By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
Members of the Winters Senior Commission On Aging discussed the next steps for the future of the commission and explored programming opportunities at its May 17 meeting.
It’s official, Winters’ own Upper Crust Baking won the title of “most wanted donuts” in the 2023 Yolo County Vegan Chef Challenge. Although Upper Crust is known for much more than doughnuts, this award is a sweet surprise nonetheless.
While doughnuts weren’t part of Upper Crusts’ usual pastry lineup, the family business opted to dabble in creating the tasty treats to appease the town’s clamoring.
Yolo Foodies applauded Upper Crust’s vegan doughnuts that were crafted specifically for the April challenge.
“The Yolo County
Vegan Chef Challenge was a month-long event where chefs from around the county were invited to create a special vegan dish. The challenge was marketed to promote veganism, its benefits and the fact that vegan menu items can be just as good or better than non-vegan things,” said Upper Crust owner, Lorin Kalisky. “We were invited to participate in that event during the month of April, so we made two different types of vegan doughnuts to take part in the challenge and I think people really enjoyed them. We had a raised doughnuts and a cake doughnuts that were both vegan, then we decorated them and glazed them the way we do for the rest of our doughnuts, and they sold pretty well.”
Essentially, Yolo County foodies of all lifestyle food preferences were invited
to visit the different restaurants, cafés and bakeries participating in the challenge in various categories. Over 220 people made up of vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters alike voted on the participating dishes. The taste buds did their tasting, the people did their voting and the results yielded Upper Crust with the ‘most wanted doughnuts’ on May 25.
“The chefs behind the doughnuts are me and our lead doughnuts maker, Armando Pedraza. We also worked with our ingredients supplier to make the recipe, and all of the different things we use to decorate and glaze our doughnuts are vegan already,” said Kalisky.
“We separated them and kept a label on our vegan doughnuts for the competition and so people knew what they were. Some
The senior commission has experienced regular turnover since its inception in 2019. Commissioners Eleanor Yeatman and Karen Croley both resigned from their seats over the last two months. Commissioner Tina Lowden informed the group she would not renew her term following the term’s
expiration in June.
Following Lowden’s term, the senior commission would be left with only three active commissioners and four vacant seats. The commission was originally approved to be a commission of seven.
Through discussion, commissioners identified a few options:
• Asking City Council to reduce the number of commissioners from seven to five and change the number of meetings help during the year, possibly to quarterly
• Recommend that the senior commission disband until
the Senior Center is constructed, and ask the council to create an ad hoc to work in the meantime to handle furniture and governance • Recommend the senior commission disband and recommend they create a broader Parks and Recreation Commission to be formed Chair Cheryl Sandoval and commissioners Marianne Boyer and Mark Rowan (who would be the remaining three commissioners) discussed the pros and challenges of each option.
Sandoval pointed
See SENIOR, Page 3
The city of Winters hosted a 2x2 meeting between officials from Winters and Yolo County to discuss a few topics relevant to Winters including unhoused individuals, local health needs and the I-505 project.
Those in attendance included Winters City Council member Jesse Loren, Mayor Bill Biasi and City Manager Kathleen Trepa sitting down with Yolo County Super-
visors Angel Barajas and Lucas Frerichs, along with Yolo County Administrator Gerardo Pinedo, Yolo County Public Works Director Vin Cay, Yolo County Community Services Director, and Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency officials Brian Vaughn, Rebecca Tryon, Nolan Sullivan, and Samar Lichtenstein.
The first section of the meeting dealt with a report on homeless residents in Winters. Biasi asked what services and connections the
county has available for people experiencing homelessness, specifically asking about some specific unhoused populations living under the Winters bridge. Sullivan provided some background of the county’s approach to the issue, saying that usually there’s a city or county partnership in each of the larger cities in the county, while the county covers most everywhere outside the larger cities. This is usually
See CITY, Page 3
Future subscriber: Milanna Darlene Mendonca
Ashlynne Brooke Neil and Timothy Dwayne Mendonca Jr. of Winters announce the birth of their daughter, Milanna Darlene Mendonca. Milanna arrived at 10:15 p.m. on May 27, 2023 at the Vacaville Kaiser Hospital. She weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches at birth. Milanna’s maternal grandparents are John and Karen Neil of Winters and great-grandfather Walt Neil of Winters. Her paternal grandparents are Leda Mendonca and the late Timothy Mendonca Sr. of Elk Grove and great-grandparents Roger and Mildred Hanney of Sacramento. Her late maternal grandparents are John and Darlene Benson and Sally Neil. The Mendonca and Benson/Neil families are very excited to announce the birth of their sweet Baby Girl. She is surrounded with lots of love, joy and gratitude!
The Winters Joint Unified School District is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children 18 and younger without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activ-
ities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.
Meals will be provided at the sites on Monday thru Friday at the dates and times as follows:
Waggoner Elementary School June 12 to
Lake Berryessa water levels continue to decrease
The water level of Lake Berryessa went down during the past week by 0.28 feet, with a decrease in the storage of 5,022 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh of the Solano Irrigation District.
On the morning of Tuesday, June 6 the lake level was 430.07
feet above sea level, with storage computed at 1,369,006 acre-feet of water. Evaporation on the lake averaged 274 acre-feet of water per day. The SID is diverting 405 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 44 cubic feet per second flowing at the Diversion Dam.
July 21
• Breakfast: 7:45–8:45 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m.– 12 p.m.
Shirley Rominger
June 14 to July 19
• Breakfast: 8– 8:30 a.m.
• Lunch: 10:50–11:15 a.m.
Winters High School
June 14 to July 19
• Breakfast: 8–8:15 a.m.
• Lunch: 10–10:15 a.m.
The summer meal program is closed on June 19, July 3 and July 4.
To file a complaint of discrimination, call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY) or write to: USDA; Director, Office of Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Ave., SW; Washington, D.C. 202509410.
Winters JUSD is an equal opportunity provider.
El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Winters Especial para Express
El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Winters está participando en el Programa de Al muerzo de Verano. Los almuerzos serán proveí dos a todos los niños de 18 años de edad o menores sin costo alguno. Los requisit os para partic ipar y calificar para el Programa y todas las actividades son los mismos para todos a pesar de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, edad o discapacidad durante el curso del servicio de alimentos. Los almuerzos se proporcionarán en los sitios
indicados y a la hora indicada abajo en lunes a viernes:
Waggoner - Elementary School , del 12 de
8:15 a.m.
• Almuerzo: 10:30.–11:30 a.m.
Winter High School del 14 de junio al 19 de
Desayuno: 8–8:15
Almuerzo: 10–10:15
Cerrado el 19 de junio. 3 y 4 de ju-
• Desayuno: 7:45–
8:45 a.m.
• Almuerzo: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Shirley Rominger del 14 de junio al 19 de julio
• Desayuno: 7:45 –
Para presentar una queja de discriminación, número de llamada 800-795-3272 o al 202-720-6382. También puede escribir inmediatamente a: USDA; Director, Office of Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Ave., SW; Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
Por Crystal Apilado Traducido por Carol Alfonso
En coordinación con el lanzamiento del Programa de Lectura de Verano de la Biblioteca del Condado Yolo (Yolo County Library Summer Reading Program), la Biblioteca Comunitaria de Winters (Winters Community Library) tiene grandes planes para el verano.
Ashleigh Torres, supervisora de la sucursal de la Biblioteca de Winters, dijo que los residentes comenzaron oficialmente a registrar sus lecturas para el programa de lectura de verano del 2023 a partir del 1 de Junio.
“Tendremos una amplia variedad de programas para todas las edades durante todo el verano,” dijo Torres. “El tema de este año es “All To-
gether Now” (Todos Juntos Ahora), que se centra en la unidad y la amistad, que creo que encaja perfectamente con la comunidad de Winters.”
La Biblioteca de Winters presenta una serie semanal de programas “All Together Outside” (Todos Juntos Afuera), que está siendo financiada por una subvención de la Biblioteca del Estado de California (California State Library) recibida por la Biblioteca del Condado Yolo (Yolo County Library). Torres dijo que los eventos se centrarán en la vida silvestre local y las oportunidades recreativas. Este verano, la Biblioteca de Winters se asocia con Putah Creek Council para ofrecer el programa Creek Explorers (Exploradores del Arroyo) todos los Miércoles a las 2 p.m. a partir del 7 de Junio.
“Este programa es para (jóvenes) de 6 a 11 años para que vengan y aprendan sobre el arroyo y las criaturas que llaman al Arroyo Putah Creek su hogar. Los participantes también podrán realizar actividades prácticas relacionadas con cada tema,” dijo Torres alentando a las familias a asistir juntas.
La Biblioteca del Condado Yolo también ofrece una serie de programas semanales All Together Outside en todas las sucursales del Condado Yolo del 10 de Junio al 15 de Agosto. Los eventos gratuitos se
centrarán en la vida silvestre local y las oportunidades de recreación, comenzando con un festival inaugural el Sábado 10 de Junio. de 9 a 12 p.m. en Capay Open Space Park, ubicado en el 15603 County Road 85 en Capay.
Este evento familiar, en colaboración con la División de Parques del Condado Yolo (Yolo County Parks Division), Tuleyome y Latino Outdoors, contará con una caminata por la naturaleza, cuentos bilingües en Inglés y Español, una actuación musical de Cascada de Flores, actividades divertidas y una feria de recursos con información sobre vida silvestre, grupos de conservación, rutas de senderismo cercanas, oportunidades recreativas y más.
El horario de los eventos All Together Outside se puede encontrar en el calendario en línea de la Biblioteca del Condado Yolo en YoloCountyLibrary.org/Events.
Los temas de All
Together Now y All
Together Outside son complementos adecuados para el programa de este verano, ya que la exposición a los libros y al aire libre desde una edad temprana fomenta la empatía, la curiosidad y el aprecio por la belleza y la diversidad que nos rodea, según una comunicado de prensa de la Biblioteca del Condado Yolo.
Los miembros de la comunidad que estén interesados en inscri-
birse en el Programa de lectura de verano pueden visitar la biblioteca para obtener un registro de lectura en papel o pueden registrarse en línea en yolocountylibrary. org/summer.
Participación en el programa Todos los residentes del Condado Yolo que se inscriban en el programa pueden elegir un libro gratuito de una selección disponible en la sucursal de su biblioteca local. Los participantes que completen el desafío de lectura de verano recibirán otro libro gratis y un premio, así como una participación en una rifa final de premios adicionales.
Los niños de 0 a 12 años también recibirán un certificado para una comida gratis para niños en Raising Cane’s. Los premios estarán disponibles para recoger hasta finales de Agosto o hasta agotar existencias.
Se alienta a los participantes a realizar un seguimiento de los libros que han leído, registrar los minutos de lectura, completar actividades para ganar insignias y premios y descubrir nuevos libros en línea a través de la plataforma Beanstack en la web o mediante la aplicación. Los padres o cuidadores pueden registrarse y registrar rápidamente sus propias lecturas y las de sus hijos en una sola cuenta principal.
Comidas gratuitas para los jóvenes de Winters este verano
Since 1987, RISE, Inc. (Rural Innovations in Social Economics) has been on a mission to build healthy, strengthbased communities that highlights youngsters’ natural talents and gifts. Now as youths from Esparto and Winters have reached the end of another school year, RISE presses forward on its mission into the summer months.
RISE, itself is nearing completion of its new headquarters building in Esparto at 17317 Fremont St, and also recently established a new location
out that the work the senior commission set out to do couldn’t really be done by just the three of them.
Boyer said she’d like to have a more effective commission with specific goals to work on versus just discussing ideas that could be. Rowan also showed support for the possibility of creating a new broader commission vs just reducing the number of commissioners and meetings.
City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa said that without a functioning senior center, it was hard for the city to bring them issues to work on and that senior programming could fall under a broader commission that focuses on
Continued from Page 1
done with a specialized group that Sullivan says is “happy to deploy wherever” and typically deploys the referral of the sheriff, a city council member or a city manager. Connecting homeless populations in Winters to Yolo County, Sullivan said, “More than anything, it’s just you guys” referring to Winters officials and “putting it on our radar.” This can include interfacing with homeless populations, camp abatement, and offering training and resources to Winters police for helping homeless people.
Community wellness
The next item of the meeting was the Community Health Assessment conducted by the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Public Health Branch.
Tryon and Lichtenstein presented the findings of the CHA for Winters, as well as looking for ways to partner between the county and city for addressing these issues.
The assessment’s findings come from a collective effort from HHSA and include input from focus groups and surveys that went out to 1,500 residents across the county, with Lichtenstein noting that the support provided by Winters Healthcare and RISE, Inc. in getting this survey out to Winters residents helped make the response in Winters high.
Some of the main is-
on its Winters front at 417 Haven St. With all these moving parts, however, it’s limited RISE’s usual availability of summer programs.
The Winters summer program is scheduled to be a program that youths can transition to at the Shirley Rominger Intermediate School campus after the summer school program concludes for the day. However, according to Tico Zendejas, RISE Executive Director, the Winters program is filled up for this summer.
“This is a strengthbased summer program. So, kids will take a strength assessment that identifies their
parks and recreation.
Trepa suggested that if they went the route of advising the city council to create a parks and recreation commission, they should request
top talents and then (do) different activities and skill-building around their strengths. There’s also a lot of recreation, arts, and fun gaming activities and we also take them to the pool every so often. It’s a variety of recreational activities for those kids,” Zendejas said.
By keeping youths’ focus away from their phones and on their talents, RISE not only takes strides toward fulfilling its mission but also bolsters their confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Coinciding with the summer program is the litany of mental health services that
more effective than the narrow scope of a senior commission. And with the city bringing items to the commission, it would be a working body instead of just hav-
remain available year-round.
“While we only have the one program in Winters this summer, we will continue providing mental health services to students that need them. We have full-time clinicians at almost every school site in Winters, like at the high school, at Rominger and at the middle school. So, they’re there on the school sites full-time,” Zendejas said.
The RISE clinicians will be available during the summer break to provide mental health services to Winters families. To get a hold of these services is to call the RISE community ser-
would have first gone to such a commission but instead went straight to the city council. A concerned citizen brought a request to Lowden and Trepa for a senior-only swim program, which is exactly the type of task a Parks and Recreation Commission could address, Trepa noted.
vice centers. Winters residents can call 530794-6000.
“So, you can call or walk into our service center on Haven Street and ask about how to get connected and receive those services. They include one-on-one assessments for every young person and seeing what support they need,” Zendejas said.
“Also, there’s more clinical mental health services along with higher-level mentorship, we work with families on creating strategies on helping students and families reach the goals they’re working on. Mental health clinicians can also provide educa-
VEGAN
Continued from Page 1
people were a little shy or afraid to try them, but others gave them a try just to give them a try. Honestly, people could hardly tell the difference.”
tional workshops for groups, education on mental health and reducing stigma and they can also do social groups for youth and educational workshops surrounding mental health.”
After being part of RISE for nearly two decades, Zendejas has seen first-hand the positive impact the nonprofit has had on the youths who participate in it — as well as their families.
To learn more about RISE, Inc. programs and its services, visit www.riseinc.org. One can also check out RISE’s social media accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
nuts — even though that wasn’t something that we had ever done before — that meant a lot to a lot of people,” said Kalisky. “We sell a lot of doughnuts in Winters now, so I don’t know why we ever hesitated before.”
that the commission members represent different interest groups including older adults, youth, Spanish speakers and other community members who have an interest in it.
“I think a broader parks and recreation commission would be
sues identified in the assessment as “significant health needs” across the county include access to basic needs, access to mental/behavioral health and substance use services, and injury and disease prevention management. For Winters specifically, the data shows that there are a number of key areas where Winters is performing above county averages, such as a higher median household income, lower rates of crime, smoking, and certain sexually transmitted diseases, and lower respondents who reported
ing meetings,” Trepa said.
Trepa pointed out that the city currently doesn’t have a parks and recreation commission and listed Three Oaks Park, the swim partnership with SASO, and the youth basketball league as items that
solete and approaching the end of its life. The main concern is that, if they widen the bridge, it can’t be made ADA accessible, but if a separate pedestrian bridge is built, Caltrans has a policy of not maintaining two bridges and the city will have to pay to maintain it, though the city is petitioning them to make an exception,
Biasi noted that Caltrans building a new bridge would be “ideal” but is also unlikely at the moment.
Trepa told the Yolo County officials that city staff is managing the project but that
In order to bring the recommendation to the city council, the senior commission would need to first make it an official agenda item. Commissioners approved holding a special senior commission meeting on June 14 at 5:30 p.m. and canceling the June meeting. Lowden said she would stay on in her commissioner role to attend the June 14 special meeting so they would have a quorum.
ed he wasn’t in office when this agreement was made.
Trepa summarized that the I-505 has been “a regional project pretty much since the beginning, since its inception” but at some point, Winters ended up the project lead.
“To take this project all the way over the finish line,” Trepa continued, “is going to take regional collaboration,” which will involve the city, the county, and Caltrans all working together, but that at the moment the city’s main concern is who is going to take over as project lead as Winters doesn’t have anyone on staff experienced enough in capital improvements of this magnitude and are already spread so thin because the staff is so small.
Although the award-winning — and ‘most wanted’ — vegan doughnuts aren’t regular menu items, Kalisky maintains that they’re available on special order by visiting Upper Crust at 606 Railroad Ave. or calling 530-750-1180.
“Winning feels great, and we’ve been so happy and over the stars about our reception in Winters. The community has been incredibly warm and welcoming to us and I think the fact that we capitulated and ended up making dough-
for Caltrans to release the guidelines on the project, and reiterating that his and Cay’s assistance can allow the city and county to start with this right away.
To stay up-to-date on all things Upper Crust, check out its website at www.ucbaking.com and search @uppercrustbaking on Instagram and Facebook.
having “not good” physical or mental health. However, Winters also performed below certain county averages, including a higher rate of obesity, binge drinking, and slightly fewer respondents with access to insurance, preventative services, or dental care.
The final discussion section of the meeting was dedicated to the I-505 project. Trepa began the discussion by summarizing the city’s position on the project, as they are working with Caltrans to either invest in a whole new bridge or upgrade the current one, which is ob-
staff are already underfunded with other project-managing duties, and that any help the County can provide with finding additional resources and project management would be welcome.
Cay said that he had many years of experience working with Caltrans on similar projects, noting that negotiations and agreements with Caltrans can be time-consuming to come to but with the right effort can be done, and offered to help city staff with the project.
The discussion shifted to the commitments already agreed to by the county and city, and Barajas not-
Lindbo said that the county “hears loud and clear” that the city needs help, but note that while the county has the expertise “we don’t have the resources to take it on” as a project lead would have to be fulltime and that would need a new person or would have to reprioritize existing people.
Gerardo offered that the county should look into this further and determine the extent of this bandwidth issue, and the county will look for shuffling around responsibilities or finding new people, which will take some time but that in the meantime, the city and the county should take the project in chunks. A good first step can be the county joining Winters in pushing
“I think a broader parks and recreation commission would be more effective than the narrow scope of a senior commission.”
Kathleen Trepa, city manager
“To take this project all the way over the finish line is going to take regional collaboration.”
Kathleen Trepa, city manager
June 8, 1878
(From the files of The Winters Advocate)
The engine Solano of the Cal P. R. R. is now doing duty on the V. V. R. R.; sounds like business.
My connection with the Advocate as local editor ceases with this issue. R. Clark.
The undersigned, after a fit of illness lasting nearly four months, hopes to be able to resume his duties the coming week.
M. H. McRae, Editor, Winters Advocate
Saul Hook raffled a fine silver watch on Thursday night; John Stovall was the lucky man.
Two four-horse wagons with three families passed through town on Tuesday from Santa Rosa bound for Washington Territory.
There is plenty of room for them there, millions of acres of government land
Years Ago
Dispatches from the Express archives.
available for development.
One day last week somebody threw the stump of a cigar near the barn of Rev. Culton now in the course of construction; the breeze fanned it to a flame and only for the timely noticing of the fire by some of our citizens the barn would have been burned before it was finished.
evening of last week. Twenty-three pupils have been enrolled during the year, and there has been a regular attendance of fifteen. Prof. Scranton has given good, honest, conscientious work to the school and the commencement exercises are witness to this fact.
YESTERYEAR
John Byron Benson passed away peacefully on February 22, 2023, at the age of 83 at the Vacaville Rehabilitation Care Center. His heart simply failed. John was born in Los Angeles County, on July 2, 1939, to Dora DeHetre Benson and Paul Byron Benson.
He was their firstborn, followed by sister Judy and brother Jeff.
John is survived by his four children Philip, Kent, Drew and Karen. Eight grandchildren Patrick, Brenden, Breanne, Brock, Ashlynne, Paul, Tyler and Brooke and three great-grandchildren Brody, Braxton and Milanna.
John’s early childhood was spent growing up with aunts, uncles and cousins in Compton, California. His family moved to Parka Estates in Long Beach during his junior high school years. John attended Wilson High School in Long Beach. It was there that his athletic abilities were noticed by coaches. He played third base on the baseball team, center on the basketball team, and quarterback on the football team.
John met the love of his life in his junior
June 10, 1893
The high school closed its first year with appropriate exercises, in the Opera House, on Friday
June 8, 1928
Commencement exercises for the Winters High School Class of 1928 will be held this evening at the High School Auditorium. Baccalaureate
services were held Sunday, and the class play was given Wednesday night.
John Byron Benson
Darlene was the one.”
year of high school, 1956 Darlene Ann Warder. John lived out the storybook life where the quarterback “meets and marries” the cheerleader. The high school sweethearts were a popular couple with all their many friends. It was in their senior year at Wilson High School when they fell in love.
Many times, John would tell the story of when he and Darlene first started to date and when he took her to a high school dance. He would say, “I walked Darlene out to the dance floor for a slow dance. As we embraced, I felt such love while dancing we didn’t even realize the music had stopped.”
John would continue and say, “all the other students circled around watching us. It was then, I knew
John was recruited by many schools to play football and basketball. He accepted a scholarship to Arizona State University to play basketball. He had a great freshman year but missed his love, Darlene. He came home that summer and married Darlene on July 20, 1958. That fall, John and Darlene headed back to Arizona and made their home in Scottsdale. During his sophomore year at Arizona State, Darlene discovered she was pregnant. John left school and they returned home to California to start their family and he began working for his father at the “Paul B. Benson Cabinet Company.” John was a woodwright by trade, a skill he learned from his father.
John and Darlene had their first son, Philip, in 1959 and soon had two more sons — Kent was born in 1960, and Drew in 1962 — while living on Canton Street in Long Beach.
John had many interests as a boy and a young man. John had hobbies that his family exposed him to, such as racing homing pigeons and raising and riding horses. John had a love of country life. One day he came home from work and surprised his wife — he announced he had bought country property in Brea (Carbon Canyon of Orange County). Surrounded by hills and living the “country life,” the Benson family became “countryfied” with horses, cattle and an occasional pig!
Far from ordinary. Close to you.
Life became busy driving the canyon road to get the three Benson boys to Pop Warner Football, Little League practices and 4-H meetings. While living in Brea, two major life-changing events happened for the Bensons. First, they met the Shaffer family, who became lifelong friends and Darlene became pregnant. The family was completed with the birth of a daughter, Karen Lynne in 1967.
In 1971, John had the opportunity to relocate his family to northern California to supervise the construction of an RV manufacturing facility, which built Six Pac Campers for Benson Industries. John and Darlene packed up their four kids, six horses and two dogs, and left southern California behind.
In January 1972, the Benson family arrived in Winters. Soon to follow were their parents, Paul and Dora Benson and Charles and Dorothy Collyar to join their new life adventures. John often said, “The best thing I ever did was move my family to Winters and raise my family in this wonderful community.”
The Benson family embraced the Winters community and was very active with several organizations. He and Darlene were involved in starting the Tri-City Cowboys Pop Warner Football program and helped with Winters Little League, Winters Swim Team and the 4-H club. John sat on the Parks and Recreation Committee for
the city of Winters. He was an engaged member of the Lions Club, and John and Darlene were honorary members of the Winters FFA Chapter. John always volunteered to help Winters JUSD projects and school activities. He was a leader in the Yolo/Solano Pigeon Club and took leadership roles at state and national levels for the Pigeon Club Associations. John and Darlene participated in the Square Dance Club — Mr. and Mrs. Dance Club! They were an incredible couple on the dance floor.
Later in life, John and Darlene loved to travel. Most of their travel was centered around visiting family. It was all about being involved with their grandchildren. John and Darlene didn’t miss anything! Sporting events, animal shows, school activities, dance recitals, theater performances, fundraisers and traveling with his family was his JOY! John and Darlene traveled twice to the FFA World Champion Livestock Judging Competition in Europe, held in Edinburgh Scotland. Another highlight was traveling to Omaha, Nebraska to watch their son, Philip, umpire the Division 1 College Baseball World Series.
You don’t have to travel far for extraordinary service. All the attributes you expect of a good neighbor – personal consideration, understanding, and consistent support – you can expect from us.
John had his director’s chair in the back of his pickup truck and took it wherever he went. He sat eagerly on the sidelines, supporting and watching most every practice and game. He cheered for his grandchildren, along with all the children of the Winters community. He was called “Papa John” by not only his own grandchildren but by all community members, kids and adults. As his grandchildren entered into the college level of sports and academics, he wore each color of each university
Ruth Russell, George Chapman, Weaver Gaddini, Patty Baker, Isabel Huntley, Wilfred Bigelow, Lillian Riter, James Felix, Robert Streeter. Helene Riesbeck, Dorothy Fong, Douglas PO Box 520, Winters, CA 95694 530-795-4551 Se habla español. news@wintersexpress.com Content due by Monday at noon. Other space reservations due by Friday at noon. Office hours are by appointment. Call 530-795-4551 to schedule a meeting. Subscription delivery issues? Call us and leave a message or submit a complaint via our website. Crystal Apilado, Editor-in-Chief Fred Gladdis, Special Editor Sydney Andrade, Staff Writer Aaron Geerts, Staff Writer Jacob Hoffman, Staff Writer David DeLeon, Advertising Director Taylor Buley, Publisher-at-Large Charles R. Wallace, Publisher Emeritus Award-winning American journalism. Designed in Yolo, manufactured in Solano. Notice: Unless otherwise indicated, all of the stories, articles, pictures, captions and editorials appearing in this edition are © Copyright 2023 The Winters Express, LLC, a limited liability company, all rights reserved.
proudly. He was ALWAYS the biggest fan of the USC Trojans, but rooted for the Amherst Jeffs, Texas A&M Aggies, UC Davis Aggies, The Herd in WV, New Mexico State Aggies, Wichita State Shockers and the Georgia Bulldogs! In the latter years, John and Darlene spent many months of the year in Georgia. They were able to spend a lot of time with their lifelong friends, Jerry and Mary Alice Shaffer in Kennesaw, Georgia. John and Darlene enjoyed sitting on the porches of family homes in Winters and Athens reflecting on their wonderful fulfilling life.
John lost Darlene, the love of his life, in August 2021. After her passing, he shared time living at the Neil family home in Winters, and the Vacaville Convalescent Rehabilitation Center with constant love and support of his family.
John would say, “I was a very lucky man to somehow get your mom to marry me, raise and watch my kids grow up, and then have such beautiful grandchildren to love and enjoy.” John also lived to see his great-grandson born, Brody Benson. After John’s death, Braxton John Benson arrived (Brody’s brother) and soon to arrive, great grandbaby girl, Milanna Darlene Mendonca.
A celebration of Life is planned for July 6, 10 a.m., at the Winters Cemetery.
Following graveside services, The Benson and Neil Families invite you for a gathering in John’s honor at the LuNita Ranch (John & Karen’s home) 8189 Olive School Lane, Winters. Please bring your appetite for John’s favorite foods and a good story to tell about John Byron Benson!
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junior varsity and varsity baseball clubs had sensational 2022–23 seasons and they re cently celebrated at their annual end-of-the-season awards banquets.
Junior varsity
In an undefeated run, the junior varsity squad celebrated its championship season at the Pizza Factory on Friday, May 19. Under the tutelage of Manny, Donnie Sr. and Donnie Jr. Garcia, the Warriors gave their opponents a taste of the caliber of competition they’d be facing for years to come.
Manny Garcia beamed with pride as he handed out individual awards to his Warriors.
The Michael Bazan coach’s award went to Gio Jimenez while the Noah Lichwa coach’s award went to Julian Herrera. This season there were co-most valuable players on the team and the designations went to Lane Brown and Miles Mariani. Jordan Wojan received the award for most stolen bases while Hayden Green got an award for most RBIs.
“This team made us look like great coaches. That’s the only thing I can say about this team,” praised Manny Garcia. “They made us feel like we were the best
coaches in that league because they did everything perfectly. I couldn’t have asked for a better team because they listened well, were well-behaved, didn’t brag, they their heads up when they struck out and were all around just good. I’d love to coach another team like this next year.”
Meanwhile, the varsity team held its banquet on Tuesday, May 23, at the Pazmino household where the squad delighted themselves to a taco bar. Although the squad fell short of their championship aspirations, the Warriors’ regular season and playoff appearance were more than enough to be proud of.
Jordan Calvert, Anthony Duran, Isiah Pazmino and Derick Olson received all-league awards for their stellar performances this season. The scholar-athlete award was given to AJ Pignataro while the coach’s award was given to Ashton Baylor.
“Overall, I’m excited about the guys returning to play next year, but I’m really going to miss my seniors. All of them were juniors when I took over this coaching position and they all have a special place in my heart,” said head coach, Austin Calvert.
Derick Olson, a Winters High School junior this last season, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. Not only was Olson a force to be reckoned with at shortstop, but at the plate as well. Head coach, Austin Calvert called Olson a “super consistent” player. “All that on top of being a leader on and off the field. He raised the morale of the team, was a great teammate,” Calvert said. “He’s coming back next year and he’s just that guy and I wanted him to get recognized for it.”
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is sponsoring an Amateur Artist Event
(for Seniors 55+)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, June 13, 2023
location: Winters
Community Center
Cost: No Charge
Winters received another $100,000 SACOG community design grant for Paseo Park. Seventy-four community members responded to the survey and results indicated the amenities of most interest were: seating, shade covers or sailcloth, a covered performance or picnic space, the piano, landscaped planters, a fountain or water feature, the Free Little Library, murals on the walls, a bike rack, space to display art and a bocce court.
Illegal fireworks
Trepa discouraged residents from setting off illegal fireworks this year. A municipal code, approved by
City Council last year, gives law enforcement officials the ability to issue administrative citations to residents for the use of illegal fireworks on their property. Under the ordinance, property owners who are cited for having illegal fireworks on their property could receive a $1,000 fine — even if they are not the ones setting them off.
Last year, Police Chief John P. Miller told the Express that property owners can get “an out” of the $1,000 fine if they themselves call to report the use of illegal fireworks on their property or attempt to take action to put a stop to it.
Residents can report illegal fireworks to the Winters Police Depart-
ment dispatch center by calling 530-795-4561 or by sending a photo or video evidence to tips.winters@winters police.org. In order to enforce this municipal code, residents will still need to give Winters PD their contact information, but it does not require any further action.
Winters PD will be relying on residents to come forward to provide accurate information and as much detail as possible when they are reporting. Miller said there’s great importance to providing accurate identification of offenders. He suggested that neighbors should approach neighbors with mutual respect and engage in a cordial conversation to discourage discharging illegal fireworks.
This event will be guided by an experienced artist, under her guidance you will create an acrylic painting, the subject of which will be revealed at the event.
All participants will receive a canvas to paint on along with paint and brushes. This is a limited capacity event, 25 or so participants.
Bring: Your joy and enthusiasm for creating and a snack to share. Drinks will be provided. please
or email us at info@wintersseniorfoundation.org
Wednesday, June 7
Winters public engagement meeting: 2023 Yolo Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update, 2–3 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Public Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/bdd6xe5n
Wednesdays
Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution, Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue
Thursday, June 8
Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://bit.ly/ WintersJUSDBoardAgendaCommunitySite
Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee Special Meeting, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance)
Thursdays
Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690
Monday, June 12
Winters Climate Action Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Check cityofwinters.org/climate-action-commission
Tuesday, June 13
Winters City Council Special Meeting: Budget Workshop, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_
Wednesday, June 14
Winters Senior Commission on Aging Special Meeting, 5:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), check cityofwinters.org/ winters-senior-commission-on-aging
Saturday, June 24
Winters Elder Day Celebration, 2–4 p.m., St. Anthony’s Parrish Hall (511 Main St.)
Winters Library Open to Public (No School in Session)
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, 13:30 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, Second Thursday, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-666-8005 to schedule an appointment
Afterschool Adventure (ages 6-12), Third Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Winters Community Library
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 Wide World of Sports exhibit Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., Winters Museum, 13 Russell St. Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org
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 Saturday of the month, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5 p.m.), Downtown Main Street. Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m., Hooby's Brewing
Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings:
» St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 Main St. (back entrance) Tuesdays, 7-8 a.m. and Fridays, 7-8 a.m.
» Yolo Housing office building, 62 Shams Way: Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m.
Winters features many creative go-getters who combine passion with an entrepreneurial spirit. Raul Garcia is a prime example of this with his handcrafted jewelry made from fly fishing lures.
A Winters kid through-andthrough, Garcia grew up in this small town and graduated from the Winters High School Class of 1996. In his tenure there, he played baseball and held the single-season record for most home runs at nine.
Garcia went on to play college baseball but has since put down the bat and picked up the fly-fishing pole — a passion he continues to this day visiting spots along Putah Creek as well as various lakes in Nevada. Little did he know, this passion would soon turn into a unique, jewelry enterprise.
“It all started last summer when I went to this lake in Nevada and bought some earrings made out of streamer flies for my wife. Around the same time I started tying my own flies for fishing and my wife said, ‘Why don’t you make your own earrings?’ So, I made a pair for my sister-in-law,” explained Garcia. “She picked out the feathers and I just made her a pair that came out looking really nice. Then we showed them to our friends Carla and Mel over at Steady Eddy’s (Coffee House) and they said, ‘Why don’t you sell them here?’ After that, we came up with a design and it’s all called, ‘So Fly.’”
If one is unfamiliar with fly fishing, it involves a constant repetition of casting one’s line and reeling it back in. At the end of the line is a fly lure or streamer fly that imitates an aquatic insect or small fish that bigger fish will want to take a bit of. These fly lures are vividly colored and made of various feathers and other sparkling ornaments that also happen to make a snazzy pair of earrings.
“I use streamer flies and then I also use these natural stone beads, too, that are
really cool. Flies normally have a metal bead on them, but I replace them with cat’s eye and other natural stones when I make my earrings,” said Garcia. “My earrings are all hand-tied, too. I’ve seen earrings made out of feathers that are glued on, but mine are tied and will last longer. I do use a little glue at the end, but it’s all hand tied and (are) very durable. They’re also made from quality flies, too.”
Another draw to Garcia’s earrings is that they’re
customizable. From the feathers, the colors, the stones and beyond, Garcia can easily cater to his client’s requests. With each pair taking no more than 10 minutes to craft, he’s also dabbling in creating packets of Putah Creek-specific flies to compliment his jewelry.
“I like seeing people enjoying what I make, wearing them and actually buying them. It’s nice having people (who) want to do custom earrings and enjoy wearing them. I also hear ladies like them also because they’re comfortable and very light,” said Garcia. “I’m a school safety officer at Berkley High School, but I really love making these earrings and sharing them with people.”
If one wants to check out Garcia’s So Fly earrings, look no further than the little stand inside Steady Eddy’s Coffee House location. One can also get in touch with Garcia by emailing him at raul77garcia@ gmail.com.
“Flies normally have a metal bead on them, but I replace them with cat’s eye and other natural stones.”
Raul Garcia
Another perspective on Winters’ new construction
By Joedy Michel
Special to the Express The last few months have shown a similar market to the peak we experienced in July 2022. It might be hard to believe, but we have seen increasing inventory, decreasing days on the market, and are experiencing the return of multiple
offers. As the demand for housing continues to grow, new construction projects have emerged as a transformative force driving many of these increases. The impact of these developments is being felt across various regions presenting both challenges and opportunities for
buyers, sellers and industry professionals alike. We are having a similar experience here in town.
In Winters, of the current 37 active or pending listings, 25 of them are homes built after 2020. These new(er) homes currently listed have an average listing price of $661,000, while the remaining homes (with an average age of 20-plus years old) have an average listing price of $692,000. This may seem to
go against what people might commonly think — that the newer home prices are
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outpacing the price of older homes — but it just isn’t currently the case. With high demand, people are still willing to pay a bit more for older homes to be in a better neighborhood, have larger lots, have more choice in making the home
their own, be clos-
er to downtown and not have such a tract home vibe. Surges in inventory typically create a more balanced market shifting the power dynamics from sellers to buyers. This should help buyers have more options to choose from leading to a potential moderation in home prices and a decrease in bidding wars. The discrepancy in the current inventory versus demand is still for too low. Increased new available homes also bring challenges to the market. Firstly, the demand for skilled labor in the construction
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Local history — even the 1800s — is important
Oh Dear, Karen Christie! How should I respond to your letter to the Express sent in on May 31 asking if any Winters residents can relate to what happened in our town back in 1878? Well, I can’t speak for ALL Winters residents, but I will admit to caring about our town’s history, even as far back as 1878.
Perhaps the May 24 Winters Express “Years Ago” clip from 1878 addressing the loss of a barn due to fire, which was previously owned by a Mr. Theodore Winters, might pique your interest? Go back and read it again, in case you missed it. Maybe Theodore’s last name of Winters might have something to do with our town’s name.
In case you’d like to learn more about Theodore and our town’s history, I would suggest making a visit to the Winters History Museum. Not only will you find interesting photos and information about our town on the corner of First and Russell streets, but you will also have an opportunity to talk to many volunteers who truly care about what happened in Winters back in 1878 as well as in 1988 (35 Years Ago) and up to our present day. The museum entrance fee is FREE and all folks are welcome no matter where they currently live or used to live.
I’m not sure if you made it to the FREE Memorial Day Celebration at our town cemetery which was written about in the May 31 Express issue, but it was a moving commemoration of past Winters residents who gave dearly to keep our town, state and country intact for all of us to enjoy. Some of those veterans honored were born prior to 1878 and played a part in building and improving “their” small town, which has now become “our” small town. In case you missed the ceremony this year, put it on your calendar for next year. It was well worth the visit.
Another event in Winters, which is also FREE and open to all, is the Winters Elder Day Celebration being held on June 24 from 2–4 p.m. If you go, I know you will find many more Winters residents who also care deeply about Winters and how this town has shaped their lives. I certainly hope my dear mother will be having a good day on June 24 so we can both attend. You see, although she was not born in 1878, she was one of the groups of Winters residents honored at the very first Elder Day Event held way back in 2017. Aren’t we lucky in this community to have such an event take place where our elders can teach us a bit about their personal history in Winters? If we are lucky, Karen, we hope to see you there!
Hopefully,
HELEN HEMENWAYWhen you open your city of Winters utility bill this month, take a moment to read the water quality report. It doesn’t change much from year to year, which is a good thing. I like the taste of our water, which means I don’t taste anything. It isn’t like drinking water from the tap in the Sierras, where the taste of iron makes you take a look at your glass to see what is in it. If you look at a sink in Truckee, you will find a reddish tinge on everything and don’t even think about looking at the first gush of water out of the faucet.
HOMES
Continued from Page 2
industry has intensified leading to higher construction costs and potential delays in completion. The rising prices of building materials such as lumber and steel have driven up construction costs which are ultimately passed on to buyers and potentially impact affordability.
In response to these challenges various stakeholders, including developers and local
We have something in our water, my guess is the calcium and magnesium, that makes our faucets and drains crusty white. You can keep your plumbing cleaner with a water filter, or by having a soft water filter installed in your house. I put up with a little potassium chloride in my water so I don’t have to deal with crusty faucets and showers.
One of the first questions our new neighbors asked was about the white crusty stuff on their faucets. I’m thinking within the year they will figure out how to deal with
See QUICK, Page 4
authorities, are focusing on sustainable and affordable housing initiatives while others are implementing more strict regulations to ensure responsible development practices that preserve community aesthetics and historical value.
While the new construction supply is providing buyers with more choices, the competition for all homes is also heating up.
Reach Realtor Joedy Michael at Joedy. Michael@norcalgold. com.
Solano Resource Conservation District
Special to the Express
One hundred volunteers assembled at Lake Berryessa on Saturday, June 3 to take part in the 50th observance of World Environment Day. Participants worked hard to clean trash, plastics and recyclables from the shores of Lake Berryessa.
Teams of volunteers from Anheuser-Busch joined with individuals and families of volunteers to remove debris from the areas surrounding Markley Cove to the Monticello Dam. The haul this year involved more than 100 pounds of cigarette butts, bottle caps, food wrappers, glass and plastic bottles and other plastic items that eventually degrade into microplastics, including fishing line and other discards.
Plastic debris can
entangle and kill fish, birds and wildlife when it is in its original form. When it breaks down with time and environmental exposure, the resulting microplastic tiny particles travel through waterways and end up in the ecosystems that serve as homes to aquatic and marine life. Microplastics are easily ingested by
living things, often causing great harm. Microplastics also tend to collect other pollutants on their surfaces; further endangering the animals that eat them and everything that
eats those animals as the substances accumulate in their bodies and slowly make their way up the food chain, including into the bodies of the humans who consume them. Removing plastic from
our waterways is a major component of good water stewardship.
Some participants had the opportunity to plant yarrow and creeping wild rye plugs along Lake Solano and take guided kayak tours with docents from the Solano Resource Conservation District and Putah Creek Council.
Genentech Green Team Lead, Emma Mendiola, helped volunteers create their own wildflower pollinator seed packets and all registered volunteers received a commemorative T-shirt. The day ended with a picnic lunch from the Upper Crust Bakery in Winters, and a meet-and-greet with locally famous Bilgee, the Protector
of Clean Waterways, who posed for photos. Everyone gathered for a group photo to cap the day.
“The Lake Berryessa World Environment Day Cleanup is our largest employee volunteer effort of the year,” said Christopher Garcia, Environmental Manager at the Anheuser-Busch Fairfield Brewery. “This event helps us both protect the environment we work and live in and, since Lake Berryessa is our primary water source, helps us to make a product we’re proud of.”
The next big cleanup is also a world- wide event: Coastal Cleanup Day. It’s scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23. To learn more, visit cleanupsolano.org.
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Naoto Imamura CASE NO PR2023-0119
To all heirs beneficiaries creditors contingent creditors and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both of: Naoto Imamura
A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Yolo County Public Administrator in the Superior Court of California County of: Yolo
The Petition for Probate requests that: Yolo County Public Administrator be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent
The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval Before taking certain very important actions however the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action ) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: June 30, 2023 Time: 9:00 A M Dept : 11 Room:
Located at 1000 Main Street Woodland CA 95695
If you object to the granting of the petition you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney
If y ou a re a c r editor or a c ontingent c reditor of the dec e d e n t y o u m u
Continued from Page 3
our water, or, learn to replace faucets more often. That is part of the joy of living in the Central Valley of California. Most of us take water for granted. Turn on the tap, voila! There it is. Same with our outdoor sprinkler systems, but not everyone in California, or the U.S.A., is so fortunate. So when you
see a city employee, thank them for our clean, good-tasting water. They may not be the ones responsible but thank them anyway. If you don’t like our water, silence is golden.
One thing not in the water report was the health of our wells. According to the report, there are 2,388 water hookups in the city of Winters with the average person using 147 gallons a day. That may seem
like a lot, but most of my water use is keeping the lawns green and flowers blooming. I’ve convinced myself that having a green lawn is good for the environment, taking CO2 out of the air and keeping my neighborhood cooler in the summer.
It appears that our rainy season is done, but we have to wait until June 30 for it to be officially over, So far, Joe the Weatherman has measured
37.62 inches of rain for the season, but he said he isn’t done, yet. I’ve been tempted to open up the rainfall contest entries to see who the optimists are in Winters. I’m thinking that whoever picked the highest will win the $100 check from Tay, the publisher. I don’t like to embarrass anyone, but if you guessed under 10 inches of rain for the year, watch out. Have a good week.
Special to the Express
Winters residents will have an opportunity to discover local nonprofit organizations and what volunteer opportunities are available at the Winters Volunteer Fair on Saturday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to Noon at Three Oaks Park (between Chapman and Taylor Streets).
Over 20 nonprofit organizations from Winters and Yolo County will be on-site at the volunteer fair. There is no fee to attend. New and established residents can learn more about these organizations, their missions to serve the community and how they can get involved at any level of volunteerism.
The volunteer fair will be hosted by community volunteers City Councilmember Carol Scianna and Express editor Crystal Apilado who wanted to provide a time and place for local nonprofits to gather together.
“Winters is a special community because there are many organizations in town and in Yolo County that offer unique and focused services. Residents not only have
“Winters is a special community because there are many organizations in town and in Yolo County that offer unique and focused services.”
Crystal Apilado
an opportunity to receive support for almost any situation but can also pay it forward by volunteering for any number of these nonprofits throughout the year,” Apilado said. “Volunteer opportunities range from setting up chairs, running a table shift, sitting on a board to donating time or services. The great thing is community members can choose what works best for their current lifestyle and can select a different opportunity at a later time.”
Community members who would like to volunteer to help set up or clean up after the event can sign up by Thursday, June 13 at bit.ly/3oTblr9.
Winters Express
Yolo County, Woodland Chamber of Commerce and City of Woodland will host a Job Fair with up to 60 participating employers and resources on June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Woodland Community & Senior Center, located at 2001 East St. in Woodland.
This Job Fair is supported by YoloWorks!, which connects job seekers to jobs in Yolo County, the Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency
and the Workforce Innovation Board in partnership with Woodland Chamber of Commerce, City of Woodland and Yolo County Library. Participating employers are recruiting for job opportunities in customer service, information technology, healthcare, sales, food service, manufacturing, trucking, warehouse and hos-
pitality.
During Job Fair, job seekers can connect with employers with immediate openings in Yolo County and surrounding areas, including Winters-based businesses.
Interested job seekers looking for new careers, laid off due to COVID, students and farmworkers are all encouraged to
attend the Job Fair and bring copies of their resumes to land their next job. To prepare, job seekers can visit any one of the YoloWorks! Job Centers in person, attend a YoloWorks! career workshop or schedule a virtual appointment at www. yoloworks.org. Register for the Job Fair in advance at www. yoloworks.org. For more information, contact Erica Johnson at erica.johnson@ yolocounty.org or 530631-2289, or visit www. yoloworks.org.
Winters Downtown Business Association
Special to the Express
The Winters Downtown Business Association is hosting free music for the community in downtown Winters on Thursdays and Fridays this month.
Inspired by the Winters Friends of the Library’s July Summer Concerts at the Gazebo musical events, Winters DBA expands the musical opportunity and is providing a summer concert series in
June and August in Rotary Park.
The Winters Combined PTA is the designated nonprofit that will benefit from the June summer concert lineup.
Winters DBA is also continuing its Friday Night Main Street musical concerts on Friday evenings.
All musical events in June are from 7 to 9 p.m.
This month’s lineup includes:
• June 8: Karma Loading (folk)
• June 9: Eddie Davis and the
Notes of Choice (jazz)
• June 15: Mike Blanchard & the Californios (Americana)
• June 16: Papa Day Blues Band (blues)
• June 22: James Israle & Friends (roots rock)
• June 23: Hit Squad Inc. (90s and 2000s alternative rock)
• June 29: Radley & Juelich with Lee Ockeden (blues)
• June 30: Muddy Waders (Americana)
For more information, see the events calendar at online at discoverwinters.com/ events.
West Yolo Democratic Club
Special to the Express
After a hiatus of a couple years, the West Yolo Democratic Club is resuming. There have been some organizational meetings and now the club is ready to get to work. The club is looking for new members from western Yolo County to join.
At the next meeting, there will be a discussion of import-
ant issues nationally and locally, with the idea of making positive change. The club always welcomes suggestions of issues to discuss each month
at the meetings.
The main focus of WYDC is the next presidential election, 18 months away. As with every election, it will be an important vote for the country.
The club plans to have a fundraiser in the fall to support Democratic candidates and Democratic issues, nationally, state-wide, and locally.
Board President, Cynthia Rodriguez, invites prospective
members to call her for more information, and come to the next meeting on Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 for a potluck supper before the meeting, which starts at 7:15. The next meeting will be held at the home of Woody and Rebecca Fridae (112 Liwai Village Ct. Please call Rodriguez at 415-4041778 to save a seat at the table, but even if you can’t call, you are welcome.
Special to the Express
For those seeking to explore a career as a community health worker or promotores, the Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) is launching a free health worker certification program this summer. The program offers participants strategies and skills that can be transferred and applied to future careers in health and social services.
The new program will initially offer two educational courses: the Community Health Worker Certificate and the Social Work and Human Service
Work Readiness Certificate. Participants can enroll in one or both courses. Tuition for the courses is free. Textbooks and instructional materials will also be provided to participants at no cost.
“This is a great opportunity for community members to explore job roles in community health work and earn a certificate to add to their resume,” said An Ta, career preparation and adult education specialist with YCOE. “By participating in either
“This is a great opportunity for community members to explore job roles in community health work and earn a certificate to add to their resume .... participants will gain tools and a better understanding of how to navigate services for others and themselves.”
An Ta, career preparation and adult education specialist with YCOE
course, participants will gain tools and a better understanding of how to navigate services for others and themselves.”
No specific prior training is required from applicants. Ta added, “We are looking for individuals who have the desire and enthusiasm to
help others through outreach, education, social support, and advocacy. If you care about the well-being of others and want to make a difference in the community, we encourage you to apply for the program.”
To be eligible, participants must be 18 or older, have received a high school diploma, or passed the General Educational Development (GED) test. The program encourages participants to have basic computer skills. Participants in the course will be offered the opportunity to receive additional in-person or remote support if needed.
According to the California Health Care Foundation, a March 2023 report named community health workers and promotores as a “critical part of the health care workforce” with most health employers planning to hire more in the next year. In California, most hospital and clinic-based employers require a high school diploma as the minimum educational requirement for entry-level community health worker positions.
The Community Health Worker Certification is a 105-hour, non-credit certificate program designed for
students who plan to pursue a career in community health or social work. The course will be taught virtually with instruction offered daily from June 12 to July 7.
The Social Work and Human Service Work Readiness Certificate is a 51-hour program. The course will offer hybrid instruction with participants re-
quired to complete 28 hours of self-guided online study and three full days of in-person training. The in-person training will be held on June 10, 17, and 24 in Woodland. Individuals who are interested in the health worker certification program can apply online at the YCOE website at www.ycoe. org/communityhealth.
When 2022 ended, many of us simply stacked it onto an ever-rising series of years that we’ve retrospectively looked back on and described as “hard” or “difficult. For the Class of 2023, their entire high school experience was made up of those kinds of years, beginning with their freshman year being drastically upended in March 2020.
But for Winters High School counselor Marcella Heredia, this cohort cannot — and should not — be defined only by the hardships they endured.
“I know that for years to come when we look back and reflect on a graduating class, we’ll probably automatically think of something COVID-related and look at what year of their schooling was impacted,” Heredia said. “But, I think it’s important to look at all the other stuff the classes have experienced besides COVID.
“Don’t get me wrong, COVID was a drag, but we got some pretty resilient students in our district that bounce back like no other,” Heredia continued.
Heredia said she hopes this class can take away more from their experience than just the difficult parts, but the importance of resilience and dedica-
tion in the face of those difficulties.
“I think that the class of 2023 leaves Winters High School with some good life lessons,” Heredia said. A key lesson Heredia stressed was the importance of embracing change, transitions and farewells, as while at WHS “they said welcome and goodbye to 17 different teachers.”
“While 17 seems like a lot of teachers coming and going over four years at Winters High School, I think it’s a good lesson,” Heredia noted, “They will be say-
ing welcome and goodbye to future teachers and coworkers for the rest of their lives-I think it’s something we never really think of unless we really have to.” But along with endings, there are beginnings. According to Heredia, this cohort of students “was also able to share some big moments with the staff of Winters High School” including being able to congratulate teachers and welcome their new babies and teachers getting married.
Heredia also noted that
“the class of 2023 got to see the inclusion of a full-time on-site mental health clinician from RISE available to them on campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.” The ink of the past is dry the moment it’s written, and sometimes in life, we find ourselves forced to walk down paths we couldn’t avoid, and it can make us feel helpless and demoralized. The Class of 2023, like all of us, could neither predict nor stop the COVID-19 pandemic from inexorably altering
their lives.
But they didn’t let it, or anything else, stop them from keeping their heads up and seeing their high school experience through with more strength than could have been expected of them, returning to school in March 2021 and finishing out the next two years to get to this point. As Heredia described, the class of 2023 proved to themselves and to the community that “our lives as we know it can practically be put on pause for nearly a year, but that we do bounce back.”
One of the many life-changing, learning opportunities a Winters High School student can indulge in is joining the local FFA chapter. Part of that whole experience includes the completion of a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project which gave the graduating seniors an opportunity to showcase their work ethic and dedication to their agricultural education.
Kayla Mederos, WHS ag teacher and FFA advisor, said the FFA education model is broken down into three components with each circle representing a different requirement in the ag program. Mederos said at WHS they refer to it as the hand, the head and the heart.
The classroom instruction is the head, the FFA leadership opportunities make up the heart and the SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experiences) projects offer the experiential, handson learning opportunities that make up the hands aspect.
SAE projects — akin to Senior Capstone Projects — are a showcase of a student’s passion, work ethic and the knowledge gained in and out of the classroom.
Mederos said students must complete these projects outside of class time, and according to the California Department of Education, a student’s grade can be impacted by their SAE project.
“For example, 20
percent of their grade must come from participation in FFA events and having an SAE project. And it’s up to local chapters to decide how they want to divide up that 20 percent. Here in Winters, we split it up 10
and 10. So, 10 percent of a student’s grade is dependent on an SAE project,” Mederos said. “A lot of students double dip and use an SAE project as their Senior Capstone. They just go above and beyond to transform
their SAE project into something else.”
Mederos shared about some of the more notable senior SAE projects from some of this year’s seniors. FFA President, Ava Skinner harvested cherries from the tree at her house before processing and creating her own cherry jam which she jarred, labeled and sold. Skinner also had a placement SAE project working for Ciarlo Fruit and Nut.
Kianna Miller had a sheep breeding project for three years and also raised two market lambs for the Yolo County Fair. On top of that, Miller also worked at Rainwater Ranch flower farm while also growing a patch of dahlias on her family’s property.
Jose Martinez raised pigs for the Yolo County Fair for two years and worked hand-in-hand with Miller to create the FFA store where the students’ products would be sold. Martinez also worked solely in the produce section of Lorenzo’s Town and Country Market — which counts as part of his SAE project.
Meanwhile, Luke Dondero was in charge of the ag site’s pumpkin patch this year. According to Mederos, Dondero not only donated pumpkins to the preschools and
kindergarten classes but also organized a kindergarten agriculture day where the students came out to experience activities at the ag site and picked pumpkins themselves. Alongside that, Dondero had a placement SAE project where he worked in tractor repair and maintenance for Mariani Nut Company.
Zander Shane — a newbie to the FFA as a senior — was hard at work building a utility trailer at the ag site shop that will be for sale at the Yolo County Fair.
Chase Hamilton raised some pigs for the Yolo County Fair as well and currently works for JT Martin Trucking greasing trucks and bolstering his SAE project while doing so.
Brinley Bronson designed and cut signs for various businesses and clients — including signs for the Winters Community Library.
Chris Mara worked for a welder in Dixon on top of raising cattle and livestock at his family’s ranch. With all these seniors completing these ambitious projects, many of their efforts were recognized at the Yolo Section Project Competition Banquet.
See SAE, Page 3
“The project competition is a contest where students are interviewed about their SAE projects and are graded based on their interview skills and how good their record book is,” said Mederos about the banquet that took place on April 26. “We had three seniors attend and Luke Dondero and Ava Skinner both received Gold Awards for their projects. Ava also received the outstanding placement SAE project award for her interview about Ciarlo Fruit and Nut SAE. Also, Jose Martinez won a Silver Award for his interview working at Lorenzo’s.”
While the SAE projects are a requisite for a passing grade, Mederos talked about the overall value they bring to the students who take part in them.
“These projects allow students to take the hands-on skills they learn in class
Winters Express
Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy
• Mexican Concilio of Yolo County scholarship: Melissa Lopez
Gutierrez
Winters High School
• Adam Davis Memorial: Chase Hamilton – $1,500
• American Legion Yolo Post 77: Makena Driver – $2,000
• Beta Alpha Beta: Christina Ramirez –$1,000, Ava Skinner –$515
• Burns Bellhorn: Luca Navarrete –$1,000 (renewable for 1 year)
• Cabrillo Club #5: Jack Bryant – $500
• California Retired Teachers Association: Giselle Del Toro – $700
• Concilio of Yolo County: Yarethzi Sanchez – $500
• Doug Baldridge Memorial: Ava Skinner
• First Northern Bank: Yarethzi Sanchez – $1,000
• Friends of Winters
FFA: Luke Dondero, Jose Martinez, Ava Skinner
• Fortnightly Club of Winters: Kalyssa Grinbergs
• Friday Night Live: Christina Ramirez, Yarethzi Sanchez ($500 each)
• George & Margery
Kresa Memorial: Makenna Driver – $1,000
• Grace & Frank Pignataro Sr. Memo-
rial: Janeth Valadez
– $1,000
• Holden Philbrook
Memorial: Ava Skinner, Leslie Lopez, Madeline MacMahon, Jack Bryant, Makena
Driver ($750 each)
• Hugh Randolph
Memorial: Giselle Del
Toro – $500
• Jared Davis Memorial: AJ Pignataro –
$1,500
• Jessica Patricia Ortiz-Mendoza and Lupe
Ortiz Si Se Puede Memorial: Giselle Del
Toro, Yarethzi Sanchez ($500 each)
• Julia Millon Memorial: Yarethzi Sanchez, McKenna Clifford ($2,000 each)
• Kate Humphrey
Kindness Scholarship: Leslie Lopez, Lilianna Rodriguez, Luca Navarrete ($500 each)
• The Kindness
Scholarship: McKenna Clifford
• Mariani Nut Company: Guadalupe Tovar, Anahi Garcia, Leslie Herrera, Yarethzi
Sanchez, Pricila Gonzalez, Jose Martinez
• McMahon Graf: Ava Skinner $2,000
• Michael Bazan Jimenez Memorial: Marcus Lopez, Mickayla Passantino, Jack Bryant, Makena Driver, McKenna Clifford, Yarethzi Sanchez, Christina Ramirez, Leslie Lopez, Janeth Valadez, Karla Garibay, Lilianna Rodriguez ($500 each)
• Nick McClellan
“Mr. Mac” Memorial: Brinly Bronson –$1,000
• Noah Lichwa Memorial: McKenna Clifford – $1,000
• Pacific Union College: Makena Driver $60,000 (over four years), $2,000 leadership scholarship
• Progress View Farms: Karla Garibay $1,000, (renewable for one year – $2,000 total)
• Saylor Family Scholarship: Giselle Del Toro, Leslie Lopez ($1,000 each)
• Travis Credit Union: Lilianna Rodriguez – $2,000
• Tri Counties Bank: McKenna Clifford –$1,500
• Winters Music
Boosters: Kalyssa Grinbergs, Sesar Murillo ($500 each), Declan Vosburg – $400
• Winters Lions Club/F. Ramos Memorial: McKenna Clifford, Jack Bryant, Lilianna Rodriguez ($500 each)
• Yolo Masonic Lodge: Lilianna Rodriguez, Makena Driver
• Yolo Youth Services
Award: Leslie Lopez – RISE Inc., Brinly Bronson – Winters Friends of the Library ($1,000 each and $500 to affiliated nonprofit)
• Anonymous Scholarships: Makena Driver – $1,000, Danielle Johnson – $1,000, Marcus Lopez – $500, Karla Garibay – $500, Pricila Gonzales – $500
and apply them to something they’re excited about. Because students get to choose these projects and I think it gets them excited about what they’re learning in class and shows them that what they’re learning can be applied in the real world,” said Mederos. “Obviously, we want students to
learn how to be productive citizens, have a job, do an interview, show up on time and be a good employee or businessman or woman. The FFA motto is, ‘learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve.’ And I think an SAE project is really the ‘doing to learn and earning to live.’”
You’ll always remember this day and so will all of us who were here cheering you on. Best of luck to all the graduates!
The school year is over and the Winters High School Class of 2023 is off on to the next chapter. Before this group of incredible individuals ride off into their respective futures, however, it’s time to highlight the senior athletes of who proudly bore the title of Winters Warriors.
COVID was a big barrier in this class’s high school experience. From masks to distanced learning to have sports stripped away for a time, the adversity these youngsters faced was cumbersome to say the very least. Luckily, the athletic opportunities returned, and the athletes would take full advantage of them.
These athletes showcased the resiliency and tenacity the Warriors are known for on the field, court, track, mat swimming pool, and wherever else the competition lies.
Basketball
Women’s varsity
Although the women’s varsity basketball squad was 4–10 in the league, its overall record was 11–13. Under the tutelage of head coach, Jeff Christian the women played with heart and irreplicable chemistry all season long. Bringing much of the team energy were seniors Mickayla Passantino, Dennise Valdez and Dani Johnson.
“They all brought a different ingredient to the team. Dani, her ingredient was positivity. She wasn’t able to play in a good chunk of the season, but she attended every practice and rooted on her teammates and spread that positivity to her sisters out there on the court,” said Christian. “Dennise, her ingredient would be adding humor and laughter to the team. She always had a humorous approach she’s taken to life and tried to look at things through that lens. I know myself and her teammates appreciated that for sure. Then Mickayla added a competitiveness to the team. She wanted to get out and compete and do the best that she could. I think she wasn’t afraid to go out and take action toward
making that happen and never got too down on herself when she wasn’t doing well.”
Men’s varsity
For the second year in a row, the men’s varsity basketball team made it to the playoffs under head coach, Brendan McShea. The Warriors went 6–8 in the league with an overall record of 10–16 and are truly re-establishing WHS basketball as a contender.
The senior athletes on the squad include AJ Pignataro, Nathan Vigil, Marcus Lopez, Logan Crabtree, Jack Bryant and Luca Navarrete.
“The seniors on the team were perfect teammates. They came to work every day, pushed everyone around them and were also super positive with great energy on the bench. Then there were big games where we needed them and they were ready to play,” said McShea. “The whole senior class were an important parts to our success all year. Marcus and Logan started almost every game and had big impacts. These seniors also taught me how to be a high school coach at WHS. They all taught me the number one thing to do is have fun and enjoy the game. Say, when it was a tight moment in a game or I was getting grumpy about how we were running a drill, they’d bring excitement or a joke and bring the energy back up. That little bit of fun got us going, and that’s a good thing to remember always.”
Over on the softball diamond, the varsity softball club laced up and went head-to-head with stiff competition all year long. The squad ended up going 5–8 in league with an overall record of 7–15 under head coach, Garrett Garcia.
The seniors on the team included Isabella Mehl, Kalyssa Grinbergs, Dani Johnson, Mackayla Garland, Lupita Tovar, Angelica Michel and Mickayla Passantino.
“Our seniors were the perfect example of what it should look like to be a Winters Warrior. They weren’t only athletes with many playing multiple
sports, but they also managed to juggle the demands of senior-year academics. These young women were a good example of the work ethic and dedication needed to be a student-athlete,” said Garcia. “My biggest takeaway from this season was how tough these athletes were. We had several injuries, some sidelined players for a few weeks or longer, but these girls were able to come back and finish their last season. I’m impressed with how well they handled these challenges and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Baseball
The varsity baseball club had another stellar season this year. Under head coach, Austin Calvert, the Warriors went 10–4 in the league, 16–9 overall, and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Although the team is stacked with underclassman talent, the seniors were a big portion of the force driving the team to success. They included Julien Leon, John Rominger, AJ Pignataro, Marcus Lopez and Justice Madsen.
“This is the group that really made me a coach. Last year, I came in
midway through the season and the juniors at the time were this year’s seniors, and they were my first crew I got to run a full season with. That’s the reason I’ll never forget them, will always be thankful for them and they’ll always have a special place in my heart,” said Calvert. “This group of seniors really did have that grit. They all had that competitive spirit and competitive nature, and that’s the centerpiece of what being a Winters Warrior is. It’s having that drive to succeed, and they all have that.”
The Winters Warriors also scorched competition around the track. Head coach Chris Kays along with the help of assistant coach Bill Davis kept the Warriors’ competitive edge sharp all season long. Much of the energy and fuel that kept the team running forward came from seniors Jack Bryant, Sanders Clark, Adrian Cruz, Jesus Cruz, Makena Driver, Christian Hernandez, Madeline MacMahon, Luca Nevarrete, Viridiana Reyes, Diego Rodriguez, Yarethzi Sanchez, Ava Skinner, Nathan Vigil, and Paris Zaragoza.
“The seniors were all good about listening. I’ve had them two years prior and it’s been easygoing for me as a coach. They’ve been what mediates everything,
so I really appreciate that as well as them leading by example. Our four-by-one team crushed it this year for varsity girls and that was with Viri Reyes, Paris Zaragoza, Madeline MacMahon and Makena Driver,” said Kays. “The standout performance from any senior boy or girl has to be Makena. She always puts us in a good position to win in the four-by-one, she won league and division in hurtles and is currently ranked fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. She was also the league champ for the high jump. Overall, most of these seniors are returners and they helped coach the junior varsity’s up when I was busy helping others. Having them come back showed how much they missed it all during COVID and it was just fun having them and competing.”
The Friday night lights always shine bright at Dr. Sellers Field as do the Warriors who play on it. Head coach and WHS Athletic Director, Daniel Ward coached his team to a 2–3 record in the league with an overall record of 4–6.
Seniors were the difference makers throughout the season for the team and include Marcus Lopez, Evan Plitt, Sanders
Continued from Page 4
Clark, Ethan Judd, Logan Crabtree, Justice Madsen, John Lopez, Ethan Demment, Josmar Rueda, Omar Bermudez, Manny Cuevas, Evan Carbahal and Isaac Aguilera, “I love all my seniors, they’re good kids and if I’m talking about football kids I’ve got to talk about Justice Madsen. He’s a doit-all kind of running back you don’t see in high school very often. He led our team in rushing and receiving, which is unheard of. We just haven’t seen that at WHS and it was a lot of fun to coach. Also, Ethan Demment. He battled injuries throughout the year and is one of the most athletic linemen we’ve ever had and we were a different team when we were out there,” said Ward. “The seniors got the most out of this experience. They understood what Winters and Smalltown football are. To these kids, there was nothing bigger or more important than playing in Winters under those lights. This group helped teach me to have fun and enjoy the moment. You get so caught up in wins and losses and records, but as far as the fun aspect and looking forward to going to practice every day, this group had it! And that was refreshing.”
The soccer program is without a doubt a powerhouse in WHS athletics. The women’s varsity soccer team tore its competition to shreds in an amazing season going 9–0–1 in the regular season, 15–3–1 overall, and went on to secure a section championship under head coach, Chip McKenna, and assistant coaches Fatima Guzman, Kim Olivas and Phillip Hoag.
The notable seniors included Yarethzi Sanchez, Lilianna Rodriguez, Marta Silva, Anahi Garcia, Pricila Gonzalez, Andrea Cojean, Isabella Mehl and Mckenna Carrion-Clifford.
“It was a good group and for the most part they’ve been together since freshman year and the one group affected most by COVID. There was lots of talent on the team, lots of experience and this group really played hard for their school and one another. They showed a lot of spirit this whole year and it’s been one of my favorite years coaching because they got along so well,” said McKenna. “One of my favorite memories with this group was after a rainy day we decided to do slide tackle practice. It just morphed into them just sliding around in the mud. Everyone got involved with that, even the girls I didn’t expect who wanted to get muddy. That was just a fun bonding moment.”
Mens varsity
The stellar footwork and winning ways continued on, on the boys’ side of things as well. With coach, Fernando Cervantes at the helm along with Tyler Hagy as assistant coach, the squad went 8–0–2 in the regular season, 13–2–4 overall and also brought home a section championship.
The seniors on the squad were Noel Gutierrez, Jairo Barajas, Agustin Covarrubias, Jorge Guzman, Christian Hernandez, Esai Garcia and Jonathan Guevara.
“I’m really happy for the guys, they finished their school careers as champions. All the seniors brought leadership and did their part in the game all around. Based on what I saw, all those seniors have a great future ahead of them on and off the field,” said Cervantes. “I always give them a chance to talk and hear them out. As a coach, I don’t get things right all the time, so I always ask for criticism and we all grow in this way. I’m just proud of all of them, and these seniors are graduating as section champions. And that’s something they can carry with them their whole lives. They’ll always be able to look back and remember they were section champions.”
Swim
Whether it’s on dry land or in the pool, the Winters Warriors are always ready to compete. A small, but mighty squad, these water Warriors let their presence be felt in every swim meet under head coach, Melanie Ellison.
The seniors on the team were Makayla Garland, Kalyssa Grinbergs, Madeline MacMahon, Ava Skinner, Jack Bryant and John Rominger.
“It was my first year coaching the team, so the seniors taught me how things go, what the team needs are, and their preferences. They all brought something different, too.
John Rominger had an incredible work ethic. He’s the first one in the pool, the first to offer to help out in any way and is a good role model for his teammates. Jack has this incredible calm about him as well as this hard-working energy and was definitely our most-improved swimmer.
Ava Skinner was also calm and cool and really positive. She was all smiles and helped everyone on the team feel welcome,” said Ellison. “Madeline was our superstar swimmer with a background in club swimming and I leaned on her as something as an assistant coach role. Kalyssa was also an incredibly skilled swimmer. She was a well-rounded athlete and could ask her to do any event whether it was distance or sprint. Then Makayla brought this mellow and mature energy. She balances a lot in life like a job with her senior
capstone and being on the swim team, she was just this mature individual and people enjoyed her presence in the lanes.”
Volleyball
Last fall the Warriors of the varsity volleyball team showed up and played with pride every time they stepped on the court.
Under head coach, Mari Chavez and assistant coach, Jeff Sims the squad went 1–13 in the league with an overall record of 3–16.
The seniors on the team were Makena Driver and Dani Johnson.
Chavez called Driver a team player who was super energetic, coachable and had a great attitude on the court.
“She worked hard on the court and was not afraid to try new offensive positions,” Chavez said.
According to Chavez, she had the opportunity to coach Johnson on the Winters Middle School volleyball team, and said it was great to see that she had continued to play through her high school athletic career.
“She brought a lot to the team and was a fierce defensive blocker and attacker at the net,” Chavez said. “She’s coachable and has a great attitude.”
Three-sport Warriors
Many of these athletes rebounded in the wake of the pandemic with a renewed vigor for making the most out of every opportunity with the time they had left in school. This mindset yielded an increase in three-sport athletes this year and Ward could not have been happier to see it.
Seniors who were threesport athletes include Marcus Lopez, AJ Pignataro, Makayla Garland, Dani Johnson, Makayla Passantino, Jack Bryant, Yarethzy Sanchez, Ava Skinner and Nathan Vigil.
“This is the most we’ve had in a long time. Another thing that makes this group unique is usually we have
a lot of three-sport athletes as freshmen and sophomores, then it dwindles. But, five of these seniors were three-sport athletes for the first time this year which is cool,” said Ward.
“These kids were participating for the fun of it and playing a lot of these sports for the first time. There was
so much taken away from them with COVID, and they decided they were going to do what makes them happy and try things they’ve never tried before. Between COVID and the tragedy of losing some students in the last year, they’re really just wanting to make the most out of life.”
Winters High School
Class of 2023 members showed off the fruits of their labor on Wednesday, April 19, at the Senior Capstone Night Showcase. Students lined the WHS gymnasium to show off their hard work and share their experiences on working through their capstone projects with community members, friends and family.
The Senior Capstone Projects are a longterm, independent learning situation that is similar to what graduating students will experience when taking on projects and experiences college. The program also provides students with an opportunity to experience personal growth and gain life and career skills.
Many seniors who spoke to the Express said they chose project focuses that were related to something they had a potential career interest in, while others said they selected a project that focuses on something new they wanted to try or that would push them to take one of their interests to the next level of experience. As they go from start to finish, students receive hands-on, real-life experience and can gauge if that’s a career path they’d like to
further pursue.
Other capstone project focuses provide services, experiences and opportunities for the community or that benefit a cause or nonprofit of choice. These projects can come in the form of fundraising efforts through events, supply drives and in-depth community service experiences.
Andrea Hurst, WHS educator and one of the Senior Capstone Project coordinators was impressed with
the wide array of impressive project topics that were selected this year by students.
“From a teen center at school to repurposing robotics for safety rails, to family recipe books and a heritage tile project — then there are the welders. One made a full-sized customer gate for Quail Ridge and another a custom flatbed for a truck, a customer trailer and a new entry way for Dr. Sellers Field. Go, seniors! I see greatness,” Hurst
said.
Sophia Cortez worked to help coordinate the fourth-grade students’ Tile Legacy Project at Shirley Rominger Intermediate School.
“I plan on being a teacher when I’m older,” Cortez said on why she chose this project focus.
Cortez assisted to help organize each of the fourth-grade classes at Rominger to craft a design on their individual tiles. Each class had its own theme and once students painted and carved their tiles, Cortez worked to fire the tiles in a kiln. She them worked with grout to place all 140 tiles around tree planters on the Rominger site.
“I learned how to teach a class which helped me to improve on my skill on working with students which will help me in the future with my career as a teacher,” Cortez said. “I had a lot of fun with this project.”
Evan Carbahal said he took on learning a new skill when he decided on how to make sushi for his capstone project because he likes sushi. One of the challenges he faced was learning to prepare the rice just right.
“There’s a lot of steps to preparing (rice) and you don’t want to overcook it,” Carbahal said. “I really learned about time management because there’s a lot you have to manage in the kitchen when you’re making sushi.”
Of all the recipes he learned to make, Carbahal said the tempura shrimp roll was his favorite.
Andreas Garcia Loza’s capstone project had a meaningful focus as he worked to document his mother and grandmother’s Hispanic cuisine recipes in a family recipe cookbook.
He said his grandmother and mother gave him a list of their family recipes including tostadas, sopes and his favorite — ceviche. He also added in some of his favorite recipes.
While working on the cookbook, he said he realized how food made connections between family mem-
bers. Garcia Loza said he wants to share the cookbook with his family members so they can continue to make these family favorites in their own homes.
“I think food brings a family together — like closer and it forms a strong bond,” Garcia Loza said. His inspiration came from his experience of sitting with cousins around a table to help his grandmother help to prepare tamales and other food around the holidays.
“It’s a great bonding experience,” Garcia Loza said.
As part of his final presentation, Garcia Loza shared cups of homemade flan with attendees.
Giselle Del Toro created a pen pal program for older adults and high school teens and created a collection of generational advice from the letters she received from her elder pen pals. About 20 high school students participated, and they had to double up on pen pals because the program was very popular with local older adults.
Del Toro said she didn’t grow up with her grandparents to ask for advice and the pen pal program sparked from the experience of not having
that opportunity.
“I never had my grandparents to look for advice in and that’s why I wanted to do a pen pal program with someone older in the community so they could talk to me about what they did after high school,” Del Toro said.
She said she ended up with five pen pals, and each of them took an untraditional path after high school.
“They each did a very different thing and I found that they all were happy with their lives and with what they had done. and I thought that was so beautiful because you don’t have to necessarily take the traditional route in life to be happy and to do all of the things,” Del Toro said.
She created a book titled “Dear Future Me” that contains the valuable advice she received from her pen pals.
Of all the advice she gained in letters, Del Toro said the most impactful piece was “the idea to do what you want.”
“Life is trial and error. There’s no right way to go about it. and that made me feel really good. because senior year you’re applying to colleges and
you’re trying to figure out what to do — and it’s so hard to know what’s right.” Del Toro said. “And now I feel like if (college) doesn’t work out, that’s OK. There are other options I can look into. I’m not going to ruin my life.”
Sesar Murillo chose to learn to play the piccolo, with the end goal of playing a solo performance of Stars and Stripes in front of an audience and having the spotlight on him.
“I had never performed a solo so this was all new to me,” Murillo said. “Just being in front of a crowd. It was a new experience.”
Murillo said he gained valuable career experience in planning for and executing the solo performance because he had not been comfortable with the idea of having attention solely on him.
“I think what made me get through the song up on stage was the fear itself. Looking back, it was a good experience,” Murillo said. “It really helped me get used to that. After high school, I plan on pursuing nursing and I’m going to have to talk to a lot of different people like that. It’s making me step out of my comfort zone.”
Jose Martinez and Kiana Miller’s capstone projects were
to work to create the first-ever FFA storefront so students could sell the produce from the working farm’s harvest. Their efforts included doing research on what other school farm stores are doing to be successful, developing the actual store business model and planning price points, as well as doing the work to help harvest the crops.
When asked about where the inspiration to start a store came from, Miller said she had grown up in different facets of agriculture because she comes from an agriculturally focused family, and she wanted to learn to market and sell different products. Martinez said he always wanted to know how stores are run.
The experience brought both students the opportunity to gain new skills, first-hand experiences and learn a wealth of knowledge when it comes to running a business.
“We definitely have to have a lot of communication skills to not only make our project speeches but to talk to different people who want to buy our stuff and know about what they want to know about (those products) before they buy it,”
Miller said.
Martinez said he stepped out of his comfort zone and echoed the importance of needing to be able to have good communi-
cation skills.
“I’m usually more of a shy person. So getting myself out there and having that conversation with customers and actually knowing about the product — like where it came from,” Martinez said.
Martinez and Miller both said they had fun working together, despite the stress of the project. Miller said the experience gave her a new perspective on business ownership.
“I enjoyed talking to people about what I’m selling and having pride in that — that was definitely a big pro for me, too,” Miller said.
Martinez and Miller sold the Winters FFA olive oil bottles, mandarines grown on the ag site orchard and other FFA swag items at the FFA site storefront, as well as in popup shops in downtown Winters.
Jaedyn Liss chose to take on making a hand-built arcade machine for her capstone project. She said she wanted to do something around games or computers.
“I spent 30 hours getting an arcade machine running games,” Liss said. “I had the arcade machine given to me by the seniors of last year who started it.”
A senior last year started by creating the machine and Liss took it and put in work to do hours of research on
home automation and to build it into a working arcade machine that students can play games on.
Liss learned about Raspberry Pi home automation system. Raspberry Pi is a system that offers the basis for a lot of simple automation needs like the rotation of screens at fast food restaurants and movie theatres.
“I think my time researching and learning about everything to do with Raspberry Pi and putting myself through research was part of my growth,” Liss said.
She said she also made big strides in learning her limits when it comes to stress and time management.
“Overall, (I was) learning myself —
like my limits when it comes to stress and management stuff and being able to (know) how much can I cram without actually being super stressed about it,” Liss said.
Project advice
Many seniors passed down wisdom from their capstone project experiences to incoming seniors who are getting ready to embark on their own capstone project journeys. Liss advised them to not limit themselves by their fear of it.
“Don’t be afraid to overset yourself goals, because at the end you can always look at what you’ve done and redo your project proposal and say this is what I did. As long as it shows that you pushed
yourself — even if you haven’t met every goal that you originally wanted to,” Liss said.
Martinez said to do something you haven’t done before and want to learn. Miller added on to do something they love or are passionate about.
“Don’t just do something you think will be easy because then you’re not going to have fun and enjoy it,” Miller said.
Murillo advises them to be ready and not procrastinate on selecting a project.
“Do not wait until the last minute to think about what you want to do. I know some people as freshmen already know what they want to do — so it’s never too early to plan ahead,” Murillo said.
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy celebrated its Class of 2023 graduates who did the work to earn their accredited diplomas and work-ready certificates. The end of their high school journey concluded at a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 26. Students and their families gathered alongside CRA and Winters Joint Unified School District staff and trustees to celebrate the momentous milestone.
Raena Lavelle, CRA administrator, welcomed attendees saying she was “in awe of the resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment demonstrated by each and every one of these exceptional learners.”
“This graduation ceremony is not only a testament to their academic
accomplishments but also a celebration of their personal growth, character development, and the boundless potential that lies within them,” Lavelle said. “Alternative education is a beacon of hope — a shining testament to the fact that there is no one-size-fitsall approach to learning. Each student here today has walked a path less traveled, a path that required them to embrace their individuality, think outside the box, and redefine what success means to them.”
Lavelle encouraged graduates to ake pride in their achievements because they are the product of the students’ dedication and hard work.
“As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, may you continue to challenge the status quo, push boundaries, and blaze trails. You have the power to shape the world around
you, to make a difference, and to inspire others with your unique stories of triumph. Embrace the opportunities that come your way, and never forget the remarkable strength that lies within you,” Lavelle said.
In traditional CRA graduation fashion, Wolfskill CRA staff also celebrated each student with a personalized speech.
Greg Wade, CRA teacher said:
Kiera Damon
Wade raved about how Kiera Damon is a “huge fan of science” noting a focus on biology. He noted she has always been “attentive to her studies and that is reflected in her graduation today.”
Damon was also celebrated for her “amazing resiliency as a young person.”
“She has faced so many
problems in her short life, be they social or financial, and she has weathered them all through her never-say-die attitude. I know nothing will stop her,” Wade said.
Melissa Lopez Gutierrez
Wade shared that when Melissa Lopez Gutierrez first arrived at the CRA last fall, the staff didn’t know whether she was willing to work hard. However, her work ethic shined through and she was recognized during the school year at a Winters JUSD Board of Trustees meeting “She worked at the supermarket and she worked at school. She won our Super Star award for most credits and best conduct,” Wade said.
Lopez Gutierrez was awarded a scholarship from the Mexican Concilio of Yolo County.
Khalaya Vigil Peters
Wade called Khalaya Vigil Peters an “extremely hard worker” for her efforts at work, in class and at home.
“She held down a job at Round Table Pizza throughout most of her time at Wolfskill, and she worked very hard while on campus, as well,” Wade said. “She also takes care of younger siblings and demonstrates consistent responsibility towards herself, her family, and her community.”
Kai Neevel, CRA teacher shared the following:
Savio Robinson
Neevel said Savio Robinson showed up to class “every day ready to work and with a kind word for everyone he encountered.”
“He is one of the more consistent students I have taught, not just in his approach to school, but from what I can tell, his approach to life,” Neevel said. “Savio has honed a skill set that will serve him well in his future endeavors and I am proud to call him a graduate of the Wolfskill CRA.”
Gabriel Flores
According to Neevel, Gabe Flores “has shown the work ethic and ability of someone determined to reach his goals.”
“He has not only worked hard at completing his education, but also in his work outside the classroom. He
is upbeat, generous, and keeps his focus on the finish line,” Neevel said.
Miguel Pulido
Miguel Pulido was unable to attend the graduation ceremony because he was a Marine Corps Boot Camp. Neevel took time to acknowledge Pulido’s “hard work and dedication” to honor him as a CRA graduate.
Jeff Sims, CRA sounselor spoke about:
Jorge Garcia
Sims said Jorge Garcia is “a student with tremendous insight into himself. He is also a student who can be mature beyond his young years.”
Garcia approached Sims about attending the CRA when he was a freshman and they agreed to give him a trial run since he was considered young to apply.
However, Garcia finished his graduation requirements four months early — to which Sims said was “no easy task.”
“I am proud of your accomplishments. As you move forward with life, remember that you can accomplish whatever goal you set for yourself,” Sims said.
Alejandro Cruz
Sims said he recognized Alejandro Cruz’s academic potential when he joined CRA in his junior year and was confident he would be able to graduate on time.
“What I quickly learned is that you have a pace that is unique to you. I found myself worried at each grading period when I didn’t see the progress I was hoping for,” Sims said. “During our many conversations, you would confidently remark that you would graduate on time, and here you are. I am confident that you will accomplish whatever goals you set for yourself.”
Liz Coman, school district Career and College Coordinator, said the following:
Braydon Orrock
Coman spoke about Brayden Orrock “unique passions and qualities.”
“While academic achievements are typically celebrated at graduations, I think it’s equally important to recognize the value of students, like Brayden, who find fulfillment through working and pursuing their passions outside the traditional classroom setting,” Coman said.
Coman said Orrock has “consistently demonstrated a deep enthusiasm for the things that truly ignite his passion beyond textbooks and school assignments” as a hands-on learner who “is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get to work.”
“As a matter of fact, getting to work is what he relishes; he will be the first to tell you he thoroughly enjoys working with his
hands, whether it’s working on cars, welding and fabricating projects, or helping out in the auto shop. Everytime I chatted with Brayden about his future, welding came up. It was fun for me to talk to him about welding because his whole demeanor lights up and he becomes very intense about it. It’s clear to me he finds joy and purpose in working with his hands.”
Alexis Moses Coman said Alexis Moses “is well on her way to reaching her potential for a full and fulfilling life” and shared comments from community panelists who sat with Moses for her Career Ready Certificate interview. Panelists comments called Moses and insgithfult, reflect person who is resilient and mature beyond her years.
“Consider that these interviews are no longer than 20 minutes, more likely 15. Yet during that short time, Alexis was able to convey her ability to face chal-
lenges with tenacity and demonstrate her grace and determination in navigating through them,” Coman said.
While working with Moses, Coman said she learned she was working with “someone who has a belief in herself and her potential.”
“This belief allows her to understand that a critique of her work is not presented as a means to belittle her but as a means to help her learn and become even better. This ability to take constructive commentary and apply that commentary on the job is a trait employers seek in employees, and with Alexis, an employer will ‘hit the jackpot,’ as they say.”
Coman also spoke to Moses’ compassion for others and said she has a kind heart and a helpful outlook on life. She shared comments from community members who have been helped by Moses through her community service efforts.
Marta Silva Alvarez
Manny Cuevas
Nicolas Correa
Chase Hamilton
Joshua Rosas
Dani Johnson
Andrea Fernandez (Sac State)
Abraham Barajas Hernandez
Gus Bermudez
Agustin Covarrubias Lopez
Adrian Cruz
Esai Garcia
Lizbeth Salcedo
Abby Reckard (Sac State)
Eric Garcia (Sac State)
Winters High School may be a small school, but a big benefit is the connections and opportunities students have to make big impacts on campus and in their community. Some of these youth leaders make a notable impact in the waves they make, no matter how big or small.
WHS staff shared their insights on young leaders from the Class of 2023.
Mickayla Passantino was recognized for her participation in Link Crew for the past two years. In her Link Crew role, Passantino helps to welcome freshmen to WHS and goes above and beyond to support their transition. She was called a “caring senior” who works hard to make sure all freshmen have a great first year of high school.
Leslie Lopez has made an impact through her role in creating a safe space for teens at WHS.
“As a student, Leslie has seen students struggling with college and career planning, homework, and even basic needs such as hunger and sanitation. Thus she put her plan into action and created a safe space for teens in room T1. This is a place where our young people can go and receive information on college and careers, as well as get a free snack or toiletries as needed,” said Olivia Rodriguez, WHS librarian.
“Leslie has worked tirelessly to fundraise and collect donations to make a space for students on the high school campus. She outlined her vision of what the room would look like early in the fall, and now the space is used regularly by students to relax, hang out, and enjoy a space to themselves,” said educator Jessica Williams.
Kalyssa Grinbergs was given credit for single-handedly creating the WHS speech and debate club, which has been active for two years.
“Speech and Debate will continue after Kalyssa because she had the foresight to bring younger students into leadership roles,” said educator Matt Biers-Ariel.
Rodriguez called Brinly Bronson a library volunteer rockstar. Bronson wanted to serve at the Winters Community Library for her Senior Capstone Project, and her volunteer hours soon transitioned to taking on one project after the other to make the library more accessible to the public in multiple ways.
“Brinly has stepped in and has worked wonders in organizing and displaying books in our book sale room. She recategorized our books into easy-to-find genres such as mystery, non-fiction, young adult fiction, and children’s literature. She also created easyto-read signage throughout the book sale room for easy accessibility and she created new book displays, similar to displays found in bookstores,” Rodriguez said.
Galilea Duran is the creator of the Warrior News broadcast which keeps students updated on important information.
“During the pandemic, she saw the need for a school newscast to keep our students up to date with school, athletics, and all extracurricular activities.
For the past three years, Galy has led the Warrior News Club and has created countless videos showcasing WHS and keeping our students up to date with
important information about WHS. She also edits our videos and makes sure our club members are participating and producing videos our school can be proud of,” Rodriguez said.
Alissa Garcia, Bailey Ring and Ainsley McKim were recognized by Courtney Casavecchia, WHS activities director and educator, for their four years of “stellar leadership in ASB.
“I have always been able to depend on them to put in the extra hours, run the last-minute errands, help lead the class, and follow through with their jobs and duties,” Casavecchia said.
Ava Skinner is described as a kind and considerate leader in the FFA program who leads by example by agricultural educators Kayla Mederos and Donnie Whitworth. “She is dedicated and always willing to
work hard and learn something new. Ava has left her mark on the Winters FFA and we can’t wait to see her future success,” they noted in their nomination statement.
Kiana Miller’s smile and enthusiasm brighten every room according to Mederos and Whitworth. “Kiana is a servant leader who understands the importance of perseverance and commitment,” Mederos and Whitworth shared in their nomination statement.
While Zander Shane is new to the Winters FFA program, he has made an
impact by showing other students that hard work and having a positive attitude will open doors for you. “Zander’s willingness to push himself outside of his comfort zone in order to become a better version of himself is inspiring to younger students,” Mederos and Whitworth stated.
Jose Martinez is described as kind, dependable, respectful and hardworking. “He is a quiet leader that shows other students how to be a better leader by consistently showing up and giving it his all,” Mederos and Whitworth shared.
Evan Ramos has had a profoundly positive impact on the WHS music program according to music educator Michael Williams.
‘Throughout his time at the school, he has led the percussion section, performed on piano for Waggoner (Elementary) students at their holiday show and sang in the choir,” Williams said.
Williams said Sesar Murillo has been a major factor in the success of the band and choir. “His vocal abilities and attention to detail have made every choir performance more enjoyable for the audi-
ence,” Williams said. Isabella Mehl’s musical contributions to the WHS band cannot be overstated from Williams’ perspective. “Her abilities on clarinet and bass clarinet are at the heart of the sound of the band. She has frequently been relied upon to embrace musical challenges that made the entire group’s performance better,” Williams said.
Williams called Ivan Sapalu a trusted member of the choir. “His steady demeanor and musical prowess was vitally important when the choir needed to be reinvigorated after musical performances resumed after the COVID shutdown,” Williams said.
Christian Valadez has been a “stand out” performer in both the band and choir and is frequently featured as a soloist and considered a key contributor to all performances. “He additionally was selected to perform for Winters High School’s first invitation to the “Holiday in My Hometown” Concert at the Vacaville Performing
