Winters Express: Wednesday, December 25, 2024 by mcnaughtonmedia

Council approves agreement to fill city planner position

By Sonora Slater Express staff writer

The final Winters City Council meeting of 2024 lasted merely half an hour, focusing on a conversation about a contracted city planner joining the staff of City Hall at the beginning of next year in order to fill a vacancy that’s been open for more than a year, since September 2023. The person in this role is responsible for coordinating development activity and other planning activities, as well as staffing the Winters Planning Commission, but over the past

year five large-scale recruitments have failed to produce a successful candidate. In the meantime, the slack has been picked up by a variety of other people, from semi-retired Winters city planners to members of the planning commission, but some things have been left undone in the absence of a dedicated person for this role. That includes both a laundry list of lower priority projects and simply having someone available regularly at City Hall to answer questions from the public and the council or commission about

upcoming developments.

But with big developments in the works for the city, from Farmstead to updating the Community Center, the need was getting more urgent. So the city tried a different approach, reaching out to Devcon Construction Inc., a company that they regularly contract with for building services, to see if they could find a planner via an outside contract. Devcon was successful, and the candidate is set to work 32 hours/week beginning on Jan. 6.

See CITY, Page 3

Middle schooler’s initiative sparks new beacon for safer crossing

By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer

A sixth-grade student’s determination to improve safety for her peers led to the installation of flashing crosswalk beacons at the intersection of W. Main Street and Anderson Avenue, which was officially unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Art Garcia, founder of Youth of One, fulfilled a heartfelt vision during the organization’s first holiday toy drive: allowing children to choose a toy of their liking rather than simply receiving one. Thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors, 219 children were able to

select their perfect gift. The event also featured a coloring contest, where Axel Sandoval’s art was selected as the winner, and he received an electric drum set as his prize.

Inspired by largescale drives he witnessed in Los Angeles, Garcia is determined to create something special so that children in Winters could choose a toy for the holidays. Garcia, who hails Winters as his hometown, has worked to give back to the community who helped shape him. In 2022,

he launched Youth of One. The mission of the organiztion focuses on providing Winters youth with opportunities to build self-esteem, confidence, and social skills through exercise and team-building activities. This toy drive was just one of Garcia’s latest initiatives to give back to the community, and he shared with the Express that he has more ideas in the works.

Stay updated on Youth of One’s latest by following it at https://bit.ly/ YouthofOneWinters.

Weather

Kailey Jacobsen, a student at Winters Middle School, first noticed the potential danger for students crossing the busy intersection. Her concern motivated her to write to then Police Chief John P. Miller, urging him to consider installing beacon lights similar to those on Railroad Avenue. Jacobsen’s letter highlighted the risks she observed and proposed a practical solution.

The project gained momentum as City Manager Jeremy Craig and the city’s public works department team evaluated the feasibility of Jacobsen’s suggestion. Regular meetings between city officials and Winters Joint Unified School District representatives facilitated a partnership to fund and execute the project. The school district allocated funds from its Facilities Implementation

Plan, financed by local bond measures, to purchase the beacons, while the city’s public works team installed the equipment.

The flashing beacons, which cost approximately $8,000 to $10,000, provide a safer crossing opportunity for students and other pedestrians by alerting drivers when the lights are activated.

Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi praised the collaboration between all parties, empahzising the importance of addressing overlooked safety concerns in the infrastructure planning.

“Sometimes when we have our engineers

and all the designers come up with new new developments and where the streets are laid out and everything they don’t actually catch everything that needs to be done in certain places for safety,” Biasi said.

“This is something that will not only make it safer for all the kids going across there to school, but also for everybody else that crosses there”

“Two years ago, the community came together to identify the skills we believe our students need for success in college, career, and beyond,” said Superintendent Rody

See BEACON, Page 3

Chamber announces Toast of Winters

honorees

Express staff

The official selections are in for the 2024 Toast of Winters honorees.

The Winters District Chamber of Commerce brings the community together each year at the Toast of Winters awards event to celebrate the achievements of local community members and businesses who were recognized by

residents. The 2024 award honorees are:

• Business of the Year: Mariani Nut Company

• Theodore Winters Award: The Historical Society of Winters

• Senior Citizen of the Year: Liz Coman

• Citizen of the Year: Carla Wroten

The Citizen of the Year is chosen by previous Citizen of the Year recipients and the remaining awards are chosen by the Winters Chamber Board of Directors. The Winters Express will feature a series of articles in January highlighting the reasons behind each awardee’s nomination. The chamber will share information about tickets and event sponsorship opportunities once they are finalized.

Mark Rowan/Courtesy photo

Winters Public Works staff Terry Vender (kneeling) and Adrian Garcia (on the lift) work to install new crossing beacons at the W. Main Street and Anderson Avenue intersection on Oct. 31.

Courtesy photo

Winters Superintendent Rody Boonchouy, school board President Joedy Michael, student Kailey Jacobsen, Winters Middle School Principal Jose Bermudez and Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi cut the ribbon at beacon located at the W. Main Street and Anderson Avenue intersection on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Youth of One delivers holiday joy

Courtesy photo

Youth of One volunteers and organizer Art Garcia (bottom right) finish setting up before children arrived on Saturday, Dec. 21, to choose a toy.

Eventos hispanos Community

NAMI to host new educational workshop in Spanish

Personal de Express

Traducido por Carol Alfonso El Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad de Winters (City of Winters Public Works Department) organizó un taller sobre la ley ADA el pasado Miércoles y anunció que ya hay un formulario de quejas/ querellas disponible en el sitio web de la ciudad. Eric Lucero, director de operaciones y mantenimiento de obras públicas de la ciudad, fue designado como coordinador de la ley ADA de la ciudad y se puede contactar con él para cuestiones y preguntas relacionadas con la ley ADA. La ciudad completó una autoevaluación del cumplimiento de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (Americans With Disabilities Act - ADA) en todas las calles, parques e instalaciones de la ciudad. El pasado Miércoles 4 de Diciembre, Lucero y Sally Swanson de Sally Swanson Architects, Inc. organizaron un taller público en el que se repasaron los detalles de la autoevaluación, el proceso y se compartieron mapas de algunos de sus hallazgos. El proceso de autoevaluación exploró 12 categorías: el plan de transición, las políticas de participación, los sistemas de comunicación, las disposiciones de ayuda auxiliar, el acceso de emergencia, la concienciación sobre la discapacidad, las solicitudes de modificación, las reuniones públicas, los programas de Recursos Humanos, las políticas de construcción, la capacitación del personal y las políticas sobre medicamentos. El equipo de Swanson también detalló los criterios de priorización de los derechos de paso públicos y compartió mapas de los hallazgos finales de las aceras, las rampas de acera y las señales para peatones de toda la ciudad. Lucero dijo que ahora que el departamento de Obras Públicas tenía una visión exhaustiva de las necesidades y tareas de la ciudad, podrían planificar y comenzar a ocuparse de los problemas. El desafío es que la cantidad limitada de miembros del personal de obras públicas significa que solo podrán asumir las tareas tan rápido y con tanta frecuencia como su personal pueda hacerlo fuera de sus tareas lab-

orales habituales para mantener el buen funcionamiento de la ciudad. Sin embargo, se exhorta a los residentes a ponerse en contacto con la ciudad con respecto a los problemas relacionados con la ley ADA y con preguntas utilizando el formulario de quejas/qurellas de la ciudad que ahora está disponible en línea. El formulario se puede completar en línea, descargar y enviar por correo electrónico al departamento de obras públicas o dejarlo en el Ayuntamiento. El formulario de quejas/querellas de los clientes se encuentra en la página de Obras Públicas en https:// www.cityofwinters. org/216/Public-Works. El alcalde Bill Biasi le pidió a Lucero y Swanson que presentaran sus hallazgos oficialmente en una próxima reunión del Ayuntamiento de Winters. La fecha de la presentación de la reunión se anunciará una vez que se programe. La presentación de la autoevaluación de la ley ADA de la ciudad está disponible para que el público la vea en el sitio web de la ciudad o visitando https://bit. ly/49CEmu3.

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

Two mothers were determined to prove their schizophrenic sons’ behavior was not by their hand consequently founded the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Instead of accepting the “poor parenting” diagnosis by doctors, NAMI Yolo County Executive Director Jen Boschee-Danzer said the duo “shared their experiences with other families who were impacted by mental illness, and the movement grew” across America.

Now the largest grass-roots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for people living with mental illness, the executive director cites the 600 NAMI affiliates across the U.S., including the Yolo County branch developed in 1978.

For the first time, the local branch is dedicating two months to Spanish families with Familia de NAMI, the free Spanish-language, 8-week session edu-

cational program for loved ones of adults living with mental illness.

“This class provides an opportunity for our Spanish-speaking community members to learn, share resources, and build community with others who may be going through a similar journey - and do so in their native language,” Boschee-Danzer said of the Monday evening class starting Jan. 6.

The volunteer peer-led groups from 6 to 8 p.m. do not require a formal diagnosis to participate, according to the executive director, adding that NAMI-trained family members have firsthand experience caring for a loved one with mental illness.

Special to the Express

From Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, Yolo County residents are welcome to recycle up to two holiday trees at no charge at the Yolo County Central Landfill (YCCL), located at 44090 County Road 28H in Woodland, and the Esparto Convenience Center, located at 27075 County Rd. 19A in Esparto.

NAMI class, a free, 8-session educational program designed specifically for family members and loved ones of adults living with mental illness. The class is completely in Spanish. Scan the QR code for details

Tree-cycling turns holiday trees into a valuable, renewable, and recyclable resource as trees are biodegradable and will be sent to the county’s state of the art composting facility to turn these trees back into organic matter. Residents should ensure that trees are free of all ornaments, flocking, tinsel, garland and lights. Residents are en-

couraged to give the gift of time to loved ones this year by assisting with the safe collection and disposal of hazardous waste. Help clean out a storage shed, garage or barn by bringing items such as batteries, bulbs, paints, and cleaners to our weekly household hazardous waste drop off event every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This program is offered at no charge to Yolo County residents and is conveniently located at the YCCL. An overabundance of hazardous chemicals or old medications can lead to an unsafe home as well as can pose serious environmental risks if stored improperly. If you are assisting someone who is elderly, please also take advantage of our free at home pickup program by calling (530) 666-8856 to schedule collection of haz-

Boschee-Danzer said “equal perspective” is key to the class’s culture.

“De Familia a Familia de NAMI not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but the group setting provides mutual support and shared positive impact,” Boschee-Danzer said.

Some topics covered in the course include effective communication, self-care, utilizing local supports and services, and current treatments and therapies.

Why is this important to Yolo County

See NAMI, Page 3

“We don’t provide crisis services or therapeutic services; we do provide peer support and education,” Boschee-Danzer said. “This allows our program leaders to have better insight into what others are going through, and they can inspire hope through their shared stories of resiliency and recovery.”

ardous waste at their doorstep. Residents who are 65 years of age or older, or residents with a disability may request this service at no charge year-round. Millions of tons of electronic waste are generated every year around the holidays. If Santa is generous to you this year in upgrading your phone, tablet, or television, YCCL is the place to come to responsibly offload your outdated models. Yolo County residents may recycle all electronic waste for free either by segregating all broken and inoperable devices into recycling totes or donating usable working electronics to the Big Blue Barn thrift store. Make a resolution to minimize waste by bringing paper plates and paper napkins that can be composted in your curbside organics container. All food waste and food soiled paper can

simply get tossed into one bin. Stop by a local thrift shop or ask friends and family to bring their own silverware to use for the holidays. As always, the blue bin is for recycling all your California Redemption Value (CRV) bottles and cans is a plus for the holiday festivities so that you can cash out in the New Year. Both YCCL and the Esparto Transfer Station will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Jan. 1 in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day. All other services will be available to the public throughout the holidays including normal landfill operating hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The Esparto Convenience Center will be open as normal every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the Big Blue Barn will be open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a 50 percent sale on Saturday, Jan. 18, to kick off the new year sustainably. Additionally, due to the one-day closure of the landfill on Christmas and New Year’s Day, Waste Management, Inc. services will be delayed one day. If your household’s trash, recycling, or organics collection is typically picked up on Wednesdays, it will instead be picked up on Thursday during these two holiday weeks. Likewise, Thursday and Friday collection will also be delayed one day. For questions about your residential or commercial collection schedule, please contact Waste Management at 530662-8748. For

Yolo Landfill promotes sustainability this holiday season

Yolo County Library continues its yearlong reading program

The Yolo County Library has a New Year’s resolution for you:

Read more in 2025! Starting Jan. 1, the Library will continue its yearlong reading program, “52: A Yearlong Reading Journey.’ Reading is more than a habit — it’s a state of mind.

This year, the 52 Reading Program invites participants to embark on a literary journey across the country, with a challenge to read a book connected to each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

“We’re thrilled to offer this exciting program again in 2025, as it provides a unique opportunity for our

community to explore the diverse stories and cultures that make up our country,” said Diana Lopez, Yolo County Librarian. “Whether through fiction, history, or memoir, each book brings a new perspective and we can’t wait to see how our readers will engage with this year’s challenge.”

Join 52: A Yearlong Reading Journey to discover the unique stories, cultures, and landscapes that shape our nation, one book at a time.

Pick up a 52 checklist at your local library branch or sign up on Beanstack to join the program digitally. Beanstack is a web and mobile app used to track indepen-

dent reading time and help build a culture of reading in school and at home. Beanstack is available on mobile devices through the Apple Store, Google Play, or can be accessed by web browser at https://yolocountylibrary.beanstack. org/reader365.

52: A Yearlong Reading Journey is free and sponsored by the Yolo County Library Foundation and the various Friends of the Library groups. For more information or to sign up, visit your local Yolo County Library branch or at https://yolocountylibrary.org/ycl52. Connect with Yolo County Library on Facebook and Instagram at @yolocountylibrary.

Don’t miss out on important news in Winters and Yolo County in 2025!

Yolo County residents can get a WE print and digital subscription combo for $30.

Boonchouy. This led to our Winters JUSD graduate profile, which includes communication, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, cultural awareness, and community engagement. This project is an example of community leadership by our students. It reminds us that our students are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders in our community today.”

Reflecting on the experience, Jacobsen shared her excitement about the community’s response.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Jacobsen said. “That kids can voice their concerns and be heard by people in positions to make changes.

I’m really glad that we could make the crosswalk safer for students that walk to and from school.”

When asked about the future, Jacobsen remained open-minded.

“Often

and Winters residents?

“One in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental health condition each year, so mental illness touches most of us in some way - either ourselves, a family member, a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend,”

Boschee-Danzer said. “Often people don’t know where to turn when someone they care about is experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition — and it can be frightening and isolating.”

While the executive director said there are “no statistics specific to Winters or other Yolo County communities,” she does cite nationally compiled data including only 36.1 percent of U.S. Hispanic or Latino adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.

Boschee-Danzer anticipates a positive community response for the first-ever Spanish program.

“We hope by introducing this course we

Jen Boschee-Danzer, executive director

will be able to reach more people and increase our outreach capacity to provide programming to the Spanish-speaking community in Winters and throughout Yolo County,” she said. “As we continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, NAMI Yolo County is striving to increase our in-person programs in rural areas of the county.”

That outreach includes increasing leadership roles and the organization is looking for volunteers from Winters, Esparto and other rural communities in Yolo County to become trained program leaders.

“When a loved one is experiencing mental health challenges, it can be isolating, confusing, and frightening for family members,” she said.

However, numbers can dispel that fear.

“People often aren’t aware of others in their community who are dealing with similar challenges, and the stigma surrounding mental illness can make it difficult to talk about,”

Boschee-Danzer said.

Registration for the program is required and can be accessed at https://forms.gle/ u7jJghEiABFW6ZBy8 or https://bit.ly/ 3VRt53i.

Boschee-Danzer said that even though there could be transportation challenges for these communities, the positive outcome far outweighs the distance.

Gary Phillips, Jacobsen’s grandfather and former mayor of San Rafael, expressed pride in his granddaughter’s initiative and the community’s response.

“As the former mayor of San Rafael, I know firsthand Kailey’s efforts were most significant and unusual, and with the results achieved with the involvement of so many community members, indeed remarkable,” Phillips said in an email to the Winters Express Resident Mark Rowan sent an email to the Winters Express, city manager and superintendent to express gratitude for the beacon installation.

“This makes me happy to see this going in. A benefit to the many people — and their dogs — who cross this intersection each day. This is on the route to both the middle school and the intermediate school,” Rowan said.

“I’m not really sure what I’m going to be doing, but I think it’s really great to be heard and see people make positive changes in our community.” Jacobsen also highlighted the unique character of Winters, saying, “Winters is really cool because, with it being so small, anyone can say something they feel is important and be able to feel heard.”

Former Winters city planners, as well as an experienced planner with Devcon, will provide guidance during the transition and assist with institutional and contextual knowledge about developments that are currently in progress.

In response to a question from Winters Express Editor-in-Chief Crystal Apilado, City Manager Jeremy Craig said that the city will soon be releasing official communications to the public about the purpose of this role and how these regular office hours can benefit them in their understanding of upcoming and ongoing projects.

“It’s been over a year since our last full-time planner left, and it’s been very difficult filling in with just a couple of retired planners as needed,” Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi said before the resolution went to a vote.

“We have some big developments coming up in our future that are in the planning stages now, and I think it’s

important that we get a planner who’s here in the office, we know when he’s here, and people can go to him with questions and planning.”

The resolution passed unanimously, with four council members voting yes. Council member Jesse Loren was absent from the meeting.

The council also discussed an end-of-year raise for Craig, which was moved from the consent calendar to discussion so that an oral explanation of the raise would be present on the record. According to Assistant City Attorney Joanna Gin, it’s common for a satisfactory end-of-year review of the city manager to result in a salary adjustment at the council’s discretion. Biasi said that the 3 percent increase is also in line with what they’ve provided for all the other department heads and city staff who have come to agreements on their labor negotiations recently.

The rest of the council all voiced their acknowledgement of the successful work Craig has done over his first year of employment, and Winters resident

DAVIS GLASS & SCREEN

Kate Laddish added her support to the mix.

“I kid you not, last night I had a nightmare that Jeremy said he was going someplace else (and leaving Winters),” Laddish said, to laughter from the council. “I think it’s important that we recognize the valuable work of our staff including our city manager, and one of the ways of doing that is through compensation.”

The motion passed unanimously. The consent calendar was also passed unanimously, including a resolution for spending on city accounting services and a review of how American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the city in 2021 were distributed to projects and financial needs.

The next Winters City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. The agenda packet will be posted at www. cityofwinters.org/194/ Meetings.

Winters City Hall

will close on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and reopen to the public on Monday, Jan. 6.

The Public Works department will be working adjusted hours to be available. Public works services and forms are available on the Public Works department page www.cityofwinters.org/216/Public-Works.

In addition, building inspections will still be available via appointment. To schedule an appointment or to access other online services, visit the city website homepage at www.cityofwinters. org. Winters public safety agencies will operate as normal. For information, visit the Winters Fire Department at https://www. cityofwinters.org/157/ Fire or the Winters Police Department at https://www.cityofwinters.org/158/Police. Updates from Winters Fire and Winters PD can also be found on their social media account pages.

Lake Berryessa water levels up

95 Years Ago

December 27, 1929

Picked by Charley Wallace

The water level of Lake Berryessa went up during the past week by 0.6 feet, with an increase in the storage of 10,944 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh, Solano Project Technician with the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Monday, Dec. 23, he reported the lake elevation was 434.64 feet above sea level, with water storage behind the Monticello Dam computed at 1,451,701 acre-feet of water.

The SID released 57 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 40 cubic feet flowing into Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation on the lake averaged 10 acre-feet of water per day.

Holiday Editorial Content deadline

Want to submit something to the Express?

Jan. 1 edition, due on Friday, Dec. 27 by 3 p.m.

Public Safety Report

of Winters Fire

Dec. 11: 10:20 a.m., N. Grafton Street, Cover assignment/ standby/moveup

~6:09 p.m., Russell Street, False alarm or false call (other)

~10:03 p.m., Betty Court, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Dec. 12: 11:50 a.m., E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Dec. 13: 4:02 p.m., Dutton Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~5 p.m., Colby Lane, First Alarm Structure Fire

Dec. 14: 6:20 p.m., Caselli Court, EMS

call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Dec. 16: 12:55 a.m., Westwood Court, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~3:34 p.m., Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~4:11 p.m., Karnail Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Dec. 17: 7:12 p.m., Railroad Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

For more infortmaion on the Winters Fire Department at https://www.cityofwinters.org/157/Fire Police Arrest Log Dec. 12: Winters

Juvenile (Age Unk.); Charges: Vandalism, Battery, Robbery; Disposition: Released on Notice to Appear

Dec. 16: Corliss, Phillip (Age 40), Charges: Violation of Restraining Order, Disposition: Transported to Yolo Report Log

Dec. 12: 8:30 a.m., 800th block of Taylor Street, Outside Agency Assist

Dec. 13: 2:38 p.m., 100th block of E. Baker Street, Fraud

Dec. 14: 1:11 p.m., 1000th block of Washington Avenue, Property for Destruction

Dec. 16: 10:42 a.m., 200th Railroad Avenue, Vandalism

For more infortmaion on the Winters Police Department at https://www.cityofwinters.org/158/Police

For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see www.winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.

J. W. Ely, local warehouseman, was elected to the presidency of the Winters Exchange Club Monday night at the semi-annual election of the club. Walter Stark of the Winters National Bank was selected as secretary and L. A. Islip, outgoing secretary as vice-president.

W. W. Stith this week completed the deal to purchase the garage owned by Clarence DuBois at Woodland. Stith will take charge on the first and will place his line of Durant cars in the show room. George Jedele of Vacaville will take charge of the shop.

Miss Helen Wills, champion woman tennis player, became the bride of Frederick Moody, Jr. at high noon Monday, in the Claremont chapel in Berkeley. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Neel and family spent Christmas day with relatives in Vacaville.

Beaar Sackett of San Francisco arrived the first of the week for a holiday visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Sackett and sister, Miss Dorothy who is home from the College of the Pacific for the holiday recess.

Carl Gustafson, who is attending school at San Luis Obispo is spending the holiday recess at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. R. Gustafson.

Franklin Demaree returned home last week from Alameda where he was farmed out by the e Oakland team in the Winter

Years Ago

Dispatches from the Express archives.

League baseball team.

80 Years Ago

December 29, 1944

L. V. Cramer and L. R. McCrary have purchased the McArthur Blacksmith Shop and will open for business January 2 under the name of C. & M Farm Machinery Repair.

House guests holiday week with Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Fenley were Mrs. E. H. Edwards and son, Martin, Oakland; Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Fenley, Sacra- mento; Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Furth, Berkeley; Mrs. Claire McFall and father, Ed. Newman, Suisun.

George Conard and buddy, Ralph Joerger of New C Orleans, both in Coast Guard service in Alameda were holiday guests in the Mrs. Georgia Conard home.

Pfc. Dick Rubio is at home from the Aleutians, with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Rubio, who reside west of town.

Marine Warrant Officer Laurel Kieney came up from San Diego and had holiday dinner with his mother, Mrs. Cassie McDonough and sister, Mrs. L. L. Stith and family, in his mother’s home in Davis.

Oliver Stark is enjoying the Christmas holidays with relatives in Salinas.

Miss Helen Salaverria, U.C. student is spending the holiday week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. Salaverria.

45 Years Ago

December 27, 1979

James Rufus Chapman, a lifelong resident of Winters and retired postmaster, was named as the 1979 Winters Citizen of the Year at the annual Winters District Chamber of Commerce Christmas party, held last Thursday evening in the Pat McGarr Fire Station.

George Griffin, Winters H.S. senior, will be the speaker at the Winters Rotary (Thursday) at Top Hat Restaurant. He will speak on his experience in Costa Rica as an American Field Service Americans Abroad summer program participant. meeting today Bob Jackson, an employee with Mariani Nut Company for the past eight years, retired last Friday. December 21. As his going-away present to the company, he bought and prepared barbecued ribs for the Mariani crew’s annual Christmas dinner at the plant that day.

Jackson, a resident of Allendale, wili go into semi-retirement, something he has done twice before. He spent five years in the U.S. Army and then was in the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years at Travis Air Force and Davis post offices.

Mayor John Martin and Mariani bosses Jack, Dennis and Marty Mariani had a going-away breakfast for Bob on the 21st at Myrna’s Coffee Shop.

Yearbook photo

One of the basketball teams that played in the old gym in 1966. Pictured, front row: Rich Chiles, Tom Duncan, Stan Clark, George Boyer, Rudy Rodriguez. Top Row: Dennis Mahoney, David Epling, Steve Godden, Bill Young, Steve Martin and Coach Joe Aguiar. They were 5–14 overall with a league record of 4–10. Express staff

Senior News

Resources are expanding for older adults on their own

By Judith Graham KFF Health News

Jeff Kromrey, 69, will sit down with his daughter the next time she visits and show her how to access his online accounts if he has an unexpected health crisis.

Gayle Williams-Brett, 69, plans to tackle a project she’s been putting off for months: organizing all her financial information.

Michael Davis, 71, is going to draft a living will and ask a close friend to be his health care surrogate and executor of his estate.

These seniors have been inspired to take these and other actions by an innovative course for such “solo agers” Aging Alone Together, offered by Dorot, a social services agency in New York City.

Most of them live alone, without a spouse, a partner, or adult children to help them manage as they grow older.

Until a few years ago, few resources were available for this growing slice of the older population.

Now, there are several Facebook groups for solo agers, as well as in-person groups springing up around the country, conferences and webinars, a national clearinghouse of resources, and an expanding array of books on the topic.

All address these seniors’ need to connect with other people, prevent isolation, and prepare for a future when they might become less robust, encounter more health issues, and need more assistance.

“Older adults who cannot rely on family members need to be very intentional about creating support systems and putting other plans in place,” said Ailene Gerhardt, a patient advocate in Boston who created the Navigating Solo Network three years ago.

In a survey published last year, AARP — which broadens the definition of older Americans to people 50 and older — examined those who live alone and don’t have living children. Ten percent of those 50 or older meet this definition, AARP estimates. An additional 11 percent have at least one living child but are estranged from them. And 13 percent have children who they believe can’t or won’t help them manage their finances and health care.

Preparing in isolation

Nature Nearby

for the future can be daunting. “If solo agers don’t feel they have people to talk to as they craft their aging plan, they often will skip the whole process,” said Gerhardt, who endorses a group planning model for these seniors.

That’s the format Dorot has adopted for Aging Alone Together, which is available nationally online free of charge and in person in New York City. More than 1,000 people have participated in the program since it launched in 2021.

Dorot is working with partners around the country to expand its reach.

The program consists of six 90-minute, interactive weekly sessions that focus on these seniors’ key concerns: building communities of support, figuring out where to live, completing advance care directives such as living wills, and getting financial and legal affairs in order.

One goal is to help participants identify their priorities and overcome the fear and hesitation that so many older adults feel when peering into their uncertain futures, said Claire Nisen, a Dorot staffer who runs the program. Another is to offer practical tools, advice, and resources that can spur people to action.

Yet another is to foster a sense of community that promotes a “can do” attitude. As Nisen said repeatedly when I took the course in September and October, “Solo aging doesn’t mean aging alone.”

That message resonated deeply with Williams-Brett, who lives with her severely disabled mother, 97, in a two-story brownstone in Brooklyn. Williams-Brett, who is divorced and never had children, expects to be on her own as she grows older. Her mother had a devastating stroke three years ago, and since then Williams-Brett has been her full-time caregiver.

Overwhelmed by everything on her to-do list — declutter the house, make home repairs, straighten out her finances, safeguard her mother’s health — Williams-Brett told me she’d been struggling with shame and fear. “All the time, I feel I’m not doing what I should be well enough,”

she said.

Hearing other seniors voice similar concerns during Aging Alone Together sessions, Williams-Brett realized she didn’t judge them as she was judging herself. “I thought, we all have issues we’re dealing with,” she said. “You don’t have anything to feel ashamed of.”

Kromrey, who lives alone in Tampa, Florida, knows he’s fortunate to be healthy, financially stable, and very close with his adult daughter, who will be his health care and legal decision-maker should he become incapacitated. Kromrey, widowed nine years ago, also has three sons — two in South Carolina and one in West Palm Beach, Florida.

While participating in Aging Alone Together, Kromrey realized he had assumed he’d never have a health crisis such as a stroke or heart attack — a common form of denial.

His daughter and her husband planned to travel from North Carolina to join Kromrey over Thanksgiving. During that visit, Kromrey said, he would give her passwords to his computer and online accounts, explain his system for keeping track of bills, and show her where other important files are.

“That way, she’ll just be able to take right over if something unexpected occurs,” he said.

Davis is an artist who nev-

What to know about estate planning

Estate planning is an umbrella term that encompasses anything from asset allocation after death to end-of-life health care decisions to power of attorney should an individual become incapacitated. Key components of an estate plan typically include wills, trusts, power of attorney, and health care directives. According to a 2021 survey by Caring.com, only 33 percent of Americans have a will in place, and 60 percent of respondents in the same survey cited “not having enough assets” as reasons for not creating an estate plan. The following are some basic steps anyone can take to establish an estate plan.

• Create a will. A will is a legal document that specifies how your assets will be distributed after your

death. Although a will can be set up without an attorney, relying on an attorney to create or update a will can ensure that it is legally sound and reflects your intentions. In the will you can name an executor who will carry out the plans of the will. Without a will, intestacy laws where you live will dictate the distribution of your assets.

• Establish trusts. Morgan Legal Group says trusts are tools that can protect assets, minimize estate taxes and provide for beneficiaries. Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. Special needs trusts also can be set up. Trusts can help avoid probate and reduce estate taxes. The National Bureau of Economic Research indicates trusts can reduce estate taxes by up to 40 percent. Trusts also can shield some of your assets so they

cannot be counted as part of your responsibility for paying for skilled nursing home admittance.

er married, doesn’t have siblings and lives alone in Manhattan. In a phone conversation, he said his most pressing concern is “finding something to do that’s worthwhile” now that arthritis has made it difficult for him to paint.

In some ways, Davis is prepared for the future. He has a long-term care insurance policy that will pay for help in the home and a rent-regulated apartment in a building with an elevator. But he recognizes that he’s become too isolated as his artistic activities have waned.

“There are days that go by when I don’t say a word to anyone,” Davis acknowledged. “I have my friends, but they have their own lives, with their children and grandchildren. I’m turning to Dorot for more social contact. And Aging Alone Together has helped me focus on the here and now.”

For more information about Aging Alone Together, email agingalonetogether@dorotusa.org or visit the program’s website, dorotusa.org/agingalonetogether.

A national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo-ager groups in the United States is available at the Navigating Solo website, navigatingsolo.com.

The National Council on Aging has assembled a guide to resources and support for older adults living alone available at

https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/ support-for-older-adultsliving-alone or https://bit. ly/41Nqw6o or visit https:// bit.ly/405oihp. Facebook groups for solo agers include Elder Orphans (Aging Alone), Elder Orphans, NYC Solo Agers, and Solo Aging Without Personal Representative. Another online community is the Solo Ager/Aging Together at https://thesoloager.com.

Books about planning for solo aging include “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” “Solo and Smart,” “Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old?” and “The Complete Eldercare Planner.” Several videos about planning for solo aging can be found on YouTube, including this helpful video from CJE SeniorLife. View it at https://bit.ly/3ZPfE5h We’re eager to hear from readers about questions you’d like answered, problems you’ve been having with your care, and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit kffhealthnews.org/ columnists to submit your requests or tips. —KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth 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 about KFF at kffhealthnews.org.

• Determine powers of attorney and health care proxies. If someone becomes incapacitated, that person will need responsible people who can act on their behalf. A financial or legal power of attorney can help with paying bills, accessing accounts and managing finances and other needs. A health care proxy can be listed on an advanced health care directive, known as a living will. The proxy will communicate your wishes indicated on the directive and see that your wishes are honored. It is always best to work with legal, medical and tax professionals when drawing up estate plans to avoid any issues that can arise when matters are not decided ahead of time.

Courtesy photo

While some older adults have children who can help them,

those who are living on their own and want to become more

who want to connect with others their age.

Winters Chamber of Commerce: Unifying our business community

Special Contributor

We are writing to share an important update about the future of our local business organizations. As of Jan. 1, the Winters Downtown Business Association will be officially dissolved to unify member businesses into a single Winters District Chamber of Commerce. This decision marks an exciting new chapter, one that we believe will strengthen our community and better support local businesses through a unified voice and purpose.

A stronger, more unified chamber

By bringing together

Committees for continued focus, collaboration

Busy professionals can give back to their community

We recognize the importance of addressing the specific concerns of different sectors within our business community. To this end, we will be maintaining a variety of committees within the Chamber dedicated to key issues. These committees will give business owners and community members direct opportunities to be involved in projects and initiatives that matter most to them.

What this means for you

Current DBA members will have the opportunity to become a part of the Chamber of Commerce. For those who wish to learn more about membership or how to take advantage of this transition, we encourage you to review our membership Tier System on the Winters Chamber of Commerce website. Each tier offers unique benefits tailored to help businesses grow, connect, and succeed.

the Chamber of Commerce and the DBA, we are creating a single, cohesive organization that can more effectively advocate for and support the needs of all businesses within our community. The Chamber will now broaden its reach to represent businesses of all types and sizes, while maintaining a focus on key areas that have traditionally been supported by the DBA. To ensure comprehensive representation, we are expanding our Chamber board to include additional members who bring diverse perspectives and expertise. This step ensures that the unique needs of each business are heard and prioritized.

A Chamber update: Here’s where we are and where we’re going.

The Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating for businesses in Winters, providing networking, training, educational opportunities, and fostering a supportive environment for all. Some of our recent accomplishments include Toast of Winters, Visitors Center, Discover Winters and our first State of the City in 2025. We look forward to the road ahead and building a vibrant, thriving business community. If you have any questions about this transition or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’re here to support you and are excited to grow alongside you.

New Chamber leadership

Tthe Winters District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors includes Kayla Rodriguez, Carla Wroten, Corinne Martinez, Courtney Stocking, Chris Calvert, Jack Vickery, Rody Boonchouy, Chris Turkovich, Kelli Villanueva, Lori Nicolini, Lynda Hinds, Dr. Taylor Langdon DC

Metro Special to the Express

Volunteering one’s time can be a beneficial undertaking. The Mayo Clinic reports research has shown that volunteering can improve physical and mental health and provide a sense of purpose, all the while teaching valuable skills. Unfortunately, many busy individuals lament that they simply do not have the time to volunteer.

Although charitable work requires an investment of time, busy professionals may find that there are plenty of opportunities to get involved that do not require making a sizable time commitment. Here is how to fit volunteering into your day no matter how busy you might be.

• Start volunteer efforts at work. One way to incorporate charitable work into your week is to pioneer a program at your place of employment. This approach can increase interest in volunteerism among colleagues, and depending on

your employers’ flexibility, time spent volunteering may take place during working hours. This means you can still fulfill your non-work-related obligations when the workday ends.

• Volunteer remotely. If finding something that fits with your schedule is challenging, try searching for online opportunities, suggests My Selfless Act, an online platform for sharing stories of do-goodery. By volunteering remotely, you can customize the time you volunteer to when you’re available. You even can work with someone in another time zone.

• Prioritize volunteering. Sometimes not having enough time for charitable work comes down to simply poor time management. If you make volunteering a priority, you can likely find ways to streamline your workday and free up opportunities to get involved.

• Ask for help. Identify people who are supportive and can lend a helping hand so you can find time to volunteer.

Delegate some of your tasks to free up time for philanthropic endeavors.

• Seek opportunities that require shorter time commitments. Plenty of charities have volunteer opportunities that do not require a significant investment of time. Micro-events, or volunteer work that is set up in shifts, merit consideration.

• Look for easy registration. Signing up to volunteer should be easy. Let the signup be a tell as to how complicated an opportunity may be. Organizations that provide digital access or a quick signup process likely value volunteers’ time. Groups looking to attract busy volunteers also should be mindful of keeping volunteer opportunities punctual and organized. If volunteers feel that their time is being wasted, they may be less likely to commit long-term.

Busy professionals will find that, with a little flexibility, it is possible to find time to volunteer.

Tips to to update a resume to align with the modern job market

Metro

Special to the Express

The job market can be unpredictable.

Though reports on jobs suggest the market is now flooded with openings, working professionals looking to change careers or switch firms know the reality of modern job hunting is no walk in the park.

Reports indicate that there was an average of one opening for every two applicants on the professional social networking site LinkedIn at the onset

of summer 2023. Professionals also are contending with a job market in which firms that hurried to hire applicants during the pandemic are now being more deliberate with their hiring process, sometimes interviewing candidates as many as six times before concluding the process.

There’s no denying the difficulty professionals seeking new jobs face when they begin their search. Though there’s no guarantee the right opportunity will

come along quickly, professionals can update their resumes in three notable ways to increase the chances their applications are seen.

Write a new summary

The professional resources experts at Indeed recommend individuals write a new summary of their work history that reflects their qualifications for any job they intend to apply for. Consider past accomplishments, tasks and responsibilities that are applicable to

each opening and emphasize those in the summary.

Include important keywords

The frustration many modern professionals feel when looking for new opportunities may stem from how easy it can be to apply for a job but never hear back. Indeed notes that many hiring managers utilize applicant tracking system (ATS) software when considering applications. Such programs scan resumes for predeter-

mined keywords, discarding applications that do not include them. Reading each listing carefully can shed light on which keywords to include, as the right terms tend to be right there in the job description. Indeed also advises mentioning the company’s name and exact position title in the summary statement or career objective section.

Don’t forget the person who will read your resume

Though ATS soft-

ware plays an integral role in modern hiring, eventually a human being will see the resume if it gets past the ATS portion of the vetting process. Before submitting a resume, read it several times to ensure it reflects your accomplishments, talents and aspirations and not just the keywords that will get the document seen by human eyeballs. Numerous resumes will get past the ATS software, so it’s imperative that the resume illustrates a candidate’s qualifications and talents.

Reservation Recommended

Wednesday, December 25

Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution Canceled, More info at https://yolofoodbank.org/find-food/

Thursdays

Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690

Tuesday, Dec. 24 to Friday, Jan. 3

Winters City Hall Closed, For info, check cityofwinters.org

Monday, Dec. 23-Monday, Jan. 6

Winters Library Public Hours (No School in Session)

Mon/Wed: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 12–8 p.m., Fri/Sat: 1–5 p.m.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, January 16

Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://bit.ly/4fwmfHK or www.wintersjusd.org

Tuesday, January 21

Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/

Library Services

Winters Library Open to Public (No School in Session) Dec. 23 to Jan. 6, Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 12–8 p.m., Fri/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, Closed to the public from Dec. 23 to Jan. 8, 13 Russell St., Visit www. historicalsocietyofwinters.org

Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.).

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.

Boost curb appeal on a budget HOMES, Page 2 Reflect on the season OPINION, Page 3

Local group decorates military cemetery for 19th Christmas

By Abigail Hofland Express correspondent

Remember a Vet helps families honor their service members, recently and long fallen

Any other time of year, the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is a sobering sea of white stones, punctuated by the red and blue of periodic American flags. At Christmas, the cemetery is a striking red and green, every marble marker christened with a fresh bough and bow.

These are donated and placed through the Remember a Vet wreath project, a local initiative started by the Stocking family in 2006. That year, volunteers covered all 325 gravesites with a mix of plastic and fresh wreaths. This year, they placed over 35,000 fresh boughs, achieving full cemetery coverage for the 19th consecutive year.

While Wreaths Across America, a national group, covers one section of the cemetery, Remember a Vet covers the rest. The local nature of this organization increases personal involvement and ensures all donated funds stay within the community, organizer Susie Stocking said.

In 2020, due to the pandemic, Remember a Vet switched from wreaths to boughs. A supplier in Oregon, Teufel Holly Farms, delivers a truckload of them one week before

the scheduled placement.

Each year, family members are given the opportunity to place boughs privately the weekend prior to the public event.

Debbie Sax, mother of Captain John J Sax, US Marine Corps, was among those personally placing boughs this year. She became familiar with the cemetery in the most undesirable of circumstances: her son was killed in a military training crash in 2022.

“That first year, feeling loss, you just want to do what you can do to honor the person,” she said.

When she was handed a flyer at the cemetery office detailing the efforts of Remember a Vet, Sax knew she wanted to be involved. The Stocking family approached her with the opportunity to hand out boughs and personally greet family members coming to honor their loved ones.

Through that involvement, Sax has seen families touched. The wreath project

has also broadened her community of support.

“The volunteers come with full hearts, and I’ve gotten to know people during that process. We’ve stayed connected through the year.” Sax said.

Stocking said there wasn’t an exact count of volunteers involved in this year’s efforts, but groups of all ages turned up on Dec. 14 to help place boughs.

Among those that have been involved every year are Vallejo-based SIRS and the self-dubbed ORVs –Old Retired Veterans. Rotary clubs, families, and young people regularly step up as well.

“Now we’re getting a lot of the high schools involved, and they have different teams that come out,” Stocking said.

Shelby Caskey lost her nephew, Private First Class Holden Philbrook – a Winters High School alumni –to a motorcycle crash in 2015. She said the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is a peaceful space for

her family and friends to honor him, and Remember a Vet plays a role in that.

“The wreath project is so important for the families but also so important to teach the younger generation the importance of the sacrifices that were given for this great country,” Caskey wrote on behalf of the Philbrook family.

Asked about her reason for starting Remember a Vet, Stocking replied that it was a natural response to veterans’ actions for our country and for us all.

“That’s what’s behind it,” Stocking said. “It’s to honor the sacrifices made by all these people.” Touching personal stories come in every year, along with donations in the form of personal checks.

“With so many of the checks, there comes a little note or card or call to thank us. There are so many stories. It’s heartwarming to do this,” Stocking said.

Most of the volunteers do have a personal connection to the cemetery.

“And if they didn’t when they started helping us years ago, they do now,” Stocking said.

Laura Provencher has long believed in the importance of honoring veterans. Her two boys grew up visiting the cemetery as cub scouts.

Provencher’s father

Unplugged, unhinged and crankily disconnected

Ah, the modern world — a utopia where we can order groceries, diagnose mysterious ailments and share unsolicited opinions — all from the comfort of a glowing rectangle in our hands. Yet here I am, a relic of another age, temporarily hurled back to the pre-smartphone era (late 1900s as my daughter so eloquently put it) because my fancy flip phone decided to live its best pinball life by skydiving into the sink. For a week, I’ve been not just unplugged but unmoored, floating aimlessly in the sea of disconnection. And let me tell you, friends, the journey has been humbling. I couldn’t text my husband to ask if he could

pick up milk, couldn’t meme-bomb or send comedic and relatable reels to my friends on Instagram. No murdery podcasts or ebooks for me. Instead, I’ve been reduced to talking to my cats, who stare at me with a mixture of (possibly) pity and (definitely) disdain and total judgement. It’s amazing how much I relied on my phone. Emergencies? Sorry, fire chief, send someone Pony Express style with a telegram. Daily updates? Hope my kids don’t

need a ride home because I can’t check in without a text or sneak a peek with GPS. Daily sanity check-ins? My cat Miguel Catrera wasn’t impressed by my ramblings during his usual naptime.

You’d think I’d learn to watch what I put out there. I should’ve seen this coming. I once said I’d never have five kids — and now I’m raising six. I swore I’d never live in Winters again, yet here I am, nestled back into my old house. And let’s not forget the

time I vowed never to work at the Winters Express, only to end up running the show like I’d been cast as a journalist in Citizen Kane (amazing classic if you haven’t seen it). When I muttered out loud to just a few friends that, “I need a break,” I didn’t mean this kind of break. I wanted the redwoods, a tumbler of chilled bourbon, maybe a porch with a scenic view. What I got was a personal digital blackout and the soul-searching realization that homing pigeons might actually be worth a second look.

Of course, I tried to rejoin the 21st century. My replacement phone came quickly — a big “woot woot”

Volunteers placed over 35,000 boughs on headstones at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Abigail

Hofland/ Winters Express

Courtesy photo

Volunteers work to unload the boughs off the truck.

Boost your home’s curb appeal on a budget

Affordable tips to make a lasting impression

Homewise

Special to the Express

Curb appeal is crucial when selling a home, as it sets the tone for what buyers can expect inside.

However, enhancing your home’s exterior doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some budget-friendly ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Freshen up the paint

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home’s exterior.

Focus on high-impact areas like the front door, trim, and shutters.

Choose a color that complements your home’s existing palette while adding a modern touch. If a full

exterior paint job is out of budget, consider painting just the front door in a bold, welcoming color.

Improve landscaping

Landscaping doesn’t have to be elaborate to make a big difference. Start by trimming overgrown bushes, pulling weeds, and adding fresh mulch to garden beds.

Planting seasonal flowers or shrubs can add color and life to your yard. For a minimal investment, potted plants on the front porch can create a welcoming entryway.

Upgrade the lighting

Good lighting enhances your home’s safety and appearance, especially during evening showings.

Replace outdated or dim exterior lights with modern, energy-efficient fixtures. Solar-powered pathway lights are an affordable way to illuminate walkways, while

a new porch light can make your entryway more inviting.

Spruce up the front entrance

Your front entrance is a focal point for buyers, so make sure it’s in top shape. Replace worn-out doormats, clean or replace the mailbox, and ensure the house numbers are visible and in good condition. Adding a stylish wreath or seasonal decoration to the front door can make your home feel more welcoming.

Clean and declutter

Sometimes, the simplest improvements have the biggest impact. Power wash the driveway, sidewalks, and exterior walls to remove dirt and grime.

Clear away any clutter, such as garden tools, toys, or seasonal decorations that have

overstayed their welcome. A clean, uncluttered exterior instantly boosts curb appeal.

Highlight potential living spaces

Staging in real estate involves preparing a home for sale by arranging furniture, decor, and other elements to highlight

the property’s best features. Effective staging can make a home more appealing to potential buyers by creating an inviting atmosphere that helps them envision living in the space. Staging can be done both inside and outside the home to enhance its overall presentation.

Repair and maintain

Small repairs can go a long way in improving your home’s exterior. Fix any broken

fences, repair cracked walkways, and replace loose or missing roof shingles. These small fixes show buyers that the home has been well-maintained, which can increase their confidence in the overall condition of the property. By implementing these budget-friendly tips, you can enhance your home’s curb appeal and attract more potential buyers, all without breaking the bank.

Adobe stock/Courtesy photo

Simple updates like a fresh coat of paint on the front door, neatly trimmed landscaping and clean walkways can make a home more attractive to potential buyers.

Express Yourself

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus

You can pick your reason to celebrate the holidays, but for Christians it is supposed to be the celebration of Jesus Christ our Savior’s birth. I’m not sure who picked the date, Dec. 25, 0000, but that is Christmas Day for most of the world.

I have to remind myself to take a moment every year to remember why we celebrate Christmas. We get caught up in the gift buying, cookies and parties, but we should all sit down in a quiet room and think about who set the bar on how to live our lives. Don’t dwell on it too long, but long enough to nod you head in agreement.

This isn’t my favorite time of the year for many reasons. When I was running the newspaper, it was the last month where we made money. The first three months of the year were pretty slow money wise, until April, when the Youth Day edition put the Express back in the black. I don’t think things have changed much in the newspaper business, so if you

“My birthday is next week, which should be a time of celebration, but it is just another reminder that I’m another year older.”

see Crystal walking around town with her head down, give her a smile and wish her good luck in keeping the paper running until April.

My birthday is next week, which should be a time of celebration, but it is just another reminder that I’m another year older. I feel sorry for people who have birthdays around Christmas. Our daughter, Laura, was born on Dec. 17, so we didn’t do a very good job of planning her birthday. Robert is born in June. We always celebrated Laura’s birthday

See QUICK, Page 5

Horoscopes

ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20),

It’s easy for your mind to wander and get caught daydreaming, Aries. You could be feeling a little restless and in need of a change. A vacation or a night with friends may just do it.

TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21),

Taurus, even if you are trying to save money, this week some situations will arise that will require you to open your wallet. This is why you have an emergency fund.

GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21), Gemini, sometimes people do not know which side of you they might encounter and might keep you at arms’ length as a result. Try to be more open this week.

CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22),

Exciting things are on the horizon, Cancer. This might be something you have been anticipating for some time.

LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23), Leo, this week you might need to stick up for someone or fight for a cause you believe in, even if it adversely affects your popularity. Stand your ground in these situations.

VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22), Virgo, you might want to swallow your pride and ask for help rather than trying to do everything on your own. Going it alone hasn’t helped you in the past, so why should it now?

LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23),

Someone steps in and helps you along at work, Libra. Instead of feeling he or she took liberties, thank this person for giving you the extra boost you likely needed at the time.

SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22),

Scorpio, try to look at a situation from a new angle and then you might get some of the answers you desire this week. Is someone acting out of character?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21), Learn how to deal with conflict in a productive way, Sagittarius. Then you won’t get bogged down by others when they are going head-to-head. Aries might play a role this week.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20), This week you may find that all of your efforts to build up to a pinnacle moment perhaps didn’t give you the feelings you desired. Try getting back to basics.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18),

Aquarius, something that has been stretching on for quite some time finally gets finished, giving you the closure you need. Share the news slowly with others.

PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20), Pisces, if what you are doing right now is giving you gratification, you might not need to make many big changes in the weeks to come.

NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE

The Estate of Betty Imamura Decedent

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, subject to confirmation by this court, on January 1, 2025, or thereafter within the time allowed by law, Yolo County Public Administrator, as personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent, will sell at private sale to the highest and best net bidder on the terms and conditions stated below all right, title, and interest of the decedent at the time of death and all right, title, and interest that the estate has acquired in addition to that of the decedent at the time of death, in the real property located in Yolo County, California.

2. An undivided one-third (1/3) interest in the real property commonly referred to as 35850 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, CA 95612, assessor’s parcel number 043-230020-000, and is more fully described as follows:

Lot 29 of Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 9-A, according to the Official Plat thereof, filed for record in the Office of the Recorder of Yolo County, California, on May 10, 1923 in Book 3 of Maps, at page 48.

EXCEPTION THEREFROM the Northwesterly 65 measured at right angles from and parallel to the Northwesterly line of said lot 29, as described in Deed from Cyril B. Dodson to Naoto Imamura, et al, dated November 22, 1949 and recorded in Book 311 of Official Records, at page 397.

APN: 043-230-020-000

3. The property will be sold subject to current taxes, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way, and easements of record, with any encumbrances of record to be satisfied from the purchase price.

4. The property is to be sold on an “as is” basis, except for title.

5. Bids or offers are invited for this property and must be in writing and can be mailed to the office of Dylan P. Hyatt, attorney for the personal representative, at 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815 or delivered to Dylan P. Hyatt personally, at any time after posting of this notice and before any sale is made.

6. The property will be sold on the following terms: Cash, or part cash and part credit, the terms of such credit to be acceptable to the undersigned and to the court, 10 percent of the amount of the bid to accompany the offer by certified check, and the balance to be paid on confirmation of sale by the court.

7. Taxes, rents, operating and maintenance expenses, and premiums on insurance acceptable to the purchaser shall be prorated as of the date of recording of conveyance. Examination of title, recording of conveyance, transfer taxes, and any title insurance policy shall be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers.

8. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids.

9. For further information and bid forms, contact Dylan P. Hyatt, 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815.

Dated: 11-25-2024

Meissner Joseph Ruggles, Inc.

DYLAN P. HYATT

Attorney for Yolo County Public Administrator 12/11, 18, 25 77608

NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE

The Estate of Shizuko Imamura Decedent

2. An undivided one-half (1/2) interest in the residential real property commonly referred to as 35750 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, CA 95612, assessor’s parcel number 043-230-018-000, and is more fully described as follows: Beginning at the Northwest corner of Lot No. 28, as said lot is delineated and designated on that certain map entitled “Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 9-A, Yolo County, California, on May 10, 1923, in Map Book No. 3, at page 48: thence along the Southwesterly line of said Lot No. 28, South 29° 36’ 30” East yo.y feet; thence leaving said line, North 60° 23’ 30” East 458.99 feet to the Northeast line of said Lot. No. 28; thence along said Northeast line North 27° 39’ 30” West 71.01 feet to the most Northerly corner thereof; thence along the Northwest line of said Lot No. 28, South 60° 23’ 30” West 461.41 feet to the point of beginning.

APN: 043-230-018-000

3. An undivided one-third (1/3) interest in the residential real property located at 35850 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, California 95612, in State of California, County of Yolo, unincorporated area described as follows: Lot 29 of Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 9-A, according to the Official Plat thereof, filed for record in the Office of the Recorder of Yolo County, California, on May 10, 1923 in Book 3 of Maps, at page 48.

EXECPTING THEREFROM the Northwesterly 65 feet measured at right angles from and parallel to the Northwesterly line of said lot 29, as described in Deed from Cyril B. Dodson to Naoto Imamura, et al, dated November 22, 1949 and recorded in Book 311 of Official Redocrds, at page 397.

APN: 043-230-020-000

4. The property will be sold subject to current taxes, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way, and easements of record, with any encumbrances of record to be satisfied from the purchase price.

5. The property is to be sold on an “as is” basis, except for title.

6. Bids or offers are invited for this property and must be in writing and can be mailed to the office of Dylan P. Hyatt, attorney for the personal representative, at 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815 or delivered to Dylan P. Hyatt personally, at any time after posting of this notice and before any sale is made.

7. The property will be sold on the following terms: Cash, or part cash and part credit, the terms of such credit to be acceptable to the undersigned and to the court, 10 percent of the amount of the bid to accompany the offer by certified check, and the balance to be paid on confirmation of sale by the court.

8. Taxes, rents, operating and maintenance expenses, and premiums on insurance acceptable to the purchaser shall be prorated as of the date of recording of conveyance. Examination of title, recording of conveyance, transfer taxes, and any title insurance policy shall be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers.

9. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids.

10. For further information and bid forms, contact Dylan P. Hyatt, 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815.

Dated: 11-25-2024

Meissner Joseph Ruggles, Inc.

DYLAN P. HYATT Attorney for Yolo County Public Administrator

12/11, 18, 25 77609

NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE

The Estate of Naoto Imamura Decedent

2. The property commonly referred to as 35800 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, CA 95612, assessor’s parcel number 043-230-019-000, and is more fully described as follows:

Parcel One:

Beginning at the Southeast corner of Lot 28, as said lot is delineated and so designated on that certain map entitled “Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 9A, Yolo County, California”, which said map was filed for record in the office of the County Recorder of Yolo County California, on May 10th, 1923 in Volume 3 of Maps, at page 48; thence along the Southeasterly boundary of said Lot 28, S 60° 23’ 30” West, 71.37 feet; thence leaving said Southwesterly boundary N. 60° 23’ 30” East 458.99 feet to the Northeasterly boundary of said Lot 28, being also the center line of Willow Avenue; thence along said Northeasterly boundary, S. 27° 39’ 30” East 71.41 feet to the point of beginning and being the Southeasterly 1/2 of said Lot 28.

Parcel Two:

All that portion of Lot Number Twenty-nine (29) which lies Northwesterly of a line drawn parallel to and distant at right angles Sixty-five (65) feet Southeasterly from the Northwestern boundary line of Lot numbered Twenty-nine, as said lot is so designed on that certain Map entitled “Holland Land Co. Subdivision 9-A, Yolo County, California”, which said map was on May 20, 1923 recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Yolo County, California in Map Book #3, page 48. APN: 043-230-019-000

3. A one-half (1/2) undivided interest in the property commonly referred to as 35750 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, CA 95612, assessor’s parcel number 043-230-018-000, and is more fully described as follows:

The land described herein is situated in the State of California, County of Yolo, unincorporated area, described as follows:

Beginning at the Northwest corner of Lot No. 28, as said lot is delineated and so designated on that certain map entitled “Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 9-A, Yolo County, Calfornia”, which said map was filed for record in the office of the County Recorder of Yolo County, California, on May 10, 1923, in Map Book No. 3, at page 48: thence along the Southwesterly line of said Lot No. 28, South 29° 36’ 30” East yo.y feet; thence leaving said line, North 60° 23’ 30” East 458.99 feet to the Northeast line of said Lot No. 28; thence along said Northeast line North 27° 39’ 30” West 71.01 feet to the most Northerly corner thereof; thence along the Northwest line of said Lot No. 28, South 60° 23’ 30” West 461.41 feet to the point of beginning.

4. A one-third (1/3) undivided interest in the property commonly referred to as 35850 Willow Avenue, Clarksburg, CA 95612, assessor’s parcel number 043-230-020-000, and is more fully described as follows:

The land described herein is situated in the State of California, County of Yolo, unincorporated area, described as follows:

EXECPTING THEREFROM the Northwesterly 65 feet measure at right angles from and parallel to the Northwesterly line of said Lot 29, as described in Deed from Cyril B. Dodson to Naoto Imamura, et al, dated November 22, 1949 and recorded in Book 311 of Official Records, at page 397.

APN: 043-230-020-000

5. Undeveloped agricultural real property of approximately 36.4 acres commonly known as 35565 JEFFERSON BLVD CLARKSBURG, CA 95612 legally described as follows:

The land described herein is situated in the State of California, County of Yolo, unincorporated area, described as follows:

Lot 21, Holland Land Co. Subdivision No. 5, filed January 19, 1921 in Book 3 of Maps, page 36, Yolo County Records.

APN: 043-210-017-000

6. The property will be sold subject to current taxes, covenants, conditions, restrictions, reservations, rights, rights of way, and easements of record, with any encumbrances of record to be satisfied from the purchase price.

7. The property is to be sold on an “as is” basis, except for title.

8. Bids or offers are invited for this property and must be in writing and can be mailed to the office of Dylan P. Hyatt, attorney for the personal representative, at 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815 or delivered to Dylan P. Hyatt personally, at any time after posting of this notice and before any sale is made.

9. The property will be sold on the following terms: Cash, or part cash and part credit, the terms of such credit to be acceptable to the undersigned and to the court, 10 percent of the amount of the bid to accompany the offer by certified check, and the balance to be paid on confirmation of sale by the court.

10. Taxes, rents, operating and maintenance expenses, and premiums on insurance acceptable to the purchaser shall be prorated as of the date of recording of conveyance. Examination of title, recording of conveyance, transfer taxes, and any title insurance policy shall be at the expense of the purchaser or purchasers.

11. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids.

12. For further information and bid forms, contact Dylan P. Hyatt, 1555 River Park Drive, Suite 108, Sacramento, CA 95815.

Dated: 11-25-2024

12/11, 18, 25

DMTC to host auditions for ‘Young Frankenstein, ‘Frozen Jr.’

Special to the Express

Davis Musical Theatre Company is hosting auditions for two upcoming productions through its Main Stage and Young Performers’ Theatre programs. Mark your calendars for the beginning of January.

Audition for ‘Young Frankenstein’

DMTC is excited to announce open auditions for its production of the hilarious, crowd-pleasing hit, “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein!”

Auditions will be on Sunday, Jan. 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Dr., No. 10, in Davis.

Callbacks will be Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the same location.

The show is directed by DMTC co-founder, Steve Isaacson, with choreography by Logan Sexton. “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein” tells the story of the Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein

WOES

for modern shipping logistics! But there’s a catch — my phone model does not utilize a SIM card. Transferring data requires scanning a QR code on the old phone, which sounds easy peasy until you remember the old phone’s screen looks like the aftermath of a bar brawl. (Not that I would know what that looks like…)

So here I sit, a woman who has many kids, two mini panthers and no working phone. I’ve become a walking sitcom pilot, folding notes like it’s 1993 and contemplating the purchase of an actual homing pigeon (but seriously — are those still a thing?). Who needs instant messaging when you can shove Post-Its into car door handles and screen doors, right?

before we put up the holiday decorations, but she has a friend that said she didn’t think it was her birthday until the lights went on. That maybe a better way of looking at a December birthday than moping around all month.

At my age I don’t expect, need, or want, gifts, but if you are giving someone a birthday/Christmas gift, buy two and wrap them separately. If you think that is petty, you weren’t born near a holiday. With Christmas and New Year’s Day on Wednesdays, I’m sure there will be changes in deadlines for the Express. I never minded Wednesday holidays, even if it meant that we had to print a day early, it gave us an extra day off to enjoy family and friends.

Twenty twenty-four (2024) was a good year and I am looking forward to 2025.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

(pronounced “Fronken-steen”), who inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania.

With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad-scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds.

For a list and description of all characters and roles go to dmtc.org/auditions.

Bring a prepared song (not from “Young Frankenstein”) and sheet music, with piano accompaniment (piano accompanist is provided). There will also be cold readings.

To learn more about the audition process at DMTC, go to dmtc. org/auditionsabout.

Rehearsals begin Sunday, Jan. 12, and the show runs Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 30.

Yet, this involuntary tech detox has taught me something. When I finally do reconnect, I’ll cherish every quirky meme and every mundane text exchange, knowing how empty life feels without them. I won’t take for granted that I can listen to true crime

Audition for ‘Frozen Jr.’ DMTC invites all young performers, ages 7 to 17 years old (18, if enrolled in high school), to open auditions for its Young Performers’ Theatre production of beloved modern classic, “Frozen, Jr.”

Auditions will be on Monday, Jan. 6, at 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 4:30 p.m., at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Dr., No. 10, in Davis. Callbacks will be Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 4 p.m., at the same location.

Directed by Brian McCann, with musical direction by Montana Monce, “Frozen, Jr.,” tells the story of two sisters, Anna and Elsa, where Elsa, with her magical ice powers, accidentally plunges their kingdom into eternal winter, forcing Anna to embark on a journey to find her sister and mend their fractured relationship, ultimately discovering that true love and acceptance between them can thaw even the coldest heart; the show features beloved

podcasts and access books for free through the Libby app.

And next time, I’ll watch what I say. No more “I need a break.” Next time, it’s “I need a fully paid vacation to Las Vegas or Disneyland.” Fingers crossed the universe is listening.

characters like Olaf the snowman, Kristoff, and Hans, while incorporating popular songs from the “Frozen” movie with a few added Broadway Junior elements.

Auditions are open for ALL roles and any role may be performed by an actor of any gender. For a list and description of all characters and roles, go to: dmtc.org/auditions#ypt.

Bring a prepared song (not from “Frozen, Jr.”) and sheet music, with piano accompaniment (piano accompanist is provided). There will also be cold readings. To sign up to audition, go to dmtc.org/publicforms/ypt/audition and follow the instructions, including completing the forms.

To learn more about the audition process for the Young Performers’ Theatre, go to dmtc.org/ypt-auditions.

Rehearsals begin Monday, Jan. 13. The show opens Saturday, March 15, with additional performances on March 22 and 29, and April 4–6.

Letters

Winters Museum on holiday

The Winters Museum has had a very busy in 2024! However, we do like to take a little break for the holidays, so, the Winters Museum will be closed from Dec. 23 through Jan. 8, 2025. We will re-open on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Please contact us at historicalsocietyofwinters@gmail. com if you would like to arrange a visit by appointment during the holiday closure.

For more information and to read our most current newsletter, visit our website, www.historicalsocietyofwinters.org

We are busy working on our next exhibit, “Winters’ Businesses.” If you have any photos, artifacts (like hats, matchbooks, ashtrays, signs, etc), or stories, please let us know! Happy Holidays from the Winters Museum.

GLORIA

LOPEZ President, Winters Historical society

Letters Policy

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

Three Warriors placed on All Section Teams

Ward named Coach of the Year

By Sydney Andrade Express staff writer

The Winters High School varsity football team had an incredible season, setting records and making it farther than any other WHS football team ever has gone before. While many of the athletes have now moved on to other sports it’s important to mention that three players have been selected for the All Northern Section Teams.

The All Section Team is voted on by sports writers from various newspapers and coaches within the northern section.

The All Section Team includes all teams and players from the over 60 teams in the Northern section including all of Chico and Redding. Being selected as an athletes for one of the All Section Team is an award that signifies that they are considered among the top performers in their area compared

to other players from schools within that section.

Julian Herrera and Sebastian Rodriguez were selected for the first team for the All Northern Section.

“This is the first time we have had someone make the first All Section Team since 2014. It is a very difficult list to make and definitely a huge honor. We were the only small school with multiple selections” said varsity head coach Daniel Ward.

Herrera was selected as a defensive line backer based on the stats he recorded throughout the season. Herrera has 1,237 tackles recorded, averaging 11.4 per game.

Sixteen of those tackles for a loss, three fumble recoveries and four fumbles caused.

“He is one of the best defensive players in the whole section and I was so excited for him to get the recognition. He anchored one of the best defenses in the history of WHS with seven shutouts and only gave up four points per game,” said Ward.

Rodriguez was selected as a defensive back for the All North-

ern Section team.

“Rodriguez was one of the best two-way players in the Northern Section,” said Ward.

Rodriguez made nine interceptions on defense and on offense he recorded over 1,700 total yards, 20 touchdowns and as a punt returner he was second in the nation with an average of 40.1 yards per return and two touchdowns.

The Warriors’ quarterback Lane Brown was selected for the second team for the All Northern Section.

“Lane had one of the best quarterback seasons of all time right up there with Jake Lowrie in 2014 and Daniel Carrion in 2018,” said Ward. Brown ended the season with 1,996 passing yards and shattered the school record by completing 73 percent of his passes. He ran for 919 yards and made 12 touchdowns totaling almost 3,000 yards of offense and 30 touchdowns.

In addition to having three players make the All Section Team, Ward was also honored as Coach of the Year.

and father-in-law were always involved.

“It was a really special time for my boys to be with their grandfathers who were veterans,” Provencher said.

Now, her family visits the cemetery without their beloved patriarchs, Provencher’s dad passed away in early 2022 and her fatherin-law followed later that year.

“Obviously it hit home,” Provencher said of interning her loved ones in the cemetery, “but know-

ing it’s so peaceful and full of serenity is just beautiful. You look at Arlington, and it’s all these really important people buried there. To know that my dad and father have the same level of respect is really amazing.”

The Provenchers have volunteered with Remember a Vet for years, dating back to when they served hot cocoa at the inaugural 2006 event.

“It’s been such a big part of our lives. My boys came home from college to be there,” Provencher said.

Since her son’s death, Debbie Sax has made regular visits to the cemetery,

where John is laid to rest. She is often accompanied by her son’s pilot mentors and friends.

“They’ve gone out to the cemetery with me, and we’ve sat for a long time. It is a very beautiful place to be interned, and the people lovingly maintain it,” Sax said.

Sax speaks highly of the supportive military community that surrounds families in the midst of grief. She points to Remember a Vet and the team behind it as an extension of that support.

“How they have touched people’s lives with that act of kindness,” she said of the Christmas bough efforts.

“When people least expect it, in their deepest pain, the Stocking family has been kind, compassionate, and has offered a vehicle for families to honor their loved ones this holiday season.”

On Jan. 11, the Christmas boughs will be taken down beginning at 7:30 a.m. Volunteers are welcome to help, and no sign up is necessary.

Beyond this season, Remember a Vet hosts fundraisers, such as the golf tournament scheduled for May 30, 2025 and the Sept. 6 dinner auction.

For more information about these or to sign up for regular updates from Remember a Vet visit www.wreathproject. org or email wreathproject@yahoo.com.

WREATHS Continued from Page 1

KS Winters Photography/Courtesy photos

Sebastian Rodriguez (left) and Julian Herrera (right) were selected for the first team for the All Northern Section.