Fridae highlights lives of Winters elders in county photo exhibit
By Angela Underwood Express correspondent
Woody Fridae’s photographs of local elders who have been honored over the years at Winters Elder Day events are part of an exhibit at the Yolo County Administration Building, 625 Court Street in Woodland, from Aug. 2 to Sept. 27.
The exhibit’s grand opening event is on Friday, Aug. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 at Studio 625, at the County Administrative Building. Fridae hopes that Winters Elder Day honoress, their families and the Winters community will come out to celebrate the exhibit.
Fridae has come along way since picking up his first Kodak Range Fire camera at the age of 10 to snap winter wonderland photos of his hometown in Willits.
Though wearing many hats between
photo shoots, including serving as mayor and an elementary school teacher, Fridae will be the first to tell you how honored he was to shoot the upcoming photo installation that captures decades of life in black and white.
“I look back on the
collection and feel it is kind of a privilege that I have,” Fridae said of the extremely detailed developing and editing process.
“It takes a long time because I take three or 400 images, and then I spend four or five times that time going through them.”
Weather
That process is what fascinated Fridae from the beginning. The photographer rewinds to when he was in the high school photo lab, saying he “was just amazed at watching the image glimmer in the developer.”
El Rio Villas hosts first National Night Out event
Express staff
Yolo County Housing is hosting its first National Night Out event for the El Rio Villas community next Tuesday.
On Aug. 6, El Rio Villas residents are encouraged to come out to the area at 62 Shams Way from 5 to 7 p.m. to partake in free food, music, activities and to meet local nonprofits and county agencies who provide services.
NNO history
National Night Out was first introduced in August 1984 as a way to introduce residents with a network of local law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civ-
ic groups, state and regional crime prevention associations and volunteers across the nation. According to the NNO website, the first annual National Night Out campaign brought together 2.5 million neighbors across 400 communities in 23 states. Since then, National Night Out has become an annual community-building campaign to promote and encourage police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to create safeer, more engaged neighborhoods and foster a sense of community. Learn more about National Night Out efforts at natw.org.
Winters schools prepare for students to return
Express staff
Summer break is winding down and Winters Joint Unified School District staff are gearing up for students to return next week.
Teachers and staff members are busy prepping and getting ready for the first day of school on Aug. 7. Information has been sent out to families in the mail, by email and through the ParentSquare App.
Update student information
Winters JUSD families were sent notifications via email and the ParestSquare App asking them to update and complete
the emergency information forms and documents for the 2024–25 school year for their children. All of the required online forms are on the Aeries Parent Portal and should be filled out as soon as possible. Students will not be able to receive information on who their teacher is or their class schedule until this step is completed, according to a ParentSquare post from Raena Lavelle, Director of Technology. Families should have received an email from Aeries that contains their specific login information to the Aeries
School board returns
As students prepare to return to school, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees also returns to its regularly scheduled school board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Winters JUSD board room. This is the first regularly scheduled
school board meeting at the district office since the October 2023 fire that made the building un-safe to occupy.
Prop 218 ballots due Tuesday
Ballots sent out to city of Winters property owners are due to the city clerk on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said they will begin to count the ballots that
day. The next Winters City Council meeting is also on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers Planning Commission rescheduled
The July 23 Winters Planning Commission meeting was rescheduled due to technical issues. In his Friday update, City Manager Jeremy Craig said that while “technology is a fantastic tool that has allowed the city to
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Woody Fridae photographs the honorees and serves as the Master of Ceremonies at the annual Winters Elder Day event in June. Part of his duties is to read each of the honorees’ interviews and encourages them to share extra tidbits of wisdom.
Courtesy photo
Woody Fridae lined portraits of Winters elders up along his living room to prepare to transport them to the Yolo County Administration Building in Woodland for the Studio 625 exhibit Grand Opening on Aug. 2.
WSF hosts amateur artist activity for local seniors
By Jerry Lowden Winters Senior Foundation
If you enjoy looking at the flow of colors, the juxtaposition of shadows to bright light along a fishing stream or while staring at the Blue Mountains to our West it is pretty clear you would enjoy our Amateur Artist class. No, it is not a competition as to who can draw and paint the best, there are no awards handed out. The class is for your own enjoyment. The Amateur Artitist Event, for 55-years and older, is on Wednesday,
Aug. 7 from 2 to 4
p.m. at the Winters Community Center. The event is free to attend, but there is a limit of 25 or so participants. Pre-register for the event by calling the WSF message phone at 530-794-6067 or by email to info@wintersseniorfoundation.org.
Our instructor, who has a love for art and a great sense of humor, will explain how the completed piece — used as a starting example for class participants to begin with — was put together in her mind and on paper before any brush
work started. The real benefit to such a class is that you begin to look at the relationship between size of objects or the color variations in Mother Nature or the size of rooms as you move in them. The class helps you see what you are looking at.
Each participant will receive a canvas to paint on and will be supplied with acrylic paint and brushes. Attendees are asked to bring a snack to share. Drinks will be provided.
Give the class a try, it is an enjoyable time.
Thriving Pink hosts nearly new boutique event Aug 10
Special to the Express
Thriving Pink is offering nearly new clothing and items for breast cancer patients from its Gently-used Closet on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at its Davis office, 501 2nd St.
The donated new or gently-used items are a range of sizes and include bras and camisoles, breast prostheses, knitted knockers, wigs and wig care items and headscarves and caps. The items are available at no cost, while supplies last.
Andrea Mayer, Thriving Pink’s Gently-used closet coordinator, said people
Solano Land Trust joins party for East Solano Plan ballot pull
By Todd R. Hansen McNaughton Media
The echoes of Su-
pervisor Monica Brown’s soliloquy damning California Forever have faded to a whisper, but the celebrations for the East Solano Plan being pulled from the Nov. 5 ballot are still being counted.
The latest celebrant is the Solano Land Trust – a frequent foilist with the development group.
“On behalf of the Solano Land Trust, and as a resident of Solano County, I welcome the recent news that the investment group has withdrawn the measure and that it will not appear on the November ballot,” Executive Director Nicole Braddock said in a statement released on Monday.
“Since the project was announced, Solano County residents have overwhelmingly expressed concerns which remain largely unaddressed, such as the impact on our water supply, local agriculture, pollution from increased traffic, and the natural environment.
“Solano County residents have also clearly and loudly spoken out against tactics that attempt to bully our farming families, devalue our agricultural industry, dimin-
ish natural resources, and mislead voters with unenforceable ‘guarantees,’” Braddock added.
The two sides first quarreled over a donation California Forever made to the Land Trust, but one of the Land Trust said California Forever used it for “self-serving and grossly misleading” purposes.
California Forever denied the allegation and said it was the Land Trust that was misrepresenting the facts.
The Land Trust directors would ultimately vote to oppose the project, and soon after, the Land Trust and the Solano Orderly Growth Committee took exception to California Forever’s response to that vote.
Specifically, the groups took umbrage to a reference that the committee was funded by a “trash tax.”
And while California Forever has now committed to taking its project through a more traditional planning path — including entering a development agreement with the county and completing a full environmental impact report — it still intends to go to the voters in 2026 to get the General Plan amendment it needs.
Braddock, in the statement, said the “work to protect this land is far from over.”
“Now is the time for our community to engage and decide how we, the residents of Solano County, want to grow. How do we want to balance economic development and housing with the work-
ing farms and natural areas between our cities that define the lifestyle we cherish in Solano County?” Braddock said in the statement.
The irony is that California Forever, in its own way, would be giving the voters of Solano County an opportunity to do just that.
“Solano Land Trust will continue our tireless work of protecting land for people, for food and the natural environment, and inspiring a love of the land for future generations. We will continue to partner with our community to protect our natural resources like clean air, water, habitat, open spaces and agricultural lands that make Solano County special and a great place to live and work,” the statement concludes.
who plan to attend the event should RSVP so she can make sure to have enough volunteers present to assist at the event. Individuals should RSVP by Aug. 7 to info@thrivingpink.org. According to Mayer, those who are going through treatment or who are breast cancer survivors may find value in the fact that some of the items can be expensive and are not always covered or fully covered by their medical insurance plans.
“(The event) is specifically for those who have experienced breast cancer and treatment. The items we have are related
to post-breast surgery (ie: mastectomy, breast reconstruction, etc) as well as wigs and scarves due to hair loss from chemotherapy treatment,” Mayer said.
Mayer said Thriving Pink offers the Gently-used Closet during events once or twice a year, as the closet’s inventory allows. However, anyone who needs some of the supplies between events should contact Leslie Hunter at leslie.hunter@thrivingpink.org, who will connect them with her. For more information or to get updates from Thriving Pink, visit www.thrivingpink.org.
County Administrator’s Office expands team
Special to the Express
The County of Yolo’s Chief Administrative Officer, Gerardo Pinedo, has announced two strategic appointments intended to enhance natural resource conservation and community-wide initiatives across Yolo County. These appointments underscore the county’s commitment to providing resident-centric governance and improving the quality of life for all who call Yolo County ‘home’.
“We are extremely fortunate and appreciative of the outstanding leadership at our Board of Supervisors in support of a culture promoting high quality organizational development and excellent customer service across all county departments,” said Pinedo. “It is thanks to very strong support from Chair Lucas Frerichs and the entire Board of Supervisors that we are able to attract, promote and retain highly qualified professionals to work across all levels of county government.”
Sabrina Snyder
Sabrina Snyder joins the County Administrator’s Office from her previous role as a Natural Resources Planner with the Yolo County Department of Community Services. With a strong academic foundation from California State University, Sacramento, and deep roots in Yolo County’s agricultural community, Snyder brings a wealth of experience in natural resource conservation and invasive species management. Her achievements include pi-
oneering a Landscape Assistance Program, which supported the installation of water-saving landscapes for community members with disabilities, and leading outreach efforts for water conservation and aquatic invasive species prevention programs. Snyder is eager to leverage her skills to advance local sustainability efforts and ensure sustainable practices for future generations within her new role as a Senior Management Analyst.
Angelica Duarte
The County Administrator’s Office is also pleased to announce the appointment of Angelica Duarte to the fiscal management team. Raised in Yolo County, Duarte brings a deep connection to the community and valuable experience from her sixyear tenure with the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures. Her previous role has equipped her with extensive knowledge in administrative and accounting procedures, fiscal management strategies and a profound understanding of local agriculture. She is a graduate of Sacramento State University. Duarte is enthusiastic about contributing to the County Administrator’s Office’s team and looks forward to supporting Yolo County’s financial administration. Key among Duarte’s responsibilities will be the identification of program efficiencies and the implementation of cost-saving initiatives to further protect valuable local taxpayer dollars.
Aaron Rosenblatt/McNaughton Media
Opponents of the proposed East Solano Plan stand outside the Government Center in Fairfield before the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting, Tuesday, June 25.
Por Crystal Apilado y Raymond Purscell
Traducido por Carol Alfonso
El pasado 16 de Julio, el Ayuntamiento de Winters se reunió para tomar medidas sobre las cuentas morosas en los cargos por servicios públicos y residuos y para aprobar un memorando de entendimiento sobre el proyecto del cruce de la interestatal I-505.
Cuentas morosas
Cathy Mathews, directora de Servicios Administrativos, compartió información sobre el proceso de notificación a los residentes que tenían cuentas morosas por servicios de residuos sólidos (contratados a través de Waste Management) y agua y alcantarillado (gestionados a través del Ayuntamiento). Dijo que el personal de la ciudad se comunica con los residentes y los dueños de negocios de múltiples maneras, incluidas cartas con detalles de los cargos actuales y pasados, así como avisos publicados en el Winters Express Waste Management también se comunica de manera similar con los titulares de cuentas mediante el envío de cartas. Según Mathews, los clientes con cuentas morosas tenían hasta el 18 de Julio para pagar el monto o comunicarse con el personal de la ciudad con respecto a las oportunidades de un plan de pago para
SCHOOLS Continued from Page 1
Parent Portal.
The ParentSquare post sent out on Tuesday morning includes a step-by-step guide including screenshots of how to fill the forms out in Aeries. Questions can be sent to Winters JUSD staff Raena Lavelle at rlavelle@wintersjusd.org, Humberto Jimenez at hjimenez@ wintersjusd.org or Delia Garcia at dgarcia@ wintersjusd.org.
The following is a list of important dates about the beginning of school, by school site.
Winters State Preschool Center
Family orientation is on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 3 to 4 p.m. Director Bea Jordan said that children will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and visit their classrooms before the first day of school.
Waggoner Elementary School
The Meet and Greet for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergaren students is on Monday, Aug. 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. Firstand second-grade stu-
dificultades financieras.
“No hemos rechazado ninguna solicitud razonable para evitar un gravamen,” dijo Mathews. A partir de la reunión, habían $24,879.62 en facturas morosas de servicios públicos del agua y alcantarillado y $25,049 en cargos morosos por desechos sólidos de Waste Management. El alcalde pro tempore Al Vallecillo pidió una aclaración de que “cuando se grava significa que se adjunta a la factura del impuesto a la propiedad,” lo que Mathews confirmó que era correcto. La miembro del consejo Carol Scianna dijo que apreciaba que el personal haya estado trabajando para comunicarse con los residentes para crear los planes de pago. No se hicieron comentarios durante la sesión de audiencia pública. Los miembros del consejo aprobaron por unanimidad la recomendación del personal de seguir adelante y presentar los informes ante la oficina del Auditor/Contralor del Condado Yolo sobre las cuentas morosas enumeradas para las cuentas de agua y alcantarillado y las cuentas de residuos sólidos.
Preocupaciones de los residentes sobre la seguridad pública Dos miembros de la audiencia hablaron sobre su insatisfacción con la forma en que el Ayuntamiento
dents can meet their teachers on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 1 to 2 p.m. Back to School Night is on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Waggoner Principal Chris Marcoux said the event helps to familiarize families with their child’s classroom routines and how their teachers will utilize academic programs for the school year.
Shirley Rominger Intermediate School
The annual School Kickoff Event (formerly the Paperless Parade) is on Thursday, Aug. 1, in the Rominger MPR from 2 to 5 p.m.
Rominger Principal Monica Moreno said At the School Kickoff Event families can sign up for transportation needs, learn about opportunities like the After School Program and Winters Combined PTA, and find out their child’s teacher.
The Meet Your Teacher event is on Aug. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. Moreno said students can meet their teacher and visit their classrooms and tour the school campus. No formal presentations
ha manejado las agencias de seguridad pública en Winters. El residente Alexander Mercer habló sobre la evaluación propuesta de la Proposición 218, diciendo que la “evaluación es un reflejo directo del fracaso de la ciudad para proporcionar adecuadamente protección contra incendios y seguridad vital para los residentes de la ciudad de Winters.” Mercer hizo referencia a los incendios de principios de este mes en la propiedad de Mariani Nut Company en Buckeye Road, afirmando que si bien el equipo de bomberos de Winters pudo responder al incidente “de manera adecuada,” la única razón por la que pudimos extinguirlo” fue porque los equipos de bomberos vecinos pudieron ayudar. Mercer dijo que el jefe de bomberos Jack S. Snyder III tuvo que ir directamente a los residentes para pedirles que ayudaran a proporcionar fondos a través de la iniciativa de votación Prop 218 para apoyar al personal del departamento de bomberos. “Su inacción ha obligado a su jefe de bomberos a tomar medidas y trabajar más duro para proteger a sus ciudadanos. Su mala planificación y liderazgo deficiente han provocado una tensión crítica en el nivel de servicio que el departamento de bomberos puede proporcionar,” dijo Mercer.
are planned for this event.
Back to School Night is Aug. 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Moreno said Back to School Night “is a great opportunity to learn about your child’s academic program in depth.”
Families who are unable to attend the Meet Your Teacher event at Waggoner or Rominger can stop by their school site’s office after the event to get the details.
Winters Middle School
Sixth-grade-students and students who are new to Winters Middle School should attend Cardinal Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. WMS Principal Jose Bermudez said that during the camp students will get their schedules, participate in a welcome rally, and take a tour of the campus to meet their new teachers.
“Leadership students will also guide
La residente Stacy McPherson también hizo un comentario público indicando que los problemas van más allá del departamento de bomberos y que incluyen al departamento de policía y al personal de la ciudad. McPherson dijo que revisó los datos y afirmó que de los 13 miembros del personal del departamento de policía contratados en los últimos años, solo dos quedarán a fin de mes. Señaló que los otros 10 miembros del personal habían renunciado para unirse a otros departamentos y uno se había jubilado.
“En algún momento, vas a tener que invertir en tus empleados, ser competitivo en el mercado donde puedas estar y ofrecer los servicios que se necesitan para tu comunidad porque de lo que estás hablando es de la seguridad pública,” dijo McPherson. McPherson continuó diciendo que cree que la ciudad puede hacer un mejor trabajo en el apoyo al personal de la ciudad y a las agencias de seguridad pública, y que “deben comenzar a hacer esfuerzos para encontrar soluciones.”
“La tensión no se limita a una parte de tu ciudad, se extiende a todos tus empleados y ese es un problema que debe analizarse y abordarse seriamente, y es un problema más amplio y llevará algún tiempo, pero debe resolverse,” dijo McPher-
the new students in fun community-building activities,” Bermudez said. “The goal is to ease the first-day jitters and support the transition to middle school, paving the way for a smooth start for all.”
Family Orientation Night is on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 4 p.m. Teachers and staff will share an overview of the school and the family/ school partnership. Tables will be set up with more information and to provide technology assistance, health information and food service eligibility forms.
Seventh- and eighthgrade students will be able to obtain their class schedules from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
During the first week of school, starting Wednesday, Aug. 7, WMS students will check out their assigned Chromebooks.
Back to School Night
son. Paso elevado de la I-505
Los miembros del consejo municipal aprobaron un memorando de entendimiento para el paso elevado de la interestatal I-505 entre la ciudad de Winters y el Condado Yolo. El tema era parte de la agenda de consentimiento, pero el miembro del consejo Jesse Loren y el alcalde Bill Biasi dijeron que sentían que era importante celebrarlo. El paso elevado de la I-505 se construyó en la década del 1950 como un cruce exclusivo para vehículos. Sin embargo, hoy en día hay multitud de ciclistas y peatones que cruzan el puente regularmente para ingresar a Winters. Este paso elevado actual tiene condiciones inseguras para cruzar, a pesar de la adición de una pasarela a un costado. La ciudad, el Condado Yolo y CalTrans han estado trabajando juntos en el proyecto. Loren dijo que en Enero del 2023, se notificó a la ciudad que se habían obtenido $2 millones de fondos federales asignados para un proyecto de construcción de un camino de usos múltiples, un cruce peatonal sobre la I-505 que incluirá contramedidas de seguridad para los ciclistas y peatones, para proporcionar un camino seguro para que los residentes de la comunidad de El Rio Villas y las ciudades vecinas
is on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Families will follow their student’s schedule to meet their teachers and learn more about classroom expectations.
High schools
The Winters High School and Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy student registration event is on Monday, Aug. 5. Students attend during their designated group’s timeframe to pick up their class schedules and take their school photo.
Students will have the option to get their ASB card, yearbook, physical education clothes and spirit wear.
ingresen a la ciudad de Winters. Según el documento del memorandum de entendimiento (MOU), la ciudad le pidió al Condado Yolo que se hiciera cargo del diseño y la construcción del proyecto del cruce, previsto para el 31 de Diciembre, porque la ciudad no tiene suficiente personal de ingeniería para manejar las fases posteriores de diseño, derecho de paso y construcción del proyecto.
“El éxito de este proyecto es un testimonio de los esfuerzos de colaboración de la ciudad, el condado y CalTrans,” dijo el administrador de la ciudad Jeremy Craig. Loren dijo que, a pesar de que solo se trata de un MOU, la medida es un hito considerando que han estado trabajando en ello durante años. “Hemos estado presionando para esto durante mucho tiempo. “Es un problema de seguridad muy importante que la gente no pueda cruzar a pie o en bicicleta el paso elevado de la 128 de manera segura,” dijo Loren. Biasi dijo que estaba 100 por ciento de acuerdo. “Vamos a terminar la parte del proyecto con la que nos hemos comprometido y luego el condado se hará cargo y, con suerte, terminará el proyecto y realizará las mejoras en las que hemos estado trabajando durante tanto tiempo,” dijo Biasi.
The schedule for the WHS student registration event is:
• Ninth-graders at 9 a.m.
• Twelth-graders at 10 a.m.
• Eleventh-graders at 11 a.m.
• Tenth-graders at 12 p.m.
• CRA students at 1 p.m An Athletics information session is scheduled for Aug. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the WHS gym. Athletic Director Daniel Ward said he will send out information in a ParentSquare post.
The WHS and the Wolfskill CRA’s Back to School Nights are on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m.
The water level of Lake Berryessa dropped by 0.62 of a foot during the past week, with a decrease in storage of 11,300 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh, Solano Project Technician with the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, July 30, he reported the lake elevation was 433.84 feet above sea level, with water storage behind the Monticello Dam computed at 1,437,115 acre-feet of water. The SID is releasing 532 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 63 cubic feet flowing into Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation on the lake averaged 336 acre-feet of water per day.
Obituary
Gonzalo Camacho Ramos of Winters, age 91, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on June 25, 2024. Alberto was born on Oct. 25, 1932, to Francisco Camacho and Melecia Ramos in Lubrin, Almeria Spain. Alberto attended school in Spain and served in the Spanish Army before leaving Spain in 1957 to come to America. Alberto married Barbara Castro Ramos in 1958 and they had three children, Melecia, Annette and Alberto Jr. Barbara passed away in 1978. In 1985, Alberto married Carmen Cortez Ramos, and together they had a son, Francisco; also Alberto gained four additional children Sergio, Irma, Mario, and Deisi Cortez. Alberto started his career working at Pinkston Trucking in Winters. He later worked at Basic Onion and Garlic Company in Vacaville, and lastly for the Yolo County Housing Authority in Winters until his retirement in 1989. Alberto was proud to have come to the United States, raise
his family, be successful, and become an American citizen. He taught his family the importance of hard work, patience, and to be kind to others. He loved music, dancing, and daily walks around town where he would stop and visit with people. Alberto leaves behind his wife Carmen of 39 years; his children, Melecia Ramos (John), the late Annette Drummond (Greg), Alberto Ramos Jr. (Tara), Sergio Cortez (Rosa), Irma Bruce (Charlie), Mario Cortez (Adriana), Deisi Magallon (Felix), and Francisco Ramos (Sammie) and numerous grandchildren. A memorial service was held in his honor on July 12, 2024.
Years Ago
Dispatches from the Express archives.
95 Years Ago
August 2, 1929
Miss Mabel Haven gave a surprise miscellaneous shower last Friday evening in honor of Miss Dorothy Reasoner whose marriage to Arthur B. Huntley of Pt. Arena is scheduled to take place next Sunday.
The Skaggs chain grocery purchased lots adjoin- ing the Miss Ora Woods residence on Main Street this week. The lots were sold by Miss Woods at a good figure. Contractor A. R. Gale will begin building the new store Monday. The building is to be 35 feet by 85, the back floor space to be used for storage purposes.
Miss Rose Geller has been secured to teach Union district school the coming year.
Mrs. Spencer, proprietor of the Winters Auto Camp purchased the E. E. Wilgus and adjoining lots to expand her camp along Baker Street. Mr. Wilgus has secured a residence on Abbay Street which he is fixing up for occupancy.
Leland Purrington who recently sold his ranch to Wallace P. Gwartney is building a new home at Old Buckeye.
Quite extensive repairs have been going on for the past week or two in the rear of Vasey Bros. & Islip’s
cash and carry grocery.
Roy Coleman has been appointed deputy game warden and will patrol Putah Canyon with headquarters at Buford Springs.
Harvey Hemenway has accepted a job with the Lehmann Printing Co. in San Francisco.
80 Years Ago
August 4, 1944
At a quietly appointed home wedding, Sunday, August 6, Lt. (jg.) George Crum and Miss Josephine Anne Miller will exchange mutual pledges. The ceremony will be read at 1:30 p.m. in the brideelect’s home in Davis, Rev. Ron- ald White, Presbyterian pastor officiating, with the immediate relatives witnessing the ritual.
W. R. Pugh and family are established in the Rus- sell street home which they purchased recently from Mrs. L. M. Mermod.
Mrs. R. L. Niemann has this week moved to the Main Street home that she purchased from Mrs. E. H. Edwards, formerly occupied by the Pughs.
C. David Baxter reportedly bought Mrs. Niemann’s ranch home north of town and moved his family and furnishings on Tuesday.
Joe Biasi arrived from the South Pacific for a brief furlough
at home last week. Joe lost an eye in action at Saipan and was hospitalized in the South Pacific.
2nd Lieut. James R. Barker of the Army Air Corps has arrived in England, according to word received by his wife and parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Barker.
Manuel Martin has written friends that he is now in France. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Martin.
Sgt. John Hukill has written from England that he is well and enjoying English scenery. The sergeant has been in service nearly three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunnard Johnson have rented the Robert Haze residence property on Russell Street and plan to be established there shortly.
45 Years Ago
August 2, 1979
There will be an alltime record crop of almonds this year, and the industry is greeting the prospect enthusiastically. Meeting in Sacramento, the Almond Board recommended that the 1979 crop be declared 100 percent salable, and voted increased promotion and research budgets to help expand consumption. The 1979 crop is forecast at 350 million pounds, shelled basis, up from the small 1978 crop of 181 million, and 12 percent ahead of the previous record 313 million pound crop of 1977.
Congressman Vic Fazio (Dem. 4th Dist.) has persuaded Bob Bergland, United States Secretary of Agriculture, to visit Yolo County next Wednesday, August 8. A full afternoon is planned for him to see California agriculture in action. Accompanied by the Congressman and Rich Rominger, director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Bergland will visit the Bernell Harlan Jr. ranch on Road 98 and will ride a tomato harvester in the process
of looking over the tomatoes, corn and sunflowers which Harlan grows.
Rotarians will hear Joe Aguiar, Winters High School ag teacher, and Jim Hyer, recent graduate in the ag program, speak on the newly completed ag site, Future Farmers of America and the Yolo County Fair. Rotarians meet today (Thursday) at the Top Hat Restaurant for lunch.
Robert and Maj Hapworth celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on July 31 beginnng with a champagne breakfast at their home. Hosts for the festivities were Maj’s parents, Nils and Svea Nelson of Belen, New Mexico, and the couple’s two daughters, Lawren and Alison. The six family members spent the day in San Francisco, returning by way of Spenger’s in Berkeley for dinner.
A brunch and bridal shower, hosted by Mrs. Phil Montgomery for Levada Russell, took place at the Montgomery residence on Sunday, July 29. Levada is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Russell of Winters, and her marriage to Jack McDowell, son of Homer McDowell of Winters and Mrs. Charles Nel- son of Crescent City, will take place at the Presbyterian Church in Winters on Saturday, August 4. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Campos have returned to Winters after visiting with their daughter and son-inlaw, Mr. and Mrs. David Rozman of Sedona, Arizona, who had a new baby boy, born July 18. Mrs. Campos was in Arizona for 20 days helping her daughter with the new baby and was joined by her husband for the trip home and for some sightseeing at Hoover Dam and the surrounding area. Ida Wallace returned home last Wednesday after a week’s vacation in Iowa where she visited with her sister and brother-in-law, Eloise and Jim Nelson, in Davenport, Iowa.
A medley relay team composed of “over the hill” swimmers challenged and defeated representatives of the Winters Swimming Team at the swim team banquet on Monday, Aug. 15, 1977. Posing for their victory picture before the race were Paul Lamothe (freestyle), John Wallace (butterfly) Chuck Thomson (backstroke), Bruce Rominger (breaststroke), and Duffy Shackelford (coach and alternate). Shackelford told reporters that the team’s success was based in part on an unusual dietary program using an un-named beverage.
Alberto
Alberto Ramos
Courtesy photo
Express staff
Public Safety Report
City of Winters
Fire
July 17: 7:26 p.m., Edwards Street, False alarm or false call – other
~8:30 p.m., Jackson Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~9 p.m., Grant Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~10:09 p.m., Grant Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
July 18: 9:52 a.m., County Road 34, Dispatched and canceled en route
~10:31 a.m., Interstate 505 (Madison), Unauthorized burning
~11:51 a.m., County Road 89, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~11:57 a.m., E. Main Street, Smoke scare – odor of smoke
~2 p.m., Morgan Street, False alarm or false call – other
~5:39 p.m., Highway 128, Dispatched and canceled
Since that moment, Fridae said he couldn’t remember not being a photographer. After serving as the high school newspaper photographer, Fridae toured Europe at 21, beginning his photo journal and camera equipment collection.
Calling his professional collection of portrait and wedding photography a “hobby,” Fridae said taking pictures for friends and family is a gift. Like personal photo shoots, Fridae said snapping the gratis shots of the Winters’ elders is another way to give back.
“I mean, how many times have you been to a funeral or a celebration of life and thought, while all of these people here are assembled, appreciating what that person did, why not do it while they’re alive?”
he said. “I think the beauty of the Elder Day celebration is that we’re doing it while they’re still alive.”
Fridae credited both Winters and Yolo County officials for compiling “beautiful certificates to hand to them and acknowledge that they have lived and dedicated uh a long life and the amount of experience they have had to give to the community.”
Beyond the photo
“The other thing is we get to hear them tell part of their story using the interview,” Fridae said of the written content that will accompany each photo in the gallery during the two-month exhibit that starts Aug. 2. “We asked them to expand on an interesting aspect of their life.”
Some could not expand on their lives.
“We have an amazing collection of elderly people in Winters,” Fridae said. “I would
en route
~10:18 p.m., County Road 95A (Davis), Dispatched and canceled en route
July 19: 4:44 p.m., Valley Oak Drive, Public service
~7:28 p.m., Highway 128, Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.
~8:12 p.m., Main Street, Smoke scare – odor of smoke
July 20: 7:24 a.m., Highway 128, No incident found on arrival at dispatch address
~8:19 a.m., Highway 128, No incident found on arrival at dispatch address
~8:57 a.m., Niemann Street, False alarm or false call – other
~4:35 p.m., Jefferson Street, Gas leak (natural gas or LPG)
~8:13 p.m., Cemetery Drive, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~9:57 p.m., Almeria Place, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
July 21: 1:51 a.m., Creekside Way, Dis-
patched and canceled en route
~2:10 a.m., Putah Creek Road, Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.
~2:11 a.m., Railroad Avenue, Dispatched and canceled en route
~3:50 a.m., Creekside Way, Police matter
~9:30 a.m., E. Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~2:23 p.m., Highway 128, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~4:54 p.m., Highway 128, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
July 22: 5:14 p.m., Owings Drive, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury ~9:17 p.m., E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury ~11:11 p.m., Railroad Avenue, Dispatched and canceled en route
Police Arrest Log
No arrests. For updates, visit https://www.cityofwinters.org/289/Report-Arrest-Log
“This is going to be viewed countywide, and we’re hoping that other people might be interested in doing a similar event in their town or county.”
Woody Fridae, photographer
say probably half of the folks in this collection have passed on.”
According to the photographer, there’s a lot to know about somebody who’s lived more than 90 years. He hopes each “photo itself will spark the viewer’s interest to learn more.”
“All the stories are captivating and very interesting,” Fridae said of the nearly 50 composites that will hang until September 27 at the Yolo County Administration Building, 625 Court Street in Woodland.
A picture can speak a thousand words, but it should also compel.
“First of all, the photo should invite you in,” Fridae said. “There’s some kind of spark or something in a knowing expression or smile that makes you feel like this individual.”
The photographer’s portaits of Winters’ elders exude a welllived life in each smile or stare.
“I’ve had them all printed on very large canvas prints, and having them all together is quite a collection,” Fridae said of the installment that will open with a ceremony. “There will be wine, hors d’ oeuvres, and music — we’ve invited everybody to come and see.”
Fridae and city and county officials hope this year’s installation will inspire the next.
“It will raise people’s awareness to notify us for when we’re doing next year’s celebration so that we make sure that we find those people,” Fridae
Report Log
July 17: 5:49 p.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Shoplifting
~9:52 p.m., Railroad Avenue/Anderson Avenue, Outside Agency Assist
July 18: 12:30 a.m., 100th block of Purtell Court, Outside Agency Assist ~9:14 a.m., 800th block of Jackson Street, Vehicle Tow ~2:10 p.m., 400th block of Railroad Avenue, Audible Alarm
~10:47 p.m., Southdown Court/Suffolk Place, Verbal Domestic Dispute
July 19: 2:31 a.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Audible Alarm
~10:17 a.m., 100th block of E. Main Street, Missing Person
~2:02 p.m., 400th block of Railroad Avenue, Audible Alarm
~9:53 p.m., E. Grant Avenue/Matsumoto Lane, Vehicle Tow
July 20: 11:08 a.m., 200th block of Wildrose Lane, Miscellaneous Incident Report
~3:25 p.m., 100th block of Edwards Street, APS
LOCAL
Continued from Page 1
said of the long-time residents of Winters whose lives should be celebrated.
“This is going to be viewed countywide, and we’re hoping that other people might be interested in doing a similar event in their town or county,” Fridae said.
Winters Elder Day
At the 2024 Winters Elder Day event, eight local elders over the age of 90 or who are turning 90 in 2024 were honored on June 29.
Organizer Wally Pearce and Fridae shared enthusiasm over the ability to celebrate Winters elders again. Pearce said this year a combined 725 years of experience were being honored between the eight recipients. Since the first Winters Elder Day event, 5,400 years of experience have been recognized between all of the honorees.
For more information on the Winters Elder Day event or to nominate someone who is 90 or older as of December 31, 2025, contact Wally Pearce at denropro@gmail. com.
offer more flexibility with how residents can engage in City Council and Planning Commission meetings,” the city’s Zoom account “ran into a snafu on Tuesday evening that prevented attending the meeting electronically.”
The issue has since been repaired, and the one agenda item scheduled for the meeting will appear for discussion at a special meeting on Aug. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chamber. This is the first of the two Planning Commission meetings in August. The group will meet again on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 6:30 p.m. for the regularly scheduled August meeting.
Get city updates
The city of Winters’ Notify Me function allows residents to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists. Receive email or text messages for meeting information or city updates on selected lists, including the City Manager Friday updates. Check out “Notify Me” at https://www. cityofwinters.org/ List.aspx.
Esparto Park
Playground
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the Esparto Park Playground
referral
~6:34 p.m., 700th block of Railroad Avenue, Audible Alarm
~8:09 p.m., Grant Avenue/Cemetery Drive, Assault/Battery
July 21: 10:06 a.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Audible Alarm
~10:33 a.m., first block of Gateway Drive, Vehicle Tow
~2:22 p.m., 200th block of White Oak Lane, Courtesy Report- Crime out of jurisdiction
July 23: 8:55 a.m., 900th block of Vasey Street, Vandalism
~2 p.m., 300th block of E. Main Street, Petty Theft ~2:29 p.m., 400th block of Railroad Avenue, Audible Alarm
~3:55 p.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Grand Theft
July 24: 9:06 a.m., 500th block of Edwards Street, Vehicle Tow
~9:28 a.m., 20000th block of County Road 90, Vandalism
For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.
replacement project, funded by Proposition 68, on July 17. Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs announced the celebratory event in his Friday newsletter and encouraged all residents to enjoy their local parks.
“Our parks provide essential spaces for community gatherings, wildlife habitats, and recreational activities like walking and biking,” Frerichs said. “They play a crucial role in enhancing our quality of life and fostering a sense of community and they are vital for our physical, emotional and mental health well-being.”
County seeks volunteers Frerichs announced the county is seeking volunteers to serve on the Community Services Action Board and the Library Advisory Board.
The Community Services Action Board meets on the second Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 6 p.m., alternating in location between Woodland, Davis and West Sac-
ramento. For low-income members, travel costs are eligible for reimbursement. This board is responsible for the Community Services Block Grant and works to distribute the funds to low-income community members. The board also participates in the selection of the Director of the Health and Human Services Agency and its executive officers. For more on the Community Services Action Board, visit https://bit.ly/3LJhZrZ.
The Library Advisory Board meets on the second Wednesday of every other month (beginning in February) at 6 p.m. The location information can be provided by the staff liaison. This board advises the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian and reviews library services and facilities. The board also studies and reviews plans and programs for the long-term development of county libraries. For more on the Library Advisory Board, visit https:// bit.ly/3WHB0Bk.
FRIDAE
Senior News
Tips to find a good, well-staffed nursing home
By Jordan Rau KFF Health News
Few people want to go into a nursing home, but doing so can be the right choice if you or a loved one is physically or cognitively disabled or recovering from surgery. Unfortunately, homes vary greatly in quality, and many don’t have enough nurses and aides to give residents the care they need.
Q: How do I find nursing homes worth considering?
Start with Medicare’s online comparison tool, which you can search by city, state, ZIP code, or home name. Ask for advice from people designated by your state to help people who are older or have disabilities search for a nursing home. Every state has a “no wrong door” contact for such inquiries.
You can also reach out to your local area agency on aging, a public or nonprofit resource, and your local long-term care ombudsman, who helps residents resolve problems with their nursing home.
Find your area agency on aging and ombudsman through the federal government’s Eldercare Locator website or by calling 1-800-677-1116. Identify your ombudsman through the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, an advocacy group. Some people use private placement agencies, but they may refer you only to homes that pay them a referral fee.
Q: What should I find out before visiting a home?
Search online for news coverage and for reviews posted by residents or their families. Call the home to make sure beds are available. Well-regarded homes can have long waiting lists.
Figure out how you will pay for your stay. Most nursing home residents rely primarily on private long-
term care insurance, Medicare (for rehabilitation stays) or Medicaid (for long-term stays if you have few assets). In some cases, the resident pays entirely out-of-pocket. If you’re likely to run out of money or insurance coverage during your stay, make sure the home accepts Medicaid. Some won’t admit Medicaid enrollees unless they start out paying for the care themselves.
If the person needing care has dementia, make sure the home has a locked memory-care unit to ensure residents don’t wander off.
Q: How can I tell if a home has adequate staffing?
Medicare’s comparison tool gives each home a rating of one to five stars based on staffing, health inspection results, and measurements of resident care such as how many residents had pressure sores that worsened during their stay. Five is the highest rating. Below that overall rating is one specifically for staffing.
Be sure to study the annual staff turnover rate, at the bottom of the staffing page. Anything higher than the national rate — an appalling 52 percent — should give you pause. You should also pay attention to the inspection star rating. The “quality” star rating is less reliable because homes self-report many of the results and have incentives to put a glossy spin on their performance.
Q: Does a home with three, four, or five stars provide good care?
Not necessarily.
Medicare’s ratings compare the staffing of a home against that of other homes, not against an independent standard. The industry isn’t as well staffed as many experts think it needs to be: About 80 percent of homes, even some with four and five stars, are staffed below the standards the Biden administration will be requiring
homes to meet in the next five years.
Q: How many workers are enough?
There’s no straightforward answer; it depends on how frail and sick a nursing home’s residents are. Medicare requires homes to prominently post their staffing each day. The notices should show the number of residents, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and nurse aides. RNs are the most skilled and manage the care. LVNs provide care for wounds and catheters and handle basic medical tasks. Nurse aides help residents eat, dress, and get to the bathroom.
Expert opinions vary on the ideal ratios of staffing. Sherry Perry, a Tennessee nursing assistant who is the chair of her profession’s national association, said that preferably a nursing assistant should care for eight or fewer residents.
Charlene Harrington, an emerita professor of nursing at the University of California-San Francisco, recommends that on the day shift there be one nurse aide for every seven residents who need help with physical functioning or have behavioral issues; one RN for every 28 residents; and
WINTERS SENIOR FOUNDATION
is sponsoring an Amateur Artist Event (for Seniors 55+)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
location: Winters Community Center
Cost: No Charge
Bring: Your joy and enthusiasm for creating and a snack to share. Drinks will be provided.
one LVN for every 38 residents. Patients with complex medical needs will need higher staffing levels.
Staffing can be lower at night because most residents are sleeping, Harrington said.
Nursing home industry officials say that there’s no onesize-fits-all ratio and that a study the federal government published last year found quality improved with higher staffing but didn’t recommend a particular level.
Q: What should I look for when I visit a home?
Watch to see if residents are engaged in activities or if they are alone in their rooms or slumped over in wheelchairs in hallways. Are they still in sleeping gowns during the day? Do nurses and aides know the residents by name? Is food available only at mealtimes, or can residents get snacks when hungry? Watch a meal to see whether people are getting the help they need. You might visit at night or on weekends or holidays, when staffing is thinnest.
Q: What should I ask residents and families in the home?
Are residents cared for by the same people or by a rotating cast of strangers? How long do they have to wait for help bathing or getting out of bed? Do they get their medications, physical therapy, and meals on time? Do aides come quick-
ly if they turn on their call light? Delays are strong signs of understaffing.
Medicare requires homes to allow residents and families to form councils to address common issues. If there’s a council, ask to speak to its president or an officer.
Ask what proportion of nurses and aides is on staff or from temporary staffing agencies; temp workers won’t know the residents’ needs and likes as well. A home that relies heavily on temporary staff most likely has trouble recruiting and keeping employees.
Q: What do I need to know about a home’s leadership?
Turnover at the top is a sign of trouble. Ask how long the home’s administrator has been on the job; ideally it should be at least a year. (You can look up administrator turnover on the Medicare comparison tool: It’s on the staffing page beneath staff turnover. But be aware the information may not be up to date.)
You should also ask about the tenure of the director of nursing, the top clinical supervisor in a home.
During your tour, observe how admissions staff members treat the person who would be living there.
“If you walk in to visit with your mom and they greeted you and didn’t greet your mom or focused all their attention on you, go somewhere else,” ad-
vised Carol Silver Elliott, president of the Jewish Home Family, a nonprofit in Rockleigh, New Jersey.
Q: Does it matter who owns the home?
It often does. Generally, nonprofit nursing homes provide better care because they can reinvest revenue back into the home rather than paying some of it to owners and investors.
But there are some very good for-profit homes and some lousy nonprofits. Since most homes in this country are for-profit, you may not have a choice in your area. As a rule of thumb, the more local and present the owner, the more likely the home will be well run. Many owners live out of state and hide behind corporate shell companies to insulate themselves from accountability. If nursing home representatives can’t give you a clear answer when you ask who owns it, think twice.
Finally, ask if the home’s ownership has changed in the past year or so or if a sale is pending. Stable, wellrun nursing homes aren’t usually the ones owners are trying to get rid of.
—KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more at www.kff.org.
This event will be guided by an experienced artist, under her guidance you will create an acrylic painting, the subject of which will be revealed at the event.
FEATURES
Wednesdays
Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution Wednesdays, 11 a.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue
Thursday, August 1
Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://wintersjusd.diligent.community
Thursdays
Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690
Sunday, August 4
Winters Farmers Market
9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Downtown Main Street, discoverwinters.com/farmers-market
Tuesday, August 6
National Night Out at El Rio Villas, 5–7 p.m., 62 Shams Way
Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, August 7
Winters Joint Unified School District
First Day of School, Minimum Day, See specific school site bell schedules for times.
Tuesday, August 13
Winters Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/planning-commission/
Library Services
Winters Library Open to Public (School in Session), Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. , Sat: 1–5 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, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)
Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering Thurdays, 1-3:30 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)
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 (September through April), 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, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Paseo Park, Main Street.
Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Wednesday, 6 p.m., Turkovich Family Wines - Boss Lounge, kiwanisclubofwinters@gmail.com
Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org
Walking Meditation, third Sunday, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Meet behind the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave.
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.
Tips on selecting urban or rural HOMES, Page 2
Charley has lots of local photos OPINION, Page 3
Historical mysteries in the Winters Cemetery
If I didn’t have the attention span of a feral kitten, I might have been able to explore what it would take to become a historian. I love historical museums, and documentaries that do a deep dive into specific points in history and I can appreciate a good timeline. I have recently enjoyed browsing through archived issues of both the Winters Advocate and the Winters Express While reading about some topics from the past makes my blood boil because of “that’s
how things were back then,” I have also learned a lot of amazing things about Winters history. I’ve also discovered that history truly does repeat itself — same issues, different players.
Recently, I came across an article written by Ida Wallace about tombstones and the mysteries they hold. With a map
in hand — in thanks to Sheila Carbahal at the Winters Cemetery District and Joe Bristow for pointing me in the right direction — I set out to find some of the Wolfskill family members mentioned in Ida’s article.
I probably could have spent all day there.
I first was distracted by some of the
This article was originally published in the Aug. 9, 1979 edition of the Winters Express
By Ida Wallace Winters Express
Old tombstones, especially if discovered unexpectedly, can lead to a lot of interesting research and conjecturing. Marcella and Lee Gildart purchased land on Holmes Lane two years ago with plans to retire in this area. In the process of cleaning pruning and around a large, partly dead cactus plant on the knoll behind their home, they uncovered two marble tombstones, both broken.
One of the tombstones was for a child (or children) aged 8 m’os & 6 dys, died May 6, 1871, the _________ of _________ and Annie Wolfskill.
This set us to looking up all the information we have in the Express office on John Reid Wolfskill,
From the Express Archives
his brothers, children and descendants. We read obituaries in old copies of the Express and visited the Winters Cemetery. There were two Wolfskills who had wives with the name of Annie or Anna (Ana). John Reid Wolfskill (who came to Winters in 1841 and eventually owned one-half of the Spanish land grant Rancho Rio de los Putos) had a son Ed- ward (born 1850) whose wife was named Annie Bollinger. John Reid Wolfskill’s brother Milton had a wife named Anna (or Ana)
Sweaney. Milton was the youngest of the five Wolfskill brothers and came to Winters with his wife in 1858. It would seem likely that the date of his birth was in the 1820’s, since the next oldest brother (Sarshel) was born in 1818. Boon tombstone
The other tombstone is in much better shape, having only one break and that not in line with any engraving. It reads: (H)ade(n) Boon Dec. 24, 1867 62 yrs. 11 mo. & 20 days
The first and last letters 1 of the first name
gravesstones from the Japanese community. I recognized a few names and wished that I could read the characters carved into the tombstones. I also recognized quite a few names that I’ve only seen while perusing “Years Ago” entries — like Snodgrass and Pugh — and a few names that I’ve seen from around town like Waggoner, Baker and Hemenway.
Ifinally found the specific grave that I think Ida had mentioned. I couldn’t tell from her photo since it was a photocopy. But with help from Sheila, I saw how many headstones were now blank and indeed a mystery. In the hope that some other community members are as intrigued about the lives of those who lived in our town before us, I’m reprinting Ida’s article to share with you all. And if you have any family or local stories about some of the folks buried in the older portions of our cemetery, I’d love to hear about them.
are not clear. Lawrence Ramos, whose family owned the property before the Gildarts purchased it, thought that his father might have moved the tombstones to the site to use the marble in a building project.
Mrs. Edith Overhouse re- calls as a child riding past an old cemetery in that area on her horse as she went from the Emery (her family) property near Olive School Lane to visit the Coopers on the other side of the hill (toward Winters). Edith says that at that time there was a fence surrounding the plot where the cemetery stood. The fields at that time were not in orchards but in grain. The Gildarts hope that someone will know if the knoll behind their home was a family cemetery and the identity of the people whose tombstones they have uncovered.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Some of the graves in the Japanese community section of the Winters Cemetery have mixed characters on them, while others are all in English.
Old tombstones give glimpse of Winters history
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Some gravestone are blank from wear and tear of the elements. The cemetery staff said they use clues from the graves of children to try and determine who some of the blank gravetones around them may belong to.
Buying rural or urban? Know the differences before deciding
Metro Special to the Express
The decision to move is a very personal choice that is typically reached after considering a number of variables. Career opportunities, a better climate, superior schools, or a desire to be closer to family compel millions of people to move each year, and those factors underscore how unique each individual move can be.
Steinway Moving & Storage contends that the average American moves 11.7 times, while the Canadian Association of Movers says Canadians move an average of five to six times. No move is a small undertaking, and when such a move involves relocating to an entirely new set-
“Nature lovers may have to sacrifice proximity to wildlife and access to star-filled skies if they choose to live in cities.”
ting, there are some things buyers should know. Here are some differences between purchasing a home in a rural or urban location.
Urban
A vibrant lifestyle and proximity to employment draws many people to urban living. Home prices tend to be higher in cities than in other areas, and the cost of living in urban areas tends to be more expensive due to the conveniences associated with city life. Buyers may ex-
pect to pay more for contractors, food and transportation. Property taxes are another consideration for urban buyers. Taxes tend to be higher in urban neighborhoods than rural locales.
Rural
Proximity to nightlife and restaurants attracts many people to live in cities. Urban buyers need to expect more congestion in cities than in rural areas. Having a car in the city may be a luxury instead of a necessity. In fact, many urban dwellers opt for public transportation rather than paying for parking or trying to find spots.
Noise may be an-
other thing to think about. More people living closer together brings more noise and artifical light. Nature lovers may have to sacrifice proximity to wildlife and access to star-filled skies if they choose to live in cities.
Being able to spread out and enjoy private property is a major advantage of living in the country. Rural living comes with much larger home footprints at more affordable prices. The Real Estate Council of Ontario says that potential
buyers will need to account for distance to jobs and stores when opting to live in rural areas. Commute times can eat into fuel budgets. Those who work from home may need to investigate if there is reliable internet service where a home is located, as some rural locales still have spotty mobile service
File photo
There are differences between purchasing a home in a rural or urban location. Take the time to learn the differences when searching for a new home.
Express Yourself
Life keeps moving along
Working in a museum has its moments. I missed a chance to throw away a lot of stuff when we moved nine years ago from Railroad Avenue to Russell Street. Some people call this the Rogers Building, the Old Library and a few remember it as the courthouse. I’d like to think of it as the building that houses the Winters Museum and my vintage printing company. Every once in a while I get tired of all of the junk on the floors and try and tidy up, just a little. My father liked to file away newspaper articles, whole newspapers, magazines, pictures or anything he thought was important. So far I have emptied eight filing cabinets, sorting treasures into three piles. One pile of family items goes into boxes for my sister, Lois, who learned to be a hoarder from our father. Another pile holds pictures and artifacts that I think the museum might like and the last pile is a recycling dumpster. By far the biggest stack is in the recy-
“If he saw an article in a newspaper about someone from Winters, he filed it away.”
cling can. Pop kept every program and handout from every convention or event he attended. If he saw an article in a newspaper about someone from Winters, he filed it away. Sometimes there is a note on the front of the newspaper that says, “see page 3, but most of the time there is just a stack of old newspapers. I don’t like to just throw things away and find myself reading through the papers to see why he kept them. Most of the time I have no clue why it was saved and into the recycle bin it goes. If in doubt, I put into my sister’s box. Lois passes though Winters a couple of times a year, and if she is driving, I hand her a box, or two. She is
See QUICK, Page 5
Horoscopes
ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20),
Your feelings this week may not be entirely trustworthy, Aries. You could end up worrying for nothing, and being pulled into difficult situations for the wrong reasons.
TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21),
Taurus, if you are feeling a little lost these days, it could be that you need a change in perspective and location to help you get inspired. Plan a short trip to recharge.
GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21),
You cannot serve as mediator or help friends establish harmony if you are all over the emotional map, Gemini. Work your way through your emotions before offering to help.
CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22),
Cancer, you may be so caught up in a specific vision for the future that you are not open to new ideas that are equally beneficial and possible. Be more receptive to what others offer.
LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23), Leo, once you give a certain plan a little more thought you may determine it isn’t worth your time right now. Perhaps you’ve been building this idea up in your head.
VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22), Virgo, you are eager to share your ideas and vision with others, but right now the audience isn’t as receptive as you would have hoped. Do not give up; people will come around.
LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23), Libra, you have a way of doing things, and right now you’re not ready to deviate from that routine. With time you may be able to branch out and try a new approach.
SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22), People are receptive to your words and you often speak with assertiveness Scorpio. Do not let this go to your head, though. Aspire to be humble while exhibiting confidence.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21),
Sagittarius, this is one of those weeks when you can get into trouble if you let your emotions be the driving force behind your actions. Make an effort to balance emotion and reason.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20),
This is your week to really shine, Capricorn. Let others know what you’re made of, but be sure you do not do something at another person’s expense just to get ahead.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18), Aquarius, if you do not like the course you are on, you have the ability to change things whenever you want. Nothing is set in stone at this point, so start dreaming up new ideas.
PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20), Pisces, there are so many ways you can be creative and express yourself. This is a week of true inspiration and exploration. Nothing is off-limits if you desire it.
Read the Legals, It’s good for you Express Yourself
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE
& Physical Residential
Address, State, and Zip: JUAN PABLO LOPEZ, 877 FEN-
LEY WAY WINTERS CA 95694
Business Classification: IND IVIDUAL
Date of Business: 6/10/2024 /s/ JUAN PABLO LOPEZ Title of Officer Signing: INDIVIDUAL I
12 DUNNIGAN CA 95937
Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: SHANNON'S LLC 3980 COUNTY RD 99W DUNNIGAN CA 95937
Business Classification: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Date of Business: 2/4/2020 /s/ SHANNON WINTON Title of Officer Signing: MANAGER SHANNON'S, LLC
Invitation to exhibit featuring Winters elders
For seven years, the Winters Elder Day Council has located people in this community who are 90 years old “or better,” and we honor them by having beautiful certificates created by the City Council, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, the Assembly of the State of California, and the United States Congress, acknowledging their experience in and appreciation from the community. At the celebration of honoring the new inductees, the Mayor, County Board, and State and US representatives come to speak in their honor. Each elder is given a potted orchid and a bottle of wine to take home.
This event is the result of the creative work of Wally and Sharon Pearce and the rest of the Elder Day Council. One other thing that we have do for these honorees is to have a beautiful portrait made of each of them that we display at
Letters
the event, and then give a copy to each honoree. You may have seen some of these portraits published in the Express, as Crystal publishes their interviews, subsequent to the Elder Day each day. It has been my honor to be the photographer that gets to take their portraits. It really is an joy to be able to do this. I take hundreds of photos and I look for the spark in each honoree’s eyes, the thing that shows their youthful spirit still evident in a bright expression or knowing smile. Hopefully, you see that, too.
A collection of over 40 of these photos enlarged on canvas will be the subject of an artistic display at Yolo County Arts Council’s Studio 625 in Woodland for the next two months. There will be a grand opening this week on Aug. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 at Studio 625, at the County Administrative Building on 625 Court St. in Woodland. I want to invite anyone who would like to see this amazing collection. I
especially want to invite the Winters Elder Honorees and their families to come to the Grand Opening this Friday at 5:30. There will be drinks, appetizers, and music. Winters will show off our finest at this event!
Thank you, WOODY FRIDAE Winters
Celebrate WSF’s July birthdays
We are singing Happy Birthday to Jerry Lowden and Marianne Boyer at the Winters Senior Foundation’s Thursday social gathering. Enjoy homemade apricot upside down cake and other treats, laughter, and wishes for our July birthdays gang. In honor of the Paris Olympics we played charade using the different Olympics events, including: If you got “uneven bars” how would you act it out? Join us Thursday at St. Anthony from 1 to 4 p.m.
TINA LOWDEN Winters senior Foundation
Fall-prevention awareness can help to avoid injury
By Wally Pearce Winters Elder Day Council
“Fall preventions” refers to professional guidelines and procedures adapted to identify people at risk of fall, and to provide preventive measures to reduce fall risk and thereby also to reduce falls and fall related injuries. Fall prevention awareness aims to increase awareness of fall health and injury prevention. The intent of fall prevention awareness is to unite older adults, professionals, the medical community, caregivers, and family members, who collectively play a vital part in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.
According to the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-P), falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits for older adults; the major cause of hip fractures, broken necks and paralysis; and are responsible for more than half of fatal head and neck injuries. Take action
Fall-prevention awareness includes any action taken to help reduce the number of accidental falls suffered by susceptible individuals, such as the elderly, people with neurological disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke survivors, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, orthopedic fractures, post-surgery joint replacement, lower limb amputation, and soft tissue injuries.
One easy way to prevent falls is to take stock of your living environment and help make it safe for yourself or for loved ones at risk. Changes such as improving lighting, using assistive devices and daily physical activity will help reduce the likelihood of a fall. Also, secure throw rugs to mitigate slippage while walking or standing on the rug. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) recommends
the following steps to prevent a fall:
• Find a good exercise program, like walking.
• Talk to your health care provider.
• Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist.
• When outside during the darkness of the evening hours, always make sure you have proper lighting and a secure area to walk. Avoid uneven ground areas and walking on bumpy terrain.
• Wear safe and secure footwear while outside.
• Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses as needed.
• Keep your home safe.
• Talk to your family members. Each of these elements plays a vital role in fall prevention awareness. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, and other like professional associations, there’re many different factors that can introduce the increase the risk of falling. These include but are not limited to:
• Past falls
• Hazards in the home and community
• Problems walking
• Balance problems
• Weakness
• Improper footwear
• Walking on uneven terrain
• Work with your primary doctor and share any physical limitations
• Chronic diseases
• Discuss multiple medications with your primary physician
• Poor vision
• Unlit areas
• Depression
• Memory problems
• Behaviors like rushing
Fall stats
Those that think fall-prevention awareness is not important or does not apply to them — think again. In 2023, the California Department of Public Health reported that older adults aged 65 years of age and older residing in Northern California counties, sustained over 15,000 avoidable falls, resulting in more than 12,000 emergency room visits, and over 4,000 hospital stays and 117 deaths. And the numbers are rising.
Talk to a doctor
If falls can be prevented, so can the broken bones of the hip, spine, wrists, etc. Vitamin D deficiency is also a potential risk factor for both falls and broken bones.
Daily Vitamin D and calcium supplements are associated with reduced falls and fewer broken bones in older adults. Speak with
your health care provider and ask about how much Vitamin D and Calcium is right for you.
Regular light physical activity and exercises that combine weight, muscle strengthening, and balance, can help reduce the risk of falls and improve health. An influential factor to the intent of fall prevention awareness, is to raise understanding about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults and the disabled. Falls threaten the safety and health of older adults, including their independence, generate an enormous economic impact on communities, and a significant personal cost to everyone. However, falling is not an inevitable result of aging. Through practical lifestyle adjustments, the number of falls among older adults can be substantially reduced and ultimately — eliminated. The Winters Elder Day Council serves the City of Winters senior citizen community including their families, and friends, focused on raising awareness about decisive important elder adult issues, like fall prevention awareness. Please join us in sharing this important message.
File photo
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits for older adults. Take steps around the home to prevent falls.
Master gardeners showcase gardening at county fair
By Denise Cottrell
UCCE Master Gardener-Yolo
What do you think of when you hear Yolo County Fair? Agriculture? Cotton candy? Carnival rides? Add gardening to the list. The Yolo County Fair dedicates the “The Plaza” to different aspects of gardening including planted gardens, vignettes, and potted plants. And in the Plaza, you will also find the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo providing gardening information, a demonstration garden, and children’s activities. Of course, if you have a gardening question, the Master Gardeners will provide you with research-based information for all your queries.
You will find the UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo at the Yolo Counting Fair at the following times:
• Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 15 from Noon to 6 p.m.
QUICK
Continued from Page 3
getting smarter and when she stopped by a few weeks ago, she sorted two boxes down to a pile that would fit in her suitcase. There is a new stack of photos on the museum’s front desk. I’m not sure moving things from my back office to the front desk counts as cleaning up, but someone else can decide to throw it away. Some things are
• Friday, Aug. 16, and Saturday, Aug. 17, from Noon to 9 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
August events
In-person consultations with a UCCE Master Gardener-Yolo are also available at various locations throughout Yolo County during the month of August.
On Saturdays from 8 to 11 a.m., the Master Gardener table at the Davis Farmers Market, is located between the Rose Garden and the Sensory Garden. The Davis Farmers Market is held at Central Park, located at 4th and C Streets. In West Sacramento, the UCCE MGs-Yolo will be available to answer your gardening questions at their twice-monthly gardening Questions and Answers Desk, held at Lowes, 2250 Lake Washington Blvd., on the first and third Saturday of the month. You
worth saving, like original programs from the Japanese Picnic or the beginning of the local Rotary Club in 1956. Pictures of old Winters families that I faintly remember their names and articles about our founding fathers that I think we should put on display at the museum. It didn’t take long for someone to ask “who put all this stuff on the desk?” I got a few funny looks and told them that they could throw is all away if they wished.
will find them ready to answer your gardening questions on Aug. 3, and Aug. 17, from 10 to Noon.
In Woodland, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to Noon, the UCCE MGs-Yolo will be available to answer gardening questions at the Woodland Farmers Market, located on First Street across from Woodland Public Library.
The UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo are also available for consultation by telephone or online for all gardening questions. Contact the Master Gardener hotline at 530 666-8736 and leave a message or send an email to mgyolo@ucdavis. edu. And don’t forget that UCCE MGs-Yolo offers several events and workshops that are free and open to the public and provide research-based information about various aspects of gardening. Below are the events scheduled for August 2024.
See GARDEN, Page 6
So far it is still on the desk. There are boxes of photos that people brought into to be published in the Express. I’m not sure how to display them so people can pick up their photos. There are literally thousands of photos from the 1980s through the 2000s. Stop by the museum to see what is on display and see if there are any photos that you might like to take home with you. Every little bit helps. Have a good week.
Recreational sports that make for a great workout
Metro Special to the Express
Billions of people across the globe share a passion for sports. Whether it’s youngsters playing on sandlots, adolescents competing in scholastic sports or even professional athletes locking horns at the highest level, there’s no denying that sports appeals to people of all ages.
The thrill of competition undoubtedly compels many athletes to engage in sports, but playing a sport also makes for great exercise. That’s even the case for various recreational sports, which many athletes look to after their more formal playing days have ended. In fact, the following recreational sports are not only fun, but also make for a great workout.
Pickleball
examination of pickleball by Apple has found that participation in the sports helps players reach moderate to vigorous heart rate zones, which cardiologists note can improve cardiac fitness. In addition, a 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that pickleball players enjoyed significant improvements in happiness, life satisfaction and personal well-being after taking up the sport.
Basketball
and internet coverage. Additional things to think about involve the maintenance on the home and utilities. Some rural homes are not connected to municipal water systems. That requires usage of well water and having to do one’s own water testing. It’s also key to have a septic system tested to ensure it is in good working order. Rural residents may need to grow accustomed to slower repair times should electricity go out, so a backup generator might be necessary. Also, snow removal may fall, so buyers should look closely at driveway size and road access before buying.
sounds and smells of nature can be intoxicating. But homeowners must consider that insects and animals may be frequent companions in these areas. Those accustomed to urban living may be unacquainted with animals living so close to their homes.
Nature and vast starry skies draw some to live in rural areas. Sitting outdoors enjoying the
Both rural and urban areas can be great places to live. Individuals should consider the pros and cons of each before buying a new home.
Perhaps no recreational sport has enjoyed a surge popularity as significant as pickleball in recent years. The 2023 Topline Participation Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association indicates participation in pickleball grew by 159 percent between 2019 and 2022. Pickleball is something of a hybrid sport that combines elements of tennis and ping-pong to form a fun activity that’s also great exercise. An ongoing
Basketball is among the more accessible recreational sports, as it’s not uncommon for players to find a pickup game at their local park on a nice spring or summer afternoon or evening. Basketball combines various components of a great workout, including cardiovascular exercise, coordination and balance and weight-bearing activity. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science found that both half-court and full-court basketball helped to increase lean body mass, bone mineral density and oxygen uptake, each of which helps to make recreational basketball a great way for players to improve their overall health.
Softball
The co-ed adult softball league usually starts recruitig in the spring as little league games wind down.
Golf
The serene setting of a typical golf course can make it easy to see the sport as fun but not necessarily a great workout. But that’s a misconception, as a round of 18 can make for great exercise. A 2016 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine noted that golf can be a useful ally in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as heart attack, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes, among other conditions. Walking the course, as opposed to renting a cart during a round, makes for excellent cardiovascular exercise as well. Athletes may embrace recreational sports for fun, but these physical activities also can make for a great workout.
Like basketball, softball provides cardiovascular exercise, challenges you to work on coordination and balance and weight-bearing activity. Most cities host co-ed adult softball leagues at some point during the year. In Winters, there are options to be included on a list as a substitute player that teams can pull from. That way if you’d like to participate, but may not be able to commit each week you can still get in on the action as the opportunity allows.
Clementine Holland, an 11-year-old on the Winters Water Warriors swim team, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. Holland is a sixth-grader competing this summer. Swim coach Garrett Matheson said Holland puts in the extra effort to improve her technique. “She is a very strong swimmer and works very hard every practice. She is dedicated to the team and is always improving her stroke,” Matheson said.
Introducing Carol Scianna
For my next interview, I give you Carol Scianna, who happens to be one of my favorite neighbors.
Carol Scianna is a special woman; the best of us. She holds a secret spot in the hearts of all who know her. If there is any one person in this town that you should go out of your way to meet, it is her. She is the absolute top-of-the-line when it comes to neighbors.
Along with her husband Ed, she arrived in Winters in 1980. They raised two children here and her daughter still lives in town with Carol’s three grandchildren. Carol completed a BS degree in Sociology at UC Davis.
For 20 years she worked at Penmakers, a local wood craft business. In 2004 she took a part time job working for the
Celebrate Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday at Peña Adobe Express Yourself
Special to the Express
“Smokey’s friends don’t play with matches or lighters.” That’s the message Smokey Bear and several of his helpers will share with visitors at the Peña Adobe Historical Park on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Join CAL FIRE Firefighters and the Vacaville Fire Protection District and wish Smokey Bear a Happy 80th Birthday. See fire engines and Vacaville Fire Protection District’s antique Dodge Brothers Water Tender. Visit with Smokey Bear and have a piece of birthday cake!
On Aug. 9, 1944, the creation of the first Smokey Bear poster was authorized by the Forest Service.
Today, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in US
city of Winters. A short time later she accepted a job as Environmental Services Manager of the city of Winters Public Works Department where she managed ground water and air quality policies among other things, too numerous to list.
Her retirement in 2020 did not slow her down. She has been involved in many local services and nonprofit groups over the years including Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Li-
brary, and CASA. In November of 2022 Carol Scianna was elected to the City Council where she still sits.
Carol has been involved in just about everything that is good for this city. She is a one-of-a-kind woman that is adored by all who know her. She loves the spirit of Winters but she doesn’t realize that she is the spirit of Winters. If she could have dinner with anyone in the world, it would be Michelle Obama.
Arts & Entertainment
history. Since 1885, the men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) have continued their dedication to serve and safeguard the people, property and resources of California. Established on April 5, 1946, the Vacaville Fire Protection District’s team of neighbors has been serving neighbors in rural Vacaville as firefighters and as large animal rescuers, water rescuers, and with emergency evacuations.
Come join the fun, meet Smokey, visit with firefighters and listen to the music of the Vacaville Jammers. Since 2013, under the direction of Terry and Leslie Cloper, the Jam offers musicians of all styles and abilities to play acoustic instruments and sing together.
Open jam sessions are held at Vacaville’s McBride Senior Center on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
Park docents will be available to lead
tours of the Peña Adobe, California Historical Landmark No. 534 built by the Peña family in 1842, and the adjacent Mowers-Goheen Museum. This event is free to attend.
Kitchen Garden
Chat meets on the first Saturday of the month on Zoom, at https://ucanr.zoom. us/j/98028723763. Join Master Gardener Treva Valentine, on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10 to 11 a.m., for an informative talk focusing on caring for an edible garden during August. Although August will continue to bring hot summer weather, this is the month to learn how to start fall vegetables. Did you know there are common abiotic problems that affect tomatoes? Attend this discussion to learn about the causes and the cures for gardening challenges that are not caused by a living organism. Gardening for Year-
Start practicing your bend and snap
Special to the Express
Tom and Meg Stallard present “Legally Blonde the Musical,” Aug. 16-31 at the historic Woodland Opera House, 340 Second St. in Woodland. Based on the novel and the hit movie of the same name, “Legally Blonde: the Musical” chronicles the journey of the famously perky Elle Woods, a fashion-savvy UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside-down when she is dumped by her boyfriend.
In an effort to prove to Warner that she is more than just some blonde sorority girl, she follows him to Harvard Law, where she struggles
Round Meals meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to Noon, at Grace Garden, located behind the United Methodist Church at 1620 Anderson Rd., in Davis, near the back of the parking lot. On Saturday, Aug. 10, Master Gardener, Heloisa Kinder, gives a 20-minute presentation on bees.
In addition, Master Gardener Karen Slinkard will discuss when to remove plants from the summer season, how to prepare your beds for planting next season’s crops, and what to plant now.
The UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo and the Yolo Library will hold their regular semimonthly Gardening Workshops in August on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month via Zoom.
to fit in and do well. Ultimately, she defies expectations and manages to stay true to her delightfully pink personality. While younger children may be able to follow the basic storyline, “Legally Blonde” is likely best suited for viewers in the 12-14 age range and above, who have the cognitive and emotional maturity to engage with the thematic depth and nuances of the plot. Performances are from Friday, Aug. 16, through Saturday, Aug. 31. For information on tickets and performance times, visit www.WoodlandOperaHouse. Org or by call 530666-9617.
On Aug. 8, from 3 to 4 p.m., Master Gardener Deborah Sorrill will present “Using Climate Ready Plants in Your Landscape.” Do you want a beautiful California garden that survives despite our fluctuating weather? This class explores drought-tolerant plants, water-saving techniques, and flood mitigation strategies to create a resilient landscape for your home. Learn to design with nature’s extremes in mind. The Zoom link is: https:// yolocounty.zoom. us/j/82609575591. Did you know that invasive ornamental plants are still sold in many nurseries? Or you may have some in your yard? Invasive species are any species that are non-native and harm the local ecosystem. If you are looking for new plants for your yard or want to replace the invasive ornamentals in your yard now, join UCCE Master Gardener Ron Unger for his talk on Alternatives to Invasive Ornamental Plants on Aug. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. Learn about plants that will grow well yet not take over a section of your yard. The Zoom link is https:// yolocounty.zoom. us/j/89410217591.
Courtesy photo
Carol Scianna is well known for her efforts as a community volunteer through Winters Friends of the Library, Meals on Wheels and other groups.
Courtesy photo
Celebrate Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday on Saturday.