y mucho más,” dijo Stocking. “Nuestros negocios en el centro son propiedad de familias locales y todos invierten en ayudarse unos a otros y a la comunidad.” Stocking dijo que los visitantes a menudo le dicen “todo el tiempo lo especial que se siente la ciudad y que regresarán por eso.” Si bien la cerveza no fue el objetivo original de la fundación de Hooby’s Brewing, no malinterpretes a la familia Stocking. Honran su gran éxito anual con su Mug Club de 100 miembros, y el grupo del 2024 ya está vigente. La membresía incluye una taza personal de 24 onzas que permanece detrás de la barra hasta que te sientas en un taburete, bebidas de 24 onzas por el precio de una bebida de 16 onzas; acceso a la sala VIP y más. “Además del obvio amor por nuestras cervezas y tal vez por un paquete de cuatro o un growler, queremos que la gente salga de Hooby’s sintiéndose como si estuvieran en casa y con ganas de volver,” dijo Stocking. “Nos encanta escuchar a los huéspedes que regresan a decirnos que regresaron por lo ‘hogareño’ que es Hooby’s.” Stocking añadió que “el mayor cumplido” para la familia fue que los demás disfrutaran “del tipo de lugar que queríamos tener y estar con nosotros mismos.”

Algunos de los atributos de Hooby’s para sentirse como en casa es el amor de la familia Stocking por las mascotas y los juegos de mesa. “Desde ligas y torneos semanales de cornhole hasta juegos de mesa y música en vivo, estábamos decididos a tener un lugar donde pudieras desconectarte de las distracciones y realmente vivir los momentos con quienes te rodean,” dijo Stocking. Si bien se siente honrado por el éxito actual de la Empresa del Año de Winters, Stocking dijo que la familia está entusiasmada con la próxima remodelación de la cocina y los nuevos alimentos en el 2024. “También tenemos Hooby’s Brewing Farm en Davis que continuamos mejorando y esperamos volver a abrir en la primavera,” dijo Stocking. Después de abrir sus puertas hace casi media década, lo que alguna vez fue una broma del Día de los Inocentes se ha convertido en la Empresa del Año. “Con muchos familiares y amigos en Winters y sus alrededores, queríamos un lugar seguro y divertido donde todos pudieran reunirse y divertirse,” dijo Stocking. Tener un ambiente familiar, incluidas las mascotas, era lo que buscábamos cuando abrimos hace casi cinco años.” Hooby’s Brewing será honrada formalmente como Empresa del Año 2023 en el evento anual Toast of Winters, previsto para el Sábado 3 de Febrero a las 5 p.m. en el Centro Comunitario de Winters (Winters Community Center). Los boletos cuestan $100 y deben comprarse con anticipación. Los boletos y la información sobre el patrocinio de eventos y las oportunidades de donación están disponibles en http://tinyurl.com/mvjh62b7.

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Thompson vows to fight shutdown By Monica Stark McNaughton Media Less than two weeks away from a possible federal government shutdown, Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said he’d do everything he could to ensure that doesn’t happen. “I like to do a lot; I’d like to start by funding the government,” Thompson said in an interview with the Express on Friday. With a mass shooting this week at an Iowa school, Thompson highlighted his gun violence prevention work and relieving the tax burden on fire victims. Weekly on Tuesday’s afternoon rush hour, protesters have gathered at Thompson’s Woodland office calling for a cease fire in the Israel-Hamas War. “I personally just don’t see the magic in calling for a cease fire,” Thompson said. “There was a cease fire in place when Hamas attacked Israel. There was a cease fire in place when Hamas brutally murdered the Israelis that they attacked, raped young women, and took all the hostages that they took. So, a cease fire didn’t stop that. And then, when there was a pause to negotiate the release of some of the hostages and get humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. That pause was the same as a cease fire. It was a loss that launched rocket attacks into Israel, so I’m not quite sure why calling for a cease fire is such a priority with some folks.” However, a cease fire and a two-state solution are ultimately what he wants. A Vietnam combat veteran, Thompson said he is against war. “I do not want innocent civilians to die. I don’t want innocent civilians to be displaced, go hungry, go without medical care, and I want that not only between Israel and Gaza, but every place.” When he returns to Washington, Thompson said, like every year through the appropriations process, the request for Israel support is evaluated. Hoping for an emergency supplemental that deals with funding for Israel and Ukraine, Thompson said, “I would certainly hope that passes the Congress. Both countries are allied countries; both countries need our support.” He said supplemental funding needs to be insisted upon that the Netanyahu government conduct its war against Hamas. “That

they conduct ing conditions in an approfor peace.” priate way, The followthat they mining is informaimize fallout tion from his for civilians, website about and they focus his gun pretheir efforts on vention work the terrorists.” and the legisAs Secretary lation underof State Anway to lessen thony Blinkin the tax burden heads to Israel on fire victims. for talks with Mike Thompson, Disarming Israel Prime D-St. Helena cartels Minister Ben Netanyahu to Thompson lessen the attacks on Pal- joined Rep. Dan Goldman estinian civilians, The New (NY-10) and Rep. Joaquin York Times reported his Castro (TX-20) to introduce refusal to agree to a “series the ‘Disarming Cartels Act’ of pauses in the fighting in to curtail the trafficking Gaza to let more aid flow of U.S.-made firearms and into the war zone and to al- ammunition south-bound low civilians to leave areas over the U.S.-Mexico borunder attack.” der. Guns originating in the The news raises the ques- United States power hution: How can anyone be man- and drug-trafficking sure Netanyahu follows efforts and other illicit acthose goals of minimizing tivities by cartels and other civilian fallout? Thompson transnational criminal orsaid that’s what Blinken is ganizations in Mexico and doing right now. “He’s try- beyond. The ‘Disarming ing to force the administra- Cartels Act’ has also been tion to do what they should co-sponsored by Represenalready be doing, and we tatives Dina Titus (NV-01), do have that threat of the Danny Davis (IL-07), and purse strings. I’m sure he is Eleanor Holmes Norton exercising that threat and (DC-AL). talking to the Netanyahu Tax burden on fire victims administration.” Thompson (CA-04) released the following statement on the status of his bill to exempt PG&E Fire Victims Trust settlements from taxes. “Wildfire survivors who received settlements from the PG&E Fire Victims Trust should not have to pay taxes on their payments. Not only is it wrong, it’s unfair. My bill to make these settlements nontaxable is my top priority. In November, my bill passed out of the Ways and Means Committee with a unanimous 38-0 bipartisan vote. I Mike Thompson, am pushing House LeaderD-St. Helena ship to bring this bill up for a vote on the House Floor so that we can continue to Asked about any influ- move forward. I have conence from American Israel versations daily about how Public Affairs Committee, we can get this bill to the Thompson said he hasn’t floor and sent to the Senreceived any financial ate. “The only reason that this contributions over the last two election cycles. When bill is not already law is behe first started as a con- cause of Senate Republigressman at the turn of the cans blocking it at the 11th century, he went on a trip hour last year. I am doing to Israel funded by AIPAC; everything possible to get last year he went to Israel this bill signed into law with JStreetPAC, a diplo- this year, but the truth of macy-first committee with the matter is that we need a a “commitment to Israel’s tax package for this bill to security and support for move. “I will not stop working US aid to Israel,” a twostate solution to the Israe- on this until wildfire survili-Palestinian conflict, and vors get the tax relief they a “commitment to preserv- deserve.”

“Wildfire survivors who received settlements from the PG&E Fire Victims Trust should not have to pay taxes on their payments. Not only is it wrong, it’s unfair.”

Lake Berryessa water levels up Express staff The water level of Lake Berryessa went up during the past week by 0.22 feet, with an increase in the storage of 3,780 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh of the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 9,

the lake level was 422.63 feet above sea level, with storage computed at 1,238,091 acre-feet of water. Evaporation on the lake averaged 36 acre-feet of water per day. The SID is diverting 55 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 33 cubic feet per second flowing at the Diversion Dam.

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County Library continues its yearlong reading program Special to the Express Yolo County Library has a New Year’s resolution for you: Read more in 2024. Beginning Jan. 1, the library will continue the reading program that spans the entire calendar year titled, “52: A Yearlong Reading Journey.” The library is once again challenging patrons to read as many books as they can in 2024 with the help of its weekly prompts. Diana Lopez, Yolo County Librarian, says, “We are really excited about continuing ‘52: A Yearlong Reading Journey’ in 2024! Reading is a lifelong skill that can offer many benefits. It is a great way to learn new things, relax, and even escape into exciting worlds different from your own. “Reading can also be a great way to connect with others and make new friends by sharing recommendations and joining book clubs. If you're looking for some encouragement and an opportunity to read more books, sign up for this amazing program.” Pick up a 52 checklist at your local library branch or sign up on Beanstack to

“It is a great way to learn new things, relax, and even escape into exciting worlds different from your own.” Diana Lopez, Yolo County Librarian

join the program digitally. Beanstack is available on mobile devices through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or can be accessed by web browser at www.YoloCountyLibrary. Beanstack.org/reader365. “52: A Yearlong Reading Journey” is free and sponsored by the Yolo County Library Foundation and the various Friends of the Library groups. For more information or to sign up, visit your local Yolo County Library branch or: www. YoloCountyLibrary.org/ ycl52. Connect with Yolo County Library on Facebook at www.Facebook. com/YoloCountyLibrary. org and Instagram at @yolocountylibrary.

County earns funding from Regional Resilience Grant Express staff State leaders have unveiled a $21.7 million funding initiative in the inaugural round of California’s Regional Resilience Grant, part of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program. This Grant, supported by the Governor’s multi-year climate budget, aims to fortify climate change resilience at a regional level. The initiative will support 16 new regional partnerships, uniting public entities, California Native American tribes, Community-Based Organizations and academic institutions. The Yolo County Regional Resilience Collaborative is one of those recipients. Partners include the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, City of Davis, City of Woodland, UC Davis, Cool Davis, Valley Vision and others. The collaborative was awarded $598,420 as part of the grant. As the county’s first climate collaborative, the YCRRC aims to engage vulnerable communities to identify shared climate priorities, establish a governance structure and develop a funding and implementation strategy.

“As climate change impacts intensify in California, affecting entire regions rather than isolated jurisdictions, the Regional Resilience Grant program is designed to support collaborative projects that align with the scale of climate impacts,” said Executive Director of the State Planning and Policy Development branch at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Saharnaz Mirzazad,. “By fostering partnerships across multiple communities and diverse partners, the aim of this program is to develop new and important ways of governing and responding to climate change.” The Regional Resilience Grant focuses on addressing a range of climate-related challenges, including wildfires, rising sea levels, droughts, floods, extreme heat events and more. Funds will be used by the different jurisdictions to plan and implement a project tailored to the unique challenges of their region. For more information and to view other grant recipients, visit https:// opr.ca.gov/climate/icarp/ grants/docs/20231221ICARP_RRGP_Round_1. pdf

VOTE NOW! through January 14th

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A4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Picked by Charley Wallace

Academic Decathlon winners and teachers (third place in the county) are pictured at Winters High School in 1983. Principal Frank Pignataro, not pictured, presented the plaques. Pictured (from left), back row: teacher Tom Crisp, Corry Lowingier, Armando Hernandez and teacher David Hudson; front row: teacher Germaine Hupe, Margaret Purtill, Kristen Smith, Roberto Cardenas and Kathryn Erni. Not pictured: decathlon members Dawn Harris and Pat Augustine. File photo

Public Safety Report City of Winters

Fire The Winters Fire Log will return soon. Check for updates at https://tinyurl. com/2usvczda.

Police Arrest Log Dec. 28: Hattabaugh, Paula (Age 66), Charges: Winters Police Warrant, Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail

Report Log Dec. 27: 9:40 a.m., 600th block of Ivy Loop, Found Property (Bicycles) ~3:41 p.m., 700th block of Main Street, Adult Protective Services Report ~7:13 pm, First block of Main Street, Missing Person (Located) Dec. 28: 4:23 p.m., 700th block of Railroad Avenue, Petty Theft Jan. 1: 4:43 p.m., 500th block of East Street, Resisting Arrest Jan. 2: 6:31 a.m., 900th block of E. Grant Avenue, Outside Agency Assist ~12:07 p.m., 500th block of East Street, Domestic Violence ~4:15 p.m., 700th block of Railroad Avenue, Petty Theft ~8:04 p.m., 200th block of Suffolk Place, Audible Alarm For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.

January 9, 1920 Merchant, banker boost association It is likely that everyone in the fruit business in this locality knows and realizes that there is a campaign on for the increasing acreage in the Prune and Apricot Growers Association. It may be possible that some of our business men have not taken particular notice of this campaign, not realizing its importance to them. The success of these grower associations is of just as much consequence to the grocer, the dry goods merchant and the banker as it is to the grower who has the fruit to sell. Take, for instance, the prices paid by the association and the outside buyers for the dried apricots of the past season. It is a well-known fact among the buyers that the average price paid to the grower by the outside buyers was 20c per pound, while the average price paid by the Apricot Association to its members was 26c per pound. The outside grower of apricots should not lose sight of those figures any more than the merchant of the banker, but the idea for the merchant and banker to particularly get is that had there been no association there would have been a difference of 6 cents per pound in the amount of apricot money that is left in this community after the selling of the

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season’s crop. When we recall that 6c has been the whole price paid by the outside buyers in past years when there was no association, we realize that the difference between what the outside buyers and the association paid for last year’s crop was the amount of some season’s whole crop. Now 6c on an apricot crop in some years is a lot of money. The question for the merchant to consider is that if the apricot prices are held up it is more money that will come over his counter from the growers and the same holds with the banker. As it is an established fact that the association is bringing greater returns to the grower than he could get without the influence of the association, the merchant and the banker should exercise all their energies to the direction of signing up every apricot and prune grower in this district into the association.

Interesting session of town board The Town Board met in regular monthly session Tuesday evening. A petition of F.W. Herold to construct a 50x60 foot addition to his garage on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Edwards street brought the building ordinance into question as to its provision for a 12 inch wall for a one-story structure with no partnership walls. It was the desire of Mr. Herold to build of 8-inch reinforced concrete with eight inch pilasters. This construction was considered

by the board to be safe and it was finally decided to amend the building ordinance so that such structures could be built. The moving picture theatre ordinance which appears in another column of this paper was passed by the unanimous vote of the board. The city attorney reported progress in the preparation of the amending license ordinance. The exporting of the town’s books is reported to be about finished and a report may be looked for at the next session of the board. In the matter of the repair of the old wooden water tank and understructures, Water Superintendent L.H. Gregory asked a little more time in which to get some information and figures on the replacing of the wooden tank with a steel tank. Reports of the several officers were read and placed on file and a batch of claims allowed.

Improvements at Pioneer Garage F.W. Herold is about ready to begin construction on a very substantial addition to his garage. It is to be an extension tot he back of the present garage and will be on Edwards street. The building material is to of concrete reinforced and with pilasters on the street side which will set it off, and with the large doors and windows will not be a bad building at all to look at. Entrance will be so arranged that cars may be driven in from the Edwards Street side and will not have to be taken

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through the store part for repairs. Cars can run through the garage and out onto the street front first and no backing out which is a great convenience and an arrangement for safety which is very desirable in any garage. The front part of the garage is to be remodeled into a modernly equipped sales room with glass cases and windows which will have an appearance of the large city accessories stores.

Outside growers injure business There are fruit growers who seem slow to grasp the fact that the selling of their fruit to the outside buyer does themselves and the whole fruit business an injury. This point has many angles and it is true in many ways that the outside man is working an injury to his business instead of a good. Take, for instance, the Iowa, Pennsylvania, or other retail merchant who sells dried apricots: The outside buyers bought their apricots at an average price of 20c per pound while the association paid 26c per pound for the fruit they are selling to the eastern merchants. It is obvious that the outside buyers can undersell the association fruit to these eastern merchants. Now suppose the association sales agent approaches the eastern merchant and offers to sell him his winter or year’s supply of apricots at, say 35c. This eastern merchant has a competitor just across the street and before he buys his season’s supply he has to know that his competitor will not be able to undersell him in marketing the cots to the consumers of his town. If the association sales agent had all the dried apricots he could set a price and guarantee the retail merchant that his competitor would not be sold any cheaper; but when a portion of the dried cots are in the hands of the association’s enemy, there is no guarantee that the across the street merchant will not be able to buy for less than the association

man is offering the cots to him. The result is the merchant only buys in small amounts and from day to day, keeping the market up in the air, the fruit in the hands of the association instead of disposed to the trade, and the bucking of the outside people lowers the price to the eastern merchant and all of this is at the expense of the grower, and because there are a few short sighted growers who will not work with the rest of their fellow growers in the interests of bettering their business. It is useless for the outside grower to say that his fruit does not compete with the inside stuff for he sold at a higher price than the association paid. It is the average price the outside buyers pay that enables them to establish a low price and not what they pay any one or two growers, so the high selling outside man is furnishing the fruit to injure the fruit growing game just the same as the grower who sells low. The way out is for everybody to get into the associations and thereby sell for even more than the association man gets now. Big growers sign into association A number of the largest apricot and prune growers in the county and district came into the Apricot and Prune Growers’ Association this week. G.H. Hecke came in with his large acreage, M.H. Stitt signed in over 100 acres in the Capay Valley, The Boyce & Boyce Orchards Company of Winters signed in and Mrs. Susan Magill came in. There were quite a number of other growers with smaller acreages who signed in this week also. The results so far of the campaign in this locality are that the association is becoming a much stronger factor every day. The percentage of growers in the association is getting larger every day and the outside man is not only losing his hold as a factor in the business but he is also losing the respect of his neighbor grower who is trying to upbuild the common industry.

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Yolo judge reinstates Dominguez criminal proceedings By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media Court proceedings officially resumed Friday for the former UC Davis student accused of killing two people and injuring a third in a series of stabbings earlier this year. Carlos Reales Dominguez, 22, appeared in Yolo Superior Court looking more engaged and without the anti-suicide smock he’d worn during earlier court hearings, where his public

defender, Dan Hutchinson, contended he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. Although Yolo County prosecutors initially challenged Dominguez’s incompetency and took the matter to a jury trial, they later conceded that the defendant unable to assist his attorney in a rational manner. That led to Judge Samuel McAdam’s order for Dominguez to receive treatment from the Department of State Hospitals,

which housed him from mid-September until late last month, when doctors certified him as competent. Dominguez’s “sufficient knowledge,” capacity to understand the legal procedure and charges, and his mental-health disorder do not “impede a meaningful conversation regarding this subject,” Dr. Hayley Wechsler of the DSH’s competency restoration program wrote in the summary of a Dec. 20 report, which McAdam read aloud in

court Friday. “The defendant has the capacity to rationally assist legal counsel. The risk of self-harm is low, and the risk to others in an institutional setting is low,” the report says. “The defendant is certified as competent to stand trial.” Neither Hutchinson nor prosecutors Matt De Moura and Frits van der Hoek challenged that conclusion. McAdam issued a formal order reinstating Dominguez’s criminal pro-

NEWS Continued from Page 1 Boonchouy and Winters Police Chief John P. Miller partnered to bring crossing guards back to school sites. Winters Police Department created a two-hourlong crossing guard training program that goes over their safety and how to ensure the safety of students. Individuals who complete the training get documented in records for doing so and are given equipment to be regular crossing guards. Winters JUSD voiced plans to continue educating students about appropriate safety tips for walking or riding bikes. Boonchouy asked motorists to be mindful of school buses that are stopped with flashing lights. The school district had seen an issue with motorists passing stopped busses with flashing lights. According to California Vehicle Code Section 22454(a), all drivers must stop when a school bus displays its flashing red lights and has its stop signal arm extended. Winters PD conducted a traffic analysis in town with its results yielding insight into how the school district and police department can further strengthen student safety. The Winters PD Traffic Study identified traffic flows, patterns, line of sight, parking, signage and more for Winters JUSD to consider.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Trustees Everardo Zaragoza and Carrie Green work to organize and prioritize post-it notes of skills they’d like to see Winters graduates have upon graduating from the school district. This was step one in the journey to draft the Winters Graduate Profile. To round it out, trustees approved a new Emergency Operations Plan for the school district. Jenny Pinedo, director of special education and student services, said the EOP “serves as a comprehensive framework that outlines the roles, responsibilities, and protocols to be followed by school administrators, teachers, support staff and emergency responders” as well as to “establish a coordinated and systematic approach to emergency management, helping schools minimize confusion, make informed decisions, and effectively respond to these emergencies.”

Office building fire Winters JUSD office staff experienced an evacuation emergency when the school district office building caught fire on Oct.

23, at 8:40 a.m. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III elevated it to a two-alarm commercial fire status and requested assistance from nearby agencies. With 38 firefighters on the scene, the fire was officially declared out at 11 a.m. The fire was contained to the warehouse area of the building and the office area was impacted with smoke and water damage. However, the building was left in an inhabitable condition. School district staff had to work from other locations and Board of Trustee meetings were held at the Winters City Hall Council Chamber for the remainder of 2023. At the Nov. 7 City Council meeting, Snyder reported that the cause of the fire that sparked in the warehouse section had not been identified.

Program transitions Trustees approved to transition of the summer and afterschool programs from the city of Winters to the school district. The details of how the Afterschool Program would be executed and run by the school district were still in the works by the end of 2023. However, the existing city afterschool program staff had already begun meeting and training through Winters JUSD. More details are expected to be released to the public in early 2024. Additionally, through Expanded

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Under Boonchoy’s leadership, Winters JUSD took big steps in 2023 to take stances on equity and student success, and to begin the process of addressing state curriculum requirements. Boonchouy met with community stakeholders, staff, students and their families to get feedback and ideas on how to approach and build strong foundations for students across the school district. Work to develop the Winters JUSD Graduate Profile launched in April 2023 with a trustee study session and the question “What is the purpose of school?” and ended with an approved Graduate Profile draft in November. The final draft identified eight skills that every Winters graduate should be familiar with. Those skills include Critical thinking, Creativity, Cultural awareness, Collaboration, Communication, Community engagement, Content knowledge and Resilience. The school district surveyed 935 participants, with 630 of them being students. The Graduate Profile also serves as a plan to use to shape how the schools provide programs and curriculums. Boonchouy said “the world is rapidly changing, with advances to technology, communication, an inner connected society economy” and

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After a year-long effort of discussions and workshops, trustees approved the Facility Master Plan and the Implementation Plan. Boonchouy said the Facility Master Plan is an overall “facilities needs” assessment of the school district and outlines — by school site — what needs

Building foundations

that “students will enter jobs that don’t yet exist.” In September, trustees and Winters JUSD staff took a stance against racially derogatory depictions and discrimination with proposed updates to board policy regarding school district programs and activities and within its athletics program. Trustees unanimously approved changes to two board policies that updated the policy language to include a requirement that school district programs and activities should be free of any racially, derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, nicknames, images or practices. The history of the Winters High School Warriors mascot dates to its inception in 1938 according to school district records when “Warriors” was voted as the name of the high school newspaper. The Warrior mascot was depicted as a Native American wearing a headdress, as well as a spear with an obsidian arrowhead with feathers. In 2017, debate over the mascot’s depiction came under fire and caused divisiveness in the community. The WHS mascot logo has since evolved into an unornamented spear held by the red “W” which is being used by the WHS Athletics department. In December, Boonchouy announced that Winters JUSD was seeking community members and local stakeholders to participate in the school district’s Ethnic Studies Task Force. Creating the task force is step one in the two-year timeline of developing what the state-mandated Ethnic Studies courses will look like at Winters JUSD. According to Boonchouy, the school district is looking to partner with residents to develop an Ethnic Studies program that reflects the history, stories and contributions of the diverse community that has called Winters their home.

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Winters Middle School Principal Jose Bermúdez recognizes Rising Star Sammy Vargas on Nov. 2. 2023. School board meetings were moved to the City Council Chamber after the school district office building fire.

COUNTERTOPS

Facility Master Plan approval

trustees and Winters JUSD staff should be thinking about for maintenance, construction and development projects. The Implementation Plan prioritizes the list of projects on the Facility Master Plan and will be used to determine what trustees want to spend the available $23 million on. Winters JUSD has $23 million available between the general fund, local bonds, developer fees, state funding, and special reserves (capital) – including incoming funds from Measure W and state reimbursement dollars from past projects.

See DOMINGUEZ, Page 6

Kresta Daly

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

KITCHEN & BATH

Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) funds, the school district was able to provide more programs for Winters JUSD. This included working with the Winters Participating Gallery for its summer history mural program and the Winters Shakespeare Workshop summer program. Both programs experienced an increase of student participation this summer. Trustees also approved an agreement of a Dual Language Immersion program to transition its developmental bilingual education model to a dual-language immersion model. In August, trustees gave the green light to revise the English Learner Master Plan with input from the District English Language Advisory Committee and the creation of a task force committee of parents, staff and community members. Winters JUSD’s current EL Master Plan was approved in 2014, with some revisions made in 2017 based on changes in state law.

ceedings and reaffirmed an earlier order for him to receive involuntary medication. The case now goes to the preliminary hearing stage, where the prosecutors will present their evidence supporting Dominguez’s criminal charges, and McAdam will determine whether it’s sufficient for the allegations to stand. That proceeding, expected to last about four days,

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A6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

MARTINEZ Continued from Page 1 said. “There are lots of organizations who are looking for additional people with time, talent, treasure, who can support them and all the organizations are providing something of benefit to the community and that’s what makes this community really, really special.” Living in Winters most of her life, Martinez has gotten to watch it grow and triple in size over the years. Martinez describes the downtown, especially during her childhood, as very vibrant. While she explained that some of that might have disappeared for a time, she still sees that same heart of Winters. “There’s a lot for people to enjoy in a very small, you know, sort of confined area — which is kind of nice. It makes the town very accessible,” Martinez said. Giving back to the community, Martinez was a part of the Winters DBA before it was even officially formed. One of the ways Martinez helped increase the vibrancy is by playing a vital role in Open Mic Night.

A few years ago, Martinez was approached by a couple of wineries that did not have a tasting room and wanted to utilize one of her downtown properties. As this would only increase the amount of people coming to Winters for wine, Martinez agreed to it. Later, that became a space for Open Mic Night and Martinez spent some time on the board as well helping them get up and running. In helping with setting up venues, Martinez found that she loved the addition it brought to the community. Martinez has been able to use her knowledge to help others get up and running, especially when it comes to nonprofit organizations. “Setting up a new nonprofit organization is something I’ve probably done, you know, eight to 10 times,” Martinez said. “We’re in the process of doing another one right now on a very much larger scale.” Martinez understands that the process of setting up a nonprofit can be daunting. But specifically with Open Mic Night, she was glad to lend a hand. “No one really gives you the whole big picture

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Corinne Martinez was invited to speak at the Women's History Month event themed “Celebrating women who tell our stories” in March. unless you have someone as a consultant to do it,” Martinez said.” So once you (have) sort of done and figured it out, stitched it together, then you can kind of help other people through it. But like I said, I’ve done that a number of times. So helping through that process was something that I was very, very happy to do.” One of Martinez’s passions is getting Winters more on the map for the award-winning vineyards. With Winters achieving

the American Viticulture Area, or AVA, recently, showed what her father and family have known for a long time — Winters is special, right down to the soil. Dan Martinez Sr. started farming apricots in the ’60s and partnering with Ernest Peninou, the two created rootstock, which is roots from a different vine connected to the vine. This rootstock, sold in the family nursery, is now used by well-known wineries in

DOMINGUEZ Continued from Page 6 begins Feb. 26 and continues in the afternoons during the remainder of that week. Dominguez remains on a no-bail hold at the Yolo County Jail in the meantime. Davis police arrested Dominguez on May 3, following a week-long series of brutal stabbings that claimed the lives of Davis’ “Compassion Guy” David Breaux, 50, in Central Park; and 20-year-old UCD student Karim Abou Najm as he rode his bike through Sycamore Park. A third victim, unhoused woman Kim-

Carlos Reales Dominguez appears at a restoration of competency hearing at Yolo Superior Court with Dan Hutchinson, deputy public defender on Friday, January 5. Fred Gladdis/ McNaughton Media

berlee Guillory, 64, survived a knife attack from outside her tent at Second and L streets. The short-lived

competency trial in July revealed that Dominguez, who was expelled from UCD for failing grades just days before the

stabbings began, had become increasingly withdrawn and disheveled since the spring of 2021. Psychologists who

OUTDOOR Continued from Page 8

Coming Soon

and take guided hikes through the marsh. All ages and mobility levels are welcome! The Marsh Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Park is open until sunset. Registration for the Marsh Walk is required. • Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lynch Canyon Open Space Bird of Prey Hike: Bird of Prey Hikes are back for 2024! Join Larry Broderick at Lynch Canyon Open Space from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the fourth Bird of

Sonoma and Napa Valley. “It is still like the longest continuously operating family-owned nursery business in the state,” Martinez said. And it’s not by any stretch to imagine the biggest the largest.” For a long time, Martinez’s father was not interested in growing grapes. And it would eventually take her brother Dan Martinez Jr. alongside a business partner to get that portion of their family-centric vineyards started. “He (Dan Martinez Sr.) wasn’t super interested but he did you know sort of humor me at one point and get some grapes,” Martinez said. “And we had a family from the trade and make some wine in the backyard.” Martinez will be formally recognized as the 2023 Theodore Winters Award honoree at the annual Toast of Winters event, planned for Saturday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Winters Community Center. Tickets are $100 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets and information about event sponsorship and donation opportunities are available at http://tinyurl.com/ mvjh62b7.

evaluated him inside the jail’s suicide-watch unit testified he suffered from schizophrenia symptoms that rendered him unable to understand the nature of the court proceedings or assist his attorney in preparing a defense. ”The report from the state hospital confirms what three separate mental health experts previously testified to: Mr. Dominguez suffers from schizophrenia,“ Hutchinson said Friday. “The report’s finding that he is now sufficiently mentally competent to move forward with criminal proceedings does not change this fact.

“For the past five months, Mr. Dominguez has received daily psychotropic medication to treat his serious mental illness, and I am very pleased that he has responded so well to this treatment,” Hutchinson added. Maria Breaux, David Breaux’s sister, said: “I’m looking forward to things moving on, and getting resolution.” Nadine Yehya, Abou Najm’s mother, also attended Friday’s proceeding with several supporters but declined to comment. The prosecuting attorneys also had no comment.

Prey Hike of the season. This is a special opportunity to discover, observe, and learn about eagles, hawks, and other raptors. The hike will offer raptor identification tips and views of birds of prey, many of whom have migrated to Lynch Canyon for the winter. Previous sightings include golden eagles, bald eagles, roughlegged hawks, Cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, ferruginous hawks, peregrine falcons, prairie falcons, and other more common birds of prey. All ages are welcome, but participants

must be prepared for a moderately paced hike covering about four miles, possibly offtrail in places, up and down rugged, steep, and sometimes slippery hills, and passing free-range cattle along the way. Please note there is a hike fee of $10 and a separate parking fee at Lynch Canyon of $6 (cash or check). Registration Required. • Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Rush Ranch Trail Crew Volunteer Opportunity: Come join us as we kick off the new year with a tool maintenance party at Rush Ranch! Get to know Solano Land Trust staff members and many other wonderful volunteers. It’s a great place to meet cool people who care about land in Solano County and be part of the legacy of maintaining trails for public access. Participants will park in the main parking lot area and meet by the tool shed at Rush Ranch. Registration Required. • Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lynch Canyon Open Space Nature Hike: This hike will take visitors westward along Middle Valley Trail leading to Prairie Ridge. Expect a five-mile hike at a moderate but even pace over uneven ground. There are steep climbs over several hills with the longest at Prairie Ridge, but the views are worth it! Please note there is a parking fee of $6 at Lynch Canyon (cash or check). Registration Required.

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Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 — A7

Thu 1/18 The Suborbitals

Murder, You Wrote: New Year's Deceive

@ 9pm / $12 Murder, You Wrote is a hilarious @ 12am improvised whodunit where the Jan 18th - Jan 17th audience gets to decide whodidit. The Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 4th St, Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 20th Street, Sacramento. mickey@ saccomedyspot.com, 916-4443137 Featured

Arden Jones @ 7pm Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St, San Francisco

Saturday Jan 20th

Editor's Voice

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Corduroy

School of Rock Vacaville - Fall/ Winter End of Season Showcase

@ 10am / $8 Jan 20th - Jan 21st Journey Downtown, 308 Main Street, Vacaville. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// boxof�ce@onstagevacaville.org, 707-474-9657 School of Rock Vacaville takes the stage at Journey Downtown in part of its //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Uriel End of Season Showcase. @ 8pm Auguste @ 9pm Madarae, 46 Minna St, San Fran‐ cisco

@ 7pm Old Ironsides, 1901 10th St, Sacra‐ mento

Neck Of the Woods, 406 Clement St, San Francisco

Consumer Debt and //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Bankruptcy Clinic //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// mars kumari

Dehydrat‐ ing Food 101 @ 6:30pm Learn the basics of dehydrating food at home. Fair�eld Cordelia Library, 5050 Business Center Drive, Fair�eld. ldetomaso@ solanocounty.com Bobcat Live at Green Room Social Club, Placerville CA

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@ 6pm Find out ways to address consumer @ 10pm debt with a CA licensed attorney. Mix Downtown, 1525 L St, Sacra‐ Fair�eld Cordelia Library, 5050 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// mento Business Center Drive, Fair�eld. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Erik wilson ldetomaso@solanocounty.com @ 8pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Neck Of the Woods, 406 Clement Alex Ramon "Magic" St, San Francisco @ 7pm / $47.75 Editor's Pick //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Harveys Cabaret at Harveys Lake The Benjy Egel at The Avid Mars Kumari/ Raven/ Uriel Tahoe, 18 Hwy 50, Stateline Pinball

DJ Peeti-V

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@ 8pm Neck Of the Woods, 406 Clement St, San Francisco

Sat 1/20

Back to 80s Prom

@ 6pm / $130 Jared James Nichols Wear your @ 7:30pm most excel‐ Scarlet's Saloon, 614 Sutter St, //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// lent 80s Folsom @ 7:30pm / prom fashion. The prom Repeat //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// $15-$25 @ 8pm features DJ Barnett Enter‐ The Bites Blue Note Napa, 1030 The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, tainment playing the ulti‐ @ 7:30pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Main Street, Napa Sacramento mate 80s playlist. Enjoy Scarlet's Saloon, 614 Sutter St, //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Jack Lillian, Gingsu, @ 6:30pm dinner and dancing, and Folsom Featured The Green Room Social Club, 251 JAMM, Hit Me, Harold! support youth service //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Main St, Placerville @ 8pm / $12 clubs in the Silent Auction Car, the garden //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement Farmstand Spring Hotel Winters, 12 Abbey @ 8pm St, San Francisco @ 9:30am / $975 Sean Carscadden Music: Street, Winters. kiwanis Great American Music Hall, 859 O'‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Jan 22nd Apr 15th Sean Carscadden Trio @ clubofwinters@gmail.com Farrell St., San Francisco Located at end of Arreba St.(be‐ Pylon Reenactment Blue Note Napa //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// California Symphony: hind 91 Arreba St.), Behind 91 Ar‐ Society w/ Kelley Stoltz @ 7pm Gershwin In New York No Cover reba St, Martinez. 925-766-9070 @ 8pm Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main St, Reader

+ Erik Wilson/ Pearl Onion

@ 2pm Join us in celebrating local food with Benjy Egel, author of the new cookbook: Sacramento Eats! The Avid Reader Bookstore, 617 2nd Street, Davis. hello@avidreader books.com, 530-758-4040

@ 8pm / $10 Neck of the Woods, 406 Clement St, San Francisco

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Wizards celebrate The Who

Mon 1/22

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Alex Ramon "Magic" @ 7pm / $47.75 Harveys Cabaret at Harveys Lake Tahoe, 18 Hwy 50, Stateline ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Sean Carscadden Trio @ 7pm / $10-$25 Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main Street, Napa

Artist Talk with //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Christina Editor's Pick Kent Louis Katz

@ 3pm Join us at the Pence for a free Artist Talk with Christina Kent, //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// recipient of the Pence's No Silence Emerging Artist Award! @ 7:30pm Pence Gallery, 212 D Gold�eld Trading Post Sacramento, Street, Davis. pencesocial 1630 J St, Sacramento //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// media@gmail.com, 530758-3370 The Almanac @ 7:30pm Punch Line Comedy Club, 2100 Ar‐ den Way, Sacramento

@ 7:30pm Gold�eld Trading Post Sacramento, 1630 J St, Sacramento

@ 7:30pm / $20-$90 California Symphony brings a jazzy interpretation to Gershwin’s Rhap‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 2:55pm / $99 sody in Blue in an all-American //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Anthony Arya Jan 22nd - Mar 4th program with music by Barber and @ 8pm Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Gold Ridge Elementary, 735 Hali‐ William Dawson. Lesher Center for The Hotel Utah Saloon, 500 4th St, don Way, Folsom. 916-330-4577 Bums featuring Miss the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Carmen Getit: Steve Lucky Creek. info@californiasym //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Chess Academy: Russell & the Rhumba Bums @ phony.org, 925-943-7469 Lost Ox //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 9pm

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Artist Talk with Christina Kent

@ 3pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Join us at the Pence for a free DangerAte Third Thursday Artist Talk with Christina Kent, re‐ at McTeague's cipient of the Pence's Emerging @ 8pm Artist Award! Pence Gallery, 212 D McTeague's Saloon, 1237 Polk St, Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@ San Francisco gmail.com, 530-758-3370

Winter Elementary Drawing

Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco

Ranch Elementary, Session C

Woodchopper's Ball @ the Verdi Club in San Francisco

@ 2:55pm / $120 Jan 22nd - Mar 18th Russell Ranch Elementary, 375 Dry Creek Road, Folsom. 916-4197644

@ 9pm Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa St, San Francisco

@ 2:55pm / $144 Jan 22nd - Mar 18th Gold Ridge Elementary, 735 Hali‐ don Road, Folsom. 916-419-7644

Wed 1/24 The Happys

@ 6pm Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main St, Napa

@ 8pm The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, Sacramento

@ 8pm ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

@ 7pm Gold�eld Trading Post Sacra‐ mento, 1630 J St, Sacra‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// mento @ 5pm / Free Join us for a free, hands on vegan cooking demonstration class! Fair‐ �eld Civic Center Library, 1150 Kentucky Street, Fair�eld

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@ 8pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

sundiver ca //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Art and Science of Making Marriage Flourish @ 6:30pm / $145 Jan 19th - Jan 20th An interactive conference centered on the research-based �ndings from the Gottman Institute. Deepen the foundation of your relationship, manage con�ict successfully, and create meaning and hope. Davis Veterans Memorial Center, 203 East 14th Street, Davis. olivia@fbc davis.org, 530-758-7100

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DJ Shadow w/ Action Adventure

Sacra‐ mento @ 9pm Kings vs. The Regency Ballroom, 1290 Sut‐ Atlanta ter Street, San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Hawks DJ Eddie Edul: Mix Downtown Saturday On The Rooftop

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Seb Zito

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Halcyon SF, 314 11th St, San Fran‐ cisco

@ 9:30pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco

@ 8pm Vallejo

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Eric McFadden: Edwardian Ball

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Kate Vargas: Edwardian Ball

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Tree Frog Treks Teen Animal Care Training: Winter 2024

Paul Tolle: Red Bus Brewery - Kenny Chesney Tribute @ 6pm Red Bus Brewing Company, 802 Reading St UNIT A, Folsom

@ 5:30pm Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 6151 H St, Sacramento

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Fri 1/19

The Trims

The Cantaliers: Private Event

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Great American Music Hall, 850 O'‐ Farrell St., San Francisco

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Caroline Carr @ 7pm Gold�eld Trading Post Sacramento, 1630 J St, Sacramento

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The Roaches @ 8pm Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 Mission St, San Francisco

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A8 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Solano Land Trust hosts outdoor adventures

Graduate fellows highlight works as Flyway Nights speakers

Special to the Express

Yolo Basin Foundation’s Flyway Nights speaker series on Thursday highlights the work of graduate students who will go on to contribute greatly to the scientific knowledge and management of wetlands and wildlife throughout their careers. The program will be a Zoom presentation sharing their work in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Yolo Basin Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship Fund supports graduate students who are working in the areas of environmental education, public use, environmental sciences, or environmental/conservation policy related to the Yolo Bypass. At the January Flyway Nights we will hear from our final recipients of this 8 year program. • Nicole Rodrigues, PhD, UCD: Effects of wildfire-derived contaminants on behavior and development of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife

“Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.” – Jane Goodall Join the docents and staff of Solano Land Trust to explore the outdoors and experience the beauty of Solano County! For information on meeting locations, directions, and registration, visit the events page at solanolandtrust. org/events. For additional questions, call Di Holokahi at 707-420-1041. January opportunities include: • Saturday, Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vallejo Swett Ranch Nature Hike: Come explore the hills between Fairfield, Benicia, and Vallejo. Solano Land Trust docents will share insights about the birds, butterflies, and other wildlife that call the Swett Ranches home, and you will get a vigorous workout! Space is limited. Hike level: Moderate to moderately strenuous. Registration Required. • Friday, Jan. 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Blue Rock Springs Park Community Science Volunteer Opportunity: Join Solano Land Trust for a volunteer opportunity at Blue Rock Springs Park. We will be continuing the trail rehabilitation erosion prevention efforts started at the BART/SLT joint workday in November by planting some native wildflowers and shrubs in the hills behind the park (which are part of Solano Land Trust’s Vallejo Swett property). These native plants will provide habitat for pollinators and birds. Volunteers should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes,

and bring water bottles. SLT will provide gloves, but volunteers are always welcome to bring their own to ensure their fit and style preferences are met. We will meet at Blue Rock Springs Park at 9:30 am and walk to the trailhead. We will work until 12:30, and folks may want to bring picnic lunches to enjoy at the beautiful park. Registration Required. • Saturday, Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park Nature Hike: Explore the hills between Suisun Valley and Green Valley and see sweeping views of Solano County and beyond. The park’s scenic blue and live oaks, native wildflowers, and fascinating geology make this a uniquely compelling hike. Moderately strenuous, 4-6 miles. Cancels for rain or extreme weather. Please meet at the main gate located at 2061 Rockville Rd., Fairfield. Registration Required. • Saturday, Jan. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lynch Canyon Open Space Trail Crew Volunteer Opportunity: Join Solano Land Trust Trail Crew every second Saturday of the month in partnership with Solano County Parks to work on trails and projects at Lynch Canyon Open Space! Help take care of Lynch Canyon’s 1,000-plus

acres. Projects include improving trails, fixing fences, weeding, and more. No experience necessary. Participants learn while volunteering. Please note there is a parking fee of $6 at Lynch Canyon (cash or check). Registration Required. • Friday, Jan. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park Community Science Volunteer Opportunity: Join Solano Land Trust staff member Olivia Freitas with planting at Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park. Please bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and gloves if you have them. These activities may involve some bending. We invite you to bring a picnic lunch if you’d like and enjoy the new picnic tables at the park! Please meet at the main gate located at 2061 Rockville Rd. Fairfield. Registration Required. • Saturday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Rush Ranch Get the Rush! at Rush Ranch: Get the Rush is a series of fun, free activities for the whole family, offered on the third Saturday of each month at Rush Ranch. Guests can try blacksmithing at the forge, explore pop-up shops and exciting exhibit tables, and

See OUTDOOR, Page 6

By Corky Quirk Special to the Express

Area mosquito Culex tarsalis • Sara Olstad Rahimi, MS, UCD: Evaluation of Yolo Basin Foundation – Discover the Flyway School Program • Stephen Gergeni, MS, CSUS: Phase 2; Population and Habitat Assessment for Threatened Giant Garter Snake and the State Species of Conservation Concern Western Pond Turtle • Lauren Hitt, MS, UCD: Creek Origins: Assessing Putah Chinook Salmon Population Through Isotopic Analysis Flyway Nights is a monthly speaker series highlighting environmental issues, natural history of Northern California, and current research topics in conservation. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link to the presentation. A donation to support the Foundation’s wetland education programs is suggested. To register visit www. yolobasin.org/flywaynights or call Yolo Basin Foundation at 530-757-3780.

Birders invited to Yolo Audubon Raptor Ramble field trip Special to the Express The public is invited to join Yolo Audubon for the annual Raptor Ramble field trip on Jan. 27, led by Kevin Guse. California’s Central Valley has one of the largest wintering raptor populations in the country. The goal of the trip will be to see how many species of raptors the group can find. Highlights of past trips include Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Bald Eagle and Prairie Falcon. Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Please bring binoculars, a spotting scope if have

one, lunch, plenty of liquids, layers of clothes and be prepared for a full day trip. This trip is limited to 15 people, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact Ryan Janke at rhjanke29@gmail.com to reserve your spot and to receive information on where to meet. Yolo Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster an appreciation of birds and conservation in Yolo County. More information on birds in Yolo County is available online at yoloaudubon.org or facebook. com/yoloaudubonsociety.

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FEATURES

Basics of reverse mortgages

It’s a little soggy and cold outside

Warriors back on the court

HOMES, Page 2

OPINION, Page 3

SPORTS, Page 7

Shimomura, Historical Society take steps to preserve history By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

Thursdays Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690 Tuesday, January 16 Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/ Wednesday, January 17 Yolo County/Winters City 2x2 Meeting, 4 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), check www.cityofwinters.org/2x2/ Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance) Wednesdays Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution, Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue

Upcoming Thursday, January 18 Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://wintersjusd.diligent.community Friday, January 19 WFoL Quiz Show, 7 p.m., Winters Opera House, 13 Main St., wfol.org

The rich pre-war history of the Japanese community of Winters had just about disappeared until last year. Before World War II, the first Japanese immigrants were a vital and strong part of Winters’ agricultural community. Precisely 100 years later, after decades of developing the land and being interned during World War II, President Ronald Reagan apologized to Japanese Americans on behalf of the U.S. with monetary reparations from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. That 100-year history should be preserved, which is why the Winters Historical Society made it happen. Local historian, historical society member and museum curator Rob Coman said in the 19th century, immigrants left a life of poverty, hoping to find something better in the U.S. “Groups like the Japanese immigrants had very strong work ethics, which provided a better life for their families and

Courtesy photo

Floyd Shimomura (left) and Japanese Consul General Yo Osumi hold the 1930 photograph of the Winters Japantown community members that will be placed on the monument honoring the local Japanese community. future generations,” Coman said. “They became farmers, business owners and community members.” After years of building up a Japanese community center and school in Winters, the culture was torn apart after World War II. Though Winters resident Floyd Shimomura, who was born after the war, did not personally suffer harsh

treatment, his parents did. Being forced to leave Winters and live in an internment camp became part of the Shimomura family history. After growing up in Winters, Shimomura became the national president of the Japanese American Citizens League, instrumental in the redress for the Japanese community in 1988.

Monday, January 22 Library Event: Family Game Night, 5 – 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/

Library Services Winters Library Public Hours (School in Session), Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8–8 p.m., Fri: 8–5 p.m., Sat: 1-5 p.m. (Mask Only 1–3 p.m.) Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library Virtual English Conversation Group, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@ yolocounty.org Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request. Saturday Matinee, First Saturday, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing

Older Adult Programs Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Will resume in 2024. Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Will resume in 2024.

Ongoing Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays, 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.) Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon, The Buckhorn Winters Museum public hours, Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St. Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month ( January thru March), 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House, 13 Main St. Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m., Hooby's Brewing Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: » St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 Main St. (back entrance) Tuesdays, 7-8 a.m. and Fridays, 7-8 a.m. » Yolo Housing office building, 62 Shams Way: Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m.

Courtesy photo

The Historical Society of Winters is planning to bring The Lost Japanese Community exhibit back as a permanent exhibit in 2024.

“There was kind of a symmetry there and kind of a historical irony that the first Japanese agricultural community in California that continued in which Japanese labor was used happened in Winters, and it was somebody from Winters — myself — who was involved in the redress campaign that culminated 100 years later,” Shimomura said. Decades after the redress, the historical society and Shimomura reminded residents of the lost community. Coman said the “Lost Japanese Community of Winters,” a nearly year-long museum exhibit effort from 2021 to 2022 was a collaboration of local Japanese history. “The group met for over a year, discussing how to tell the story so that it wouldn’t be lost and others could learn from it,” Coman said.

See HISTORY, Page 7

School district amps up college, career readiness with new approach By Angela Underwood Express correspondent If Winters High School senior Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge would fulfill her ever-changing childhood dream that started as a dolphin trainer and is currently in political science, even then the student said it would involve working with a school counselor. “I think counseling is so important at such an early step because students just lack that information from the getgo,” Hapworth-Eldridge told the Express. “I don’t think any eighth grader really knows the full complex world of college and career readiness.” She is right, according to WHS Principal Justin Young, who said college counseling starts in the eighth grade. “Our counselors go over the middle school and introduce themselves and talk about course requests and give an overview for students,” Young said. Hapworth-Eldridge recalls that introduction five years ago when she first heard about the A-G graduation requirements needed to be considered and admitted to the University of California and Cal State University Systems. “I remember sitting in my eighth-grade science class when the counselors first came to the middle school, and they took us out of the class and sat us down and asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up,” Hapworth-Eldridge said. “You tell them, ‘Well, I have

Courtesy photo

AVID students had the opportunity to travel to the California State University, Chico campus to learn more about the programs they have to offer. this idea, and I also have this idea,’ and then your counselor shakes their head OK, writes it down, puts it in your file, and tells you about what A-G you need.”

The senior said students were encouraged to bring home college access information.

See SCHOOL, Page 5

B2 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Reverse mortgage basics Special to the Express You’ve probably seen the advertisements. Reverse-mortgage brokers assure big savings over the life of a home loan, typically by offering no payments until you’re ready to sell. It’s best to do your own due diligence on each specific offer, however, because they don’t always work in every homeowner’s financial favor.

What they are The proper name for a reverse mortgage is a home-equity conversion. These plans allow homeowners to borrow against the investment they’ve made in a property, leveraging equity that’s been built up through regular mortgage payments over a long period. By statute, they are only available to

those who are 62 years old or older. The home must also be the mortgage holder’s primary residence.

The benefits Older Americans who find themselves struggling to keep up with their regular monthly bills may find financial relief from a reverse mortgage. They are particularly useful for those who have more retirement-era wealth tied up in their home than in various other investments or their savings. You can use the proceeds from these reverse mortgages to pay off an existing house note, which may be attractive to those who don’t want to downsize late in life. Best of all, there aren’t any tax implications. These funds are considered a loan advance by the Internal

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The risks A potentially hidden downside: Interest is still added to your loan every month, so the amount you owe continues to increase over the life of the loan. The costs of a home-equity conversion are also tied to the interest rate, and that can rapidly change. Reverse mortgages do not release homeowners from related responsibilities like insurance, homeowners association fees, maintenance costs and property taxes. Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has put protections in place limiting payout amounts in order to safeguard homeowners against over-leveraging themselves.

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The amount of interest associated with reverse mortgages has continued to grow, however, since life expectancy in the U.S. continues to lengthen. In some of the most unfortunate instances, this amount may actually exceed the home’s value. Thankfully, the difference is not necessarily owed by you,

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Before you sign Don’t be rushed through this process. Don’t rely solely on the advance of the salesperson. Check with a financial counselor, trusted banker or family member before signing. These are complicated legal documents,

and should be carefully reviewed. Beware of anyone who is also pushing you to buy other financial products at the same time. That’s not necessary to secure a reverse mortgage; in some places, pairing two products like this is even illegal. It’s also best to look deeper into your options if you’re considering a reverse mortgage to pay for home improvements or needed repairs. Other types of financing like a home-equity loan, refinancing or equity-based lines of credit may better suit your needs.

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Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 — B3

Express Yourself

It is a little soggy and cold outside

nce a month, at least, I try to put in 100 miles or so on my bike. I’m not talking about a pedal bike, but one with a throttle that needs its battery charged. There are a lot of restaurants within 50 miles of Winters, especially if you keep to the flat country to our north, east or south. Venturing over to Napa is a great ride, but if you have a glass of wine with your lunch, it makes the ride home a little too exciting. Last month, three of us went over to Locke to dine at Al’s Place, which used to have a racial slang word for Italians in it’s title. Not anymore. The Sacramento Bee would never use their real name and always called it Al’s Place, which now is it official name. When I Googled driving instructions for its original name, it took me right there, but the sign had been changed to Al’s Place since the last time I dropped by, which was before COVID. The place hasn’t changed, much, but I didn’t see any peanut butter on the table to put on your steak sandwich. This past weekend, Joe the Weatherman wanted to visit the Berryessa Brewery and eat at the Lobster Truck that sometimes

sits in their parking lot. It is hard to justify getting all dressed up for a ride and only going 2 miles, so we had planned to go to Turtle Rock first. Joe is always in charge, so I wasn’t surprised when he mentioned that our first stop was on Putah Creek Road at the SID facility. Sunday had nice weather, not too cold in the afternoon, so off we went, following Joe’s Indian motorcycle. Every time I see him on his bike, I wonder if there are people complaining about the manufacturer’s name? Indian Motorcycles (1901) are older than Harley Davidson (1903) and are also built in the United States. I don’t know where the city name came from but they are manufactured in Spirit Lake, Iowa — a town smaller than Winters.

e had a nice tour of the weather station at SID and I mention that an egg roll was calling my name, so off we went. Turtle Rock is on the corner before you turn into the last boat ramp on Lake Berryessa at Spanish Flats. I’m not sure how long the bar and convenience store has been serving egg rolls, but for as long as I can remember. If

See QUICK, Page 4

Horoscopes ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20) Aries, watch out because you are hot stuff this week. Coming off the excitement of the holidays, you’re still in the mood to socialize. The invitations to various social events will still flow. TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21) Hopefully you’ve made progress on the various organizational projects that you have had in mind, Taurus. Now is the time to get those resolutions moving. GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21) Gemini, how is your to-do list coming along? If you haven’t yet gotten moving, a coming slowdown could make the perfect time to get cracking. CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22) Cancer, right now you may be feeling like hibernating, especially if the weather is changing. Don’t burrow under the covers just yet. Find a way to stay busy and socialize. LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23) Leo, even if it seems the way to be the most productive, burning the candle at both ends is only going to make you tired and less efficient. Ask for help if you need it. VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22) Virgo, your innate humility means you’re often content with being behind the scenes and not in the limelight. However, this week you may want a little extra fanfare. LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23) Libra, after a season of partying and letting other tasks fall by the wayside, it is time to get back to focus. You must take out your financial account records and track spending right now. SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22) Take an inventory of the things you want to change about yourself, Scorpio. There is always room for improvement, especially if you feel you have not been your best self lately. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21) Hopefully you have met your quota of parties and social events because now is the time to take a break, Sagittarius. The invitations will cease, but that can be a good thing for you. CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20) It’s often business as usual for you to burn the midnight oil, Capricorn. But scale back on those late-night interludes. That’s a recipe for burnout that can derail your bigger plans. AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18) Aquarius, you are the zodiac’s team player, so you may have to give the troops a pep talk to get everyone working together this week. Smooth down any ruffled feathers as needed. PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20) If you have any unfinished business that needs to get wrapped up, Pisces, the clock is ticking. Make a strong attempt to finish by Wednesday or Thursday.

B4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Express Yourself Honor the memory of Holocaust victims By Wally Pearce Winters Elder Day Council On the morning of Jan. 27, 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps became a symbol of terror and genocide and held over 7,000 prisoners. It’s estimated that six million Jews were exterminated in all the death camps. Most people are familiar with the name “concentration camps,” but few realize that these were not the only places where people were incarcerated and murdered by the Nazi regime. Each of the 23 main camps had subcamps, with more than 900 satellite camps in total. Every Jan. 27, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) pays homage to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. Nearly 80 years later, in a West Coast city a young café server refills an old man’s coffee cup, and she

notices a series of numbers tattooed on his arm. Being sarcastic, the waitress pointed at the tattoo saying, “Hey Pop, …is that a gang thing… or what?” “Pardon?,” the old man replied from a European accent. “Gang... Gang... Gang … Ya’ know, …Gang,” she snapped back. “Those numbers on your arm, well they look like maybe, ya’ know, you were part of a gang. Ya’ know Pop, Tattoo’s, …that’s what some gangs require members to parade as their symbol of anger, announcing their threat to others.” The old man looked at her for few seconds, then asked, “… have you ever heard of the Holocaust?” “What the hell is a Holocaust? Is that your gang’s name?” she asked. As the old man witnessed that her arm displayed a Swastika, he was alarmed by her obvious level of ignorance that represented a growing population of illiterate people who either never learned of the Holocaust, ridiculed its existence, or denied the past.

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Department of War during World War II. In December 1946, genocide became a crime punishable under international law. Jan. 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on Jan. 27, 1945. The International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly incorporates every Global country, including the United States. According to a recent UNESCO survey, almost two-thirds of young Americans don’t know that 6 million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, and more than one in 10 believe Jews caused the Holocaust, revealing alarming levels of illiteracy about the greatest crime of the 20th Century. According to the study, those aged between 18 and 39, almost half (48 percent), couldn’t name a single concentration camp or ghetto established during World War II. Almost a quarter of

respondents (23 percent) said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, or had been exaggerated, or they weren’t sure. One in eight (12 percent) said they had not heard or didn’t think they had heard, about the Holocaust. More than half (56 percent) said they’d seen Nazi symbols on their social media platforms and/or in their communities, and almost half (49 percent) witnessed Holocaust denial or distortion posts on social media or elsewhere online. No statistic can capture the terror of systematic murder, and the Holocaust is difficult to understand. Please consider these questions: How did a democratically elected politician (Hitler) incite an entire nation to genocide? Why did people allow it to happen in plain sight? And… even today, why do some still deny the Holocaust ever happened? On Saturday, Jan. 27, please join with the Winters Elder Day Council as we pay tribute to the memory of the Holocaust victims.

Letters

Continued from Page 3 feel the need for an egg roll, it is only 25 miles to Turtle Rock, so you can make it there and back during a long lunch break. If anyone ever brings up inflation, I mention egg rolls — 20 years ago, the egg roll barely fit in your hand and cost $1. Now, they are about the length of a hot dog and cost $4. Still worth every penny, but not quite the value that they used to be. Watch out for the yellow mustard, as it will clean out your sinuses. I’m not a big lobster guy, but I’ll have to admit that the grilled cheese with lobster was pretty good, especially because it was Joe’s turn to buy. The beer, as always, was paired perfectly for the meal. If you are suffering from the winter blues, take a ride through the countryside as the hills start to turn green. Grab a bite to eat, or wait until you get back to Winters and have a seat on Main or Railroad. A great start to a new year.

Pointing to the Swastika, the old man asked, “Why, …why, don’t you know what that represents?” The young server replied, “No, not really, …but it’s really cool”. The Holocaust was the state-sponsored persecution and mass murder of millions of European Jews, Romani people, the intellectually disabled, political dissidents and homosexuals by the German Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945, but Jews were the primary target. Human history has few tragedies that rival the magnitude and moral bankruptcy of the Holocaust. For the anti-Semitic Nazis’ who met at the Wannsee Conference in Berlin on January 20, 1942, this mass murder was the “final solution” to the so-called Jewish question. The deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race was given the name, “genocide,” by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-born jurist who served as an adviser to the U.S.

Support Kiwanis youth leadership service clubs The Kiwanis Club of Winters has extended the last day to get tickets to its Kiwanis Gala — Back to the 80s Prom to Friday, Jan. 12. The funds we raise at the event will go toward helping us to official register the Rominger K-Kids and Winters Middle School Builder's Club with Kiwanis International. We are also talking to the Waggoner Elementary principal about bringing in a recognition program to empower Winters' younger learners. The Winters Kiwanis members are also dedicated to establishing a scholarship opportunity for graduating students from Winters High School and Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy who need financial support on their next life journey. The ’80s Prom fundraising event is on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Hotel Winters. Tickets are available online at https://bit.ly/3PHtZvs. If you would like to support our efforts but are unable to attend the event, please consider donating to the launch of our youth leadership clubs and scholarship program at https:// bit.ly/4aEsDeC at any time. Put "Clubs & Scholarship" in the comment line. We appreciate the community's support and would like to share our gratitude by thanking our Diamond sponsor Winters Hotel, Platinum sponsor First Northern Bank and our Bronze sponsor Carrion Properties, Inc. If you would like to learn more about how to become an event sponsor, please send us an email to kiwanisclubofwinters@gmail.com. To learn more about the Winters Kiwanis club, please join us at our next social club meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at Hooby's Brewing. COURTNEY CARUSO, GWEN PISANI, CRYSTAL APILADO, Kiwanis Club of Winters Board members

Letters Policy The Winters Express encourages readers to submit letters of general interest to the Winters community. Letters contribute to community discussion. Express Letters to the Editor guidelines: Letters should not exceed 350 words. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. We accept “thank you” letters naming local individuals and businesses only. Non-local names will be edited out. “Thank you” notices containing non-local individuals or businesses must be published as paid advertising to: ads@wintersexpress.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity or clarity, or to reject any letter. Letters must be legibly signed by the writer. We reserve the right to determine legitimacy. Mail letters to: The Winters Express, PO Box 520, Winters, CA 95694, submit online at https://tinyurl. com/syzevywd or visit wintersexpress.com.

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Legal Advertising FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231025 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/8/2023 Fictitious Business Name: La Reina Decor Physical Address: 3015 Catalina Dr., Davis CA 95616 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Maria Witten 3015 Catalina Dr., Davis CA 95616 Business Classification: Individual Starting Date of Business: N/A /s/ Maria Witten I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024 #68584

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: CV2023-2526 To all interested persons: Petitioner: Gracie Brunson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name GRACIE BRUNSON to Proposed name GRAY PLITT THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 2/7/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 14 Room: The address of the court is Superior Court of California, County of Yolo 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The Winters Express. Date: DECEMBER 13,2023 STEPHEN T MOCK Judge of the Superior Court Published January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024 #68939

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231043 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/15/2023 Fictitious Business Name: TACOS EL SARAPE Physical Address: 470 EDWARDS ST., WINTERS CA 95694 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: MMJ 2023 ENTERPRISES LLC, 470 EDWARDS ST. WINTERS CA 95694 Business Classification: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Starting Date of Business: 11/1/23 /s/ LAWRENCE W CHAVEZ I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published December 27, January 3, 10, 17 2024 #471

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231077 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/27/2023 Fictitious Business Name: Weddings By Strelitzia Physical Address: 2810 Cowell Blvd, Davis, CA 95618 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Dean Labadie, Janice Labadie 3301 North Park Dr #1113, Sacrament, CA 95835 Business Classification: A Married Couple Starting Date of Business: 12/27/2023 /s/ Dean Labadie I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024 #68972

NOTICE INVITING REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Winters Joint Unified School District (WJUSD), of the County of Yolo, State of California, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) for Architectural Services.

The District will receive sealed Statements of Qualifications (“SOQ”) in response to the RFQ for inclusion in WJUSD’s architectural services pool. Each respondent determined to have appropriate and necessary design qualifications and experience will be included in the District’s pool of prequalified architecture firms and allowed to respond to future Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for individual Projects. This RFQ is expected to be issued by the District on January 8, 2024.

A Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on January 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of acquainting all prospective submitters with the RFQ documents and potential projects. This meeting will be held virtually, please email facilities@wintersjusd.org for the meeting link. Failure to attend the conference shall disqualify the non-attending firm from the submission process.

SOQs must comply with and respond to all requirements of the RFQ, which may be obtained by contacting facilities@wintersjusd.org.

SOQs must be filed via email to facilities@wintersjusd.org no later than 2:00 p.m. on February 6, 2024.

The District reserves the right to cancel the RFQ process at any time, for any reason or no reason, at the District’s absolute discretion. Each respondent acknowledges that by submitting a SOQ or any future submittal, including a proposal in response to future RFPs, they do so at their own expense, cost, and risk, without assurance of award of a contract, and having no ight to request, claim or seek any compensation, damages, or reimbursement of any nature or sort. WINTERS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, STATE OF CALIFORNIA Published Dates: 1/3/2024 & 1/10/2024

The Winters Senior Center is seeking funding for equipment and programming. Mail checks payable to Winter Senior Center Fund to:

#68946

Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 — B5

Express Yourself Ask a Master Gardener: Tool maintenance tips, Bare-root fruit tree planting tutorial for linseed oil to dry. Here is a more detailed article: https://ucanr.edu/ blogs/blogcore/postdetail. cfm?postnum=46012.

Special to the Express This column is written by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo County each month. It provides answers to selected questions that recently came into the UCCE Master Gardener — Yolo Help Desk. Q: Our gardening is slowing down for the winter. What should we do to keep our tools in top shape come spring? A: Maintaining your garden tools will help them last longer, work better and be safer to use. Winter is the perfect time for a major tune-up. The three steps you need to take are: clean, sharpen and lubricate. If the tools are in good shape and relatively rust free, cleaning can be done with a hard water spray or soap and water. Be sure to dry the tools well afterwards. If the tools are very rusty, you can soak them in vinegar for up to 24 hours and then go to work with heavy steel wool, medium grit sandpaper or a wire brush. For just a light coating of rust, you can skip the vinegar. The best way to sharpen a tool depends on the tool. An 8-inch metal file can do a good job on a large pruner or a shovel. Yes, a sharp shovel makes for much easier digging. Large tools are easiest to sharpen if clamped in a vice. Be sure to sharpen only the beveled edge of

SCHOOL Continued from Page 1 “I was able to select my classes on my own, which I did in pencil first in case I needed to erase any of them,” Hapworth-Eldridge said. “I could make decisions myself based on the information counselors gave me.” However, that was not the same for everyone. Hapworth-Eldridge said she recognized at the meeting that some students were unaware that “the selection we were making for our classes is really going to determine if we are eligible for college. That is why school counselors are essential, according to the senior. “I think they are the adult at school that really keeps us accountable for making sure we are hitting those checkmarks that will set us up for success,” Hapworth Eldridge said. “Sometimes students are unaware of their path or what will set them up for success.” Young said ideally, “Our counselors should be checking in with students throughout their four years whether or not they are struggling or excelling, especially with A-G requirement.” This year, Winters JUSD brought on a new member to ensure that ideal becomes a reality with newly hired college and career advisor Laura Mariani. “We hired a college and career advisor who has helped do

bypass pruners, keeping with the same angle as the existing bevel. Unlike knives, only one side of a pruner’s blade is beveled. For small hand pruners, a file may be too big. There are several brands of “pocket sharpeners” that will work well. You might also look into a handheld electric sharpener for tools. Lubricate pruners where two pieces of metal slide on each other. A light machine oil works well. You only need a small amount, but if you do not want to use a petroleum product, vegetable or coconut oil is a good choice. Do not use linseed oil as a lubricant, it will harden. Coating shovels, rakes and pruner blades with vegetable oil can help prevent them from rusting over the winter. Wooden handles that have seen a lot of wear or are cracking can be revived with a wiping of linseed oil. Note that it can take up to three days

some systematizing some things around college and career readiness,” Young said. “One of the tasks she is charged with right now is creating a four-year plan annually for students and parents and what they should look for and what should be happening each year for students through 12th grade to prepare for college.” A summer trip to UCLA inspired up to 35 percent of WHS first-year students who participated in the program, according to Young, who said they will soon exercise what they learned. “Second semester, we are going to do small roundtables of discussion on what to think of, how to look at your transcripts, what does A-G even mean to build on those things,” Young said. “So, we have systems in place, and we are excited to continue to build and systematize what our college counseling looks like.” Assistant Superintendent Phoebe Girimonte said WHS serves various functions, but “most importantly, whenever I think of public schools, I think that they are the equalizer. “It’s an opportunity for us to support a student in attaining whatever their goals may be surrounding their circumstances, and so the reality is that most families do not have the resources, time, or perhaps the opportunity and knowledge to assure their students are on track to be

Q: We are planning to plant a bare-root fruit tree this year. How do we best go about doing that? A: This is a very timely question. Late January and February are the best time to plant a bare-root fruit tree. Do some research to determine a tree that will do well in our climate and soil types. The Master Garden Help Desk, listed below, can assist. Purchasing a tree from a knowledgeable nursery or other source can help to make a good choice. Check the roots to be sure they are not broken or cracked. They will be pruned back but the cuts should be clean. Choose a location for your tree that gets at least six to eight hours of sun in the spring, summer and fall. The soil should drain well. If you do not have a spot for your tree that drains well, you should plant it on a mound or in a raised bed. The shape and size of the hole you dig for your tree is important. The diameter should be at least two times the diameter of the root ball of the tree. It should be relatively shallow so that the tree sits at the same depth or even an inch or two high-

er than it did when it was growing in the ground. You should be able to see a soil surface mark on the bark. If you unintentionally dig too deep, be sure to pack the soil back in very well. You want to prevent the tree from sinking as time goes on. The bottom of the hole should be saucer shaped, gradually sloping up, becoming shallower as it nears the edge of the hole. This is so the growing roots of your new tree will initially stay in oxygen rich shallow soil. Position the tree in the hole so that the graft notch, the “crook” a few inches above the root flare, faces the north east. This will help to prevent sunburn on that susceptible spot. Be sure when you back fill with soil that there are no air pockets left around the roots. Thoroughly watering the soil as you backfill reduces the chance of air pockets. Do not add soil amendments or fertilizers to the backfill soil. Finally, we recommend you head your new fruit tree. Heading is done so that the ultimate height of your fruit tree is manageable, making it easier to maintain. A tree with a trunk less than one-half inch in diameter is cut off at eighteen to twenty-four inches tall, leaving no branches. With a tree that

is one-half inch in diameter or larger, you can cut the tree at thirty-six inches and select three or four evenly spaced branches, cut back to two to three inches in length, that will form the main branches of the tree. Last, paint the entire tree with tree white or a 50/50 mixture of interior white latex and water to help prevent sunburn. Here is an article that goes into tree planting and initial care in more depth: https://anrcatalog.ucanr. edu/pdf/8048.pdf.

Save the date

To learn about fruit tree care, attend the UCCE Master Gardener — Yolo workshop at the Winters Community Library (708 Railroad Ave.) on Feb. 10, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn how to care for your fruit trees and get ideas about which varieties work best in our area. This workshop is perfect preparation for the Winters Friends of the Library fruit tree sale on March 2. — UCCE Master Gardener — Yolo will answer your gardening questions via the Master Gardeners Help Desk at 530-666-8737 or by email: mgyolo@ucdavis.edu. Attaching pictures to your email are always welcome as they provide additional information for answering your queries.

Courtesy photo

Winters High School AVID students listen to Winters Fire Captain Cheyne Baumgart share about his career and college experience. highly competitive for college applications as they exit the high school experience and I include families who have attended college themselves,” Girimonte said. Young said the pandemic highlighted the vast inequalities that exist for students academically in terms of mental health resources. “One of our goals is to build back up the academic and instructional component to best support our students because rightfully and understandably so, our students were majorly impacted for social and emotional learning and mental health during the pandemic,” Young said. The principal said research informs school administrators about the need for ac-

ademics to tie in with college access. “We are focusing on building those systems for students, so they don’t have to search or seek out but is something we do, offer, and embed around college readiness and information,” Young said. Hapworth-Eldridge said that high school counselors are just as present for students who don’t plan to attend college. “Maybe you don’t want to attend that four-year school, but you are interested in the food service, so that counselor should be there checking in to make sure that your goals are aligned with the courses and path you are talking about,” Hapworth-Eldridge said, adding that counselors also help with college and trade school applications

and scholarships. Ending the high school career and starting the college journey brings up a lot of feelings and stress, which is why students need to maintain a healthy life academic balance during their formative years, according to Mariani. “Counseling provides a supportive and safe space for students to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, fostering healthy personal growth and positive well-being,” Mariani said. “Counseling can offer students ways to navigate the diverse world of a college environment and impending adulthood.” According to Mari-

ani, healthy students become better learners, prompting academic success that boasts self-esteem, especially with extracurricular activities. “Students involved in different types of clubs, sports, and activities will have a positive influence on their academic achievement,” Mariani said, adding a student’s healthy mindset can impact their success in high school and post-secondary education. “Students who are struggling mentally and emotionally with moving forward to college access can face those fears and anxieties with a support structure to help guide them through,” Mariani said. According to Mariani, an early focus on college readiness and access, as well as preparation and communication on the college enrollment process, puts students in an environment to succeed in college. “A college-going culture at our school at the beginning of their high school career can have profound impacts on students’ successes,” Mariani said, adding the four years of high school can significantly impact the next four years and beyond.

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B6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Divine pork belly and meaty salad

ondays are rough. In my house it feels like despite our best efforts, Mondays are busy and chaotic. When it comes to meals, it’s one of the top days that I’d prefer to go out to eat because who wants to start the work week off with a sink full of dishes? The challenge is that business is slow on Mondays and the number of options of which local restaurants are open is few. Green River Brewing & Taproom is a member of the “We’re open on Monday” list and I appreciate the ability to eat in or order out. Green River’s menu has expanded to include more original menu items as well as revamps and new items to choose from. I was delighted to see that the pork belly bites were listed and I have a hard time looking the other way when it comes to pork belly. I had written about the pork belly bites at Green River in 2021, but with a new chef in the kitchen, I feel it’s worth the revisit. My verdict is that the pork belly bites are a must-try if you like all things pork belly. Green River’s pork belly bites are not dainty, small bites one would see offered on a silver tray. These pork belly bites are served up piled up in a saucy tray, and forks are indeed required. These require chewing and the texture and flavor are incredible. The pork belly chunks are meaty and melt in your mouth, but also retain a crisp crunch on the edges. They are smoked and seasoned just right, and the fat cuts through in just the

Green River’s pork belly bites are meaty and melt in your mouth, but also retain a crisp crunch on the edges. Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express

right amount of what you want from a pork belly bite. They’re also lightly slathered in Green River’s housemade honey-chipotle sauce and topped with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro. The sauce coating is light, but flavorful and leaves a sweet heat on your tongue. For my main meal, I enjoyed the Napa Valley Salad. I expected a big bowl but was instead presented with a large tray full. Which, in my opinion, is the way to serve a salad. Crunchy Romaine lettuce was spread across the tray and was topped with piles of smoked tri-tip slic-

es, blue cheese crumbles, halved cherry tomatoes and sweetened pecans. The Napa Valley Salad is served with a side of house-made Ace-cider vinaigrette. I have since added it to my top list of salads in town. This is not your runof-the-mill pile of lettuce with a sprinkling of toppings. This salad is a hearty meal and worthy of being considered for your next lunch. Everything on that serving platter was fresh, crunchy, and flavorful. From the juicy bite of the tomato to the smoked flavor of the tri-tip, each bite was drizzled

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ABOVE: The Napa Valley Salad. BELOW: The Emperor. with vinaigrette and was a symphony of flavors. It changed between the tang of blue cheese and the sweet crunch of a pecan. For fun, I tried one of Green River’s signature cocktails. In my era of trying new things, and after consulting with Patio 29’s Eric Boone, I have been venturing into trying gin cocktails. In college, I had a notgreat night of Bombay Sapphire, and the juniper has since been my issue. But after sampling the Empress at The DeVilbiss Room, I was ready to give the Emperor a go at Green River. At Green River, the Emperor is served in a tall pint glass with rose elderflower gin, ginger beer, simple sugar and a squeezed lemon. It’s not on the sweet side but has a slightly floral flavor that is complemented by the fizz from the ginger beer. I enjoyed how the tartness of the lemon and the sweetness

from the simple sugar paired with the flavor of the rose and elderflower. The gin was gin, but it was not heavy on the juniper and I ended up enjoying the cocktail. I am also looking forward to new editions that were touted as

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coming soon to the Green River menu. I’ll have to check with General Manager Cody Klimper to find out when those are available to order.

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Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024 — B7

Basketball recap By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief With the winter break about over, the Winters High School basketball teams took back to the court in a new round of games.

JV girls The junior varsity girls basketball team had two games over the last week of break and played with minimal players. On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Warriors traveled to Live Oak High School. With only five players on the court, they played hard but lost to the Lions with a final score of 43–14. Nevaeh Gutierrez led the team scoring eight points. “Despite being shorthanded, the girls played hard but wore down as the games went on,” said head coach Tom Crisp. On the Warriors’ home court, the junior varsity

HISTORY Continued from Page 1 said. “Members contributed stories, photos, and artifacts — which included the sole trunk that carried the families’ belongings to the internment camps.” One of those trunks belongs to the Shimomura family. “My family had one steamer trunk, and when the war started, and people got notice they were going to be shipped off to the camps, they could not take very much, could only take what they could carry,” Shimomura said. The trunk was ini-

team rallied six players to take on the Pierce High School Bears on Friday, Jan. 5. Bearing their mettle, the Warriors lost with a five-point difference. Elena Herrera was the highpoint player of the game sinking in nine points for Winters. Pierce won with a final score of 19–14.

Varsity girls The varsity girls team brought it all to the game against Live Oak on Jan. 3. The Warriors won their first league game against the Lions 44–16. The Warriors lead scorers included Emily Dodic with 11 points and Jordan Tucker with 10. Reece Barbosa sunk in 6 points, with the rest of the athletes contributing two to four points each. “The girls came out with a lot of intensity, we caused a lot of issues with our press which helped our offense

tially stored at the Japanese school. During the war, Winters High School burned down due to a faulty furnace. Needing classroom space, the school district took over the Japanese school and sent the trunk to the Shimomura family at their Colorado internment camp. At the end of the war, the Japantown of Winters was burnt down following V-J Day celebrations. “Five or six commercial buildings were burnt down at the same time the concentration camps were being taken down, and people had to make a decision on where to go,” Shimomura said. “So, when Japantown

get going off of Live Oak’s turnovers. Holding any team to four points total in a half is a feat,” said head coach Ivan Dodic. “I was really proud of how hard the girls played and executed. It was also a great team effort as all 10 of the girls were able to contribute in the scoring column.” On Jan. 5, the varsity girls team left the court with a win over the Pierce Bears with a final score of 39–33. Coach Dodic said they all struggled with game play against Pierce’s defense and shotting the ball through the hoop. “We really struggled shooting the ball from the outside which allowed Pierce to be leading for most of the game. I did not feel the girls were mentally focused for most of the game but with four minutes left in the game with us being down three,” Coach Dodic said. “I called a timeout and challenged the girls to

burnt down, that sent a very negative message that they were not welcome in Winters.” Shimomura’s parents refused to believe they were not welcome, knowing Winters was their home no matter what. “The Tufts family were neighbors and invited my family back to work on their farm, and a few years later, my father bought back the nearby farm he grew up on,” Shimomura said. “So, there were some good people at that time, but they were the minority.” Shimomura said a hero to him is someone who went against

Courtesy photo

In 2021, four generations of the Shimomura family visited the opening of the Lost Japanese Community of Winters exhibit. Back row (adults standing, from left): Mark Shimomura, Floyd Shimomura, Brian Shimomura, Lisa Shimomura Quon, Reina Shimomura, Susan (Shimomura) Shimizu, Grant Shimizu, Craig Shimizu, Linda (Shimomura) Don, Tim Shimizu; front row (adults kneeling and kids standing): Malcolm Quon, Ruth Shimomura, Russell Quon, Ben Shimomura (wheelchair), Ben Quon, Jamie Shimomura, Ryan Shimomura and Ali Nakaji (Brian’s fiancé).

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bring their best for the last four minutes of the game.” Tucker dominated on offense scoring 16 points on the board. Not far behind, Emily Dodic made 11 points and Maci Dodic made 6 points. The Warriors stepped it up and went on an 11–2 run to end the game. “Our defense was flawless during the last 4 minutes and was led by both Jordan Tucker and Emily Dodic as they turned up the intensity which was contagious to the rest of the team,” Coach Dodic said. “It definitely was an ugly win but it gives us confidence knowing we can still gut it out when we aren’t necessarily playing our best.”

Varsity boys The WHS varsity boys team laced up to face off on the Warriors’ home court against Live Oak on Wednesday, Jan. 3, for the first league competition. Head coach Brendan McShea said it was an “example of how

good we can be as a team” and the Warriors came away with a win over the Lions with a final score of 59–44. “It was a close game to start as our shots weren’t falling but we played great defense and that kept us in it. Once we got going we were hard to stop and eight of the nine guys who played scored,” McShea said. Both Colton and Lane Brown ended up with a double-double and sophomore Luke Felsen led the team with 22 points.” On Friday, Jan. 5, the varsity boys squad traveled to Pierce to square off with the Bears. Despite the the energy the Warriors brought in the beginning of the game, turnovers in the second quarter hurt and Winters lost to Pierce with a final score of 39–49. “It was a very back-andforth game in the second with juniors Sebastian Valadez and Julian Herrera providing a great spark off the bench for us. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to cut into the Bear’s lead and lost,” McShea said.

Courtesy photo

The Shimomura family’s trunk was on display at the exhibit. A trunk from the Takimoto family was also included in the exhibit. local public opinion, like the Vasey family, making his life easier along the way. “When I grew up, a lot of that World War II animosity had died down, and I had a very good experience in Winters,” Shimomura said. “My parents never really talked about what it was like living in the camps. I think they thought it was such a bad experience for them they did not want to burden their children with that.” One of the most important reasons for the museum exhibit and future monument to the lost Japanese community is for the next generation. Coman said younger generations need to understand that they have a better life than their ancestors because of the sacrifices and hard work of their ancestors. “Understanding the

reasons why people would leave a homeland and leave their families is part of understanding and developing identity, which is so important for adolescents and adults,” Coman said. “When the Japanese families — usually the males first — left Japan, many of them never saw their relatives again.” According to Shimomura, the dangerous and far-off history of the Japanese offers lessons for today. “They say history repeats itself, and there is an element of truth in that, but it comes up in a different way,” Shimomura said. “Tension and struggles have always been here but just affect different groups at different times.” Coman said many individuals and cultural groups, especially the Japanese, have

significantly contributed to the history of Winters. “Immigrants from Japan that settled in Winters and forged lives in businesses, farming, churches, and in the community,” Coman said. “If we are interested in the history of Winters, then we need to understand that the Japanese community is an important part of our history.” Winters now ensures this community’s history is never forgotten again with a monument. On June 20, Historical Society President Woody Fridae and Shimomura presented to the Winters City Council and asked for permission to install a monument commemorating the city’s Japanese community. Council members unanimously approved the placement of the monument in Rotary Park. “The monument will feature the group picture and a brief history of the community. It will be placed in Rotary Park, facing the location of Japantown,” Coman said. “The Rotary Club of Winters, the Master Gardeners, and the city of Winters have joined the Historical Society of Winters to make this happen.” Coverage and presentations on the lost Japanese community can be found on the Historical Society of Winters’ website at www.historicalsociety ofwinters.org/exhibits /lost-community.

PISANI’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ava Muir-Vickrey Ava Muir-Vickrey, a Winters High School sophomore on the varsity girls soccer team, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. This season, Muir-Vickrey plays forward and is one of the Warriors’ wingers. Volunteer coach Kim Olivas said MuirVickrey currently leads the teams in goals with seven for the season. “She works hard on the field,” Olivas said. Muir-Vickrey proved her mettle in one of the first games of the season where she was a lead scorer with three of the Warriors’ four goals in a shutout against St. Helena.

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B8 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Solano resident wins UC Davis bumblebee contest By Kathy Keatley Garvey Special to the Express Fairfield resident Nancy Hansen won the 4th annual Robbin Thorp Memorial First-Bumble-Bee-of-theYear Contest with a video of a black-tailed bumblebee, Bombus melanopygus that she submitted to the sponsor, the Bohart Museum of Entomology, at 10:57 a.m., Monday, Jan. 1. She took the video in her madrone tree, Arbutus menziesii, in her backyard. See video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ shorts/6JW84dCaUqc. Contest coordinator Lynn Kimsey, UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology and director of the Bohart Museum, applauded the winner as the earliest ever recipient, and the first from Solano County. Contest rules state that the first person to photograph a bumblebee in either Yolo or Solano and email it to the sponsor,

the Bohart Museum, will receive a coffee cup designed with the endangered Franklin's bumblebee, the bee that the legendary Robbin Thorp (1933-2019), a UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor and a 30-year member of the Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty, monitored for decades. "I've lived in Fairfield since 1970 and I retired from Kaiser Medical Center Vallejo after 33 years," Hansen said. "I'm a longtime gardener and flower-aholic! I'm very interested in soil health, pollinators and in soil microbes. I didn't plant the madrone tree but I'm happy it provides food for pollinators most of the year. The first year we lived here, 2017, the tree was full of bees. Their buzz sounded like an airplane engine, but since then I've seen fewer and fewer bees." "On Monday I was out back enjoying the bit of sunshine that had peaked

Courtesy photo

Nancy Hansen, winner of the Bohart Museum's bumblebee contest.

through the clouds when I heard buzzing in my madrone tree. I went over, looked and I saw a lot of honey bees, but then I looked up and saw the bumblebee. I ran to get my camera hoping I could catch his picture before he flew away."

This is an example of what the species, Bombus melanopygus, looks like. Its common name is black-tailed bumblebee.

Previous record-holders: 2023: Ria deGrassi of Davis, who photographed a B. melanopygus at 12:32, Jan. 8 on a ceanothus in her yard. 2022: Tie between Maureen Page, then a doctoral candidate in the lab of pollination ecologist Neal Williams, professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology; and Ellen Zagory of Davis, retired director of public horticulture for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. Each photographed a bumblebee on manzanita in the Arboretum at 2:30 p.m., Jan. 1. Page photographed a B. melanopygus, while Zagory captured an image of the yellow-faced bumblebee, Bombus vosnesenskii. 2021: UC Davis postdoctoral researcher Charlie Casey Nicholson, then of the Williams lab and the Elina Lastro Niño lab, photographed a B. melanopygus at 3:10 p.m., Jan. 14 in a manzanita patch in the Arboretum. The contest memorializes Professor Thorp, a global authority on bees and a UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor of entomology, who died June 7, 2019, at age 85. He retired in 1994 but continued working until several weeks before his death. Every year he looked forward to seeing the first bumblebee in the area. Thorp, a tireless advocate of pollinator species protection and conservation, co-authored two books in 2014, during his retirement: “Bumblebees of North America: An Identification Guide” (Princeton University,) and “California Bees and Blooms: A Guide for

Kathy Keatley Garvey/ Courtesy photo

Gardeners and Naturalists” (Heyday). Every year he looked forward to finding or seeing the first bumblebee in the area. Thorp co-taught The Bee Course from 2002 to 2019. An intensive nine-day workshop affiliated with the American Museum of Natural History and held annually at the Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Ariz., it draws participants

from around the world, including conservation biologists, pollination ecologists, and other biologists who want to gain greater knowledge of the systematics and biology of bees. For years, Thorp monitored Franklin's bumblebee, found only in a small range in Southern Oregon and Northern California, and now feared extinct. He last spotted it in 2006.

Express yourself: Teachers enjoy magical trip

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Over the school district’s winter break, a group of teachers met up at Disneyland for a magical getaway. While at the happiest place on earth, they met up with former Waggoner Elementary School principal Greg Moffitt for a fun educator photo op. (Back) JoAnn May, Sonya Godinez, Jill Aguiar, Katie Aunan, Kathy Lester (Front) Greg Moffitt, Rachel Skinner and Joanie Bryant.