Winters Express Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Winters Highlands achieves designation as newest American Viticultural Area

By Angela Underwood

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) designated Winters Highlands an American Viticultural Area (AVA).

The unique seaside climate and red clay soil conditions of up to 7,296 acres give Winter’s a standing it has long deserved, according to Corinne Martinez, president and chief operating officer of Berryessa Gap.

“We are thrilled to have the Winters Highlands AVA published and look forward to sharing

our special wine region with wine lovers throughout the world,” Corinne Martinez.

Matinez announced the development at

Council moves forward on censure process

By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer

At the city of Winters bimonthly city council meeting, an hour and two minutes were spent discussing a potential censureship of council member Richard Casavecchia.

On Sept. 5, the meeting was packed, 35 people seated in person at 318 First St and 15 people attended virtually. While there were many other

items on the agenda the main focus was on Casavecchia.

With tensions high, the city council discussed the details and justification on whether to censure Casavecchia. In a 4-01 vote, with Casavecchia abstaining, council members approved to bring the resolution of censure back to the city council at the next meeting and directed staff to begin working on the finalizing the

proposed findings document of justifications for censureship. City manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa told the Express the agenda item was placed on request At the Aug. 1, city council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Albert Vallecillo and council members Jesse Loren and Carol Scianna at the Aug. 1 city council meeting, as well as on request

See CENSURE, Page 3

the Sept. 5 Winters City Council meeting, saying “It would put us on the map even more than we already are.”

See AVA, Page 3

School district takes a stance against discrimination

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

The school board took a stance against racially derogatory depictions and discrimination with proposed updates to board policy regarding school district

programs and activities and within its athletics program at the Sept. 7 Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting.

Superintendent Rody Boonchouy introduced the changes to board policies BP 0410 – Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities and BP 6145 – Athletic Competition saying the policies were taken

verbatim from the California School Boards Association to provide up-to-date school district policies that reflect California Education Code and current state and federal laws.

“These two policies both update current Winters JUSD board policy language to include a requirement that district

See POLICY, Page 6

Winters police, firefighters honor 9/11 first responders, victims

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Winters public safety personnel honored first responders and victims who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Monday with a memorial ceremony.

Police Chief John P. Miller and Fire Captain Cheyne Baumgart led the Sept. 11 me-

morial outside of the Winters Public Safety Facility on Monday, Sept. 11. Personnel gathered in formation and gave salutes as the facility’s bell was rung at 9:11 a.m.

Miller said the event is in remembrance of those who died as well as to “honor the 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers,

and an untold number of first responders that have died since that time as a direct result of that event.”

Public safety personnel observed a moment of silence following the ringing of the bell.

Miller told the Express that Sept. 11 “was the deadliest day

See HONOR, Page 3

Express correspondent

School district adopts new mission, sets new priorities

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

The Winters Joint Unified School District (JUSD) has a new vision, mission, and priorities. Trustees unanimously approved the revised and revamped school district goals and direction at the Aug. 3 school board meeting.

And it’s not just a pamphlet of empty promises. Superintendent Rody Boonchouy and the Board of Trustees created the new foundation with intention and purpose.

“This revised vision and mission signify a new chapter for Winters JUSD,” Boonchouy said. We’re out of the pandemic, we have a very strong leadership team and staff across the district, and there’s a shared commitment throughout the community to work together on a variety of exciting projects.”

Projects include career preparation, afterschool enrichment opportunities, ethnic studies coursework, and expanded transitional kindergarten.

According to the superintendent, developing a post-pandemic pathway is critical to future success.

“Coming out of the pandemic, we needed a clear direction to focus our efforts in support of student learning,” Boonchouy said. “For educators, the years of COVID were a rollercoaster of adrenaline, exhaustion — and the needs of our students were many.”

With 2023–2024 as the first back-to-typical school year, Boonchouy says staying focused on student outcomes is essential. Officials zoned in on

those outcomes at the summer board retreat, where Boonchouy and school board members mapped out a new mission.

“The outcome of the work emerged from reflections on what kind of school district we want to be and how we as a community are uniquely situated to get us there,” Boonchouy said. “Our community values learning for the whole child, particularly the types of skills in the graduate profile that we’re developing, including critical thinking and collaboration.”

The vision entails engaging, educating, and empowering every learner. That is where Assistant Superintendent Phoebe Girimonte comes in.

“She is an incredibly strong leader and has much expertise in quality instruction,” Boonchouy said. “Her support and oversight of our academic programs plays a significant role in the success of our district.”

Girimonte says while the district has sustained a vision emphasizing college and career readiness, there are two significant shifts moving into the 2023-2024 school year. One is the development of a Graduate Profile, which clearly describes students’ skills and dispositions as they prepare for life after high school.

“The Graduate Profile has been collaboratively derived through engagement sessions with students, families, and community members,” Girimonte said. “It will be brought to the Winters JUSD Board of Trustees for consideration and approval this fall.”

According to the assistant superinten-

Lake Berryessa water levels down

dent, the document will then function as our North Star in instructional program development, curriculum selection, professional learning, and more.

“Additionally, all Winters JUSD schools are in the process of enhancing their Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS),” Girimonte said. “This approach incorporates universal supports for all students, targeted supports for some students, and intensive supports for a few students based on their individual needs.”

The responsive system will help staff to deliver personalized supports that allows all students to access rigorous learning experiences and develop college and career readiness skills, Girimonte added.

She should know from her personal learner outcome.

“As a high school student, I had the opportunity to take an Advanced Placement (AP) course in English Language Arts,” Girimonte said. “This class offered me a glimpse into the demands of college courses and allowed me to earn college credits by passing a culminating assessment.”

AP courses and dual enrollment courses are a priority in Winters JUSD as they give students a chance to prepare for collegiate study and save time and money by earning credits while still enrolled in high school, according to Girimonte.

“This year, we will be developing new dual enrollment offerings in partnership with regional community colleges,” Girimonte said.

Those partnerships include being part of the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Davis and the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP). Through grant funding and Expanded Learning

See SCHOOL, Page 6

The water level of Lake Berryessa went down during the past week by 0.37 feet, with a decrease in the storage of 6,421 acre-feet of water, according to Ken Emigh of the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 12, the lake

level was 423.86 feet above sea level, with storage computed at 1,259,322 acre-feet of water. Evaporation on the lake averaged 239 acre-feet of water per day. The SID is diverting 310 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 21 cubic feet per second flowing at the Diversion Dam.

Eventos hispanos

Por Crystal Apilado Traducido por Carol Alfonso

Las acciones rápidas de los equipos del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters (Winters Fire Department) ayudaron a evitar que se propagara un incendio en un negocio del centro el mes pasado.

El pasado Jueves 31 de Agosto, a las 10:45 de la noche, un equipo de Bomberos de Winters en el camión locomotora (Engine) 26 respondió a un informe de un incendio en un edificio en la cuadra 40 del centro de Main Street. A su llegada, los bomberos descubrieron el espacio del edificio de La Bodega en llamas y el incendio fue elevado a un estado de dos alarmas.

El jefe de bomberos Jack S. Snyder III dijo que tuvieron suerte de que el incendio se informara más temprano esa noche porque no había visibilidad y los primeros 20 minutos fueron intensos para los bomberos en el lugar.

La Bodega comparte espacio en el ático con los dos negocios a ambos lados y el humo había comenzado a ingresar al espacio compartido del edificio histórico.

“El centro siempre es un lugar aterrador para nosotros,” dijo Snyder sobre los desafíos de los esfuerzos para evitar que el incendio se propague a las empresas vecinas en el edificio que comparten varias empresas y se extiende por la cuadra del centro de Main Street desde Buckhorn Steakhouse hasta el frente de la Tienda Delicious.

“Fue un gran esfuerzo de equipo tener todos esos recursos en escena y ponerlos a trabajar estratégicamente.”

Jack S. Snyder III, El jefe de bomberos

Según Synder, había entre 20 y 25 bomberos y nueve locomotoras en total en el lugar. Agencias que respondieron para ayudar y cubrir la estación, incluidos Bomberos de West Plainfield Fire, Yocha De He Fire, City of Vacaville Fire, UC Davis Fire, Yolo Fire, Dixon Fire y el Distrito de Protección contra Incendios de Vacaville (Vacaville Fire Protection District). Snyder señaló que la locomotora 66 del Distrito de Protección contra Incendios de Vacaville ayudó a proporcionar cobertura de estación de bomberos para la ciudad de Winters durante

el incidente.

“Fue un gran esfuerzo de equipo tener todos esos recursos en escena y ponerlos a trabajar estratégicamente,” dijo Snyder. El escaparate de La Bodega sufrió daños importantes. Snyder dijo que los dueños de negocios están trabajando con su compañía de seguros para determinar el monto total del daño. Las empresas vecinas sufrieron algunos daños por humo debido al espacio compartido en el ático. Snyder dijo que aunque no hubo heridos ni los bomberos ni las personas en el área, un perro en el área fue tratado con oxígeno.

Snyder dijo que la causa del incendio aún está bajo investigación. Se exhorta a los miembros de la comunidad o testigos presenciales a compartir cualquier información que conozcan sobre el incidente llamando a Winters Fire al 530795-4131 o enviando un correo electrónico a wfdadmin@wintersfire.org.

Investigan la causa del incendio de un negocio en el centro de la ciudad

Jason Conner/Foto cortesía Los Bomberos de Winters se quitan el equipo de protección personal luego de un incendio en La Bodega el 31 de Agosto.

by multiple community members. At the Sept. 5 meeting, Trepa and assistant city attorney Martin de los Angeles explained the item is a two-step process with the first step having council members discuss whether they agree to censure. Following the majority vote to move forward with the censure, council members went through the findings item-by-item that were listed in the justification for censureship document prepared by Vallecillo and Scianna.

The purpose of the censure, as stated in the justification for censureship document is, “To affirm that such conduct will not be tolerated and prevent such conduct from being repeated.”

Councilmembers engaged in discussion regarding two findings of revoking Casavecchia’s appointment to committees (county and city-wide) and to request that he resign from the city council. Council members agreed to put a timeframe of removing Casavecchia from committees for six months and to strike the request for his resignation from the document.

Mayor Bill Biasi said he felt that since the people put them there, they should be the one to request the removal of a council members, to which

HONOR

Continued from Page 1

in United States law enforcement history with 72 peace officers killed. Since then, upwards of another 300 peace officers have died from illnesses directly associated with the initial response, rescue efforts, and aftermath of the attacks. They join 343 brother and sister firefighters who died that day and another over 300 firefighters that have died since then as a result of illness.”

“The events of that day led to over 20 years of continued conflict by the United States Armed Forces who acted

other council members agreed. Step two of the process is to officially bring the resolution of censure back to the city council. Casavecchia said he would voluntarily waive his right to a hearing and suggested the resolution be placed on the consent calendar is the next meeting.

Following dialogue with the city attorney on whether that was adequate due process for Casavecchia, a majority of the council agreed to place the item on the consent calendar.

Public, council comment

During the discussion, both council members and community members voiced their displeasure with Casavecchia’s actions.

Casavecchia accepted a plea agreement on July 19 to two misdemeanors of possessing an assault weapon and a third misdemeanor for possessing a gun without a serial number.

Casavecchia addressed the council and the public, explaining his side of things.

“I do understand the concerns of people who might not be familiar with firearms and guns and only read the news and didn’t actually come up to ask,” Casavecchia said. “The two guns in question are prime examples of the most common firearms in America. And I bought them com-

pletely legally with background check when I lived in Colorado.”

Vallecillo pointed out that Casavecchia, like every other mem-

California since 1989. “I believe that we follow the constitution, not the laws,” Casavecchia said. “And when that’s in flux I understand that

Woody Fridae, resident

ber of the council, signed an oath of office which includes upholding the law of the state of California and the United States.

“We are community leaders, you have elected us,” Vallecillo said. “We can’t choose which ones (laws) we wish to obey and not obey. The law is the

your combative stance about it.”

Resident Karen May voiced her opinion virtually, speaking to Casavecchia directly.

“Richard, I thought long and hard when it came to giving my vote to someone,” May said. “I am very disappointed that I wasted my vote.”

exander Tengolics for Yolo County was able to answer council members and community members questions.

overseas to prevent another organized attack on our country, resulting in another nearly 7,000 Americans giving the ultimate sacrifice and thousands more that were wounded,” Miller said. “Twenty-two years later, we cannot forget and take for granted the sacrifice of so many.”

law. And as a community leader you need to set an example and lead by obeying the law.”

Casavecchia voiced a differing opinion on this matter, taking part of his issue up with owning an assault weapon which has been illegal in

AVA

Continued from Page 1

“It’s a big win for this area and I hope that everyone in the community recognizes that,” Martinez told council members.

So what exactly is an AVA, and how did Winter’s end up on the coveted list?

The TTB defines AVA as “a specific type of appellation of origin used on wine labels” from a determined and distinguished grape-growing region with geographic or climatic features separate from surrounding areas. If wine is grown in an AVA region, wine vintners can label their brand with the designation.

A region must be backed by a petition to become an AVA, pointing out exactly why it should be. Berryessa Gap Vineyards proposed Winters Highlands portions

it’s currently a crime. And I deeply regret that people feel shame about our city.”

Former mayor Woody spoke on behalf of himself and and his wife Rebecca Fridae, and said that considered Casavecchia a friend and sees a lot of the good he does for the council

Following the discussion item, Casavecchia issued an apology saying, “I would like to apologize for breaking this law with bringing my firearms with me when I moved here.

I’m not entirely sure what would have had to be done to modify them — the laws have changed a few times But I do apologize for ... the lack of informing myself causing me to break the law.”

Video of the discussion item and the findings of justification for censureship document can be found under the city council available archives for the Sept. 5 meeting agenda packet on the city of Winters website, http://tinyurl. com/3md97esc. The discussion on the item begins around the 40:34 timestamp.

Animal control update

“The county at the current moment, does not cover public facing spay and neuter services,” Tengolics said. “That being said, the county is currently working with a local nonprofit, the Yolo County Spay and Neuter group to hopefully set up a spay and neuter clinic on a county property to provide low or no cost spay and neuter services to the public.”

This has been an ongoing issue as the options for spay and neuter services within the county, especially low cost, are often not viable.

During public comments for this agenda item, resident Megan Evans explained that this has been an issue.

“The explosion of cats in our neighborhood has been dramatic.” Evans said.

and community.

“Winters is different from most communities, we’re a close knit community, we tend to work together, we cross political lines to work on big projects.” Woody Fridae said. “We think what concerns people is not your owning guns, but

of Solano and Yolo Counties before the TTB. According to the petition, “the proposed AVA is located on the eastern side of the Coast Ranges, which provide shelter from most of the cool air blowing eastward from the Pacific Ocean,” with an exception.

The Berryessa Gap break in the Coast Ranges, specifically by Putah Creek, allows cool air from the Pacific Ocean into the proposed region in the evenings. That difference results in cooler evenings there compared to most inland areas to the north, making more growing degree days.

And it just keeps getting better. The petition also states that 60 more acres of vineyards plan to produce great grapes in the next few years.

Bottom line, Winters Highlands AVA climate, temperature, precipitation,

One of the agenda items was the Animal Control Services Agreement through the 2023-2024 fiscal year with Yolo County. The estimated cost was approximately $86,078 and after some discussion it passed unanimously.

Manager of Governmental Relations, Al-

relative air humidity, and soil are the perfect conditions for growing Mediterranean-type grapes. However, it was more than just drafting the detailed petition and backing it with signatures. Martinez had to work with local and state officials to make it happen.

“We are grateful for the support from Congressman Mike Thompson and former Congressman John Garamendi, as well as our TTB representative, Karen Thornton,” Martinez said. “All were instrumental in helping to get the AVA finalized and published.”

The longlist of designated California AVA areas runs the alphabet, from the Adelaida District in San Luis Obispo to the Yountville District in Napa. As of September 28, Winter Highlands is officially one of the nearly 200 districts in the Golden State for its

“We’ve been catching them and taking them all the way to Sacramento for spay and neutering. So increased spay and neuter services within the county would be very helpful.”

City manager search

The search for a new city manager is underway as Trepa plans to retire in October this year. The first round of interviews is scheduled in closed session special meetings for Sept. 13, and the second round for Sept. 18.

exact elevation of Winter’s Highlands at 100 to 400 feet above sea level.

That microclimate and precise, welldrained loamy and clay soil cultivate specific wine types, including Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, Malbec, Garnacha (Grenache), Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño.

Don’t get Winters wrong; they are already famous for their variety of red and grape wines on the inner slope of the coastal range, which is why Turkovich Family Wines and Collina de Bella Winery are also now AVA designated along with Berryessa Gap Vineyards.

The unique designation draws some out-of-state wineries, with Colorado, Texas, and Oregon asking to use Winter Highlands AVA on their wine labels, bringing even more recognition to the region.

“We think what concerns people people is not your owning guns, but your combative stance about it.”

“Twenty-two years later, we cannot forget and take for granted the sacrifice of so many.”

John Miller, police chief

“I do understand the concerns of people who might not be familiar with firearms and guns and only read the news and didn’t actually come up to ask.”

Richard Casavecchia, council man

Soccer enthusiasts who participated in the Reebock-Britannia soccer camp in 1994 were (from left) front: Ben Newman, Kannon Smith, Brenden Benson, Jeremy Shepherd, Brittany Vigil, Jessica Jordan, Caitlin Crawford, Markland Fridae and Cory Lopez; middle: Kylie Wood, Natasha Lopez, Aaron Inns, Bridget Ruccia, Brent Bucci, Nicole Jordan, Brandi Vigil, Cara McKay, Alex Ruccia and Brock Neil; back: Coach Andy Biggar, Joshua Crawford, Kelly McKay and Coach Darren.

Public Safety Report

City of Winters

Fire

Aug. 30: 4:16 a.m., Scotty Way, False alarm or false call – other

~10:30 a.m., Apricot Avenue, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~1:52 p.m., Ivy Court, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury

~3:42 p.m., Main Street, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury ~4:26 p.m., Grant Avenue, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury

Aug. 31: 11:38 a.m., Morgan Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~10:42 p.m., Main Street, Building fire

Sept. 1: 10:33 a.m., Main Street, False alarm or false call – other

9/1/2023 11:03 p.m., Putah Creek Road, Mutual Aid

Sept. 2: 2:43 p.m., Central Lane, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~6:05 p.m., Venada Drive, Public

service

Sept. 3: 12:30 a.m., Morgan Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~2:04 p.m., Main Street, Gas leak (natural gas or LPG)

~10:57 p.m., Richie Way, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Sept. 4: 9:25 a.m., County Road 89, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~2:47 p.m., Grant Avenue, EMS call –excluding vehicle accident with injury

Sept. 5: 10:40 a.m., Morgan Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~8:58 p.m., Edwards Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~10:11 p.m., Carrion Circle, Hazardous condition – other

Police

The Winters PD report logs are expected to return next week.

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

The Winters Senior Center is seeking funding for equipment and programming. Mail checks payable to Winter Senior Center Fund to: Yolo Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1264, Woodland, CA 95776

Crystal Apilado, Editor-in-Chief

Fred Gladdis, Special Editor Sydney Andrade, Staff Writer

Amelia Biscardi, Staff Writer

Aaron Geerts, Staff Writer

David DeLeon, Advertising Director Taylor Buley, Publisher-at-Large

Charles R. Wallace, Publisher Emeritus

Dispatches from the Express archives.

Years Ago

145 Years Ago

September 14, 1878

(From the files of The Winters Advocate)

Mr. E. Hayes, who has been doing business as blacksmith, in this place for some months past, went to San Francisco on Thursday to reside. Major Sewell, from Berryessa, has been in town during the past week.

Mr. J.T. McMahon, of this vicinity, has gone to San Francisco to pass a few days in the busy metropolis. He will go to Sacramento and “do” the State Fair before returning.

Exercises at the Christian Church are becoming more exciting and interesting every day. Numerous are the lambs that are being tenderly gathered into the fold, and, we would add, some old sheep, too.

Twice in two weeks our express matter for Winters has been put into the Vacaville box and the Vacaville Express sent to Winters, thus occasioning a delay of one day. A gentleman had money sent him on one of these occasions, to buy a farm with, and in consequence of the delay, came near losing the farm. The people here have concluded that either the agent can’t read or is love-sick, or drunk which is it?

130 Years Ago

September 16, 1893

Fire Wednesday morning came close to destroying Madison. The blaze broke out in George Schulte’s blacksmith shop about 1 a.m. and ash-

Far from ordinary. Close to you.

While attending to the morning chores yesterday, little Charley Pruett got too near the business end of a mule that was running loose in the barnyard, and was kicked in the forehead. September 16, 1893

es lighting on the roof of the flour mill caused that building to break into flames about 5 a.m. The Wooten house was also destroyed by the fire, but residents kept the flames from spreading to other buildings.

J.C. Cradwick and wife and Tom Smith went to Sacramento last Tuesday, to visit the State Fair.

Scarcely had the Express been published last Saturday. announcing the serious sickness of Henry Brinck, Sr., when the news came that he was dead. He died at the residence of his son William, about one o’clock Saturday afternoon.

Professor L.B. Scranton who taught in the Winters school last year, has been elected Principal of the Esparto High school.

G.W. Scott of Citrona has sold his grape crop to the Orleans Vineyard Company, and has had a large force of men picking and several teams hauling for the past week.

While attending to the morning chores yesterday, little Charley Pruett got too near the business end of a

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.

mule that was running loose in the barnyard, and was kicked in the forehead, and a deep cut was inflicted over the eye. Dr. Magill was called to dress the wound.

95 Years Ago

September 14, 1928

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Annis, daughters, Misses Lillian and Thelma, and sons, Parry and Edward of Santa Cruz, arrived Monday for a short visit with friends in town. The Annis family resided in Winters for a number of years.

Shirley Baker, student U.C. and Samuel Cook of Berkeley were weekend guests at the W.I. Baker home.

Dan Portnell and Eddie Belcher of San Francisco were recent visitors with relatives and friends in town.

Miss Delight Moore left Saturday for San Jose where she again enrolled at the Teachers College.

Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Wells left last Friday for a three weeks vacation at Carmel-by-theSea. During their absence, Mrs. Margaret Porter of Woodland is staying at the ranch with the children.

Surveys will be made early this fall for the 35-mile highway between Esparto and Rumsey. Paving of this stretch will connect Yolo County with the Tahoe Ukiah highway near Wilbur Springs. The state’s portion of the construction work will be done by convict labor.

Postmistress Ora A. Woods received word from Washington D. C. this week informing her that the local post office was next on the list for an electric cancelling machine.

Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Graf had as their week-end guests, Mrs. Graf’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Lautze and her brother, Clements Lautze, wife and child, all of San Francisco.

80 Years Ago

September 17, 1943

Another military march from aisle to altar is being planned by Aviation Cadet James Barker, and Miss Mildred Thomson, two well-known young people, to take place next Friday evening in the Presbyterian Church.

October 31 has been chosen as the day of exchange vows between Lt. Joseph Dwight Griffin and Miss Jean DeHaven of Sacramento. R. Gustafson has sold his orchard property in the Wolfsill district to his two sons and he and Mrs. Gustafson are planning to take up residence in Burlingame.

Now it is “Captain William Crum,” on the staff at the Gliders’ School, Louisville, Ky.. instead of First Lt., according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Crum.

Miss Mae Holmes returned Sunday to her school post at Dos Palos.

Mrs. E.E. Zimmerman was in attendance at a two-day WCTU executive meeting this week in Oakland. The state convention was cancelled in co-operation with the war effort to avoid undue travel.

Mrs. William Singleton is expected to arrive at home tomorrow from Grenada Air Base, Mississippi, where she has been with her husband since their marriage, July 21, to resume her teaching at Napa high school.

Picked by Charley Wallace

Charley Wallace/File photo

Try the green stuff, it’s delicious

I’ve been informed there are some great health benefits to starting your day with a good breakfast. Dubbed “the most important meal of the day,” having a healthy breakfast with the right balance of foods replenishes your energy and helps your ability to concentrate better.

I’ve never been a great breakfast eater. If I’m not in a rush and don’t have a lot on my plate for my morning, I’ll manage to make some oatmeal, grab some fruit or make it to the bakery for an occasional scone before 10 a.m. Generally, a cup of coffee is how I start my day and food eventually pushes through my sphere of resistance.

I have since started to try and have breakfast on my busiest days — basically Tuesday mornings. I have not been consistent with it, but I found that if I run into a local eatery and grab something to go I am more likely to eat something. I’m pretty sure it’s

I like avocados in salads, on sandwiches and burgers, smashed into guacamole and even simple slices on a plate with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt on top. Needless to say, I am a big fan of avocado toast.

the whole “if someone else makes it for you, it tastes better” mind frame.

My appreciation of avocados is up there with pickled carrots and green beans, cheesecake and pasta. Not all at the same time, mind you. I like avocados in salads, on sandwiches and burgers, smashed into guacamo-

le and even simple slices on a plate with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt on top. Needless to say, I am a big fan of avocado toast.

When photos of avocado toast started circulating on Steady Eddy’s social media accounts, I knew I had

Shock tastebuds with flavor explosion

Alas, another month has come which means I got to head out and find another tasty morsel to scarf before pretending to know what the heck I’m talking about in a food review about it.

I do, however, know deliciousness when I taste it. That’s why when I took a spoonful of the Kona Ice Shop’s new Elote cup, I knew I was tasting yet an other FLAVOR FAVE. I knew Kona Ice had some topnotch snow cones, but Elote cups?

It seemed rather out of their wheelhouse, but what I tasted was like a slap in the face for ever doubting Kona Ice’s capabilities.

Of course, I had the option of adding either Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Takis on top of the cup. Because I’m not a low-brow savage and a man of class and sophistication, I opted for the Takis to crown my cup of delicious corn (Yes I said it. Takis are superior to those red puffs of madness you all call Flamin’ Hot Cheetos).

Before I knew it, I was halfway through the darn cup I was eating it so fast. The corn was perfectly sweet

and buttery, the crumbled cotija cheese looked and tasted divine with the chili powder sprinkled all over it, and the lime flavor mixed in with

My taste buds were just minding their own business when all these flavors simply imposed their will on them, and I couldn’t have been happier. My tongue and lips felt a little toasty afterward, but it was all part of this surprisingly amazing culinary experience. This Flavor Fave gets a big stamp of approval and I’d recommend anybody to go into Kona Ice and get themselves an Elote cup — with Takis!

to try it. For the past year or so — whenever it was I finally began accepting this notion to have breakfast — I have found myself ordering avocado toast. There are three types on the menu, but I regularly gravitate towards the Eddy’s House Toast. I have always ordered mine with sourdough bread. It gets layered with avocado, slices of hardboiled eggs, diced roasted red peppers and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. The creamy avocado tones down the robust flavor of the egg yolk. The red peppers bring a sweetness that is still savory in flavor. Since I have been challenging myself to try new things, I have been eyeing the Greek Avocado Toast. When I first moved to Kalamazoo, I worked at a Greek restaurant and was spoiled by all of the delicious Greek dishes they made there. Including a homemade Greek salad dressing. For months (or at least since the start of 2023) I look at the menu, weighing if I’m brave enough to break away from the comfort of the House Toast to try something new. And then, order the House Toast anyway alongside a Monticello Mocha.

This week, I’d had enough and decided to break past the barriers of my comfort zone and I ordered the Greek Avocado Toast. I utilized the online ordering fea-

ture so I wouldn’t chicken out last-minute. I brought it home and to my delight, it was everything I hoped it would be.

Toasted sourdough with a layer of avocado, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers under a blanket of feta cheese. I custom-ordered to have salt and pepper sprinkled on. House toast comes with two slices, and for fun (and a love of vinegar and Greek salad dressing) I sprinkled some red wine vinegar on the cucumbers and tomatoes on one of the slices.

I do not regret the decision, not one bit. The creamy avocado is a perfect pairing with the tangy feta and red wine flavor. The cucumbers provided a clean-tasting crunch and the fresh tomatoes tie it all together for a mouthwatering bite. Layered on the toasted sourdough bread — heavenly.

The slice without vinegar was just as delicious. But, I must say I enjoyed the red wine vinegar on mine. I may even be bold enough to try mixing it with some Dijon mustard and extra virgin olive oil the next time I bring it home.

My only fear now that I have strayed from my “regular” order is that I will have a hard time choosing between the two. I guess it will come down to what kind of flavors am I craving that morning — egg and roasted peppers or cucumbers and feta.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Eddy’s House Toast is layered with avocado, slices of hard-boiled eggs, diced roasted red peppers and a sprinkling of salt and pepper on sourdough bread.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Steady Eddy’s Greek Avocado Toast features a layer of avocado, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers under a blanket of feta cheese.

Aaron Geerts/Winters Express

6th

history mural honors ag roots, labor workers

RIGHT: Winters Participation Gallery board member

Irene Goya-Tweedt and professional muralists

Celestino Galabasa Jr. and Jaime Montiel applaud efforts of studen muralists.

BOTTOM RIGHT: The mural spans across all four walls of the Winters Healthcare utility building.

BOTTOM: Student muralist Sabrina Rivas received the inagural Kate Humphrey Memorial Scholarship.

Lola Garibay is the 2023 recipient of the Tim Duncan Memorial Scholarship. The 2023 history mural project served as Rivas’ Senior Capstone Project. Learn more about the 2023 Winters History Mural Project in the Sept. 20 edition of the Winters Express.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

CHP DUI checkpoint planned on Highway 16

Express staff

The Woodland-area California Highway Patrol plans to conduct a sobriety checkpoint Friday on westbound Highway 16 east of County Road 97, west of Woodland.

Setup for the checkpoint begins at 5:30 p.m., with operations running from 6 to 10 p.m.

Sobriety checkpoints are staffed by CHP officers trained in the detection of alcohol- and/or drug-impaired drivers. CHP drug recognition experts, certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will be onsite to assess drivers suspected of drug use. Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the NHTSA.

POLICY

Continued from Page 1

programs and activities shall be free of any racially, derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, nicknames, images or practices,” Boonchouy said.

The move comes following the work of Trustees and school district staff. In August the board approved an update to the Winters JUSD mission, vision and board priorities. In June 2020, Trustees developed and approved an equity statement that outlines its commitment to equity through empowering every student with access to the tools and resources they need to have academic, emotional and social success.

Boonchouy detailed the history of the Winters High School Warriors mascot which dates to its inception in 1938 according to school district records when “Warriors” was voted as the name of the high school newspaper.

The Warrior mascot was depicted as a Native Amer-

SCHOOL

Continued from Page 2

Opportunities Program funds, Winters USD facilitated the Winters Youth Leadership Academy (WYLA) and My Journey to College (JTC)

ican wearing a headdress, as well as a spear with an obsidian arrowhead with feathers. In 2017, debate over the mas cot’s depiction came under fire and caused divisiveness in the community.

The WHS mascot logo has since evolved into an unornamented spear held by the red “W” which is being used by the WHS Athletics department.

The approved language in both board policies details that “racially derogatory or discriminatory” names, images, practices or other barriers will be used or tolerated. Additionally, newly approved verbiage in the Athletic Competition board policy adds:

The superintendent or designee shall ensure that equivalent athletic opportunities are provided for both males and females, “and that students are permitted to participate in athletic activities consistent with their gender identity.”

“The superintendent or designee shall notify the student’s parent/guardian of

summer learning experiences for 29 Winters High School rising freshmen.

“These students participated in 40 hours of instruction focused on the college preparation process and attended field trips to Sacramento

date, time, and extent of any injury or illness suffered by the student and any actions taken to treat the student.”

Boonchoy said Winters JUSD “no longer promote, use or condone any mascots, nicknames, images or practices that are derogatory or discriminatory in nature, including depictions of headdresses, obsidian pointed and feathered arrows.”

“We respect old Winters, its deep roots and traditions that we celebrate today. We respect the history and the generations of farmers, ranchers, innovators in agriculture — folks who settled here from around the country, from

State and UCLA,” Girimonte said. Board President Carrie Green called the new plan exciting.

“I appreciate the time and opportunity to discuss a renewed focus and shift in how we think and tackle the issues because

Spain, from Japan, from Mexico and beyond,” Boonchouy said. “We respect new Winters, the innovations and opportunities of today and tomorrow, many of our neighbors who volunteer, contribute and send their kids or out schools — kids who in turn will themselves become old Winters.”

Trustee Everardo Zaragoza, a WHS Class of 2001 graduate, gave support for the board policy changes saying the use of Native American mascots and imagery “can perpetuate stereotypes and cultural insensitivity which goes against the principles of respect and inclusion.”

“Using such mascots can also contribute to the marginalization and discrimination of Native American communities. It’s important to create an environment that values diversity and promotes understanding,” Zaragoza said.

Kate Laddish spoke on behalf of the Democracy

I think they are new post-pandemic,” Green said at the August meeting.

One of the most crucial district priorities is equity, according to Boonchouy.

“Our Board has taken a strong stance of equity, making sure

Winters steering committee of their support of the board policy changes and urged Trustees to approve the revisions.

“While there are a lot of positives associated with what our community knows as Warrior Pride, it is time to update the imagery and cultural references so that the Warriors mascot does not refer specifically to any culture, ethnicity, or heritage,” Laddish said. “We appreciate that Superintendent Rody Boonchouy has met with representatives of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation about what changes we would need to make so that we do not continue to use imagery that is hurtful.”

Trustees unanimously approved both board policy revisions.

“In Winters JUSD, we value tradition, we value roots and we are energized by a vision for the future in this school district that respects the traditions and roots of each and every member of our community,” Boonchouy said. “This is Warrior Pride, and in many ways, this is also the spirit of Winters.”

that all of our students, particularly those furthest from opportunity, get a high-quality education,” Boonchouy said. And many of the programs and practices embedded in the plan are taken from across the region and state.”

Girimonte said the K-12 public school system is uniquely poised to engage all students, allowing them to explore their interests and support them in honing the skills needed to prepare for various opportunities after graduation.

“There are many pathways a student might take that will lead to a successful and rewarding future,” Girimonte said.

“These include collegiate study, career technical education, military service, and more.”

Girimonte said the district’s commitment to equity guides official’s focus on preparing all students for a rigorous four-year college education, whether they choose it or not.

“While students may choose to pursue other worthwhile postsecondary options, we want them to retain choice and personal agency as they make this determination,” she said.

No matter what choice students make for their future, they can confidently build their vision and priorities here with a new plan Boonchouy boasts could put Winters JUSD on California’s top education map.

WHS Homecoming Court 2023

Wednesdays

Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue

Thursdays

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

Upcoming

Thursday, September 15

Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m. -School District Office - Board Room, Zoom Meeting info, check https://bit.ly/ WintersJUSDBoardAgendaCommunitySite

Monday, September 18

Winters Natural Resources Commission Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Check www.cityofwinters. org/natural-resources-commission/

Tuesday, September 19 Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/

Wednesday, September 27

Winters Youth Day Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Round Table Pizza (196 E. Grant Ave.)

Saturday, September 30

Festival de la Comunidad — Carnitas Festival, 3:30–6:30 p.m.: Carnitas Cookoff 4:30–10:30 p.m.: Entertainment/Activities, More info at www.winterscorazon.org

Library Services

Winters Library Open to Public (School in Session)

Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. , Sat: 1–5 p.m.

Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m.,

Winters Community Library

Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library

Virtual English Conversation Group, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@ yolocounty.org

Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request.

Saturday Matinee, First Saturday, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library

All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing

Older Adult Programs

Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering Thurdays, 1-3:30 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Ongoing

Winters Farmers Market, Sundays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Main Street – downtown Winters, discoverwinters. com/farmers-market

Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org

Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays, 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon,

The Buckhorn

Winters Museum public hours Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St.

Winters Open Mic, third 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.

The Princes and Princesses are Aylin Molina and Aiden Baylor (Class

Homecoming festivities

Express staff

Winters High School

Homecoming week is scheduled for Sept. 18 to 22, and a variety of traditional Homecoming events are on the calendar.

Powderpuff

This year’s Powderpuff Game is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 20 starting at 7 p.m. The field will be a flurry of Purple and Green as the Class of 2024 goes head-tohead to with the Class of 2025. WHS students have free admission, and General Admission prices are $5. Attendees should expect to pay cash at the entrance. The gates open at 6:30 p.m. to the public.

A Night Rally is

See FESTIVITIES, Page 4

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

The Class of 2024 King and Queen are Ben Wandschneider and Bianca Dyer-Gonzales.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

The Class of 2025 King and Queen are Fernando Herrera and Cali Padilla.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

The Class of 2026 King and Queen are Buck Boykin and Alondra Molina.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

The Class of 2027 King and Queen are Isaiah Pazmino and Aleni Valadez.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

of 2027), Alani Lopez and Gavyn Moore (Class of 2026), Alexia Aceves and Sebastian Rodriguez (Class of 2025).

Local housing market shows uptick in sales

Joedy Michael

Special to the Express

Yolo County’s forsale inventory for July was up 5.4 percent on a monthly basis from 178 units in June but is still down from July 2022, by 37 percent. Sales of existing single-family homes in Yolo County showed signs of life in the spring but have begun to taper off. We have been unable to shake high-interest rates and low affordability as a resilient economy with solid job growth continues.

Here in Winters, the median home price was $668,000 in July, and we show the most inventory over the past 12 months with 27 forsale homes, with the majority still being driven by new construction.

The Winters housing market, while showing an uptick in sales, is flat-lining in price. Essentially, for the first time in many, many months, the housing supply is closer to meeting buyer

Here in Winters, the median home price was $668,000 in July, and we show the most inventory over the past 12 months with 27 for-sale homes, with the majority still being driven by new construction.

demand. In fact, Yolo County, for July 2023, sold homes 21 days faster than Solano County, with an average of 14 days on the market. Why is that?

Well, Winters specifically, more than many other cities, shows a closer connection between what buyers want to (or can) buy and what sellers are selling. And more and more buyers are considering new construction due to the highly incentivized programs that builders are offering. The elevated mortgage rates and higher home prices are shifting to buyers actively seeking properties below the median home price and sellers of

CARRION PROPERTIES

Residential, Commercial & Agricultural Real Estate

John M. Carrion, Owner/Broker CA DRE #: 00970701

RECIPIENT OF THE YOLO COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS MASTERS CLUB SINCE 2012

COMPLETELY REMODELED 3 bed, 2 bath home in a super desirable location. Offered at $565,000. Call Noe at 530-383-1185.

SUPER CLEAN custom home just east of Winters on 6.5 acres. HUGE shop. A piece of paradise. Call for more info.

Offered at $1,295,000.

SMALL COTTAGE STYLE HOME on 55+/- acres of English walnuts. Great location and great soil. $1,399,000.

5.85 ACRES OF WALNUTS in between Winters and Davis off Russell Blvd. County says you can build on it!

Offered at $550,000. Call for details.

38 ACRES! Beautiful Chandler Walnut orchard. Located just outside of Winters off Putah Creek Road. Very well taken care of. Great producer, Excellent soil, solid set sprinkler system with an ag well. Would make for an awesome building site! Offered at $1,095,000.

higher-end homes seeing fewer offers.

Another observation, is we are seeing more homes taking price reductions in town. While this suggests a more buyers’ market in Winters, home prices could see some improvement in the winter season as interest rates moderate later this year if inflation eases further. The transition into the off-peak home-buying season will be an interesting time to watch as tight housing supply conditions will continue to put pressure on all areas of the housing market.

—Joedy Michael, Winters Realtor, joedy.michael@norcalgold.com

Pick up a Welcome to Winters outside the Chamber visitor center.

Property owners who are facing seizure for non-payment may choose to enter into a short sale to free themselves from mounting debt.

Foreclosures or short sales?

Special to the Express

Those looking for great deals on a property will often come across foreclosures and short sales, but they are different in very important ways.

In both cases, they follow a mortgage that is now in default. After that, however, foreclosures and short sales differ. Understanding these differences with these often-interrelated terms is critical to successfully navigating the process – or navigating through a rough patch financially.

Foreclosures

Anyone who can no longer make their regular mortgage payment risks foreclosure. They may be struggling through a variety of issues, including health problems or unemployment. But if mortgage payments don’t stay current, homeowners are faced with

acres for sale about 1/2 mile from Winters. Improvements include a 5 bed, 3 bath home & approximately 78 acres planted to walnuts.

foreclosure. A notice of default is issued, with a grace period to catch up on payments. If payments are still not made, the property is seized by the lender or banking institution. The former homeowner loses possession of the property, and the bank then moves to recoup its investment by selling to someone else. The sales are usually at a steep discount.

Short sales

Property owners who are facing seizure for non-payment may choose to enter into a short sale in order to free themselves from mounting debt.

They may have simply fallen behind on their mortgage or been unable to sell the home after relocating. In any case, quickly selling will keep the property from going into default and being auctioned off in foreclosure.

They often lose money in a short sale, failing to recoup equity, but manage to salvage their credit

rating. That wouldn’t happen in foreclosure. Anyone who is behind on payments should schedule a meeting with a qualified real estate agent to discuss short-sale opportunities as soon as possible, since loans can go into default quickly after only a few missed payments.

Help is available

Having trouble meeting your regular mortgage obligations? Foreclosure is not a foregone conclusion. In fact, there are a number of options that can protect you from losing your property, even if you’re already behind on monthly payments.

Lenders will typically work with borrowers since everyone loses money in default situations. In helping homeowners get back on their feet, banks and finance companies will typically require an updated contract with different or longer terms. Seek bankruptcy advice from an attorney, if needed.

Country property 2.5 acres, views, 3 beds, 2 baths, solar, patios, newer driveway. Call

more

INTERESTED IN SELLING?

Coming Soon! DESIRABLE NORTH VACAVILLE on dead end street 4 bedroom 3 bath home 2300+ sq ft. In ground pool, large yard ,beautifully landscaped, some updating call for details!!

SALE PENDING

SUPER CLEAN & FRESHLY PAINTED. 5 bed, 3 bath home, walking distance to beautiful downtown Winters. Low maintenance front and backyards. Offered at $695,000. Call for details.

IN WOODLAND. 4 bed, 2 bath. Large lot. Great location.

Offered at $549,925

SALE PENDING

IN NATOMAS. Super clean 3 bed, bath. Offered at $560,000.

AN ABSOLUTE PIECE OF PARADISE ON 3.26 ACRES!

Just outside the Winters City limits. This home has it all.

Tastefully remodeled great room, includes your own personal bar, and an amazing wood burning fireplace. The outdoor pool area is like a private retreat.Beautiful outdoor kitchen with all the amenities, as well as a full outdoor bathroom and shower. Oh ya, there’s more. The shop is 50X90 and has its own gym area. Plenty of room for the motor home, and or boat. Offered at $2,095,000

GREAT STARTER HOME. 3 beds, 1 bath. New flooring throughout. Close to all schools. Offered at $350,000. Call for details!

(530) 795-3834

127 Carrion Court, Winters

GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN RIO VISTA! 5 Ac Commercial property zoned industrial. Perfect for a storage unit business or boat storage. East side of property fronts 476’ on busy Airport Road. Well suited location surrounded by businesses and housing. Just minutes from Hwy 12 and core of down town Rio Vista. Water and PGE at property line. Priced reduced to $1,130,000. OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS IN NORTH VACAVILLE! 6 lots with separate APN numbers. Final map was approved however map has expired. Lots located in area of million-dollar (+) homes. Seller owns 31 water rights so possibility of adding more lots. Call today for more details! Priced at $1,199,000.

Sold! 5 ACRE, 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHROOMS with a nice horse set 3 stall barn with tack room, outdoor sand arena, fenced and cross fenced, 2/2 bath

Tools are showing up in my garage

Our everyday lives are changing as we watch our gas-powered cars, tools and lawnmowers being replaced with battery power. I’ve used an electric, corded, lawnmower for years and I like the quiet and dependable electric motor. I just replaced the corded mower for a Dewalt battery-powered push mower. This one seems better built than my last mower, also more expensive, but time will tell on how well it holds up.

I have other Dewalt tools, so having a bigger set of batteries should be good news when I’m blowing leaves into my neighbor’s driveway.

After changing up the two 10A batteries, I mowed my lawn without a problem.

Not a lot of grass to cut at our house with a small front yard and shrinking back yard. It only takes 20 minutes or so to cut both lawns and the batteries are supposed to last for 70. The new mower has a nice even cut, plenty of power and the bag is bigger than on my old mower. I’ve now mowed the lawns twice on the same charge, but I’m plugging in the batteries for next week’s outing.

A local landscaper came over to look at my mower. He was wondering how long he will be allowed to use gas powered equipment? I men-

tioned an article that I read about landscapers facing pressure from customers to switch to electric power. He hasn’t had that problem in Winters, yet. The problem landscapers will have is battery life, or a long cord, and the cost of replacing all of their equipment.

When I’m blowing my driveway, I’m jealous of the power of Ramiro’s gas blower easily cleaning the whole cul-de-sac. I’ve learned to take my time and let my blower do its job. For the size of my house, it is perfect, a lot quieter and easier to start. I have two chainsaws, one being an older gas-powered model and a smaller electric pruning saw. A few years ago I had to get out the gas powered chainsaw to cut down a dead peach tree. It started right up and did a great job on the tree, but I emptied out the gas and put it back in the rafters. The electric chainsaw is good at small jobs, but it is reassuring to know that if I need to cut down a tree, I have options.

We do live in California, so it is only a matter of time when the people in Sacramento tell us what tools we have to use around the house. I’m wondering how many of those politicians have ever

See QUICK, Page 4

Horoscopes

ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20) Aries, a goal you have been working toward is nearing completion. Take time to reflect on all it took to make the goal come to fruition.

TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21) Taurus, try to get away on a vacation, even if it’s just a weekend jaunt. There’s never been a time you could use a little getaway more than right now. Push this into the priority zone.

GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21) Gemini, it is time to get more movement into your daily activities. Don’t you want to be in the best possible health? Incorporate more exercise gradually with activities you enjoy.

CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22) A partnership will get even stronger this week, Cancer. It could be a relationship with a spouse or even a business partner. You’ll benefit from this added strength.

LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23) You may take immense pleasure from doing mundane chores this week, Leo. Washing windows, organizing the garage, sorting through unused clothes … these are all things to keep busy.

VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22) Your chart lands you in the sector of romance, creativity and passion this week, Virgo. Embrace all of these elements in your life to the fullest.

LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23) Libra, even though you have been a veritable social butterfly lately, you may need to rest your wings for a little bit this week. Slow down and stick closer to home.

SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22) Scorpio, people might be quick to call you mysterious this week, but you just might be an open book. Share as much as you desire with others.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21) Sagittarius, define what you consider valuable, then do everything in your means to pursue those things. Setting goals can help.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20) Capricorn, get ready to take center stage these next few days and bask in the limelight. Everyone seemingly wants to get a piece of you and you might be pulled in different directions.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18) You are coming off of a season of easy living, Aquarius. But don’t expect the apple cart to be upset. The times of smooth sailing have only just begun.

PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20) It’s all about team spirit right now, Pisces. Don’t do anything alone for the next several days. You need people in your corner cheering you and others on.

FESTIVITIES

Continued from Page 1

scheduled to follow immediately after the game. Only WHS students are able to attend.

Downtown rally

The Downtown Rally kicks off on Friday, Sept. 22. from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Community members are welcome to attend this year’s celebration.

Portions of Main Street are scheduled to be closed off from Putah Creek Cafe (Railroad Avenue) down to Pizza Factory from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for the rally.

Homecoming Court

The 2023 Homecoming Court

Princes and Princesses are Aiden Baylor and Aylin Molina (Class of 2027), Gavyn Moore and Alani Lopez (Class of 2026), Sebastian Rodriguez and Alexia Aceves (Class of 2025).

The Homecoming King and Queen nominees are:

• Ben Wandschneider and Bianca Dyer-Gonzales (2024)

• Fernando Herrera and Cali Padilla (2025)

• Buck Boykin and Alondra Molina (2026)

• Isaiah Pazmino and Aleni Valadez (2027)

Coronation, football game

The annual Homecoming football game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 22. This year the Warriors will take on the Williams Yellowjackets. The junior varsity game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and varsity starts at 7:30 p.m. The Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned between games.

Homecoming spirit

Students voted this year’s theme to be “Under the Sea.” Each class have a designated sea theme. The Senior Class is Spongebob Squarepants, Junior Class is Finding Nemo, Sophomore Class is the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Freshman Class is Bubble Guppies. WHS staff and students will participate in a series of spirt days during the week.

QUICK

Continued from Page 3

mowed their own lawn or used a chainsaw? I know that many of them have never had to write a paycheck or pay for healthcare and unemployment insurance. But I digress.

I believe in letting the free market change our behaviors. If more and more people start using electric vehicles or tools, the price will come down and be competitive with the price of gas powered equipment. When it is cheaper, more convenient and easier to use, electric tools will become the preferred choice of both contractors and homeowners. Helping the environment will just be a bonus and not having to mix gas another plus.

For those thinking

I believe in letting the free market change our behaviors. If more and more people start using electric vehicles or tools, the price will come down and be competitive with the price of gas powered equipment. When it is cheaper, more convenient and easier to use, electric tools will become the preferred choice of both contractors and homeowners. Helping the environment will just be a bonus and not having to mix gas another plus.

that I should just hire Ramiro, I tried bringing that up at the dinner table and was told that I can mow the lawns myself. It was a quick

conversation. I did buy myself a new mower. Enjoy our cool weather, cut back the water on your landscaping and have a good week.

S H A M I L T O N A N D KER I H AM IL TON H U SBAN D AN D WIF E AS J OIN T TENANTS as Trustor(s) in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC , as Beneficiary, as nominee for CALIBER HOME LOANS INC as Bene ficiary WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the time of sale that certain property situated in said County California d e s c r i b i n g t h e l a n d t h e r e i n a s : A S M O R E F U L L Y D ESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST The property heretofore described is being sold as is The street address and o t h e r c o m m o n d e s i g n a t i o n i f a n y o f t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y d escribed above is purported to be: 948 VASEY STREET WINTERS CA 95694 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation if any shown herein Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty express or implied regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the Note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust with interest thereon as provided in said Note(s) advances if any under the terms of the Deed of Trust estimated fees charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust   The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligations secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Trustee s Sale is estimated to be $571 525 39 (Estimated) However prepayment premiums accrued interest and advances will increase this figure prior to sale Beneficiary s bid at said sale may include all or part of said amount In addition to cash the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank a c h e c k d r a w n b y a s t a t e o r f e d e r a l c r e d i t un i o n o r a c h e c k drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the California Financial Code and authorized to do business in California or other such funds as may be acceptable to the Trustee In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the T r u s t e e m a y w i t h h o l d t h e i s s u a n c e o f t h e T r u s t e e s D e e d

Upon Sale until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right The property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the property receiver if applicable If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason the successful bidder s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse Notice to Potential Bidders If you are considering bidding on this property lien you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a Trustee auction You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself Placing the highest bid at a Trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off before you can receive clear title to the property You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder s o f f i c e o r a t i t l e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y e i t h e r o f w h i c h m a y charge you a fee for this information If you consult either of these resources you should be aware that the same Lender may hold more than one mortgage or Deed of Trust on the property Notice to Property Owner The sale date shown on this Notice of Sale may be postponed one or more times by the Mortgagee, Beneficiary, Trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code The law requires that information about Trustee Sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed and if applicable the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property you may call Xome at 800-758-8052 for information regarding the Trustee s Sale or visit the Internet Website address www Xome com for information regarding the sale of this property using the file number assigned to this case CA07000542-23-1 Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Website The best way to verify postponement informat ion is to attend t h e s c h e d u l e d s a l e & e m s p ; N o t i c e t o T e n a n t N O T I C E T O

TENANT FOR FORECLOSURES AFTER JANUARY 1 2021

You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code

If you are an eligible tenant buyer, you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trus tee auction If you are an “eligible bidder ” y ou may be a b l e t o p u r c h a s e t h e p r o p e r t y i f y o u e x c e e d t h e l a s t a n d h i g h e s t b i d p l a c e d a t t h e t r u s t e e a u c t i o n T h e r e a r e t h r e e steps to exercising this right of purchase First 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale you can call 800-758-8052 or visit this internet website www Xome com using the file number assigned to this case CA07000542-23-1 to find the date on which the trustee s sale was held the amount of the last and highest bid and the address of the trustee Second you must send a written notice

Winters FFA celebrates Jemima

Congratulations to this month’s Winters High School FFA Member of the Month, Jemima! Jemima had a very successful time at the Yolo County Fair this year. Even though it was her first year ever showing, Jemima won first place in Novice Small Animal Master Showmanship! Jemima managed to earn First Place in Novice Rabbit Showmanship, Second Place in Advanced Rabbit Showmanship, and FFA Grand Champion Single Fryer. Congratulations Jemima, we are all so proud of you for your accomplishments!

MIKENZIE HAPWORTH-ELDRIDGE

Winters FFA Student Advisor

Local restaurants should comply with laws

Restaurants in other cities have signs with a clear border around their public outdoor dining and drinking areas that say, “No alcohol beyond this point.” Why don’t Winters’ restaurants and wineries do this? I am sad that the Downtown Business Association (DBA) filed a resolution and voted no confidence in City Manager Kathleen Trepa, after she pointed out that our restaurants, wineries and use of the public pergolas are not in compliance with state laws about alcohol consumption.

The city met with DBA many times during the downtown visioning process. DBA weighed in on the city’s selection of Walker Consultants for its report, which suggests ways to comply with state alcohol laws and proper city permits, which are not currently in place. The city wisely consulted with California Alcoholic Beverage Control in order to protect its own liability. If something tragic happens that involves alcohol in the public areas without proper signage and permits in place, then the City and our restaurants and wineries become liable for losses and lawsuits. I believe that Winters restaurants and wineries should comply with the law.

I support Trepa in her efforts to protect the city’s liability and bring Winters policies, in general, into alignment with current state regulations. That is the job of a city manager and Trepa has performed her job very well ever since she came here, with thoroughness, consistency, and integrity. I for one (and I know many others, too) am sad to see her go.

CHRISTINA COGDELL

Warriors dominate Rams in comeback

By Sydney Andrade Express staff writer

On Friday, Sept. 8, the Winters High School varsity football team rebounded after a devastating loss against Woodland Pioneer and won their away non-conference game against Rio Vista High School by a score of 49–16.

After losing starting quarterback Colton Brown to an injury the week prior, the Warriors went into the game against the Rams with his younger brother Lane Brown filling his shoes as starting quarterback.

“Most of our week was spent trying to get him caught up and up to speed and ready to play quarterback. I

was beyond proud of how hard he worked all week and it showed on Friday night,” said head coach Daniel Ward.

While Lane Brown may have made his first official debut as a starting varsity quarterback his performance had everyone fooled. Lane Brown had more than eight completed passes for a total of 237 yards gained, two touchdown passes,and nine carries for 89 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

“As a team, we were pretty special on offense with almost 600 yards gained throughout the game,” said Ward.

Pouring an extreme amount of fo-

cus into Lane Brown as quarterback all week opened up Gio Jimenez to do what he does best. Jimenez made 21 carries with 161 yards gained and three touchdowns.

Sebastian Rodriguez also played an excellent game with 143 total yards and a screen pass that he took for 80 yards, which resulted in his first-ever touchdown.

“It’s been a lot of fun coaching Sebastian and trying to find different ways to use his speed and athleticism,” said Ward.

While Colton Brown is out another three to four weeks, the Warriors were able to welcome back Sebastian Valadez, who was a huge help. Valadez

led the team with four catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half of the game.

“He is one of our leaders and one of the smartest players we have on both sides of the ball, so having him out there definitely makes us a better team,” said Ward.

The Warriors’ offensive game may have stolen the show on Friday night, however, Julian Herrera and Jimenez deserve recognition for their tenacity. Together they made over 20 tackles, four of which resulted in loss yardage for the Rams. Danny Sanchez also had a great game on the defensive line with six tackles and two sacks.

WHS swim team splashes down in Orland

By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

The Winters High School swim team packed their Speedos and headed up to Orland on Wednesday, Sept. 6 to take on Orland, Gridley, Paradise, Durham, Willows, Home Tech Charter and Hamilton High Schools in a swim meet.

In the girls 200-medley relay, Mikaila Anello, Mahalia Lanfranco, Ashley Rivas and Rachel Rominger snagged third for the Warriors with a time of 2:31.00

For the boys 200-medley relay, Logan Anello, Trevor Grinbergs, Kenneth Matheson and Brady Baugh also took third with a time of 2:20.16.

In the boys 200-freestyle, Chase Gibson finished third with a time of 2:27.31.

Then in the boys 200-yard in-

dividual medley, Cole Jordling finished fourth with a time of 3:11.79.

The girls team splashed back in the 50 freestyle with Lanfranco taking home third with a time of 29.60 with Rominger hot on her heals with a fourth place finish of 29.98.

Grinbergs took home silver in the boys 50 freestyle with a time of 24.89.

Later in the girls 100 freestyle, Mikaila Anello finished second with a time of 1:05.05.

Meanwhile, Gibson took third for WHS in the boys 100 freestyle with a time of 1:04.56.

The girls were golden in the 200 freestyle relay as Mikaila Anello, Charlie Baugh, Lanfranco and Rominger finished first with a time of 1:59.89.

The boys gave the 200-yard freestyle relay their best shot as Gibson, Matheson, Jordling

XC trio hits the ground running at Nevada Union

By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

Although the Winters High School cross country team was only three strong heading into the Nevada Union Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 9, they embodied that classic Winters mantra of ‘small, but mighty.’

Freshman Henry Girimonte finished ninth in the men's small school freshman/sophomore twomile race with a time of 13:51.

Although fellow freshman, Rodney Randall didn’t fare

as well, with a finishing time of 20:32, head coach William Davis applauded the effort maintaining that "(Randall's) first full, two-mile race in 20:32 which is a great start for a new runner."

Meanwhile, junior Guadalupe Lopez "paced herself perfectly," according to Davis, and competed for the varsity in the women’s 5,000 meters which she completed in 32:47.

“We had three runners and it was a good first meet considering everyone was running their first race or a new, longer distance than before,” said Davis. “I’m proud of all of them.”

and Brady Baugh finished fourth with a time of 2:03.67.

Charlie Baugh finished fourth in the girls 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:30.35 with Lanfranco finishing fifth with a time of 1:31.89.

In the boys 100 backstroke, Grinbergs fed his opponents his bubbles with a first-place finish of 1:06.90.

Then in the girls 100 breaststroke, Mikaila Anello finished third with a time of 1:27.77 with Rominger finishing fourth with a time of 1:27.84.

On the boys side of things in the 100 backstroke, Matheson took second with a time of 1:23.83.

Finishing things off in the boys 400 freestyle relay, the Warrior's squad of Logan Anello, Gibson, Grinbergs and Jordling took first with a time of 4:25.04.

Cole Jordling

Cole Jordling, a Winters High School freshman, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. Although just a polliwog on the swim squad, Jordling has been turning heads and firing up his teammates with his speedy finishes. “Cole surprised us with an incredibly fast 100 backstroke swim in our first meet. He placed third in that event ... which qualified him in the end-of-season championship meet,” said head coach Melanie Ellison. “That Cole did this on the very first meet of the season and blew me away. He has great technique and thrives under pressure of competition.”

DMTC Young Performers present ‘Little Mermaid’ Exhibition features farmscapes

Special to the Express

Davis Musical Theatre Company presents its Young Performers’ Theatre production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr,” underwritten by Adele and Robert Stern, from Sept. 16 through Oct. 8 at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center (607 Pena Drive, No. 10) in Davis.

In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above.

But first, she'll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking.

Adapted from Disney’s 2008 Broadway production, Disney's “The Little Mermaid Jr.” features

the hit songs "Part of Your World," "She’s in Love," and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea."

Recommended for audiences of all ages.

Jan Isaacson will direct and choreograph, with Montana Monroe providing musical direction.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr” plays on Fridays at 7 p.m. (Oct. 6), Saturdays at 2 p.m. (Sept. 16, 23 and 30 and Oct. 7) and Sundays at 2 p.m. (Oct. 8).

All performances are at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Drive in Davis. Tickets are $8 for all ages. They can be purchased online at dmtc.org or by calling 530-756-3682. (There is a $2 facility fee per ticket on a purchase, cash, charge, phone, internet, or in person.) Purchase tickets at https://dmtc.org.

For additional information, visit dmtc. org or call 530-7563682.

YoloArts

In its 16th year, YoloArts’ Art & Ag Project celebrates the landscape of Yolo County farms, and art created and inspired by them. The Art Farm Exhibition features works of art cultivated during this season’s artist visits to local farms and farmlands in Yolo County.

The exhibition opens to the public with a reception on Sept. 14 at The Barn Gallery (512 Gibson Rd.) in Woodland and includes the largest assembly of art in the exhibition’s history with over 135 works by 107 local and regional artists. This collection of original art includes paintings, photographs, mixed media, sculpture and fiber art.

Artwork in the exhibition reflects the variety of farms visited in 2023 including hop cultivation at Ruhstaller Farm and Brewery Dixon, heifers at Yolo Land and Cattle in Winters, vistas of the deep-water shipping channel from Carden Ranch in Clarksburg, lavender fields in the rolling hills of Capay at Capay Valley Lavender, and a Wells Fargo stage stop at Pollock Farms in Woodland.

Artwork in the show was juried by Crocker Art Museum curator Francesca Wilmott, Ph.D. Wilmott has worked in museums and galleries focused on modern and contemporary art across the country, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. One of her areas of expertise is in artists working in Northern California in the 1960s and 1970s.

Wilmott recently submitted her Ph.D. at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, where her dissertation, Far Out California: A New Regionalism (1966–1976), focused on artists Stephen Kaltenbach, Gladys Nilsson, and Mike Henderson. Prior to her doctoral work, Wilmott served as Associate Curator

at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, organizing exhibitions such as Sadie Barnette: Dear 1968,..., John Cage: 33 1/3, and Yoko Ono: Wish Trees for Peace. She holds a dual M.A. in Modern Art History, Theory, and Criticism and Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Miami University.

“We are grateful for the thoughtful and expert approach that Francesca took when reviewing the Art Farm silent auction submissions.

It is an honor to connect our local artist community with a regional museum through this process,” said Alison Flory, YoloArts executive director.

The opening reception will be held 5:30 to 8 pm, Thursday, Sept. 14. Presentation of juried prize winners will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wilmott will present the prize awards including Cream of the Crop, Plein Air Award, and Honorable Mentions. New this year is a Photography Award for “unique visual perspective that utilized dynamic composition and lighting to capture

the essence of Yolo County.”

The evening reception will include the 6 p.m. unveiling of the student mural, Peaceful Sunset, by Pioneer High School senior, Julia Morales Moreno, who was the winner of YoloArts’ 4th annual High School Mural Competition.

The High School Mural competition is sponsored by the Voss Family Trust.

The evening will also feature the live music of Jane Thompson Trio, and local wine and refreshments.

The Art Farm exhibition runs through Nov. 2 at The Barn Gallery.

Tickets for the fundraising Art Farm Gala go on sale Sept. 14 and will be available for purchase at the opening reception, and at yoloarts. org. The Art Farm Gala is planned for Saturday, Oct. 21.

The Barn Gallery is located at 512 Gibson Rd. in Woodland, at the Gibson House and Property. Regular gallery viewing hours are Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons. Exhibition artwork can also be viewed online at yoloarts. org. For more information, contact YoloArts at 530-3096464 or ya@yoloarts.org.

Courtesy photo

Works by local artist Rosanne Seitz will be featured at the Art Farm Exhibition.

Courtesy photo Django Nachmanoff (as Prince Eric) dances with Katherine Berdovskiy (as Ariel) in, DMTC’s Young Performers Theatre production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr, Sept. 16 through Oct. 8.