Firefighters, including former Fire Chief Brad L. Lopez, filled the Winters City Council chamber on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to celebrate Fire Captain Matt Schechla’s achievement in completing the National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program. Schechla is the first to receive the certificate in the Winters Fire Department’s history.
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
The National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program has only 27 graduates from the state of California, and just more than 600 altogether — and as of earlier this year, one of them is from Winters Fire Department.
Winters Fire Captain Matt Schechla was recognized at the Nov. 5 City Council meeting for his achievement in graduating from the program, which is the culmination of classwork geared toward leadership and data analysis, as well as an independent capstone project. He’s been working in Winters since 2015 and has been a firefighter since he was 17 years old, and says he tackled the Management Officer Program for the sake of a personal challenge.
“It’s a good way to really take a look at yourself, the department and the community,” Schechla said.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Fire Captain Matt Schechla’s wife, Marissa, hugs him after placing the pin he received for completing the National Fire Academy’s Managing Officer Program on his jacket.
“It gives you a whole different perspective because right now, our guys are all about fighting fire and going to calls. This is one of those things where you step back and you’re actually looking at data.”
Before applying, Schechla had to complete a series of prerequisite coursework, including ‘Introduction to the National Incident Management System,’
‘Introduction to Emergency Response to Terrorism,’
and more. Throughout the program, he took classes like ‘Applications of Community Risk Reduction’ and ‘Analytical Tools for Decision-Making,’ learning to apply data analysis to community issues that the fire department faces, before taking on a capstone project of his choosing.
“A lot of the program really revolves
Joe Bristow (top left) met with a group of local veterans to put flags up for Veterans Day, however, they were unable to due to the rain in compliance with the United States Flag Code. Instead, the group went out to breakfast. The group of veterans included Ray Boone, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam); Roy Jones, U.S. Army (Vietnam); Tom Ehnat, U.S. Navy (Vietnam); Tom Sedlack, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam Era); George Elrod, U.S. Army (Vietnam); Gail Wingard, U.S. Navy (Korea); Winston Jamison, U.S. Marine Corps (Vietnam) and Oscar Barraza, U.S. Army (Vietnam).
By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer
The Winters Joint Unified School District had a packed agenda at its Nov. 7, meeting. Trustees heard about the upcoming Youth Truth Survey and recognized the first Winters National Merit Scholar, as well as international exchange students.
Youth Truth Survey
From Dec. 2 to 20, Winters JUSD will distribute the Youth Truth Survey to students to gain insights into the school’s community experience.
“Our goal is to use this feedback to drive continuous improvement and to ensure that we’re meeting
the needs of our school community,” said Jenny Pinedo, Director of Special Education & Student Services.
This is the second year Winters JUSD has used the nonprofit Youth Truth Survey. Pinedo states that having two years of data will allow the school to compare results from last year, and “with this comparison, we gain a clear picture of how our initiatives are working over time.”
This year’s survey will focus on the climate and culture of Winters JUSD schools, with questions geared to examine the student’s overall experience.
Questions will be tai-
lored for each grade level, covering engagement, academic challenges, cultural belonging, and relationships.
Middle school and high school students will have a survey emphasizing their level of engagement in academic challenges, their sense of cultural belonging and peer collaboration relationships. For elementary students, questions will be similar to the upper-grade levels but include questions on instructional methods being used, as well as questions about students’ sense of culture, belonging and relationships to
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
Resolution No. 2024-69 passed with a 4–1 vote at the Nov. 5 City Council meeting, officially designating $1.5 million from development impact fees to potentially be used toward the Senior Center construction project that’s been in the works since before the pandemic. The earmarked funding will help the project seem more attractive in grant proposals, helping the city in its search for alternate funding sources while still presenting a financial commitment
to the development.
Designating funds of this quantity to the project makes it possible for the city to move forward toward accepting a proposal from a builder, according to the discussion at the meeting, as well as being a good show of faith of commitment from the city to the project on their grant applications, including for the Community Development Block Grant the city recently applied for. The funds the city directed toward the project came from the reserves of their Parks and Facilities impact fees, with the
caveat that they plan to seek and secure alternative financing resources when the project moves forward.
Councilmember Richard Casavecchia, the lone no vote, expressed concern about the high price point, and about taking money originally slated for a different purpose.
“I don’t want us to take out a loan, and I don’t necessarily want to spend park money on this when we have unfinished parks,” Casavecchia said. “I’m just not sure we can afford this project.” Winters resident,
See CITY, Page 3
Special to the Express Nominations are now open for the Toast of Winters awards.
The awards will be presented at the annual Toast of Winters event on Feb. 2, 2025.
The Winters District Chamber of Commerce encourages the community to nominate a person or business that has gone above and beyond for the community. The award categories are Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and the Theodore Winters Award The Citizen of the Year is chosen by previous Citizen of the Year recipients. The remaining awards are chosen by the Winters Chamber’s Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted
until Dec. 15. Submit nominations online at https://bit.ly/ToastNomination2024. Nominations can also be emailed to winterschamber95694@gmail.com. Nominations sent by email must include details about why the person or business is being nominated for it to be considered.
Citizen of the Year
A Citizen of the Year is someone who has made significant contributions to the betterment of the Winters community. The ideal candidate will have served the community and gone above and beyond the capacity as a volunteer. This is a person who is involved in a variety of activities
Special to the Express
The Winters Youth Day committee launched its annual contest for the 2025 Youth Day theme.
The theme should be family-friendly as it helps to inspire parade floats, marketing and merchandise artwork. They prefer that the word “youth” be reflected as part of the theme. Past examples of chosen themes include “Youth: The Musical,” “May the Youth Be With You” and “Youthfully Ever After.”
The theme ideas should be submitted by Dec. 1 online at www.wintersyouthday.com.
The person who submits the winning
around leadership,”
Schechla said. “It’s geared toward managing yourself, managing others, strategic planning and how you can give direction to people and help motivate them.”
For his capstone project, Schechla put together a more-than30-page document about methods to reduce cancer risk in the Winters Fire Department, reviewing current protective gear and decontamination protocols, and then working with Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder, III to take a realistic look at how they might be able to modify training and common practices to help their team be safer. He noted that during the brainstorming process for the capstone, the program encouraged trainees
theme will receive a $100 prize.
Save the date for Saturday, April 26, 2025, for the next event.
The Youth Day Committee is looking to make some changes to the location and structure to next year’s event. Keep an eye out for more information as planning gets underway.
The committee is also seeking a volunteer to serve as the Parade Chair. The chair helps to organize and execute the Youth Day Main Parade.
For more information, visit www. wintersyouthday. com, facebook.com/ WintersYouthDay or email info@wintersyouthday.com.
to think about themselves, the community, and the department, including things like the budget or what kinds of calls are the most common for them, and then pick a jumping-off point from there.
The thing that stood out to him from the data? The fact that cancer is currently the leading cause of death for firefighters in the United States.
“Not that Winters has a cancer problem, necessarily, but there are things that we can do after structure fires to reduce our risk of it,” Schechla said. “This project’s goal is to create something that’s realistic and that can actually be implemented, not just in theory, but in practice.”
Schechla says that some of the fixes are easy — making sure to wash gear more often, and wiping their skin off with wipes after
and has been dedicated to the community for a long period of time. The activities would have required a considerable selfless expenditure of time and energy. The Citizen of the Year is selected by a committee of the past Citizens of the Year.
Theodore Winters Award
Candidates for the Theodore Winters Award have also made a significant contribution to the betterment of the Winters community. The candidate’s contribution would span a shorter timeframe, however. Candidates would be involved in one or two activities in which the person has given generously of his/her time and energy.
Business of the Year
The Business of the Year award is awarded to a business that has been a community leader and has made unselfish contributions to the Winters community. The recipient is regarded as a “role model,” enhancing the relationship between the business community, nonprofits and local residents.
Senior Citizen of the Year
The Senior Citizen of the Year is awarded to an elder who volunteers and who has made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for the Winters community and its residents. Questions can be emailed to the Chamber office at winterschamber95694@gmail.com.
The Esparto Regional Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for vendors and nonprofit organizations interested in participating in the 110-year-old Annual Almond Festival.
A beloved local tradition for more than a century, this festival celebrates the rich almond production of the Capay Valley and will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23, at Esparto Community Park in Esparto. The festival has only been postponed after World War II,for about 20 years, and again in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. Not only is this one of the oldest events in the region, but is one of the largest since it covers 20 miles and five towns.
In keeping with tradition, the Almond Festival offers a wonderful opportunity for community members and visitors to
going into a shelter fire. Others include making sure not to run the diesel fire trucks while inside the bays and getting rid of one type of cancer-linked
come together in celebration of the area’s agricultural heritage, specifically its bountiful almond crops. This year, the Chamber has introduced a new schedule to highlight and support local nonprofits.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, only local nonprofits will host booths, creating a unique platform to share their missions and connect with festival-goers.
do don’t even cost any money, it’s just a change of behavior; teaching our new guys how to decontaminate themselves, and get the cancer-causing
“This project’s goal is to create something that’s realistic and that can actually be implemented, not just in theory, but in practice.”
Matt Schechla, fire captain
firefighting foam in favor of safer alternatives. The next step is, of course, moving forward into implementation.
“The goal that Chief Snyder and I have is to look at what we can do realistically and also be fiscally responsible with changes that we’re making,” Schechla said. “A lot of things that we can
stuff off their skin as soon as possible. In all reality, it will probably be a never-ending project as science and technology change.”
Schechla said he was grateful to Snyder
Nonprofits interested in participating on Saturday can register online at https://www. espartoregionalchamber. com/saturday-booth-registration-2025.
Sunday, Feb. 23, will be dedicated to all other vendors, including artisans, crafters, and food vendors. This is an excellent chance for local businesses and entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. Vendors can apply online for Sunday booths at https://www.espartoregionalchamber.com/almond-festival-vendor-application-2025. All applications must be submitted by Jan. 31. The Esparto Regional Chamber of Commerce encourages early applications to ensure a spot at this highly anticipated event. For more information, contact the Esparto Regional Chamber of Commerce at info@ espartoregionalchamber.com or visit www.espartoregionalchamber.com.
for being so willing to work with him on the project, and to the rest of the team, as well as to his family, for being supportive of his interest in the program. Snyder had just as many good things to say about Schechla when presenting his certificate of completion at the council meeting, noting that the process had been a “huge testament to (Schechla’s) commitment to better the community.”
Council members and members of the public also thanked Schechla for his work, and the entire crowd that was gathered gave him a standing ovation.
He encouraged other members of the fire department in-
terested in this kind of training to apply for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funded program or others like it from the National Fire Academy and said his capstone is only the beginning of how he believes his training will help him better serve the department.
“I went through and found this mentality now for myself, and as I run into other issues or other problems or other concerns, I can apply that same strategic approach that I did with my first project, figure out what we can do better, and then try to make some changes,” Schechla said. “So, yeah, it just gives a bit of a different perspective.”
November 8 - December 24, 2024
Open daily, including Mondays from 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
By Angela Underwood Express correspondent
Master Gardener and Winters Community Library volunteer
Stephanie Myers had an idea that grew.
The expansion of the Winters Community Library Teaching Garden proves the original roots Myers helped inspire are producing much more than planned.
“The Yolo County Master Gardeners obtained permission from the Winters Superintendent of School, Dr. Rody Boonchouy, to expand the Winters Library Teaching Garden
“We cleared the site of small shrubs and tree stumps in fall 2024 and planted 16 different plant species for a total of 40 plants.”
Stephanie Myer, master gardener
boundaries west of the teaching garden to a parcel 50 feet by 16 feet,” Myers said of the recent renovation outside the library perimeter fence and on school grounds.
The original garden began to grow in 2019 when locals and organizations came together to cover all costs,
SCHOOL Continued from Page 1
their teachers as well as peers.
Questions on safety will be incorporated across all grade levels.
“Our commitment to listening to our students, staff, and families, aligns directly with our board priorities to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments, improving student engagement and access, as well as enhance academic actions. This survey comes up with one of the most powerful tools that we have for achieving these qualities,” said Pinedo.
The survey process began on Tuesday, Nov. 12 with the distribution of passive consent letters to families via the ParentSquare app. Passive consent allows students to participate unless a parent or guardian opts them out by submitting a form by Nov. 22. The survey window will run from Dec. 2 through Dec. 20, giving the district a few weeks to complete the survey across all participating grade levels. Students may opt out of taking the survey as well.
Parents who wish to opt their child out from taking the survey should submit the Optout form sent out to their child’s school by Nov. 22. Parents who would like to review the survey questions ahead of time should contact the principal of their child’s school to request a copy.
Families are welcome to review the survey questions in advance by contacting Pinedo or their child’s principal. JUSD plans to send regular reminders to families throughout the survey process to ensure ample communication. Pinedo explains
including irrigation, plant identification stakes, benches, maintenance, and more. The learning garden grew to 115 different plant species through the years, with up to 44 native species.
“We cleared the site of small shrubs and tree stumps in fall 2024 and planted 16 different plant species for a total of 40 plants,” Myers said of the garden, including 71 drought-resistant plant species that provide pollinators.
“There is a volunteer interior live oak and a valley oak that we kept.”
Like the original teaching garden concept, Myers said the recent expansion took time to create.
“We began planning for this site in 2022 with a design drawing and talks with the superintendent of schools and with the head of maintenance, Oscar Jacobo,” Myers said.
A Xylosma shrub was also left standing since nesting scrub jays call it home.
“Some of the plants,
including California pipevine, toyon, coffeeberry, fescue, buckwheat, and sages, are also in the existing garden,” Myers said.
“New species include Valley violet maritime ceanothus, coyote mint, firecracker island snapdragon, woolly sunflower, foothill penstemon, California milkweed, and heartleaf milkweed.”
Myers said minor work was needed on the existing irrigation system “to ensure it still functioned in areas outside of our site but would also support our drip installation design.”
“We installed drip irrigation, and once the plants are established by year two, irrigation will be re-
duced to 1 to 2 times per month,” Myer said.
“Our objective was to expand the existing teaching garden into an area that has been neglected for several years and to relocate our compost bins from the front of the garden to this location.”
that the survey aligns with Winters JUSD board priorities to foster a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.
“Ultimately, by capturing and acting on the voices of our students, staff, staff, and families, we are better equipped to foster environments where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed,” Pinedo said.
Student recognition
In a proud moment for Winters High School and the entire community, senior Allison Aguiar was recognized as a National Merit Scholar, the first student, ever in Winters JUSD history, to receive the award.
Aguiar’s exceptional performance on the PSAT/NMSQT ranked her among the top 16,000 students in the nation and earned her this prestigious designation.
Aguiar’s success extends beyond her academic accomplishments. A leader in WHS’ FFA chapter, Aguiar has represented California at the National FFA Convention, earning a top 16 placement in a highly competitive setting. Her involvement in FFA includes serving as the Central Region FFA President, where she leads at least 30,000 members from Esparto to Merced. She is also an accomplished athlete, excelling in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Despite her packed schedule, Aguiar balances an ambitious academic load, including multiple Advanced Placement courses and dual-enrollment classes through Woodland Community College. She also finds time to run a cookie business she co-founded with her sister during the pandemic. In her spare time, she enjoys
cooking French cuisine with her dad.
Looking ahead, Aguiar plans to attend a four-year university to study political science with a focus on agricultural policy, inspired by her background in farming. Her goal is to advocate for sustainable agricultural policies that benefit both the environment and farming communities.
“Alli, we are so proud of you for your academic achievements. Congratulations on being named as the national merit scholar and for all of your accomplishments.,” said WHS Principal Justin Young.
Young also recognized two international exchange students who are attending WHS this year, Elin Dober from Switzerland and Vertti Honkavaara from Finland.
Both students spoke at the board meeting. Honkavaara explained that the most difficult part of coming to Winters from Finland was the 10hour time change that left him dizzy. However, he went to school the next day, despite the lack of sleep, say-
ing “it went pretty well.”
Honkavaara states that school is going pretty well, especially his English. Honkavaara is currently playing on the football team and plans to continue his sporting endeavors by trying out for the basketball team, and then the golf team in spring.
“Football was hard to learn. I’m still learning every practice, and I’m just happy to be here,” said Honkavaara.
Dober is also quite the athlete. She’s joined the WHS soccer team, the State champion team as Young reminded those attending the meeting, despite never playing soccer before.
“I’ve done volleyball and now soccer, and I haven’t done both of those sports, and it’s really fun, and I really like it, and people are really nice,” said Dober.
“They are truly fulfilling our graduate profile in gaining that content knowledge and resiliency by coming here and then jumping right in, not only in excelling in academics but also in extracurriculars,” said Young.
Now that the local land has additional space and species, more schooling can take place in the Teaching Garden.
Continued from Page 1
Tina Lowden — who served as a commission on the disbanded Winters Senior Commission on Aging — responded to Casavecchia’s concerns with her perspective on the project.
“I think this is very important for us to get to the next step, and it’s just a commitment — we’re not writing a check,” Lowden said. “Richard, in 20 years, you’ll thank me for this.”
Apart from the grants the city is currently applying to, there’s also a possibility that they’ll be able to work with the USDA Rural Development team, who
“It will continue to thrive and provide a place for the community to gather and to see low-water plants that support wildlife in action,” Myers said.
city management recently sat in on a roundtable discussion with, to fund the project that way. Follow-up meetings with the team are currently underway, and they are in talks to come give a presentation at a city council meeting or community information meeting about what collaboration with them may look like.
“We made a commitment to the community to do this nearly 10 years ago,” Mayor Pro Tempore Albert Vallecillo noted. “It’s time to move it forward.” Details about the resolution are available in the staff report in the council meeting packet at www.cityofwinters. org/194/Meetings.
call – other
Oct. 30: 12:15 p.m., Equus Lane, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
Oct. 31: 1:36 p.m., Dutton Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~11:21 p.m., Creekside Way, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
Nov. 1: 9:18 p.m., El Camino, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
Nov. 2: 10:38 a.m., Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
Nov. 3: 12:42 a.m., Snapdragon Street, False alarm or false
~1:16 a.m., E. Grant Avenue, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
~2:32 a.m., County Road 31A, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
~6:32 a.m., White Oak Lane, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
~11:14 a.m., Martin Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~3:50 p.m., Main Street, Motor vehicle accident with injuries
~4:18 p.m., Orchard Lane, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~5:05 p.m., E. Grant Avenue, False alarm or false call – other
~6:15 p.m., Shams Way, Motor vehicle
Express staff
The water level of Lake Berryessa dropped by 0.17 of a foot during the past week, with a decrease in the storage of 3,022 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh, Solano Project Technician with the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 12, he reported the lake elevation was 427.99 feet above sea level, with water storage behind the Monticello Dam computed at 1,331,878 acre-feet of water. The SID released 25 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 45 cubic feet flowing into Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation on the lake averaged 120 acre-feet of water per day. For more information about services from the Solano Irrigation District or to view the latest updates, visit https://www. sidwater.org.
accident with no injuries.
~6:19 p.m., Hamakawa Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~10:32 p.m., Main Street, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
Nov. 4: 8:04 a.m., Anderson Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~1:37 p.m., Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~3:54 p.m., Caselli Court, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~4:08 p.m., Railroad Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~11:05 p.m., E. Grant Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
Nov. 5: 5:54 a.m., Baker Street, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury
~3:15 p.m., White Oak Lane, Lift Assist Police Arrest Log
Oct. 30: McNeil, Charlie Ross (Age 64), Charges: Winters PD Warrant, Disposition: Released on Notice to Appear
Nov. 3: Salgado, Daniel Fernando (Age 38), Charges: Drunk in Public, Disposition: Released on Notice to Appear
~Nottingham, Jeromy Nicholas (Age 44), Charges: Inflict corporal injury on spouse/ cohabitant/dating relationship, Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail
Nov. 4: Bailey, Jeffery Desmond (Age 55); Charges: Battery on spouse/ex-spouse/ date/etc, Damage/destroy wireless communication device, Obstruct/Resist arrest; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County
See REPORT, Page 5
November 17, 1894
On Thursday last, at the parsonage of the M. E. Church, South, in this town, Rev. B. J. Waugh spoke the words that made David O. Judy and Mrs. Hattie E. Elliott husband and wife.
G. W. Griffin has been elected sheriff of Yolo County by a margin of 57 votes. J. F. Griffin was elected supervisor of the second district.
H. H. North, son of Mr. and Mrs. George North of Winters was elected as an Assemblyman from Alameda county on the 6th inst., by a large majority.
Misses Ida and Mabel Jeans are happy in the possession of a new piano, as is Miss Mattie Humphrey, of this town. Invitations are out announcing the wedding of James R. Briggs and Miss Sallie Fenley, which event will take place on Wednesday next, the 21st inst., at the Christian church in this town.
November 15, 1929
A barn on Anderson Ave. belonging to R. E. Campbell was destroyed by fire just before midnight Saturday. The place was built by Ludwig Sager, and at present occupied by Mr. Martine.
Postmaster Ora Woods has word from the Post office Department that rural delivery service for Apricot district has been granted to start December 1st.
One of the land-
Picked by Charley Wallace
In 1974 Ara Dougarian, from Manpower, Inc. Sacramento, presented a $100 check to John Ramos as Randy West holds the merit award presented to the Winters FFA Chapter. The award was for their work with North Star, a school for troubled youths in Grass Valley. The local FFA supplied the school with 14,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables, and 2 tons of dried and cured foods, most donated by local farmers. Also pictured is Lindsay Jewett, a retired ag instructor who worked on the project the previous year.
marks of Old Buckeye went up in flames during the hard north wind of Monday. It was the J.D. Ely residence a half mile west of Buckeye.
E. Gaddini is remodeling the interior of his residence and adding a wide perch with southern exposure Two sets of French doors will open onto this porch.
November 17, 1944
Captain H. G. Potter, Medical Corps, U. S. A. is now stationed at Camp Crowder, Missouri, having been stationed briefly in Oregon and at Santa Barbara. Capt. Potter’s family is near him at Joplin, Missouri.
Mrs. Tony Garcia (Frances Martinez) has heard from her husband saying that he has been in the battle of Leyte Island in the Philippines, and also in the battle of Samar Island.
Miss Madeline Martin and aunt, Josephine Madrid came up from San Francisco to spend the week end at the Frank Martin home.
Robert Cadjew and E. E. Baker left Tuesday by motor for the East. Mr. Cadjew planned to go to Ohio and Mr. Baker to Missouri, to visit his son, Eddie Baker.
November 15, 1979
Firemen and their
cadettes will be in charge of the Christmas tree sale this year, with the trees to arrive on December 1, Fire Chief Vernon Bruhn said this week. Phil Benson of Winters, who spent last week attending the National Future Farmers of America convention in Kansas City, was elected on Friday morning as national secretary. Only six state officers were selected out of over 30 candidates running from the various states. Richard and Annette Rojo were hosts at a dinner party Tuesday, November 6, honoring Dick and Isabel Rojo on their 47th wedding anniversary. Joining the honorees were Debbie, Rhonda, Nikki and Annette, granddaughters of the couple, and Irene Holman.
A reunion of the Japanese families that lived in Winters and the Capay Valley before 1942 was held on October 27 at the Sacramento Inn. Nearly 200 people came, gathering from as far away as Japan. Some families had not seen each other for 30 or 40 years and had a lot to catch up on.
John Graf, superintendent, Winters Joint Unified School District in Winters, has been appointed to the statewide superintendency committee of the Association of California Schools Administrators. Graf will serve for three years on the 19 person committee.
Por Abigail Hofland
Traducido por Carol Alfonso
Cuatro residentes de Winters fueron reconocidos en la 36.ª cena anual de becas del Concilio del Condado Yolo este otoño, la primera que se celebra luego de una pausa de cuatro años debido al COVID. El Concilio, una organización sin fines de lucro involucrada en la defensa de la comunidad latina, está en su 51.º aniversario de funcionamiento.
Allison Aguiar y Sebastian Rodríguez, ambos estudiantes de último año de la escuela secundaria Winters High School, recibieron becas para estudiantes. La asambleísta Cecilia Aguiar-Curry recibió el premio Aguila y Ramon Altamirano recibió el reconocimiento del distrito del Condado Yolo. El fue nominado por el supervisor Lucas Frerichs.
“Cuando me pidieron que considerara nominar a alguien del Distrito 2, supe de inmediato quién merecía ser honrado,” dijo Frerichs en un boletín informativo. “Desde temas relacionados con las personas mayores y el envejecimiento hasta la atención médica comunitaria y la planificación comunitaria, pasando por la gestión del medio ambiente, Ramon está involucrado en todo lo relacionado con Winters.”
La conexión de Altamirano con el Concilio del Condado Yolo es anterior al reconocimiento de este año e incluso a la propia organización sin fines de lucro. Conoció a su predecesor, el Concilio de Sacramento, en el 1971 cuando trabajaba como peón agrícola durante la escuela secundaria. El grupo lo descubrió y se puso en contacto con él.
“Lo que hicieron fue darme un puesto remunerado,” dijo. “Me pusieron en una escuela secundaria para enseñar.”
Con una beca pendiente, la educación continua ya estaba sobre la mesa
REPORT Continued from Page 4
Jail Report Log
Oct. 30: 2:20 p.m., 800th block of Walnut Lane, CPS referral
Oct. 31: 10:30 p.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Audible Alarm ~11:10 p.m., 400th block Creekside Way, Alcohol Violation
para Altamirano, pero su puesto como asistente de maestro en la escuela secundaria de Yuba City le proporcionó combustible en forma de capacitación práctica y un impulso financiero.
“El Concilio fue muy importante para que yo continuara mi educación,” dijo Altamirano. “Me considero un exalumno.”
En el 1973, nació el Capítulo Yolo del Concilio. Un año después, la organización sin fines de lucro demandó a la Junta de Supervisores por presunta discriminación laboral contra las minorías, una demanda que finalmente ganaron. Desde entonces, la organización sin fines de lucro ha tomado forma de diferentes maneras.
Jesse Ortiz, presidente de Concilio, ha estado involucrado con la organización de manera intermitente durante 53 años.
“En los años 70, hubo mucha participación en temas educativos: contratación y retención de maestros latinos, defensa de los jóvenes, etc.,” dijo Ortiz.
En la actualidad, el énfasis se centra principalmente en la inmigración
munidad latina en Winters y la región circundante, Altamirano y Ortiz mencionaron la pobreza, la educación y la vivienda como desafíos.
“Esta es una comunidad realmente pequeña, pero es una comunidad muy segura,” dijo Altamirano.
Según Altamirano, muchos latinos no pueden comprar casas nuevas o incluso alquilar casas asequibles. Durante sus años de infancia como
“Desde temas relacionados con las personas mayores y el envejecimiento hasta la atención médica comunitaria y la planificación comunitaria, pasando por la gestión del medio ambiente, Ramon está involucrado en todo lo relacionado con Winters.”
Lucas Frerichs, supervisor
y el apoyo educativo, junto con la expresión de inquietudes sobre políticas que afectan a la comunidad latina.
“No podemos involucrarnos en campañas, pero sí en iniciativas. Como ‘(c)3’, no somos políticos,” dijo Ortiz.
Con respecto a los problemas que enfrenta la co-
Nov. 1: 2:30 p.m., Abbey Street, Vandalism
Nov. 2: 1:12 p.m., 800th block of W. Grant Avenue, Petty Theft
~6:38 p.m., 300th block of Grant Avenue, Missing Person-Located
Nov. 3: 12:44 a.m., 600th block of Snapdragon Street, Suspicious Circumstances
Nov. 4: 9:35 a.m.,
trabajador agrícola, dijo que su familia tuvo la suerte de vivir en viviendas proporcionadas por el empleador.
Más allá de la vivienda, el mayor problema que ve Altamirano es la inseguridad alimentaria. A través de su trabajo en el Banco de Alimentos del Yolo Food Bank, Altamirano es
100th block of E. Baker Street, CPS Referral ~10:44 a.m., 800th block of Carrion Circle, APS Referral ~11:40 a.m., Morgan Street/E. Grant Avenue, Hit and Run ~2:57 p.m., 700th
testigo del efecto del trabajo estacional en el campo y en el almacén en las familias latinas. Durante los meses de invierno, a menudo viven de sus ahorros. Dijo que la concienciación y la asistencia de la comunidad son vitales. Además del Concilio, otra organización sin fines de lucro en Winters está brindando asistencia. Winters Community Corazón comenzó en el 2021 con la misión declarada de “mejorar la representación, la motivación, la integración y la celebración de la comunidad latina de Winters.” El grupo organiza eventos, celebraciones y, más recientemente, un foro de ciudadanía. Altamirano ha estado involucrado desde el principio.
“Tratamos de ayudar a las personas a evitar problemas,” dijo. “Hacemos las cosas de manera práctica para que las personas no queden atrapadas en sistemas que pueden perjudicarlas.”
A nivel de políticas, Ortiz es optimista.
“A medida que sigamos creciendo y consigamos personas en puestos electos o roles de liderazgo en el gobierno de la ciudad y el condado, tenderemos a ser más sensibles y a defender cuestiones que sean en el mejor interés de
block of Main Street, Sex Offenses ~4:08 p.m., Railroad Avenue/Baker Street, Traffic Collision
For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see www.winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.
todas las comunidades,” dijo Ortiz. “Estamos consiguiendo personas en puestos electos y puestos a nivel de políticas que creo que entienden los problemas mejor hoy que hace 30 años.” Frerichs está de acuerdo y celebra el trabajo de organizaciones comunitarias como el Concilio y Corazón. Cuando los grupos comunitarios señalan a los funcionarios del gobierno los problemas más urgentes, “realmente nos ayuda aquí en el gobierno a ser mejores administradores,” dijo Frerichs. Muchos ciudadanos también se toman en serio la administración. Altamirano trabaja en el Yolo Food Bank junto con un compañero voluntario que ha estado sirviendo en el almacén principal durante 18 años. El reconocimiento del Concilio hace que Altamirano piense en este servidor público y en otros como él.
“Cuando los conoces a un nivel muy personal, te das cuenta de que hay muchas personas que se ofrecen como voluntarios todo el tiempo, así que siento que también los estoy representando,” dijo Altamirano. “No dudan. Simplemente ven algo que se debe hacer y deciden hacerlo.”
By Germaine Hupe Special to the Express
The members of the Winters Theatre Company will celebrate the holiday season with their production of “Robin Hood the Musical.” The current presentation is a live and expanded version of the company’s 2020 virtual play. An opening night Gala performance on Friday Nov. 22, will begin a two-weekend, six-performance presentation schedule at the Winters Opera House.
The legendary exploits of Robin Hood, once the Saxon Earl of Loxley, and his band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest have been the subject of folktales, literary ballads, novels, and more recently films and TV productions. Swashbuckling actors such as Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Sean Connery and Kevin Costner have portrayed the chivalrous Robin Hood. And then of
course we can’t forget the Mel Brooks parody film “Robin Hood in Men in Tights.”
Each story features Robin Hood and his famous band of followers including Maid Marian, Alan Adale, Little John, and Friar Tuck.
The current production includes original dialogue and numerous familiar musical numbers with parody lyrics depicting life of the outlaw band who robbed from the rich to give to the poor.
The script and music are inspired by a former 1974 version by the Bad Actors of Davis, performed at the original Palms Playhouse.
The well known villains such as Prince John, The Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy Gisbourne contribute to the plot with their schemes to make regent Prince John the actual king of England and depose his brother King Richard the Lionheart, who is returning from the
Crusades.
The usual time setting of the Robin Hood legends is the late 12th century, when Norman aristocrats and fighting men were the powers in England, and the conquered Saxons were second class citizens. It is these deposed Saxons whom Robin Hood and his band champion in their efforts to regain influence in a divided England.
Show details
The WTC members invite their friends and patrons to join them for an evening of music, merriment and laughter in Sherwood Forest. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 22, 23, 29 and 30, at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, Nov. 24 and Dec.1, at 2:30 p.m. The Opening Night Gala will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www. winterstheatre.org or call 530-795-4014.
Special to the Express Sudwerk is excited to welcome back a Davis favorite, Tom and the Broken Hearts, on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m. Tom and The Broken Hearts is a high-energy tribute band dedicated to honoring the music and legacy of the late rock icon Tom Petty.
This band is sure to get you moving! This show is in the Beer Hall, and tickets are $10. Sudwerk loves live music and is bringing a variety of artists to Davis. Catch a new show every month. With a dynamic stage presence and spot-on renditions of Petty’s greatest hits, this talented group of
musicians brings the heartland rock sound of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to life for audiences of all ages. From “Free Fallin’” to “American Girl,” Tom and The Broken Hearts deliver a nostalgic and electrifying performance that pays homage to one of the greatest rock artists of all time.
Special to the Express
Winters Open Mic hosts open mic music on the third Saturday of the month in Winters and is announcing its fall/winter schedule.
The November show is on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Winters Opera House. Signups begin at 5:30 p.m., and the show starts at 6 p.m.
The fall/winter schedule is:
• Friday, Nov. 15
• Saturday, Dec. 21
(It’s the Winter Solstice and Frank Zappa’s Birthday!)
• Saturday, Jan. 18
• Saturday, Feb. 15
• Saturday, March 15
If you would like to be part of our crew, sign up by sending an email to wintersopenmic@gmail.com.
To stay in the loop, subscribe to the
Winters Open Mic newsletter or visit wintersopenmic.org.
Thank you for sharing your talents and showing your support, and remember the November Open Mic is on Friday.
Young Performers’ Theatre brings ‘James and the GIANT Peach, Jr.’ to life
Special to the Express Davis Musical Theatre Company Young Performers’ Theatre is excited to present “James and GIANT Peach, Jr.” (Underwritten by Betty J, Paro), opening Saturday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Drive, No. 10, in Davis.
Celebrate the holiday season with Roald Dahl’s classic story brought to life on the stage by a peachykeen group of young performers.
When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach and launches a journey of enormous proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach –among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities – but, after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks, and plenty of disagreements.
Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score and a “Plump and Juicy” story, this adventurous musical about courage and self-discovery will
have you “Floatin’ Along” with a happy tune in your heart and “On Your Way Home.”
Directed and choreographed by Megan Richmond, with musical direction by Montana Monce, this talented young cast features Patrick Cobb as James, Sebastian Muench as Grasshopper, Emma Nason as Earthworm, Quincy Gibbs as Ladybug, Lola Bonneau as Spider, Amelia Teramoto as Centipede, and Alex Richmond as Ladahlord.
“James and GIANT Peach, Jr.” plays on Saturdays at 2 p.m., Nov. 16 through Dec. 7, and on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. All performances are at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Drive in Davis. Tickets and Reserved Seating are $10 for all ages and can be purchased online at dmtc.org or by calling 530-756-3682 (there is a $2 facility fee per ticket).
‘Mean Girls JR.’ in Woodland
Special to the Express Qualitees Screen Printing presents the Rising Stars production of “Mean Girls JR.,” Nov. 14 to 17, at the Woodland Opera House, 340 Second St. in Woodland. Ticket Prices range from $5 to $20. Flex Pass specials and group rates are available. Purchase tickets at www.WoodlandOperaHouse.Org or by calling the Box Office at 530-666-9617.
Content Advisory: “Mean Girls JR.” is appropriate for ages 9 and up. Visit www. woodlandoperahouse.org/mean-girlsjr.html for specific details and show times.
Thursdays
Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690
Friday, November 15
Express Coffeehouse Chat, 8 a.m., Steady Eddy's Coffee House
Winters Open Mic Night,
6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.), Visit wintersopenmic.org
Monday, November 18
Winters Natural Resources Commission Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Check cityofwinters. org/187/Natural-Resources-Commission
Tuesday, November 19
Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/
Wednesdays
Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution
Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue
Tuesday, November 26
Winters Planning Commission Meeting, Meeting Cancelled www.cityofwinters.org/planning-commission/
Tuesday, December 10
Winters Planning Commission Special Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/planning-commission/
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
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.)
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.), Winters Opera House, Main Street.
Metaphysical Book Club, Fridays at 5 p.m., 212 Grant Ave., Sign up at dixiesbookclub@gmail.com or call 530212-5026
12-Step Bonfire meeting, third Friday, 6:30 p.m. fellowship, 7 p.m. meeting, LuNita Ranch, 8189 Olive School Ln, Winters, Bring a camp chair.
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. Housing
By Sonora Slater Express Staff Writer
The Winters Police and Fire Departments, and other local agencies and organizations, joined forces on Oct. 12, to host the annual Winters Public Safety Festival, an event intended to improve trust and relationships between the community and public safety officials — and give local children a chance to see a fire truck up-close.
The event, which began years ago as a public safety open house at the high school, now takes place at the fire department to better allow for showand-tell educational demonstrations like this year’s fire sprinkler demo. There’s also now more space for REACH Air Medical to land their helicopter — an annual crowd pleaser — and for more groups to host booths, including Empower Yolo, Rise Inc., the Yolo County Bomb Squad, various departments of Yolo Health and Human Services and others. And yes, there are always free stickers.
Winters PD Community Services Officer
Andrea Gonzalez said
the point of the event — and others that are similar, such as National Night Out — is to give the community the chance for a positive interaction with public safety personnel.
“It’s just so we can get a more non-serious interaction with them, so that they get to know us and (our interactions) are not always at a tragic accident or a bad call,” Gonzalez said. “If somebody knows the name of an officer, they’re more likely to call us for help if they need it.”
Winters Fire Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
Aide Aguilera added
that the event is also geared toward education — hence the yearly demos.
This year, they built a burn box that looks like a living room and lit it on fire to trigger the sprinkler system, and last year they demonstrated what to do if your stove catches on fire (Turn off the heat, cover the flames with a non-plastic lid, and don’t use water, in case you were wondering).
“We do demonstrations to show you how things work and what to do in the situation so you’re not wondering what to do in the moment,” Aguilera said. “Like, ‘Oh, I went to Public Safety
Day that one day, and I learned how to extinguish a kitchen fire.” She noted that it’s also important for the youths to get used to seeing firefighters in full uniform so that they’re not afraid of them, since all of the bulky gear can sometimes be intimidating in a stressful situation. And that bond with the children who attend these events, both Aguilera and Gonzalez said, is not only one of the most important but also one of the most fun parts of public outreach.
“We’ll have kids come up to us at the open house and be like, ‘You came to my
By Angela Underwood Express correspondent
There is something to be said about spending a lot of time with someone, according to Winters Joint Unified School District psychologist Kimberly Ramirez.
“Educators, including school psychologists, need to be attuned to the various contextual and systemic factors that can influence a student’s mental health.”
Kimberly Ramirez, school psychologist
Seven hours, five days a week, offers educators a close look at students year-long. As with any relationship, the more you get to know someone, the more you see what pushes their buttons.
Ramirez said signs indicating a potential decline in a student’s mental health include — but are not limited to — changes in behavior, including mood swings.
“Energy levels and social interaction decline along with increased irritability, withdrawal or disengagement from school activities,” Ramirez said in the Winters Express’s second report of a four-part series on student mental wellness.
According to Ramirez, a sudden drop in grades or difficulty concentrating in class are also signs to monitor. Like Winters JUSD psychologist Najwa Burdick-Yahya in the first report, Ramirez points to the district’s four priorities:
• Create safe, welcoming, and
inclusive environments
• Improve student engagement and access
• Improve support for academic and graduate profile outcomes
• Utilize organizational operations
Ramirez said under Board Priority No. 3, educators also look for increased absenteeism or tardiness and difficulty completing assignments or participating in classroom activities, all of which indicate an issue.
“Students verbalizing thoughts of hopelessness, suicidal ideation, or disclosures of trauma, abuse, or other adverse experiences are serious signs,” Ramirez said. “Lastly, physical symptoms such as complaints of physical ailments, such as headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue, along with changes in sleep patterns or appetite, are noted.”
Seeing the signs and addressing them are entirely different.
“When these types of signs are detected, it is important to approach students with empathy, compassion, and a non-judgmental attitude,” Ramirez said. “We ensure a safe space is available and identify trusted adults with whom they can talk to.”
Each student discussion is different for many reasons, including socio-economics.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) reports negative school-related outcomes for underserved groups, including English Language Learners (ELL) students or adolescents experiencing poverty.
“Educators, including school psychologists, need to be attuned to the various contextual and systemic factors that can influence a student’s mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being,” Ramirez said, adding additional stressors related to language acquisition, cultural adjustment can be difficult. “Providing culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate assessments and interventions is crucial.”
dip
California Association of Realtors
Special to the Express
Slower home price growth and more favorable interest rates in third-quarter 2024 buoyed California’s housing affordability from both the previous quarter and a year ago, the California Association of Realtors said earlier this month.
Sixteen percent of the state’s homebuyers could afford to purchase a median-priced, existing single-family home in California in the third quarter of 2024, up from 14 percent in the second quarter of 2024 and 15 percent in the third quarter of 2023, according to CAR’s
The third-quarter 2024 figure is less than a third of the affordability index peak of 56 percent in the third quarter of 2012. Rates started the third quarter on a downward trend but have climbed since bottoming out in early September. With the dwindling chance of another sizable Fed rate cut in 2024 due to a stronger-than-expected economy, mortgage rates shot back up above 7 percent in recent weeks, reaching their highest levels since early July. Rates could still come down before the end of the year, but the odds of a meaningful decline in the next couple of months have reduced sharply from where they were three months ago.
CAR’s HAI measures the percentage
of all households that can afford to purchase a median-priced, single-family home in California. CAR also reports affordability indices for regions and select counties within the state. The index is considered the most fundamental measure of housing well-being for home buyers in the state.
(PITI) on a 30-year, fixed-rate loan, would be $5,520, assuming a 20 percent down payment and an effective composite interest rate of 6.63 percent. The effective composite interest rate was 7.10 percent in the second quarter of 2024 and 7.14 percent in the third quarter of 2023.
remainder of the year.
The monthly PITI for a typical single-family home in California dipped from both the previous quarter and the same quarter of last year.
A minimum annual income of $220,800 was needed to qualify for the purchase of an $880,250 statewide median-priced, existing single-family home in the third quarter of 2024. The monthly payment, including taxes and insurance
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The statewide median price of existing single-family homes in California declined 2.9 percent
quarter-to-quarter, due partly to seasonal factors but also a change in the mix of sales. On a year-overyear basis, California continued to record price increases for the fifth consecutive quarter, although at a more moderate pace of 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2024 – the slowest since the third quarter of 2023. With the market entering the off-season, home prices will soften further as inventory rises and competition cools. While slower price growth will ease the affordability crunch facing buyers, recent mortgage rate spikes will continue to be a challenge for many in the
The share of California households that could afford a typical condo/townhome in the third quarter of 2024 rose to 25 percent, up from 22 percent recorded in the previous quarter and up from the 23 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2023. An annual income of $168,000 was required to make the monthly payment of $4,200 on the $670,000 median-priced condo/ townhome in the third quarter of 2024. Compared with California, more than one-third of the nation’s households could afford to purchase a $418,700 median-priced home, which required a minimum annual income of $105,200 to make monthly payments of $2,630. Nationwide affordability inched up from 34 percent a year ago. In the third quarter of 2024, the nationwide minimum required annual income was less than half that of California’s for the sixth consecutive quarter.
Idon’t know if I have a bucket list, things that I would like to do while I still can, but I do think of places that I would like to see and things that I would like to do. I also think about missed opportunities, like when I was invited to go someplace or jump out of an airplane, but life got in the way and I said, no thank you, maybe some other time.
There is a group of hunters that get together every year and travel out of state for deer hunting. I’m not sure for how long they have been doing it, but it might be 20 years or more. For the past few years, I’ve been hinting to them that I would like to go. These guys are mostly younger than I am, so I don’t think they took me seriously. Well, I quit hinting and just asked if I could tag along and they said yes. It has been a long time since I hunted anything, but I’m looking forward to this upcoming trip. I’m not even sure where we are going, but I did have to get a Colorado hunting license. When I applied for the li-
“I’m not even sure where we are going, but I did have to get a Colorado hunting license.”
cense, the state of Colorado wouldn’t accept my California hunting license as proof that I had taken a hunter safety course. Not knowing where my receipt was from the class I took from John Griffin and Richard Dozier when I was 10 or 12, I went online and took the Colorado test.
I’ve collected and shot guns my whole life, even if I’ve slowed down as the years went by. I still like to go to Yolo Sportsman and fire off a few rounds at their range from time to time. I used to enjoy pheasant hunting when we had pheasants, and dove hunting when possible. Deer hunting was a rare event, but I used to head into the hills
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ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20),
Think about resting and being a bit introspective, Aries. Focusing on your inner world can help you to recharge your energy levels. Solitude also may provide some clarity.
TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21),
Personal growth and self-improvement may be on your mind right now, Taurus. Set some new goals that align with your values. You may want to take a class to learn new skills as well.
GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21),
Gemini, focus on long-term financial goals in the days to come. If you don’t have a plan for investing meaningfully, you could sit down with an expert and get some ideas.
CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22), Try to engage in some thoughtful conversations with greater frequency, Cancer. Accepting that you can learn from others is a great way to grow personally and professionally.
LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23),
You might want to stay closer to home this week, Leo. You’ve been burning the midnight oil quite a bit lately. Family matters need attention right now, so prioritize them.
VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22), Virgo, romance takes center stage for you, and you may find yourself suggesting new date ideas with your partner. Or this might be an opportunity to find a new romantic interest.
LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23),
Don’t let work and daily routines catch you off guard, Libra. Try to streamline your tasks and find more efficient ways to handle your responsibilities in the days to come.
SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22), Scorpio, important negotiations or projects will certainly put your communication skills to the test. Keep an eye on the details and stick to the facts to avoid any misunderstandings.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21), Sagittarius, if you have been having any difficulties, voice your concerns to those who are willing to lend an ear. Keeping it all bottled up inside is not a healthy path forward.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20), Showcase your talents and ideas at work this week, Capricorn. Others can benefit from your experience and it may inspire changes or discussions that prove fruitful.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18), Aquarius, stick to your personal values and don’t make concessions, whether with friends or in the workplace. It’s important to have conviction in what you do.
PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20), Use any momentum you have for tackling new projects, Pisces. There’s much to do between now and the new year and you will have to get busy sooner than you may have thought.
The Winters gazebo in Rotary Park is now undergoing some significant updates. (The gazebo is located across from Steady Eddy’s Coffee House.) Years of neglect, lots of sunshine and rain, and frequent use have taken a toll on the gazebo. But now the gazebo is being restored to its original charm.
The Gazebo Makeover Project construction began during the first week of November, under the direction of Matt Balogh (MB Construction). Don’t worry — the traditional look of the gazebo will remain unchanged. But the unsafe electrical system will be updated to code, new composite
columns will replace the deteriorating wooden columns, new handrails will be installed, repairs to the roof and masonry will occur and new paint will complete the makeover.
Numerous local groups and businesses have contributed to the gazebo project. They include the Rotary Club of Winters, Winters Friends of the Library, Spirit of Winters, WeCare4Yolo, Mariani, Buckhorn, Putah
Creek Cafe, Steady Eddy’s, Hooby’s and Stocking Real Estate. The city of Winters provided a $10,000 contribution.
Kelli Villaneuva is leading the fundraising effort to remodel and restore the gazebo. Already Kelli and her volunteers have raised about $9,000 of the $22,000 still needed to finish the restoration.
There are many ways you can
contribute to the gazebo makeover. Cash donations are always welcome. You may also purchase a Gazebo Makeover T-shirt to help fund the project or you can buy raffle tickets, which are available for $100, giving you the opportunity to win one of three gift baskets, each worth approximately $1,000. And your business can also become a corporate sponsor. If you are ready to make a donation to the gazebo, or have questions about the gazebo makeover and restoration project, please send an email to Kelli at: kellivillanueva@gmail.com and she will be happy to help you.
These are two of a series of letters that my uncle Russell Fox Taylor sent home to his wife, Lilla, from the battlefields in France, Belgium and Germany. The first letter is dated Jan. 14, 1945, and the second is Jan. 18, 1945. It is evident when comparing historical accountings and After Action Reports with his letters, that Uncle Russ was trying
his best not to worry the folks back home.
An excerpt from “A Short History of the 38th Calvary” written by Major Charles E. Rousek, an exec. officer with the 38th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron’ wrote of the defense of Monschau read, “Despite the fact that the numerical superior enemy made several penetrations, in battalion strength, isolated outposts and platoons held their lines with grim determination. Although artillery observation posts were overrun, the personnel fought with small arms to maintain their positions and adjusted devastating fire upon waves of German infantry. All enemy infiltrations were thwarted by determined fighting and close hand-to-hand combat. When the battle was most intense, every available man, including personnel of rear echelon maintenance and supply sections, were employed to drive back the invading forces.”
Meanwhile, amid all the conflict Uncle Russ wrote about such things as the warmth of his homemade heater and the comforts of his foxhole chateau.
—Respectfully submitted by Winters resident Gerald Taylor and Shelley Frost, grand-daughter of Russell Fox Taylor
January 14, 1945
A letter from the folks came the other day, also one from Valeen (sister). The folks were blue and over–worried about Jess (brother, also fighting in Germany) and my welfare. Please call them and tell them everything is OK and please not to worry.
Haven’t heard from Jess for a couple of weeks or more but I feel sure he is enjoying as good or better health than I am.
Things haven’t been too easy nor can I say there weren’t many moments of apprehension but we did manage to hold our sector. The opposition was pretty rough at times but so far as we were concerned the dirty krauts
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to hunt the Chapman Ranch with Tim Ireland after work. I don’t think we ever fired a shot, but it was fun to ride around in his jeep or sit on top of a mountain ridge looking over the valley. With all of my experience, I didn’t think much about taking the online hunter safety test. I took about an hour to read over their material and then I gathered a couple of friends over to stand behind me as I took the test. Fifty questions and you could only miss five, a score of at least 90 percent. As I was answering the questions, occasionally I would glance over my shoulder for help. Most of the time they just smiled and shrugged their shoulders.
got more than they bargained for and learned much to their sorrowful losses that we were no pushovers.
—Russell
January 18, 1945
I haven’t heard from Jess since the last time I mentioned, but he is probably waiting for me to reply to his.
I don’t think he had it very rough in this last push the krauts made. I doubt if he even got a taste of it, lucky guy.
The baroness in Paris wrote me again. I don’t know why they took such a “shine” to me, but they seem to have rather adopted me into the family. I have a good notion to ask them for their picture. If they comply, I’ll send it along. I wish there were some way I could send them a few little things in return for their favors to me. There are so many things that are still impossible to buy in Paris. When I was there, a bar of soap was the climax of luxury to them. They hadn’t had anything that could be called soap for over two years. What they had resembled a cake of Bon Ami, only a dirty brown color. Now, I have plenty of soap but no way to share it. Packages are hard to get around in this country.
—Russell
I was thinking that some of the questions might be trick questions, like when you take your driver’s test. One was a fuzzy picture of two deer. Which was the mule deer and which was the whitetail? Again, the help I received was less than helpful. When I had finished answering the 50 questions there was still plenty of time on the clock so I could have gone back and looked up some answers, the consensus from my backup was that I was good to go. I hit the finish button and up popped 90 percent, you passed. I’ll never know which five I (we) missed, but I won’t have to take that test again. I now have a Colorado hunting license. The question I ask myself. Do I go hunting, or do I just go? Have a good week.
By Sydney Andrade Express staff writer
On Friday, Nov. 8, the Winters High School varsity football team fought hard to remain undefeated and won its game against Pierce High School by a score of 24–0, making it their 10th consecutive win for the season.
“This was the first perfect season we have had since 1994, and it’s only the fourth time it has happened in school history,” said varsity head coach Daniel Ward.
The common theme this season was overcoming the sheer size and strength of the other teams they went up against. Despite being outsized week after week, the Warriors defensive team remained unfazed, giving up a measly nine points over the span of six league games and a total of only 43 points on the entire season.
“I have never had a defense as smart, physical and fast as they are. They are flatout fun to watch,” said Ward.
While the defensive team kept the game exciting this season, the offensive team didn’t
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disappoint, either, and pulled in a total of 379 points through the season.
“We have a true dual threat as a quarterback in Lane Brown. We have thunder and lighting with Gio Jimenez and Sebastian Rodriguez and we also have one of the best receivers around in Jesse Madsen. There are just so many different ways where we can beat you, it’s just hard to stop all of them,” said Ward.
The wide spread of talent across the Warriors’ offensive side of the ball and the pure physicality of their defensive team makes for entertaining games; however, it is their determination and selflessness that carried them through as the team to beat.
“They do not care about stats or individual accolades, they just want to win and will do whatever is needed to make the team better,” said Ward.
They just wanted to win. Unfortunately for Pierce, the Bears were the last team in the way of a perfect season for the Warriors and they pulled
Some students experience stressors for different reasons.
“LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and other marginalized groups may face systemic barriers and discrimination that can negatively affect their mental health and academic outcomes,” Ramirez said.
While each student’s wellness stressors may be different, the immediate need to address mental health issues is not.
“Depending on the student’s needs, check-ins, short-term counseling, or other support may be put into place,” Ramirez said. “The goal is to create a safe, trusting environment where the student feels heard, understood, and empowered to seek the help they need.”
A proactive, student-centered approach enables school psychologists to play a vital role in identifying and addressing mental health issues before they escalate, which Ramirez said supports safety and inclusion seen in Priority No. 1.
That is where Board Priority No. 2, improving student engagement and access, comes in.
all the stops.
Brown played his best game of the year, completing 13 out of 14 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team with 65 rushing yards. Rodriguez made three huge catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
“The game was a lot closer than the final score and if it wasn’t for Brown and Rodriguez and the big plays they made it may be a completely different outcome,” said Ward. Madsen also made a receiving touchdown for the Warriors, while Miles Mariani added
“Our district mental health staff adopts an equity-focused, trauma-informed approach that is essential to support these students,” Ramirez said. “By understanding students’ diverse needs and experiences, we can better identify appropriate interventions, advocate for equitable policies and practices, and collaborate with families and community partners to address the holistic needs of all learners.”
When all else fails, some students consider suicide.
“Youth suicide is a major public health concern,” Ramirez said. “Factors like mental health conditions, substance abuse, and experiences of trauma or abuse can increase the risk.”
Any form of suicidal ideation is taken very seriously at Winters JUSD.
“When a student exhibits any form of suicidal ideation or makes comments that may be associated with possible thoughts of suicide, such as ‘I want to go to sleep and never wake up,’ our mental health support staff immediately becomes informed and checks in with the student.”
The bottom line is that Winters JUSD protocols go into
six points to the board with field goals.
Defensively, Julian Herrera once again had a huge night with 14 tackles, four of them resulting in a loss and cemented himself as the best defensive player in the league. Jimenez followed closely behind him with 10 tackles, Ricky Garcia with nine tackles and Nate Apodaca with eight tackles.
In addition to their high number of tackles, Garcia and Apodaca also managed to fight their way through the offensive line of Pierce, sack-
place when red flags arise for any student.
“School psychologists, school counselors, and mental health clinicians may conduct a risk assessment to determine the severity of a student’s risk,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said Winters JUSD’s offense strategy works.
“We take a proactive approach to mental health, offering resources and programs at every grade level,” Ramirez said. “At the elementary level, social-emotional learning programs teach young students skills like empathy and self-regulation, while at the secondary level, we have support groups where students can talk about issues like anxiety and stress with people who understand them.”
Like any health condition, mental wellbeing needs attention.
“Reducing the stigma around mental health is a priority for us because we believe that reaching out for support should feel normal, not scary,” Ramirez said. “By working with families and community partners, we can ensure students have the mental and emotional tools they need to thrive — not just in school, but in life.”
ing the quarterback at two different points in the game. It’s also important to note Garcia’s two forced fumbles, one of which he was able to recover; the other was scooped up by Jordan Wojan.
The win against Pierce was a big one for the Warriors. It solidified the perfect season. A perfect season dedicated to two classmates that should’ve been playing alongside them. The two teens were honored through a Senior Capstone Project.
“For my Senior Capstone I wanted to celebrate two classmates, friends and teammates who we lost in the summer of 2022, Michael Bazan Jimenez and Noah Lichwa,” said senior Isaac Lopez.
“Tonight’s football game brings a mix of joy and sorrow. Honoring their memory not only pays tribute to who they were but also reminds everyone of the importance of cherishing every moment. This year has been a special season for our football team and a large part of our success is that we are playing for them every Friday night.”
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house!’” Gonzalez said, referring to the door-to-door visits the police department does in apartment complexes during National Night Out. “It sticks with them — (you think) they won’t remember you, but they’ll come up to you and act like your friend. That’s the kind of relationship that we want to be able to build with kids.”
But connecting with the rest of the community is just as important. Aguilera explained that knowing constituents can give firefighters more context to the people they’re going on calls to — and sometimes that starts with a silly interaction at an event or booth.
When sharing stories about moments
These words were read just prior to their victory against Pierce, along with a balloon release and a recitation of heartfelt letters written by the Lichwa and Bazan Jimenez families. “LLN + LLM” for “Long Live Noah” and “Long Live Michael” were painted in each end zone and stamped on the cheerleaders bows. Family, friends and community members wore special “We play for them” T-shirts and hats designed by Lopez that we sold to raise money for the Noah Lichwa and Michael Bazan memorial scholarship funds.
“It was an emotional night for us and I thought we used it in a positive way. Although we may have honored them on Friday night, we play for them every week. We always have and always will. I thought Issac did a great job and I was very proud of him,” said Ward.
The Warriors fought hard for a perfect season and will go on to playoffs on Friday, Nov. 15, against Hamilton High School (8-2, MVL Champs) at Dr. Sellers Football field at 7 p.m.
of connection with the community, Aguilera referenced a man who had stopped by the fire department’s booth at an event last year and taken a bag of Hot Cheetos from them. He returned to the booth this year, and was surprised when one of the firefighters jokingly asked if he wanted Hot Cheetos again, in reference to the year before.
“It’s a good way to see people again, and show that we remember them and remember small things like that,” Aguilera said. “It shows that we have a connection (with the public), and we’re not just, you know, robots.” The public can follow the Winters PD and Winters Fire social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for important updates and information on upcoming events.
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Tacos still remain supreme in my household. With El Pueblo Meat Market & Taqueria closing, we’ve had to make our own creations and meat marinades. We have some go-to flavor combinations, but I like to browse recipes online to look for ways to mix things up.
During the pandemic, my husband decided he was going to switch to a vegetarian lifestyle. Which meant that I was preparing two versions of dinners. Although we’re all back to being fulltime meat-eating folks now, we did discover some veggie options that we enjoyed.
Although potatoes make a delicious taco-filling addition, mushrooms and peppers are all-stars in
our kitchen. This month, I took on a recipe for portobello and poblano pepper fajitas for a spin in my kitchen.
The secret is to let the mushrooms, peppers and onions sit in the marinade for at least an hour so they can soak up the flavors. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it’s also a quick meal to make.
The portobello mushroom cap and poblano peppers are meaty enough to provide a bite-full. I added in extra minced garlic cloves and
sweet bell peppers to balance out the chili powder and paprika. The lime juice is what makes each bite pop with a tangy taste.
You could prepare this recipe with steak substituted for the mushrooms or as an additional filling component – which is something that I’ve been told we’ll be trying the next time we make this recipe.
Ingredients
Filling
Sliced portobello mushroom cap (or a 12-ounce package baby portobella mushrooms)
2 whole poblano peppers (seeds removed and sliced to your preference)
1 medium onion sliced (sweet or red onion)
2 to 3 sweet bell peppers (seeds removed and sliced to your preference)
¼ cup chopped cilantro (optional to top)
Marinade
1/3 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 to 4 minced garlic cloves (or less)
2 teaspoons each ground cumin and chili powder
1 teaspoon each kosher salt, smoked paprika, and onion powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
Putting it together
In a medium bowl, combine all of the marinade ingredients. Note: I used a
smoked Spanish paprika for this recipe, but you could use a sweeter paprika if you choose. You can also adjust the amount of chili powder or add in some cayenne pepper if you want it on the spicy side.
Add in sliced ingredients (excluding sweet bell peppers) and let sit covered in the refrigerator for an hour minimum.
Once ready to cook, drain the marinade from the vegetables and heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Saute the sweet bell peppers for about 5 minutes
Add in marinated vegetables and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes (based on how soft you want your vegetables). Stir occasionally to ensure all pieces are cooked and to prevent burning.
Once the vegetables begin to brown you can turn off the heat.
Warm up tortillas (for soft) or get taco shells ready for serving.
Spoon in filling and top with your favorite toppings.
I topped mine with freshly chopped cilantro.
Perfect Pairings
This month, Turkovich Family Wines and Berryessa Gap Vineyards answered my request for what wines to pair with the tacos.
Luciana Moreno Turkovich, winemaker at Turkovich Family Wines, said there was nothing better to pair it with than Turkovich’s 2021 Buckeye Petite Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
“The 2021 Buckeye — a bold blend of Petite Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon — is the ideal companion to this vibrant, flavorful fajita dish,” Moreno Turkovich said. “The wine’s deep,
rich character, with its dark fruit notes of blackberry and plum, and its smooth, structured tannins beautifully complement the smoky, savory flavors of the grilled portobello mushrooms and poblano peppers.”
Corinne Martinez of Berryessa Gap Vineyards recommended the 2021 Malbec.
“This wine has vibrant aromas of wild mulberry, purple violets, plum, and savory baking spices, which I believe will beautifully complement the flavors of your mushroom (or steak) fajitas,” Martinez said.
“Additionally, the healthy acidity and chalky tannin profile of this Malbec make it a perfect match for the dish.”
Hot punch to warm up this holiday season
Metro Special to the Express
“The secret is to let the mushrooms, peppers and onions sit in the marinade for at least an hour so they can soak up the flavors.” Makes 14 servings 16 cups water, divided 5 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen, plus extra for garnish
2 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar 1⁄2 cup red hots cinnamon candies
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks 1 lemon, sliced Cheesecloth
1. In a large saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring 1 quart of water and cranberries to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until the berries begin to pop. Drain, reserving liquid.
2. In a Dutch oven or large pot, combine sugar, red-hots, lemon juice, cranberry liquid and remaining 3 quarts of water.
3. Tie cloves and cinnamon sticks in a double thickness of cheesecloth. Add to pan with the punch. Bring to a boil; stir until sugar and candies are dissolved. Discard spice bag. Strain juice through a fine mesh strainer. Serve hot with lemon slices and cranberries.