Winters Express: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 by mcnaughtonmedia

including tax

Free tax services for residents News, Page 2

New city manager shares insight on role Features, Page 1

Volume 140, Number 52 — Locally-owned since 1884

The hometown paper of Claude Rohwer

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

School district hosts academic calendar forum By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

In November, Sandy Vickrey volunteered at the Mad City Money financial workshop at Winters High School to help give students an experience in learning how to make a budget and plan out how to best spend their money.

Vickrey is Citizen of the Year By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

EXPRESS

One thing Sandy Vickrey knows is people. Being in the business of community, this year’s Citizen of the Year portrays what it looks like to serve above and beyond. But for Vickrey, it’s more about becoming friends than spending hours, months, and years contributing to any service organization. “I think it’s really important for people to give back to their community and to get involved, and the added bonus is that it’s a good way to meet new people,” Vickrey said. Her love of people has helped shape Winters, according to those who nominated her for the honor. “Sandy has been a fixture in our community for decades,” one nomination letter reads. Knowing people is precisely why she chose her second career. “I went into real es-

tate because I wanted to meet the new people who were moving into Winters,” Vickrey said. “We were starting to get new subdivisions built in town and I wanted to meet the new folks who were moving in.” According to Vickrey, volunteering is also a way to mix longtime and new Winters residents. “When you serve, it becomes a social thing,” Vickrey said. You can connect with people, and you become friends with them.” Born and raised in Winters, Vickrey left home after graduating to attend San Diego State. Returning in 1976 and married to her husband John, she decided to do what her family did best — teach. Coming from a line of educators, Vickrey taught from 1982 to 1989, developing relationships with her students and colleagues that remain today. “My former students are in their 50s, and we still talk and communicate,” Vickrey said. “It’s fun to watch them and their kids grow up.” Vickrey decided to bow out of teaching when her son Chad

By Amelia Biscardi Express staff write Winters City Council took on the approval of a new ordinance, new risk reduction program, street rehabilitation and more at its first meeting of 2024 on Jan. 16. Courtesy photo

Sandy Vickrey will officially be honored as the Citizen of the Year at the Toast of Winters awards event on Feb. 3. reached high school, saying “he was going to be a freshman in high school, and I knew that it wasn’t big enough for both of us.” “I could leave and he couldn’t,” Vickrey said, adding she once again found herself following in her family’s footsteps. “My mother had been interested in real estate, and her father had done some developing, so it was always an interest of mine,” she said. “I have a long line of

We at he r Date

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sales people in my family, including my dad and me. I like sales — I think I could sell anything I believe in.” But it goes far beyond the sale, according to Vickrey, who said it has been an honor to help homebuyers make purchases that only happen a few times in a lifetime. “You’re really teaching them about the real estate process and explaining

See VICKREY, Page 5

.46”

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Express staff

Jan. 18

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.23”

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Eventos hispanos ....... A-2

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Opinion ......................... B-3

Jan. 23

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Real Estate ................... B-2

Rain for week: 2.43 in. Season’s total: 9.94 in. Last sn. to date: 22.64 in.

County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs announced in his Friday update that his office is recruiting members for two County Advisory Boards. The Childcare Planning Council is an advisory body that serves as a forum to plan, promote and support the child care needs of families and providers in Yolo

Community .................. A-2

Sports ........................... B-7

Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

New city ordinance Police Chief John P. Miller proposed a new ordinance prohibiting the parking of vehicles leaking hazardous materials on public streets or parking areas. Specifically the ordinance notes that this is aimed to prevent the leakage of materials that would damage the streets. In the past, there have been complaints to the police department of large leakage, but there has not been any ordinance to prevent it. Each citation is $100, after five fines

the vehicle will be impounded. However, according to Miller, it is likely going to be a complaint based ordinance. “It’s not like we’re going to be looking under cars looking for drips,” Miller said. “Most of the cases, actually all the cases that have been brought to our attention once they become a nuisance.”

Fire prevention program rebrand

With the start of the new year, Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III and the Winters Fire Department are rebranding the fire prevention division. The plan is to take on inspections of businesses, specifically focusing first on 27 high hazard and or high life safety locations first. With a total of 221 businesses needing

See CITY, Page 5

County seeks Advisory Board members

Jan. 17

Classifieds ................... B-4

See FORUM, Page 3

Council approves new ordinance, public safety items

Index Features ........................ B-1

On Tuesday, Winters Joint Unified School District announced it is inviting families to provide input on the academic school calendar at a forum on Tuesday. The School Calendar Family Form is scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Margaret Parson’s Room at the Winters Community Library (708 Railroad Ave.). Superintendent Rody Boonchouy told the Express that every two years

the school district pulls together a calendar committee to determine what the academic calendar will look like and it is crucial to hear from families about how the calendar impacts their lives. “It is important that we get input from families with any input, concerns, or suggestions about the academic calendar,” Boonchouy said. “We need their input. Some things on our calendar are inconvenient for families.”

County. Meetings take place in person at the Yolo County Office of Education, on the second Tuesday of the month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more at yolocountylpc.org. The Yolo County Library Advisory Board advises the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian and reviews library services and facilities. It studies and reviews plans and programs

for the long-term development of county libraries. The Library Advisory Board meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every other month at a predetermined location. For more information about the Yolo County Library Advisory Board, visit https://bit.ly/3vNeQT5. To apply for either of the advisory board positions, visit https:// bit.ly/3UaGQKq.

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A2 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

New trivia champs claim trophy

Courtesy photo

Express staff The Trivia Newton John team are the new champions of the Winters Friends of the Library Quiz Show on Friday, Jan. 19. This year’s winning team featured Nicholas Talbott, Lilian Boisramé, Maya Wildgoose, Camille Frias and Devon Eaton. Rebecca Fridae, creator of quiz show and question writer, presented their winnings, which they donated back to WFoL.

AARP offers Fortnightly Club free tax aims to collect 25 prep service pints at blood drive Special to the Express

Express staff

IRS Certified Volunteers are offering FREE tax preparation and e-filing in Winters through its Tax-Aide program. This year’s dates are February 5 and 26, March 4 and 18, and April 1 and 8. Sessions are Monday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All meetings are by appointment only and may be made by calling 530-207-0055. Alternatively, appointments may be scheduled online through yolotaxes.org. Appointments may be scheduled beginning Jan. 21. The location is the Winters City Hall conference room at 318 First St. in Winters.

The Winters Fortnightly Club is seeking local community members to donate blood at the upcoming Community Blood Drive on Monday to help them reach the goal of 25 pints. The Fortnightly Club and Vitalant will host a Winters community blood drive on Monday, Jan. 29 from 2 to 4:45 p.m. at the Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.). Fortnightly member Karen Neil said Vitalant is evaluating whether to continue the Winters location as a blood drive based on the amount of donations collected. This months’ blood drive will serve as an important benchmark if they can reach their goal. Although walk-ins are welcome, blood donors are encouraged to make an appointment and will be giving priority at the blood drive. To make an appointment, visit https:// bit.ly/3Svm7jz or donors.vitalant.org and choose “Advanced Search” then “Blood Drive Code.” To register for the Winters blood drive, use blood drive code SMFM164 or call Vitalant at 877-2584825 and mention the blood drive code.

Lake Berryessa water levels up Express staff The water level of Lake Berryessa went up during the past week by 1.93 feet, with an increase in the storage of 33,461 acre-feet of water, according to Ken

Emigh of the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 23, the lake level was 424.87 feet above sea level, with storage computed at 1,276,887 acre-feet of water. Evaporation on the

lake averaged 32 acre-feet of water per day. The SID is diverting 53 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 32 cubic feet per second flowing at the Diversion Dam.

Eventos hispanos

Resúmen de noticias locales Redacción del Express Traducido por Carol Alfonso

Ubicación del distrito escolar El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Winters (Winters Joint Unified School District) anunció el pasado Martes que los miembros del personal de la oficina del distrito ahora estarán en el edificio del John Clayton/Winters State Preschool en el 200 Baker St. hasta nuevo aviso. El número de teléfono principal del distrito escolar, 530-795-6100, seguirá siendo el mismo. Las reuniones de la junta escolar continuarán en la sala del consejo municipal del Ayuntamiento Municipal de Winters (Winters City Hall).

Cruce de peatones WMS En su actualización del pasado Viernes 12 de Enero, el administrador de la ciudad Jeremy Craig anunció que, como parte de las iniciativas de rutas seguras a las escuelas, los departamentos de Obras Públicas, Policía e Ingeniería de la ciudad se unieron

para proporcionar un cruce de peatones nuevo y más seguro en el sitio de la Escuela Winters Middle School - WMS en Anderson Avenue. El cruce de peatones se completó durante las vacaciones para no interferir con el tráfico escolar regular e incluye rampas para impedidos por el ADA, en ambos lados de la calle para ayudar con las rutas seguras a la escuela. Obras Públicas también está repintando las aceras de color amarillo frente a la Escuela Shirley Rominger Intermediate, en ambos lados de la calle para permitir la recogida y devolución en lugar de dejar a los estudiantes en el estacionamiento. Los administradores de WMS y Rominger compartirán más información.

Donación de sangre El Winters Fortnightly Club y Vitalant organizarán una campaña de donación de sangre en la comunidad de Winters el Lunes 29 de Enero de 2 a 4:45 p.m. en el Centro Comunitario de Winters (Winters Community Center en el

201 Railroad Ave.). Vitalant expresó en un comunicado de prensa que es importante donar ahora porque las recolecciones de sangre siempre experimentan una caída a medida que la temporada de resfriados y gripe tiene un impacto. Tienen el objetivo de conseguir la donación de 25 pintas. Se exhorta a los donantes de sangre a programar una cita visitando https://bit. ly/3Svm7jz o donors. vitalant.org y seleccionando “Búsqueda avanzada (Advance Search)” y luego “Código de donación de sangre (Blood Drive Code)”. Para registrarse para el evento de donación en Winters, use el código de donación de sangre SMFM164 o llame a Vitalant al 877-2584825 y mencione el código de donación de sangre. Los donantes pueden completar el cuestionario de salud Fast Track en línea antes de llegar al evento de donación. El cuestionario debe completarse el mismo día de la donación y el código de barras debe presentarse en el

evento de donación o puede completarse en el evento. Complete el cuestionario Fast Track en https://www. vitalant.org/donate/ health-history-questionnaire/fast-track.

Trabajo de la ciudad Los trabajos para dar paso al Monumento Japonés comenzaron la semana pasada cuando los equipos de obras públicas de la ciudad retiraron dos grandes tocones de árboles y comenzaron a nivelar el área en Rotary Park. En su actualización, Craig dijo que el “monumento está siendo creado y financiado por la Sociedad Histórica de Winters y conmemorará a los residentes japoneses de Winters que llegaron alrededor del 1888 para trabajar en granjas y la Sociedad Histórica señala que había 300 familias japonesas en Winters durante el Década de 1930.” Un equipo de Obras Públicas quitó dos árboles detrás del centro comunitario la semana pasada por motivos de seguridad. Craig dijo: “Al observar los árboles

Vea NOTICIAS, Página 3

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Yolo Elections Office hosts Observation and Transparency Workshop Special to the Express On Monday, Jan. 29, the Yolo County Elections Office will conduct an Observation and Transparency Workshop. On Thursday, Feb. 1, the pre-election testing of the voting equipment, known as Logic and Accuracy Testing, for the March 5 presidential Primary election will take place beginning at 9 a.m. All candidates, groups, and individuals, including the general public are invited to participate. Both events will be held in the Yolo County Administration Building located at 625 Court St., Woodland.

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The Observation and Transparency Workshop will take place on Monday, Jan. 29, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 106. The candidates and election observers will learn what to expect in this upcoming election. The Logic and Accuracy testing of the voting equipment will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, in Room B-05 (Yolo County Elections Office). Please be advised the testing of the voting equipment will take several hours to complete. “The Logic and Accuracy Test (LAT) is a verification process that ensures our voting equipment and software are functioning properly. To promote transparency in elections the LAT process and the scanning of ballots are open to the public,” says Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters. “We welcome visitors to the Elections Office to observe this process.” Any interested parties are encouraged to RSVP to elections@yolocounty.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26. Contact the Yolo County Elections Office by email at elections@ yolocounty.org or by phone at 530-6668133 or toll-free voter assistance hotline 800-649-9943 with any questions.

Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 — A3

Bill introduced to back Snow Mountain expansion McNaughton Media staff Legislation has been introduced in the state Senate that "urges the White House to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument." The bill was introduced by Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, in partnership with Senate President Designee Mike McGuire, D-North Coast, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters. Senate Joint Resolution 10 supports proposals before Congress to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument by 3,900 acres. "It also supports renaming the area commonly known as Walker Ridge to Molok Luyuk, which means Condor Ridge in the Patwin language, reflecting the area’s cultural significance to many federally recognized tribes in the region. By doing so, it would also pro-

vide opportunities for partnerships between the tribes, (Bureau of Land Management) and the U.S. Forest Service. The resolution also supports the legislative efforts of U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and Congressmen John Garamendi and Mike Thompson," a statement from Dodd's office said. "Berryessa Snow Mountain is one of the most scenic and diverse landscapes in all of Northern California, and I am proud to have been on hand when President Obama finalized the official designation,” Dodd said in the statement. Obama designated the national monument in 2015. “Now, it makes sense to include this additional piece, which was home to native tribes for thousands of years. We can recognize the land’s cultural significance while protecting it for

generations to come,” Dodd added. This is the latest step in a national effort to request President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 to add 13,753 acres of public land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to the monument footprint. Regional tribal and community leaders met in the fall with Interior Department Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning about the expansion. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has taken the lead in requesting the expansion. Robinson Rancheria and the Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians also are involved in the campaign. Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument stretches from Napa County in the

See SNOW, Page 5

Conveyance project dealt a blow McNaughton Media staff Last week, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge denied the state Department of Water Resources’ request to validate bond resolutions that would have financed the Delta tunnel project. Yolo County joined San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Solano, Butte, Plumas and Sacramento counties, along with related water agencies, in challenging the state agency’s court action. “The court agreed with the counties and agencies, ruling that ‘DWR exceeded its delegated authority when it adopted the

FORUM Continued from Page 1 According to Boonchouy, some of the information they want to hear about from families includes when holidays and vacations are scheduled and the first and last days of school. The calendar committee will use the information to create the Winters JUSD academic calendar for all school sites starting in the 2025-26 school year. Boonchouy said Spanish translation will be available to individuals who request it.

bond resolutions, which purported to authorize the issuance of the Delta Program Revenue Bonds,’” Solano County states in a statement released last Wednesday. “In reaching this conclusion, the court rejected DWR’s claim to almost unlimited authority in such matters, ruling that the Water Code ‘does not give DWR carte blanche to do as it wishes,’” the statement added “‘For DWR to act,’” added the statement, citing the court, “‘it must have delegated authority. Although the Legislature plainly delegated authority to DWR, it did not del-

egate infinite authority.’” The counties and agencies, other than Sacramento, were represented by attorneys Thomas Keeling and Roger Moore, who described the court’s judgment as “plainly correct” and “yet another nail in the coffin of this grotesquely misconceived and outlandishly expensive taxpayer boondoggle,” the county statement said, citing the attorneys. “This is a victory for the counties and agencies, for the taxpayers, for the environment, for Delta farmers and businesses, and for common sense.”

p.m. Both events will be presented in English from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and in Spanish from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Boonchouy said the information presented at the events is important for new and incoming families to learn about the programs offered at Waggoner Elementary school. Families who attend can pick up the TK/ Kindergarten registration packet, meet the teachers, tour the

TK and Kindergarten classrooms, and ask staff questions. Children who turned 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024, are eligible to register for Kindergarten. Children who turn 5 years old between Sept. 2, 2024, and June 2, 2025, are eligible to register for Transitional Kindergarten. Families with questions should contact Nicole Brace in the Waggoner office at 530-795-6121.

Gifts That Sparkle!

The Express is looking for the first Winters baby born after the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2024. Enter online https://bit. ly/3NFxtyn.

County officials and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Nation tribal leaders gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Capay Valley Health and Community Center.

Capay Valley’s first full-service wellness center opens in Esparto Special to the Express With its soaring, double-height foyer and plentiful natural wood and stone finishes, Yolo County’s newest healthcare center is a monument to the beautiful result of partnership, philanthropy, and hope. On Jan. 11, community members and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation tribal leaders gathered in the building’s grand entry hall to celebrate the official opening of the Capay Valley Health and Community Center, or Wihne da Puchuma da

NOTICIAS Continuado de la Página 2 al retirarlos, fueron capturados justo a tiempo. Un árbol estaba tan descompuesto dentro del tronco que se partió en dos cuando los equipos comenzaron a derribarlo.” Los equipos de Obras Públicas trabajarán para limpiar los escombros en el sitio y quitar los tocones antes de plantar tres nuevos árboles en el área.

Kewe, which means “Medicine and Healing House” in Yocha Dehe’s native Patwin Language. The 28,000-squarefoot hub for health and social services is located on the corner of Yolo Avenue and County Road 21A in Esparto. It is the first such center to provide full-time medical, dental, vision and pharmacy services in the region. The building already houses Winters Healthcare and Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc. (RISE), and Yolo

County Sheriff and American Medical Response have also leased spaced and will move-in soon. The building was funded primarily by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in partnership with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, Brown Construction, Inc., Winters Healthcare Foundation, Inc., and RISE, Inc., as well as donations and volunteer efforts. “This project has been in the works for four decades and will transform our

enseña cómo identificar, comprender y responder a los signos de enfermedades mentales y trastornos por uso de sustancias. La capacitación le brinda las habilidades que necesita para comunicarse y brindar ayuda y apoyo inicial a alguien que pueda estar desarrollando

un problema de salud mental o de uso de sustancias o que esté experimentando una crisis. Esta capacitación tiene un trabajo previo de dos horas a su propio ritmo que debe completarse antes de la capacitación. La capacitación se llevará a cabo el 30 de enero de 8:30 a.m. a 4 p.m.

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Formación en salud mental Los residentes del Condado Yolo están invitados a participar en una capacitación gratuita en línea para aprender sobre primeros auxilios para la salud mental. Para registrarse para la capacitación gratuita, envíe un correo electrónico a MHSAMHTrainings@ yolocounty.org. Primeros auxilios en salud mental es un curso que le

See WELLNESS, Page 5

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Come Participate in Our Amateur Artist Event!

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Amateur Artist Event

Upcoming dates The Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled for the day before the calendar forum on Monday, Jan. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten Information Night is scheduled the following week on Monday, Feb. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30

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DATE/TIME: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. location: Winters Community Center Cost: No Charge Bring: Your joy and enthusiasm for creating and a snack to share. Drinks will be provided. 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.

please pre-register with us via the WSf message phone, 530-794-6067 or email us at info@wintersseniorfoundation.org

Picked by Charley Wallace

YESTERYEAR

A4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

File photo

Pictured are members of the 1996 Winters Volunteer Fire Department. Volunteers give up hours of free time to ensure the safety of their neighbors and are a big help to regular fulltime fire department staff. The volunteers also help run the ambulance service for the city. From left, are (first row): Brian Van Aernam and Brad Lopez; (second row) Chris Calvert, JoAnn Van Aernam, Michelle Desrosiers, Phillip Jones, Kimberly Powers, Paul Carrico, Barbara Karlen and Terry Karlen; (third row) Tom Ehnat, Art Self, Robert Day, Eric Guter, Dave Callison and Errett Crum.

145 Years Ago January 4, 1879

(From the files of The Winters Advocate) At a mass meeting of the citizens of Yolo county, assembled, invited by Messrs. Stevenson, President and Superintendent of the V.V. and C.L.R.R., to inspect the bridge recently built across Putah Creek, at Winters, by said Company, in which Solano and Yolo counties are each to have a third interest, the supervisors voted to accept the bridge when the necessary conditions and agreements can be entered into. R. Brown, we understand, has sold the most of his real estate in Winters. Report says he thinks of taking his livery stock to Willows. May success attend him where ever he goes. Mr. McGrath and Mr. O.P. Fassett, the last day of the year, after judgment had been passed on the bridge, by the officials chosen for that purpose; concluded to test the bridge for bearing and forbearing. “Mose” harnessed his bay racker to a sulky, and the twain mounted and went leisurely across the bridge. When they returned, there were no judges there, and the racker came. They are willing to testify that the width is sufficient for sixteen mule teams to pass. They know it because they didn’t touch either side. We take pleasure in calling the attention

Years Ago Dispatches from the Express archives.

of the public to the business of Blacksmithing and Wagon-making, by Otago & McLeod. They are always on hand, and they do their work upon honor.

A surprise party was given to Miss Mary McArthur, on New Year’s night by her classmates in the high school, and a most enjoyable time was had by all participating.

130 Years Ago

95 Years Ago

Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Merchant of Apricot district spent New Year’s day with their parents in Vaca valley. Miss Myrtle Cooper of Winters was granted a primary grade certificate by the County Board of Education, at the examination of applicants for teacher’s certificates, held last week. We now have two trains and two mails, each way, a day again. It is a great convenience to everybody. The parents of Jessie Robinson gave her a surprise party New Year’s afternoon in honor of her tenth birthday. E.E. Baker spent a part of the holiday season with his brother Philip, near Williams, Colusa county. H.H. North returned to San Francisco on Monday afternoon’s train, after spending the holidays with his folks here.

The twenty acre fruit ranch of Mrs. F. McNeal was sold this week to Ramon Ramos. The price is said to have been around $500 an acre. Sheriff James Monroe has appointed his son, Forrest D. Monroe deputy sheriff to succeed Robert Litsch who recently resigned. Young Monroe is 22 years of age, a graduate of the College of Agriculture at Davis, and is to inaugurate a bureau of criminal identification.

January 6, 1894

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 www.wintersexpress.com. 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

January 4, 1929

Henry Gregory passed away at the Woodland Clinic Thursday evening, on the 67th anniversary of his birthday. Carl Holmes left New Year’s Day for San Francisco where he will enter Heald’s College of Engineering. Mrs. DeLos Lee and two children of Berkeley were visitors at the home of her sister, Mrs. W. A. Sale. Born in Winters, Friday, December 28, 1928, to Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Ruggles, a son. Mr. and Mrs. D. Walters and family of Pope Valley were recent visitors at the Thomas Vasey home. E.H. Edwards and E.E. Baker were among the local people who attended the Shrine football game in San Francisco Saturday. Vito Biasi, a number of years an employe on the S.P. section gang at Winters, but now a resident of Guinda was run over by his own car the other day when he cranked it in gear. A bump on the head and a few bruises resulted.

Public Safety Report City of Winters

Fire The Winters Fire Log will return soon. Check for updates at https://cityofwinters.org/157/Fire.

Police Arrest Log Jan. 11: Quezada, Guadalupe Corona (Age 48), Charges: Davis PD Warrant, Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail ~Lopez, Ricardo Jr (Age 30); Charges: Violation of Court Order, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Disposition: Released on Notice to Appear Jan. 12: Edwards, Ana Laura (Age 67); Charges: DUI, Driving w/out Headlights in the Dark; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail

Report Log Jan. 10: 8:52 p.m., 300th block of Anderson Avenue, Vandalism Jan. 12: 1:03 a.m.,

80 Years Ago January 7, 1944

J.W. Naismith, supervisor of the Esparto district, was again selected as chairman of the board at the organization meeting Monday. The first session of the Service Club of the new year disposed of the suggestion that the club convert into a Lions Club by voting rather heavily to remain as is. Putah Creek is roiled a bit for the first time this season. It can hardly be said to be “up” for it hasn’t risen more than a foot or two. Mrs. W.A. Young substituted for Miss Laura Starkey Monday at grammar school. Miss Starkey was delayed

Russell Boulevard/ County Road 91A, Outside Agency Assist ~10 a.m., 100th block of Lauren Court, Violation of Court Order Jan. 13: 10:26 a.m., Manzanita Way/Red Bud Lane, Traffic Collision ~10:35 a.m., SB I-505/County Road 24, Outside Agency Assist Jan. 14: 12:18 p.m., 1000th block of Rojo Street, Miscellaneous Incident Report Jan. 15: 10:13 p.m., 700th block of Matsumoto Lane, Miscellanous Incident Report Jan. 16: 9:27 a.m., 800th block of Suffolk Place, Fraud ~10:26 a.m., 1000th block of Village Circle, Vehicle Tow ~11:28 a.m., E. Grant Avenue/Walnut Lane, Hit and Run For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.

in returning from her holiday vacation spent in Southern California. A New Year’s gift of a little 7 pound, 10 ounce daughter came to Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Frisbee, Saturday at the Jenney hospital, Vacaville. The new-comer will be called Barbara Irene. George Conard USN came up from San Diego on brief furlough visit. Corporal Mariano Lopez came from Monmouth, New Jersey, for a holiday leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lopez, on the Davis road. Lt. Charles H. Binns arrived Wednesday from Austin, Texas, for brief visit in the E.L. Dexter home with Mrs. Binns and his little sons.

Obituary Helen June (Rivera) Nitzkowski Beloved wife and mother, Helen June (Rivera) Nitzkowski passed away peacefully at her home on Jan. 14, 2024. Born June 7, 1938, in Fairfield to parents John and Mary Rivera, she was the eldest child, sister to her younger brothers John, James, and David (Patty) Rivera. A third-generation Californian whose family immigrated from Spain to the Bay Area, she was proud of her Spanish roots. Helen loved to love others and was devoted to her faith in God. While her chil-

dren were in school, you could find Helen volunteering at their school — working on the playground or teaching children to read. Her hands were rarely still as she was always painting, quilting, or gardening in her free time. She also enjoyed daily walks, golfing, and dancing. Helen channeled her love of sports into cheering on her favorite teams — the Sacramento Kings, Raiders and Oakland A’s. Helen married the love of her life, Howard Nitzkowski, on Sept. 23, 1972. Together, the two were com-

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mitted to their church and serving others together. The pair were remarkable in their selflessness, volunteering for numerous organizations in both California and Texas. The pair led the Salvation Army bell ringers’ team, often recruiting their kids and grandchildren to ring bells, too. They also supported various homeless and women’s shelters by providing handmade quilts, clothing and basic necessities. Helen will be remembered for her caring, generous heart and living by her Lutheran faith side-by-side with her beloved husband, Howard. Above all else, Helen loved her husband and family fiercely and, in turn, was an adored mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. Helen will join in Heaven her husband Howard, parents

John and Mary Rivera, brother John Rivera, and grandson Matthew LaPlante. She is survived by her children Bill (Rosemary), Ed, Karryn (Richard), Richard (Jennifer) and Lisa (Tahl); as well as 10 grandchildren Dominic, Monica, Sergio, Vincent (Caitlyn), Niko (Lexi), Justin (Erica), Melissa (Logan), Josh, Megan, and Terrance; and two great-granddaughters Ava and Lily; as well as many extended family members. Please join us as we honor Helen’s memory and share stories of her beautiful life. In lieu of flowers, please donate in her and Howard’s honor to Yolo Hospice or the Salvation Army. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Jan. 27, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave., in Winters.

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Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 — A5

VICKREY Continued from Page 1 the forms, and you’re helping people,” she said. Along with lighting bulbs in students’ or homebuyers’ heads, Vickrey is also partly responsible for assuring all Winters residents see bright lights in the sky on Independence Day. The idea to start a fireworks display here was born after Vickrey said Winters was hosting exchange students over July 4 in the early 1980s and Winters had yet to have a fireworks celebration in a long time. “It’s America’s birthday, and we’re not going to do anything?,” Vickrey said. “Well, that is just wrong.” After raising $2,500 with the help of her sister Vicki Jacobs and friends Liz Coman and Sally Paul, bright colors and booming

CITY Continued from Page 1 to be inspected, Winters Fire’s goal is to tackle 10 a month and initiate a self inspection program. “Community risk prevention not only focuses on fire prevention but on education and other stuff,” Synder said. “So we’re taking it to a whole new level.” The goal, according to Snyder, is to ensure that businesses are up to California fire code. Winters Fire will go into businesses to provide education

WELLNESS Continued from Page 3 rural community by providing access and equity,” said Yocha Dehe Tribal Secretary James Kinter. “And it shows that when we work in partnership we can accomplish spectacular things.” Yocha Dehe’s major philanthropic arm, Doyuti T’uhkama, prioritizes funding worthy projects serving residents of the Tribe’s historic territory. Esparto and the surrounding communities in rural Capay Valley are part of the historic homeland of the Patwin people. The name Doyuti T’uhkama means “to give the acorn” in the Tribe’s native Patwin language. Nutrient-rich acorns figured prominently in the lives of generations of California Indians; for the Patwin people, the acorn is a cherished symbol that reflects Yocha Dehe’s commitment to sharing its resources, particularly with those in need.

sounds filled Winters’ night sky. “From there, it grew pretty quickly, and the city of Winters took it over,” she said. “The intent was always that the community would embrace this and move forward with it.” As a former Chamber of Commerce member, Vickrey also brought forth the annual chili cook-off and rib cook-off, according to another nomination letter. Beyond her volunteering, teaching, and real estate credentials, Vickrey’s faith moves her to serve as the treasurer for the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Winters, where she works with Elizabeth Ehnat and Father Lito De la Cruz in meeting endless community needs. “This is our ninth year,” Vickrey said. “We help anybody within our zip code, and we don’t care if they go to church or what church they be-

long to.” The chapter has assisted in paying rent, medical bills, car insurance, grocery shopping, and more. St. Vincent de Paul also assures people experiencing homelessness in the area that their needs are met from clothes to tents to sleeping bags, the church society lends as much love as possible. They also do the same for local area seniors. Vickrey was also nominated for her service on the Yolo County Board of Realtors Board of Directors and Yolo County Meals on Wheels. According to the letter, “Sandy was instrumental in bringing the Meals on Wheels kitchen and distribution center to Winters at the old Buckhorn Catering site.” “I try to do things in the community, but I’ve also recently

tried to expand a little bit more out into the county to see what’s happening and where Winters fits into it,” Vickrey said. She did just that in her first year on the Meals on Wheels board. At one of her first meetings, Vickrey found out the county’s commercial kitchen was not big enough to keep up with supply and demand, so she pitched using the Buckhorn Catering kitchen. “It’s over 5,000 square feet and they’ll be making a lot of the meals for the county here in Winters,” Vickrey said. Vickrey is currently on the fundraising committee for the future Winters Senior Center alongside Marlene Bell and Karen May, and said they are in the process of raising a million dollars to furnish the building. “Hopefully, we’ll

break ground this year,” she said. “Once the Senior Center is built, then I believe our hope is that the Meals on Wheels meals will be distributed out of the Winters Senior Center, and we will be back to congregant dining.” Vickrey said, “Seniors were really hurt when that went away during COVID since they lost their connection to see people on a regular basis.” Meanwhile, Vickrey works to get seniors what they need by helping the Winters Senior Foundation distribute Santa Bags which provide basic necessities, including toilet paper, soap, shampoo, and more. When asked how it felt to be named Winters’ Citizen of the Year, her humility is evident. “I was absolutely overwhelmed when I got the call, and I am still overwhelmed,”

Vickrey said. What makes the honor so unique to Vickrey is how she was chosen. “All of the previous Citizens of the Year get together, and they pick the Citizen of the Year,” she said. According to another nomination letter, “Citizen of the Year is recognition for a lifetime of serving Winters, and Sandy has done that.” For Vickrey, the honor is just another step in what she does best, which, in her own words, is simply “putting people together.” Vickrey will formally be honored as the 2023 Citizen of the Year at the annual Toast of Winters event, planned for Saturday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Winters Community Center. Tickets and information about the event are available at http://tinyurl.com/ mvjh62b7.

and help find solutions, not hammering the issues. Inspections will not be a surprise and the fire department will issue information as to what the inspections will entail. If and when issues do occur, businesses will be given 30 days to resolve the issue before a secondary inspection occurs. “The downtown quarter is a very precious space to me and the rest of us, and we’d like to make sure that we keep that safe,” Snyder said. “Because if we were to lose that

it would be a catastrophic issue for not the community but the region in general.” The inspections themselves will focus on: safe exiting, fire protection systems, general building maintenance, and special fire hazards. “This first year is basically us getting to the facilities, get these pre plans done for our safety, but also for the community,” Synder said. “But just being out in the community and being involved and showing the community what they are to expect.”

Another element of the program that Mayor Bill Biasi and Winters resident Kate Laddish brought up is awareness of people with mobility issues. While the fire department does have some records of those with mobility issues, Snyder encourages those who do to reach out and call the fire department so they can ensure that it is in their system. Snyder said that this allows the fire staff to know who is going to need additional help in emergency situations. To contact the fire

department with questions, call 530795-4131.

work, her dedication to the organization and to the community,” Trepa said via Zoom. “I really think she is the epitome of service to others.” Branson reflected on her time with Winters with Jan. 24 as her final day at City Hall. “In this time, I have made many wonderful connections with staff and members of the community,” Branson said. “I look forward to seeing the community’s development and growth in the future and wish everyone nothing but success.”

Historically, the rural communities in western Yolo County (“west of Highway 505”) have been underserved, with only limited or remote access to healthcare and other necessary services. Community meetings over the past several decades identified a health clinic as a vital need. “We had the vision many years ago with the leaders of Yocha Dehe. How do we make west of the 505 viable? All Yolo County residents deserve access to healthcare,” California Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry said during the grand opening celebration. With the need for a healthcare center in mind, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation acquired the Esparto site for $1,025,000 with a grant funded by Doyuti T’uhkama. The Tribe also granted an additional $15 million for the project’s construction. Through its Build It Forward Program, Brown Construction donated a portion of

its profits and costs for the project. The Yolo County Board of Supervisors also allocated $5 million for the center, with an additional $6.5 million in funding from the State of California. Winters Healthcare was also able to secure $1 million in federal funds, which were used to acquire medical and dental equipment, as well as securing the required backup power for the building. “Growing up here and going to school here from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, I couldn’t imagine having something like this here, in our rural community west of the Highway 505,” reflected Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s Chairman Anthony Roberts. “We are so grateful for all the people who helped make this happen. Our ancestors taught us to be good stewards, to care for the land and it will give back. This facility will be giving back for years,” he added.

SNOW Continued from Page 3 south to Mendocino County in the north, and includes parts of seven counties, including Solano, Yolo, Lake, Colusa and Glenn counties, and includes the Cache Creek Wilderness Area. It encompasses 330,780 acres of public lands managed by BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. Popular recreation activities on these lands include hiking, mountain biking, photography, camp-

City Clerk recognized City Clerk Ellena Branson has been working with Winters for more than two years and is now moving on. She received praise from Biasi for her research and ability to dig up information and boos from Public Works Director Eric Lucero at her leaving. Craig and former City Manager Kathleen Saguero Trepa both commended Branson. “I just want to recognize all of her hard ing, horseback riding and off-highway vehicle use on designated routes. “The establishment of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was the result of a historic collaboration by the environmental, business and agricultural communities, recreational interests and tribal, local, and state government,” Aguiar-Curry said. “Expanding the national monument to include the traditional tribal region known as Molok

Luyuk in Lake and Colusa counties will protect this incredibly valuable cultural and environmental resource and help our state reach our goal of protecting 30 percent of California’s lands by 2030."

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A6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Dual-purpose fruit trees By Don Shor Special to The Enterprise Winter is the time when garden centers and hardware stores have the widest selection of fruit trees. It’s a great time to plant so long as the soil isn’t too muddy. There are lots of factors that go into selecting a fruit tree for your yard. Given the remarkable yield of most species, the first question is what kind of fruit you would like to have a lot of. Stone fruits, for example, can easily produce a couple of hundred fruit each summer. But the landscape value of a fruit tree can be another consideration. We live in a region

where it’s easy to grow many kinds of fruit trees. If you are limited for space and don’t want to make a dedicated area just for fruit trees, consider integrating them into your existing landscape. Some types are especially ornamental, with showy flowers, attractive fruit, interesting growth habit, bold leaves, nice fall color, and more.

Showy flowers Peach blossoms are always pretty in spring, but certain varieties have exceptionally showy flowers as well as very good fruit. • Red Baron peach has double red flowers for nearly two

weeks in March, making a spectacular garden display. The fruit is very sweet, rich flavored, and juicy, harvested in July. The only downside of this variety is that it softens very quickly. The best use is to eat it right there, freshpicked, while you stand under the tree. • Saturn peach is very similar to Red Baron, but the flowers are dark pink. It is more sweet than tangy. These are both great garden plants for their showy flowers, and both yield prodigiously. If you want firmer peach varieties for pies and freezing as well as fresh eating, the best for our area are Loring (ripens in July), or O’Henry and Rio Oso Gem (both ripen in August). Elberta peaches are very popular as well. Peaches do require pruning to manage the size of the tree and the fruit load.

Interesting growth habits

Courtesy photo

Many peach and nectarine varieties have pretty flowers, but Red Baron and Saturn peaches are especially showy and have outstanding fruit as well.

The Weeping Santa Rosa plum is a natural variant of Santa Rosa that occurred many years ago and was saved and propagated. It has, obviously, a weeping growth

habit and can be pruned to make a very interesting garden accent. Plums bloom very early here, and this tree cloaked with white blossoms is a very showy harbinger of spring. It sets very heavy crops of the familiar Santa Rosa plum: tangy peel, sweet flesh. Plums are among the easiest fruit trees to grow. We mainly prune them for size control and to reduce the fruit load. Japanese and European plums do very well in our area. Of those with a regular upright growth habit, the best varieties are Santa Rosa (June), Nubiana and Satuma (July), or try some of the pluots (plum/ apricot hybrids), such as Flavor Supreme (June) or Dapple Dandy (August). If you just want one plum to pick over many weeks, consider Burgundy or Emerald Beaut, each of which hold for 4-6 weeks on the tree. Another weeping tree that makes an interesting landscape feature is the weeping mulberry. This very prostrate variety of white mulberry (Morus alba ‘Teas’) is grafted high onto an “interstock”; the branches cascade down to make a mound of foliage. We pruned

Courtesy photo

Persimmons are among the most beautiful fruit trees: lovely new growth in spring, showy fall color (right), bright orange fruit in fall and winter. Easy to grow, and birds love the fruit! ours into a playhouse for the kids when they were young. The fruit is sweet, juicy, prolific. It’s also very messy, so plant it where that won’t matter. Birds love them! If you want mulberries primarily for the fruit, Persian and Pakistan varieties are better choices for flavor, but they’re much larger trees. Mulberry trees are very easy to grow. They can take full sun, tolerate some drought, and the weeping form requires very little pruning.

All-season beauty

Persimmon trees are lovely landscape trees as well as reliable fruit producers in our area. Persimmons are pretty every season, with vivid chartreuse new growth in spring, very showy fall color, and the bright orange fruit is a nice feature even if you don’t have a use for 200-300 of them. Fear not: cedar waxwings and other birds will enjoy them in early winter if you don’t pick them. A persimmon tree

See FRUIT, Page 7

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Fall color, showy fruit

FRUIT Continued from Page 6 can easily get to 25 to 30 feet tall, but are often pruned to reduce their size. They provide an open shade, so they are fine in a flower garden or perennial border. I’ve even seen then growing well in lawns. Just be aware that the fruit drops steadily through the season, which can be a minor nuisance. Fuyu variety is most popular because it can be picked and eaten while it is still firm. Hachiya is the variety that must be squishysoft before you can use it; the unripe fruit is highly astringent.

Pomegranates are more like big shrubs than trees, as they rarely have a single trunk. There is probably no fruit type more heat and drought tolerant than a pomegranate. The flowers are very showy (there are even types grown just for the flowers). The fall color is bright yellow. Pomegranate fruits begin to turn color in early fall and get very vivid red by about October. If you don’t pick them, winter songbirds will happily eat the arils from the fruit after it splits. We do recommend removing the remaining fruit mid-winter

to remove harboring sites for leaf-footed bugs. Other than that they’re basically pestfree. No pruning is needed, but they can be clipped as large shrubs, trained up to look more like a tree, or even pruned as a hedge. There are actually dozens of varieties of pomegranate trees, and all perform well here. They vary mostly in the intensity of flavor and how hard the seeds are. Commonly available are Wonderful (the main variety), Desertnyi (soft edible seeds), Eversweet (milder flavor), and Parfianka (very large fruit, low acid).

Bold tropical leaves

Courtesy photo

Figs have leaves that look very tropical, but they are perfectly hardy here. Well-adapted to our hot climate with dry summers, fig trees can get quite large, but they are readily pruned for size control and dwarf varieties are available.

Figs have long been grown in the Sacramento Valley as they are well adapted to our summer heat. The attractive features are the bold tropical-looking foliage and the smooth white bark. They produce fruit over a very long time. We get a light spring crop and then the main production from late summer into fall. Older types can become very large trees and shower you with excess fruit. Home gardeners find that dwarf or slower-growing varieties are more suitable for small yards. Any fig tree can be pruned for size control, but the dwarfer ones are just easier

to manage. Look for Violette de Bordeaux, Blackjack, or some of the new introductions such as Little Miss Figgy and Fignomenal. Established fig trees can tolerate considerable drought.

How and where to grow them Fruit trees that you buy in winter are bareroot: field grown trees that are dug and sold without any soil. It’s important to plant them right away so those roots don’t dry out! How to plant them. Dig a hole that is wide enough to fit the roots without bending them. You don’t need to dig any deeper than the root system. So that’s usually a hole about 3 feet across by 18 inches deep. Point the bud union to the southwest. Backfill just with the soil you dug out; we don’t recommend adding any compost to the hole. Water thoroughly, stake if needed. Stone fruits: paint up to the first branches with an interior white latex paint to prevent sunburn, or install a trunk guard. Water thoroughly once a week; more often if you have fast-draining soil. Cut them back? We don’t recommend pruning back fruit trees at the time

Courtesy photo

Pomegranates are tough trees. They have very showy orange-red flowers in May, the fruit is very colorful, and the leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Easy to grow! you buy them. Leave the whole top and let it grow, and then you can decide on your training technique next winter. I prefer a modified central leader training technique, while others prefer a “vase” or open-training technique. Where? Full sun all day is best for fruit trees. At least a half-day of sun is really the minimum, or the sugar content of the fruit won’t be high. Plums have moderate shade tolerance. The best place in the yard is a spot where you can get in from all sides to prune the trees and pick the

fruit. Be sure to plant the trees where the fruit litter won’t be an issue. Watering? Deep watering once a week is best for fruit trees in their early years. Fruit trees can be compatible with the rest of your landscape irrigation. Most are not great in lawns.

It’s planting time!

Fruit trees can be planted where you’ll enjoy their ornamental value as well as the high-quality fruit, and with careful selection you can harvest different types over many months.

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A8 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Thu 2/01 Featured

Alvie & The Breakfast Pigs @ 9pm Bottom Of the Hill, 1233 17th St, San Francisco

Your Favorite 50s through 80s pop songs by Carte Blanche Live Band

Friday Feb 2nd

Editor's Voice

Lunar New Year Concert with Davis Chinese Orchestra & Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Special Guests @ 5pm

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DJ Peeti-V

@ 10pm Mix Downtown, 1525 L St, Sacra‐ mento

@ 7:30pm / $20 International House, 10 College Park, Davis. jo hanna@ihousedavis.org, 530-302-6636

Amina Scott @ 6pm SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St, San Francisco

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Line Dancing Class @ 3pm Davis Line Dancing is offering low-cost line dancing classes! Davis Community Church, 412 C Street, Davis. davislinedance@ gmail.com Community Forum: Candi‐ dates for District 4: Amber Manfree & Peter Mott @ 6pm / Free Join the League of Women Voters of Napa County for a District 4, Napa County Board of Supervisors Candidate Forum, on Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 6pm – 7pm Via Zoom. Napa. lwvnapa@ gmail.com

The Last Decade: Emo Night Live! SF @ 10pm Maggie McGarry's, 1353 Grant Ave, San Francisco

Join The Davis Chinese Orchestra and special guests for a Lunar New Year

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mouf//full at Grace Cathedral

Wed 2/07

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@ 7pm / $25-$40 Involving a sprawl of Black miracle workers in dance, song, and visual design, OYSTERKNIFE (Gabriele Christian + Chibueze Crouch) in‐ vite you to Grace Cathedral, hands open, moufs full. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Fran‐ cisco. concerts@gracecathe dral.org, 415-749-6300

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Excision: Nexus Tour

@ 7:30pm / $30-$45 In this Guided Listening, we will be exploring the history of chamber music before the quartet with ex‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// amples from the violin and cello duet repertoire. Clocktower Salon, Marquis Hill 261 2nd Street, San Francisco. in @ 7pm sightchamberplayers@gmail.com Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////// cisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Jono Zalay: The Setup @

Featured

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Natalie John Music

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@ 9:30pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐ cisco

Marquis Hill

Bottom Of the Hill, 1233 17th St, San Francisco

Multi-Day Event

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 7:30pm / $20

GamperDrums: 4POT

Thu 2/08

cost line dancing classes! Davis Community Church, 412 C Street, Davis. davislinedance@gmail.com

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mouf//full at Grace Cathedral

Richard March at The Blue Note @ 5pm Blue Note Brewing Company, 750 Dead Cat Alley, Woodland Brian Glowacki (comedian): Laughs Unlimited w/ Headliner Ryan Erwin @ 7pm Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front St, Sacra‐ mento

mouf//full at Grace Cathedral

@ 7:30pm / $25-$40 Involving a sprawl of Black miracle workers in dance, song, and visual design, OYSTERKNIFE (Gabriele Christian + Chibueze Crouch) invite you to Grace Cathedral, hands open, moufs full. Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Fran‐ cisco. concerts@gracecathe dral.org, 415-749-6300

@ 10pm Temple, 540 Howard St, San Fran‐ cisco

Featured

Razzvio: La Nouvelle Lune: DAM Circus Fundraiser + Art Talk

@ 7pm The Fink, 530 Main St, Napa Alex Ramon "Magic"

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// FREE- Community

Birthday Party!

Sun 2/11 Jen Howard Performing Live at Martinez Farmers' Market on February 11th, 2024 @ 9am Martinez Farmers' Market, 700 Main St, Martinez

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Dr Gino Sitson: Artist/Scholar in Residence @ 9:30am Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd, Sacramento

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Featured

San Fran‐ cisco Bal‐ let British Icons

@ 2pm War Memo‐ rial Opera House, 455 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Franklin St., San Fran‐ DJ Peeti-V cisco @ 10pm Bird & Beckett w/ Mix Downtown, 1525 L St, Sacra‐ Sphagetti ft. Sam Reider, mento Jim Campilongo, Scott //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Amendola & Mat Muntz Roger Sanchez

Editor's Pick

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Music for Twelve Pianos at Grace Cathedral

@ 7:30pm / $30-$100 Sunset Piano will bring twelve grand pianos into the cathedral for live performances of these two original, full-length works, along with special guests Diana //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Gameros and George Long. Grace 2nd Fridays at The Torch Cathedral, 1100 California Street, with Richard March San Francisco. concerts@grace @ 6pm cathedral.org, 415-749-6300 Torch Club, 904 15th St, Sacra‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////// mento The Power of Three ฀

Evan Honer North America 2024 IDK SH*T ABOUT //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TOURS (SOLD OUT) @ 8pm / Free Robin Taylor Zander at The The Cafe Du Nord, 2174 Market St., Lost Church San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// San Francisco Vagina @ 7:30pm Classical Revolution: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Lost Church San Francisco, Mono‐ Mendelssohn Birthday Yuma Abe 988 Columbus Ave, San Francisco logues | Bash @ 8:30pm ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 6pm

Jenny Don't and the Spurs

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Sacramento, 2100 Arden

Pence Gallery

@ 5:30pm / $95 Kiwanis Club of Napa 35th Annual @ 8pm / $12-$25 Crab Feed Chardonnay Hall @ Blue Note Napa, 1030 Main Street, Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd Street, Napa //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Napa. kiwanisclubnapa@ gmail.com The Emo Night Tour: San

Francisco

@ 7:30pm Cafe Colonial, 3520 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento

Fri 2/09

Mon 2/05

Post

Bet on Love

@ 7pm / $49 Seven lucky contestants will vie for the chance to go on a date with @ 9:30am Aella, our glamorous bachelorette. Davis Line Dancing is offering lowA live dating show where the view‐ cost line dancing classes! Davis //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ers play along and predict the out‐ Community Church, 412 C Street, wi�sfuneral come! Brava Theater Center, 2781 Davis. davislinedance@gmail.com @ 8pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 24th Street, San Francisco. market Brick & Mortar Music Hall, 1710 ing@manifold.markets Evan Honer Mission St, San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 5pm / $20 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Cafe du Nord, 2174 Market St, San Vintage Jukebox Victor! Green Jellÿ Francisco, CA 94114, San Fran‐ Orchestra: Croonin' & @ 7pm @ 8pm cisco. jarratt@cafedunord.com Swingin' Night at the Top The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St, Gold�eld Trading Post Sacra‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Of The Mark San Francisco mento, 1630 J St, Sacramento The Mighty Revelators @ 7pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 6:30pm Top of the Mark, 999 California St, Marquis Hill The Trav-enture Zone: A The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, San Francisco @ 9:15pm Night of Dungeons & Drag‐ Sacramento //////////////////////////////////////////////////// Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐ //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ons & also Comedians Marquis Hill cisco @ 7pm Fran Lebowitz @ 7pm //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The Great Star Theater, 636 Jack‐ @ 7pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐ son St, San Francisco Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St, San cisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Francisco ////////////////////////////////////////////////////

@ 8pm / $25 The Independent, 628 Divisadero @ 9am Bottom Of the Hill, 1233 17th St, St, San Francisco Free dental services worth more San Francisco //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// than $150 provided to each child, //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// plus games, prizes, face painting, Chuck Prophet: Mountain Amy balloon art, photo booth, music Stage feat. Colin Hay, Ram‐ and more! University of the Paci�c, Thompson Editor's Pick blin’ Jack Elliott and more Arthur A. Dugoni School of Den‐ - Who's with Host Kathy Mattea Dr Gino Sitson: tistry, 155 5th Street, San Fran‐ That? @ 7pm cisco. pr@paci�c.edu Artist/Scholar in Residence @ 7:30pm / Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// @ 9am Civic Dr, Walnut Creek $20.25 Sacramento City College, 3835 Working in a Series with //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Punch Line Comedy Club Freeport Blvd, Sacramento Abstract Collage with Sara

The Emo Night Tour - San Francisco

MDC - Millions of Dead Cops

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@ 1pm

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Calendar information is provided by event organizers. All events are subject to change or cancellation. @ 3pm This publication is not responsi‐ Powerhouse Pub, 614 Sutter St, ble for the accuracy of the infor‐ Folsom mation contained in this calendar. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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FEATURES

Home sales remain stagnant

Charley still thinks about COVID

Varsity girls beat Trojans

OPINION, Page 3

SPORTS, Page 7

HOMES, Page 2

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 Friday, January 26 Lit Fest 2: Storytelling and Poetry, 6 – 8 p.m., Winters Opera House, 13 Main St., winterstheatre.org Saturday, January 27 Library Event: Craft Your Heart Out, 2 – 4:30 p.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/ Monday, January 29 Winters Community Blood Drive, 2 –4:45 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Register at Vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 with code 'SMFM164' Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten Information Night, 5:30–7:30 p.m., English: 5:30 p.m., Spanish: 6:30 p.m., Waggoner Elementary School

Rebecca Fridae works to lay out coats and outer wear for families to sort through. Courtesy photo

Rotarians bring donations to families in Ensenada By Angela Underwood Express correspondent In 1905, a Chicago attorney decided to start a club where professionals could connect. Nearly 120 years later, Rotary Club founder Paul Harris and members have an international reputation for doing

good. Woody Fridae has been a Rotary Club of Winters member for 20 years. He has learned firsthand what he once thought was a “business organization made up of old white men” is not that at all. Fridae says that stigma is the furthest from reality. “We’re trying to

Upcoming

Thursday, February 1 Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check https://wintersjusd.diligent.community Monday, February 5 Dual Language Immersion Kindergarten Information Night, 5:30–7:30 p.m., English: 5:30 p.m., Spanish: 6:30 p.m., Waggoner Elementary School Tuesday, February 6 Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/

Library Services

Winters Library Public Hours (School in Session), Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8–8 p.m., Fri: 8–5 p.m., Sat: 1-5 p.m. (Mask Only 1–3 p.m.) Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library Virtual English Conversation Group, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@ yolocounty.org Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request. Saturday Matinee, First Saturday, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing

Older Adult Programs

Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.) Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Thurdays, 1-3:30 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Ongoing

Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays, 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.) Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon, The Buckhorn Winters Museum public hours, Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St. Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month ( January thru March), 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House, 13 Main St. 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.

Courtesy photo

John Donlevy unloads supply bags in Ensenada with a group of Rotarians from across the state.

shed that image and make our club look more like the communities that we serve,” Fridae said. According to Fridae, it’s all about diversity, equity and inclusion. The club encourages young members of both genders and all ethnic backgrounds to join, he added. “Rotary is transforming,” Fridae said. It’s evolving, and it’s becoming more of a community leader group. We’re considered people of action who try to do things for the community locally and internationally.” They don’t just try — they do. Fridae and his wife, Rebecca, recently crossed American borders to ensure those less fortunate were blessed on Jan. 6 for the Dia de Los Reyes distribution. Unlike Dec. 25 in America, every January in Mexico, Día de

Reyes or the Three Kings Day, is celebrated. Fridae said it was Winters’ former city manager John W. Donlevy Jr. who spurred the trip to Mexico. “Last summer, John and I and a couple of other Rotarians from Auburn went down, and we met these people from Ensenada, and they invited us to come back for a food and clothing distribution,” Fridae said. Fridae and Rebecca accepted the invite. Before heading south, the couple posted on Facebook donations for the trip were welcome. “Many people, both in and outside the Rotary Club, donated money and clothing,” Fridae said. “We had so many clothes that they wouldn’t all fit in our station wagon.” Calling the donation

See ROTARY, Page 5

New city manager learns the ropes By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer Jeremy Craig grew up in a town smaller than Winters. Goreville, Illinois, with a population just passing 1,000 people, is where Craig gained his small-town experience. “When I grew up there I think we kinda cheated, I think there were some chickens involved in that count,” Craig said. So when Craig saw the opportunity to apply for the job of city manager of Winters, it all seemed like a fit for him. “I like that small-town environment,” Craig said. “It’s always a great opportunity to come, you know, bring my experience to a setting like this what (...) I’ve done over the years, naturally with the financial economic development it’s like all the Winters, kind of issues or things they wanted to improve upon, was kind of a natural fit for me.” For Craig, it’s been a lot of learning about Winters the past two months. “I knew the community but getting to know some of the history and that’s what’s great about small towns, there’s so many stories,” Craig said. “So it’s been kind of cool getting to get to know the stories and then really just been digging in on the city side. Who’s here, what’s here, what are the issues, what do we need to be looking at.” But coming into this new position has not been without hurdles, specifically with four major open positions including Senior Planner and Chief Building Official. “So we’re really, fortunately, we’ve had a good team,” Craig said. “It’s more about finding those resource gaps and fill those gaps, and then you know, for the new people that are here, building up that institutional knowledge to learn a little something new every day.” Craig explains that there are hopeful signs for filling the

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

City Manager Jeremy Craig stands next to the Winters City Hall Dedication Banquet program. Craig is learning more about the town and its history. senior planner position with a recent interview. And in the interim there is a contract service in place filling the responsibilities of the Chief Building Official. Craig previously worked for the city of Vacaville in a couple different positions including as a city manager there. While both cities show passion, Winters is a little different. “The amount of people volunteering, the amount of people that step up, people that show up on a Tuesday night for a climate action meeting,” Craig said. “People really value their community, they spend their time and their money. To me, it’s a great microcosm of what it should be.” One of the things that is important to Craig is ensuring that when changing or adding to the community is ensuring that things fit with Winters. “The big thing and looking at economic development is kind of understanding the community,” Craig said. “A true successful economy is always geared by the people.” Craig explains that one of his

purposes as a city manager is to ensure that there is also a need for something. As Craig continues to meet more people within the town, one of the objectives is reaching the community where they’re at with town news. While in Vacaville, he and his team created a podcast for the large commuter population. While Craig isn’t planning any podcasts anytime soon, he plans to find the best way to reach residents. Ensuring that they are up to date with the goings on within the community. Craig looks forward to getting to land some of the projects that are on his plate and continue to move projects closer to completion. “Some city managers refer to it, being a city manager, is like being married to five people at once,” Craig said. “You have five council members with all different personalities and goals and objectives. So there’s a balancing act there. But ultimately, the role is about bringing things together and bringing people together for common visions.”

B2 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

California home sales remain stagnant in December California Association of Realtors Special to the Express December home sales remained near the 16-year low reached in November as the sales decline for 2023 as a whole experienced its steepest drop since 2007. Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 224,000 in December, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local Realtor associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2023 if sales maintained the December

pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. December’s sales pace was essentially unchanged from the revised 223,940 homes sold in November and was down 7.1 percent from a year ago, when a revised 241,070 homes were sold on an annualized basis. Sales of existing single-family homes in California have been below the 300,000 threshold since September 2022 and will likely stay below that level in the first quarter of 2024. While the deceleration in the year-overyear loss was due primarily to the low level of pending sales recorded a year ago, the slowdown could be a sign that the market is turning the corner,

especially since rates in the past couple of weeks have remained well-below the recent peak recorded in late October. For the year as a whole, the state recorded an annual sales level of 257,630, a decline of 24.8 percent from the revised sales level of 342,530 reported in 2022. The annual sales decline in 2023 was the biggest drop in existing home sales in California since 2007. “The housing market had a tough year in 2023 as a shortage of homes for sale and high costs of borrowing continued to have a negative impact on housing inventory and demand,” said 2024 C.A.R. President Melanie Barker, a Yosemite Realtor. “With mortgage rates expected to come down in the next 12 months, home sales will bounce back as buyers and sellers

return to a more favorable housing market. Home prices should see a moderate increase in 2024 as well.” While California’s statewide median price dipped 0.3 percent from November’s $822,200 to $819,740 in December, it posted its largest year-over-year gain since May 2022. The December median home price rose 6.4 percent from a revised $770,490 recorded a year ago. With mortgage rates softening since mid-October, home prices will likely maintain their upward momentum, and the market should continue to observe a mid- to single-digit, year-over-year growth rate in California’s median price in at least the early part of 2024. For 2023 as a whole, California’s median home price slipped 0.6 percent to

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from a year ago.The San Francisco Bay Area (-11.4 percent) was the other major region with a double-digit sales loss from the prior year, as seven of the nine counties in the region experienced an annual sales decline. The Far North (-8.2 percent), Southern California (-6.2 percent) and the Central Coast region (-4.0 percent) also posted sales dips from last December but at a more moderate pace. • Thirty-seven of the 52 counties tracked by C.A.R. registered a sales decline from a year ago, with 23 counties dropping more than 10 percent year-over-year and 14 counties falling more than 20 percent from last December. Trinity (-45.5 percent) had the biggest sales dip, followed by Yuba (-41.9 percent) and Calaveras (-39.3 percent). Fourteen counties recorded sales increases from last year, with Glenn (112.5 percent)

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Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 — B3

Express Yourself

COVID is still on my mind

or some reason I seem to be catching more colds than I usually do. When I get a sore throat and runny nose, I immediately start to think about who I shook hands with last. As most of you know, I don’t like to shake hands, partially because I have Dupuytren’s contracture, a growth on the tendons in my hands, and partially because I believe that shaking hands gets you sick. I’ve had my left hand surgically fixed, but not my right hand, so shaking hands with someone who wants to prove how strong he is, is painful. When I meet someone new, I’ll shake their hand, and there are those that I know have an easy handshake so if they reach out their hand, I take it. Most of the time I’ll just give them a fist bump, which most people accept. With COVID, when shaking hands went out of style for a day or two, I thought I was home free but, unfortunately, shaking hands is back in style. For a lot of people COVID is something that they see in the rearview mirror, but when I woke up with a sore throat last week, COVID was the first thing that came to mind. I’ve had COVID once

I’m not sure who put the vending machine in the parking lot, but it was a great service to the citizens of Winters. Now it is empty and no one knows when, or if, it will be repaired or restocked. and my symptoms were a sore throat and headache. To be on the safe side, I tested myself for a couple of days and I was negative both times. I went by City Hall to pick up a few more test kits — they were free in a vending machine in their parking lot — but the machine is out of order and empty. I’m not sure who put the vending machine in the parking lot, but it was a great service to the citizens of Winters. Now it is empty and no one knows when, or if, it will be repaired or restocked. Winters Health Care had test kits, so maybe I’ll drop in their office

See QUICK, Page 4

Horoscopes ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20) Aries, you may have an artistic talent that you haven’t explored yet. Events this week may spur you on to try something new because inspiration is high for you right now. TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21) Taurus, your household may not agree on which remodeling changes to make. Unless you come up with a compromise, nothing will get done at all. GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21) A miscommunication with a loved one could have you trying to make amends soon enough, Gemini. Don’t worry, you will easily resolve your differences in time. CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22) Cancer, you might be asked for assistance by a close friend having financial troubles. Be careful about lending out money at this juncture because you don’t want to cause issues for yourself. LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23) This week you may have a hard time integrating yourself into a group, Leo. Make a concerted effort to be supportive of others. This can be an effective way to get back into the group’s good graces. VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22) Speaking with friends this week could help to address a number of things you’re wrestling with, Virgo. Don’t hesitate to lean on this support network. LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23) Libra, when you discover a mutual interest with someone you consider a friend, your bond may grow even deeper. Have fun spending time together. SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22) Scorpio, something important to you doesn’t seem to be moving along at the pace you had hoped it would. You might have to be a little more patient in this situation. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21) General malaise may have you wondering if you are sick. It’s likely nothing more than stress and fatigue. Keep an eye on symptoms moving forward. CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20) Capricorn, a romantic encounter you have been counting on may not pan out this week, or it may be less exciting than you imagined. Wait a few days before reevaluating things. AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18) Don’t put all of your trust in new information this week, Aquarius. It is likely unreliable, so take everything that is said with a grain of salt. PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20) Your imagination is riding high this week, Pisces. Don’t hinder it in any way so you can explore all of the creativity that is flowing out of you right now.

B4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Letters

HOMES Continued from Page 2

Dancing to support youth leadership County Animal Shelter. In the last The Winters K-Kids Club members just prioritized a list of community service projects and the Kiwanis Club of Winters is looking forward to supporting their endeavors. The Winters Middle School Builders Club is also on track to start up this month. Both youth clubs will be working to help bring children’s activities to the annual Duck Derby event as well as find ways to make a positive impact on their school site. Winters Kiwanis hopes you will make plans to join us at the Back to the ’80s Prom through an exciting Dance Only Ticket Special. The ticket special invites you to Dance to the 80s on Saturday, Jan. 29, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hotel Winters. Learn more and get your tickets online at https:// bit.ly/3O6ffq6 or buy them at the door starting at 7:45 p.m. COURTNEY CARUSO, GWEN PISANI and CRYSTAL APILADO Kiwanis Club of Winters board

County needs to support animal shelter I write to second statements by Lisa Gaynes, quoted in a front page article last week (Jan. 17, 2024, edition), about the Yolo

QUICK Continued from Page 3 and see if I can’t get a couple for future use. I can just see city staff pointing a finger at Lucas Frerichs, our county supervisor, or at county health officials. If it was a city project, wouldn’t they just move the test kits into City Hall where you

45 years, my children have grown up, Winters has grown, and thankfully we have new police and fire stations, a new library and new schools. During that time the Yolo County Animal Shelter (outdated in 1980) has deteriorated into a deplorable place out of a Dicken’s novel, where unwanted animals are incarcerated under unhealthy conditions with no veterinary care. Sited outside of Woodland next to a jail and surrounded by a chain link fence, adoption hours are by appointment only. Last year the administrator was on leave for most of the year. The plumbing system has failed and so the washing machine and sink cannot be used. Last year a contract with UC Davis for spaying and neutering was not renewed and as a result, 415 animals were adopted out that were not spayed or neutered. Four positions at the shelter are vacant: two animal control officers and two office administrators. The shelter operates on the grace and goodwill of volunteers who recognize the dire conditions

could pick them up over the counter? That didn’t happen. I’m waiting for a response from Supervisor Frerichs, but I’m still waiting for him to tell me when County Road 31 will be repaved. The patch job they did on the main road from Winters to Davis is an embarrassment, especially if you look at the roads from Davis to Woodland, or Woodland

See LETTERS, Page 5 to Esparto, which are in much better shape than ours. Years ago, when I was in the courthouse for jury duty, someone asked, “Isn’t Winters in Solano County?” Sometimes I wonder if anyone in Woodland knows that we are part of Yolo County. Don’t try drinking coffee on your way to Davis without a change of clothes. Have a good week.

gaining the most yearover-year, followed by Lassen (69.2 percent) and Madera (51.0 percent). • At the regional level, home prices increased in all major regions from a year ago in December. The Central Coast region and the San Francisco Bay Area both posted a jump of 12.6 percent year-over-year at the end of 2023. Three of the four counties in the Central Coast region recorded a double-digit gain last month, with Santa Cruz being the only exception with a drop of 10.6 percent yearover-year. Southern California (6.3 percent), the Central Valley (5.5 percent), and the Far North (4.1 percent) also registered an increase in their median prices from a year ago in December, but their growth was more moderate. • Home prices continued to show yearover-year improvement in many counties, with 44 counties across the state registering a median price higher than what was recorded a year ago. Lassen (60.3 percent) posted the biggest increase in price in December, followed by Del Norte (47.0 percent) and Mono (37.6 percent). Six counties experienced a decline in median price from last year, with Lake dropping the most at -14.9 percent, followed by Santa Cruz (-10.6

percent), and Plumas (-8.9 percent). • Unsold inventory statewide decreased 16.7 percent on a month-over-month basis and dipped slightly from December 2022 by -3.8 percent. The Unsold Inventory Index (UII), which measures the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate declined from 3.0 months in November to 2.5 months in December. The index was 2.6 months in December 2022. With mortgage rates sliding back to the lowest level since early August, the market will hopefully see more for-sale properties being listed as we kick off the new year. • Active listings declined from a year ago in 32 counties in December, with 27 of them registering a double-digit decrease. Shasta posted the biggest yearover-year dip at -65.5 percent, followed by Alameda (-41.4 percent) and Contra Costa (-39.4 percent). Nineteen counties recorded a year-overyear gain, with Santa Barbara jumping the most at an increase of 36.1 percent from

a year ago, followed by Amador (27.3 percent) and Lake (24.4 percent). On a monthto-month basis, all but one county recorded a drop in active listings last month, and Sutter was the only county registering a monthly increase in for-sale properties in December. • New active listings at the state level dipped again from a year ago for the 18th consecutive month, but the annual decline remained below 3 percent for the second month in a row.With rates dropping at the end of 2023 and moving mostly side way at the start of 2024, the market could see a slight uptick in the number of new listings in January. • The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 26 days in December and 33 days in December 2022. • C.A.R.’s statewide sales-price-to-listprice ratio* was 99 percent in December 2023 and 96.1 percent in December 2022. • The statewide average price per square foot** for an existing single-family home was $398, up from $373 in December a year ago. • The 30-year, fixed-mortgage interest rate averaged 6.82 percent in December, up from 6.36 percent in December 2022, according to C.A.R.’s calculations based on Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage survey data.

Legal Advertising FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231044 12/15/2023 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business Name: MB Construction Physical Address: 201 ALMERIA PLACE, WINTERS CA 95694 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: MATTHEW BALOGH, 201 ALMERIA PLACE, WINTERS CA 95694 Business Classification: INDIVIDUAL Date of Business: N/A /s/ MATTHEW BALOGH I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2024 #69288 FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20240043 1/12/2024 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business Name: WHITE OWL COMMERCIAL JANITORIAL SERVICES Physical Address: 2825 BIDWELL STREET APT 2. DAVIS CA 95618 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Muhmmed Malik, 2825 Bidwell Street Apt 2, Davis CA 95618 Business Classification: INDIVIDUAL Date of Business: N/A /s/ Muhammed Malik I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2024 #69304

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: CV2023-2526 To all interested persons: Petitioner: Gracie Brunson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name GRACIE BRUNSON to Proposed name GRAY PLITT THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 2/7/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 14 Room: The address of the court is Superior Court of California, County of Yolo 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The Winters Express. Date: DECEMBER 13,2023 STEPHEN T MOCK Judge of the Superior Court Published January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024 #68939

Have something to say? Send in a Letter to the Editor at https://bit.ly/3NvbkTz

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231025 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/8/2023 Fictitious Business Name: La Reina Decor Physical Address: 3015 Catalina Dr., Davis CA 95616 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Maria Witten 3015 Catalina Dr., Davis CA 95616 Business Classification: Individual Starting Date of Business: N/A /s/ Maria Witten I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024 #68584

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231077 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/27/2023 Fictitious Business Name: Weddings By Strelitzia Physical Address: 2810 Cowell Blvd, Davis, CA 95618 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Dean Labadie, Janice Labadie 3301 North Park Dr #1113, Sacrament, CA 95835 Business Classification: A Married Couple Starting Date of Business: 12/27/2023 /s/ Dean Labadie I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024 #68972

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20240050 1/17/2024 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business Name: HERBAL TONICS Physical Address: 2496 PORT STREET, WEST SACRAMENTO CA 95691 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: HERBALSHOTZ LLC, 2496 PORT STREET, WEST SACRAMENTO CA 95691 Business Classification: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Date of Business: 1/16/24 /s/ KEERUT DHESI I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2024 #69366

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on February 6, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 318 1st Street, Winters, CA 95694, the City Council of the City of Winters will conduct a public hearing concerning proposed updates to the City’s schedule of fines and penalties for traffic and parking violations to include fines related to the parking of leaking vehicles on public property, pursuant to Ordinance No. 2024-01.

At the public hearing, members of the public will be afforded an opportunity to make oral or written presentations concerning the proposed updated schedule of fines. All interested persons may present oral comments and information at the Public Hearing or may submit written comments and information to the City Council at any time prior to the hearing by delivering them to the City Clerk’s Office. The data supporting the fine is available for review at City Hall, located at 318 Main Street, Winters, CA 95694, during regular office hours.

Court challenges to any public hearing items may be limited to only those issues which are raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or prior to the public hearing. Published on: January 17 th and January 24 th. #69278

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: CV2023-2637 To all interested persons: Petitioner: Matthew Jamieson Healy filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name MATTHEW J, ARCHIBEQUE to Proposed name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE Present name MATTHEW J, ARCHIBEQUE to Proposed name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE Present name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE to Proposed name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE Present name MATT JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE to Proposed name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE Present name MATT ARCHIBEQUE to Proposed name MATTHEW JAMIESON ARCHIBEQUE THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 2/22/2024 Time: 9:00 a.m. Dept.: 11 Room: The address of the court is Superior Court of California, County of Yolo 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: The Winters Express. Date: DECEMBER 27,2023 DOMNATI PETIE Judge of the Superior Court Published January 17, 24, 31, FEBRUARY 7, 2024 #69197

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20231065 Business is located in YOLO County. 12/20/2023 Fictitious Business Name: Hangtown Collective Physical Address: 4410 S. Bluegill Ln., West Sacramento, CA 95691 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: Stuart Harmon 4410 S. Bluegill Ln., West Sacramento, CA 95691 Business Classification: Unincorporated Association other than a Partnership Starting Date of Business: N/A /s/ Stuart Harmon I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo Published January 17, 24, 31, February 7, 2024 #68721

The Express is looking for the first Winters baby born after the stroke of Midnight on Jan. 1, 2024. Enter online https://bit.ly/3NFxtyn.

Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 — B5

Express Yourself: Support, celebrate older adult independence in February By Wally Pearce Winters Elder Day Council Every February, America celebrates Senior Independence Month to support full lives for each senior member in our community. Additionally, maintaining independence promotes a sense of achievement that for many seniors, generates a great sense of self-worth and well-being. Recognizing National Senior Independence Month is important, because it confirms that we care about our aging population, and it sets an optimistic paradigm for our younger citizens on how to treat the older members of our families and the community, with dedication and love, that can build a truly inclusive and fair society. When thinking of February, some might think of Valentine’s Day or even Black History month. However, it’s fitting that senior independence is celebrated during the month of February, a winter calendar month that tests the fortitude of most people between shortened days and unpredictable weather. Older adults should be able to enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms when residing in any shelter, care, or treatment, including full respect for their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy and for the right to make decisions about enjoying their quality of life to the fullest. This monthlong observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of promoting independence for our seniors, as well as providing resources and support for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Senior Independence Month began in the 1800s. The Industrial Revolution was sweeping

ROTARY Continued from Page 1 gathering “a community event,” the couple said it was them who were blessed to hand off all the needed blankets, jackets, gifts and more. “One of the stories that was hard for me was seeing a 12-yearold girl pick up a pink stuffed kitty cat that somebody else had loved very well for a long time,” Rebecca Friday said. “It wasn’t new and pristine, but she was thrilled

across America, disrupting traditional, social, and ancestral networks. As individuals moved to the cities and dispersed over the U.S., the vacuum of extended families left many people stranded in times of need. While May was designated “Older Americans Month” by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, far fewer know that February also celebrates Senior Independence Month to support dignified and full lives for each senior member in our community. Independence is sometimes the only thing senior citizens may feel they can control as certain aspects of life change with age. Additionally, maintaining independence promotes a sense of achievement that generates a great sense of self-worth and wellbeing. For most seniors, living at home is a key part of their independence. That’s why it’s crucial to equip our loved ones so they’re safe and able to perform tasks on their own. Install an up-to-date security system, non-slip floor mats, organize a living area so all items are accessible, and maintain a welllit environment to help prevent falls. Ensure that senior citizens have proper access to working telephones, both portable and fixed, so each system can be easily and quickly accessible during any emergency. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data also found 40 percent of those aged 65 and over had difficulty with mobility. Senior citizens need to ensure their living space is properly maintained and if their living space includes a yard or even an outdoor entrance, a properly placed security device can detect any nearby gesture and motion light sen-

to have it and just hugged it tight.” The couple found that paying it forward paid right back after they found themselves sleeping in cold quarters during their stay. Before the couple knew it, Rotarians in the area gathered together to assure the Fridaes would sleep in comfort in another location. “It was like a penthouse,” Fridae said. “We had this beautiful view of the bay, and the house had two separate suites with private baths. I mean,

sors can help identify, as well as fend off, any unwanted persons. Functioning cellphones and tablets also contribute to a senior’s safety. In addition to allowing seniors to contact people/services immediately, cellphones offer built-in flashlights and emergency contact apps make a call for help quick/easy. They can also serve as location devices and, of course, provide maps and navigation. Properly installed secured grab bars in a senior’s bathroom are designed to enable a person to maintain balance, lessen fatigue while standing, hold some of their weight while maneuvering, or have something to grab onto in case of a slip or fall. If you have dark hallways or dark closets, install motion sensor lights that might help to solve the problem. Most importantly, call and visit the older adults in your life often. Seniors who’re active are healthier, so develop a dependable routine of contact. Stop by in the mornings or call after dinner. If they no longer drive, take them where they may need to go, such as a medical appointment, grocery shopping, or just a leisurely ride out into the community, maybe to visit a friend. In February 2024, please join the Winters Elder Day Council as we encourage our community members to celebrate National Senior Independence Month by making positive life changes that help older adults remain safe and independent. To live a lifestyle with dignity and independence is equally important to all older adults, and a key asset to families and community. So, let’s unite in celebrating our beloved senior citizens and their endless vitality!

“We have a connection, and once you have a connection, you’ve become part of that community as well.” Rebecca Fridae we couldn’t afford it if we had to pay for it.” They couple said

they hope to go back. “We’ve gotten to know five or six people there fairly well,” Rebecca said. “We have a connection, and once you have a connection, you’ve become part of that community as well.” Undoubtedly, the club Harris started over a century ago is making the difference intended. And if there is room for doubt, ask the Fridaes who will be sure to let you know more about the club they say brings them and others joy.

LETTERS Continued from Page 4 and who have transported and paid themselves to have animals receive medical care, or who have brought them to their homes for weekend respite. Meanwhile, Yolo County cities pay to support this service. How could any sane person, any local official, or any County Supervisor, turn away from a situation like this? Last week I virtually attended a meeting of the Yolo Animal Services Planning Agency. For 10 years a group of well-intentioned animal lovers has been meeting to plan and raise support for a new animal shelter but nothing has happened. They have no authority. One person commented, “what would John Q. Public think?” This letter represents what one member of the public thinks: This is a responsibility of county government. The Animal Shelter needs to be investigated and taken over by a competent outside administrative agent, the volunteers interviewed confidentially for their views, and the Board of Supervisors needs to step up and build a new, state of the art shelter. If they do not take immediate steps to correct the situation, this is a matter for the Yolo County Grand Jury.

Maya Wildgoose, Devon Eaton, Camille Frias, Lilian Boisrame, and Nick Talbott, not only won the game, but generously donated the prize money back to WFoL. I am grateful for their generosity and support. Many WFoL members worked hard to make the game run smoothly. Our emcee Woody Fridae; judges Mary Lou Linvill, Jack Young, and Sonya Godinez; Time keeper Sally Brown; Scorekeepers Megan Evans, Lynne Secrist, and Paul Myer; Ticket takers Revalee Hemken and Carol Scianna; bartender Amaya Jimenez; bakers Karen Olson, Revalee Hemken, Carol Scianna, Mary Lou Linvill, and Lisa Baker; and making fliers for the event, Diane Cary, all had a share in creating a successful fundraiser. I also wish to thank Woody and my son, Markland, for helping develop some of the questions. I appreciate everyone who came early to set up and stayed late to clean up. I thank Crystal Apilado and the Winters Express for covering our contest. And I also thank the Winters Theatre Company for opening up the Opera House as a venue, it’s good place to host events. We hope to be back next year. REBECCA FRIDAE WFoL Quiz Show Coordinator

KATHY POLKINGHORN

New group supports Opera House

WFoL Quiz Show success

Winters Theatre Company is organizing a community volunteer group called “Friends of the Opera House” for local community members to get involved to help support WTC and the Winters Opera House. Please join us on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Winters Opera House, 13 Main St. for pizza and a chat on how you can help support us. For more information please contact Kaitlyn Hinds, Venue Manager at wintersoperahouse@gmail.com or call 530-795-4014. Thank you all.

The 15th Winters Friends of the Library Quiz Show last Friday was a wonderful success because of the myriad people who supported us, and I am grateful for their contributions. Thirty-five people had the courage and commitment to show off their trivia knowledge in front of an audience, which is no small feat, and I thank all seven teams for being willing. Our congratulations to the Trivia Newton John team for winning the contest in the third round by besting The Winters Wizards in a very close final match.

LINDA GLICK Winters Theatre Company

Courtesy photos

LEFT: Iván Celis Gallegos, Club Rotario Ensenada Centenaria President, and Woody Fridae. ABOVE: John Donlevy shows off a soccer ball that was donated for children.

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B6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Don’t underestimate power of having fun

eople ask me how I do it all — raise the children, work full time, volunteer in town, taxi my children to all the things they want to do, sell the cookies, attend the meetings, among other things I find myself engaging in around town. I usually don’t have an answer that feels effective, I roll with it. But I think a playful perspective helps a lot, and we adults often underestimate the power of having a “little fun” now and then. I have previously mentioned that I was pretty much raised in a preschool. When your mom is a preschool teacher, you find yourself being volunteered to do all kinds of things, like handing out candy canes in an elf costume. My dad even got in on it and turned a work project into an opportunity to get his daughter to help save the city of Vallejo some money on color ink. In my life, play goes beyond toys and games and inserts itself into daily activities and lenses of perspective. I sing throughout the day, create little games to compete against myself as I get tasks done, and my new favorite game is creating a needlepoint book tracker to record how many books I read during the year. It could be my personality, but over my journey, I have developed a love of friendly competition. When Rebecca Fridae encouraged me to try

Woody Fridae (left) read trivia questions as the master of ceremonies to the final two teams who went headto-head to see who could buzz in first and answer correctly. Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express

and put together an Express Quiz Show team, a part of me seriously considered it. Taylor and I have talked about how much fun it would be to compete in the Winters Friends of the Library Quiz Show multiple times. Trying to decide who else would be willing to sit on the team with us has been a hurdle when you consider the high turnover of staff writers. Perhaps I can convince Charley and some former writers or columnists for next year. However, I was unsure if I would be available to attend and I put a pin on it. Yet, I found myself sitting at the Winters Opera House with my fizzy water and my camera ready to capture the action. If

you’re not familiar, WFoL’s Quiz Show is a competitive game of trivia. Teams gather and go head-tohead answering trivia questions ranging from science and nature to sports and geography to Winters facts.

retired, but in her best teacher voice, Rebecca warned audience members a few times that she could hear them murmuring the answers to questions. We, the audience, were also guilty of bursting into celebratory conversation when we knew the answer or applause when a competitor got an answer correct without consulting with the team.

One of my favorite parts was watching the last two teams compete against each other with buzzers. Despite their competitive nature, they still have fun with each other and we all got wrapped up in the energy of it.

hat does play have to do with the Quiz Show? Everything. The judges awarded Snickers bars if com-

petitors were able to make them snicker. The audience was able to celebrate with them when they got things correct or empathize when they didn’t. The event started with a joke as one of the teams didn’t end up competing and Woody Fridae said the team “Out at Eight” was actually out at seven. (The event started at 7 p.m. and it was the seventh team on the lineup.) There were folks making connections, trying their hand with each other to see if they knew the answer, and there was a lot of laughter ringing through the Opera House. There was “play” and “fun” being had, and it left me feeling happy inside at the end of the evening after a long week of meetings. I encourage you to find ways to play this week and make connections with folks in the community. Life is too short to not have a little fun in it.

ost folks may decline to participate because they “don’t know the answer” but I can assure you that you wouldn’t be alone and you never know when a life experience or random encounter comes through for you in a game of trivia. Quiz Show is a lively event between watching teams attempt to answer questions and the audience trying to see if they, too, know the answers. She may have

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Trivia teams hold signs up with their official answer during the Quiz Show on Jan. 19.

Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 — B7

Warriors basketball recap By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

JV girls The Winters High School Warriors dove headfirst into more competition last week starting on Tuesday, Jan. 16 against Durham High School. Unfortunately, the squad struggled mightily against their opponents and only mustered to put up 10 points. The Warriors suffered a difficult, 40–10 loss to the Trojans. On Friday, Jan. 19, the Warriors took on East Nicolaus High School. This time around, the Warriors competed well and gave themselves a shot to win the game. However, the Spartans never yielded their lead and won 23–13 over Winters. “Unfortunately, we lost Elena Herrera for the season due to a knee injury, so we are down to seven players,” said head coach Tom Crisp. “On Friday’s game against east Nicolaus we did a pretty good job rebounding against a much taller team. In the second half we modified our offense against their zone defense and got plenty of shots. They just weren’t going in.”

JV boys The JV boys basketball team also went head-tohead with Durham on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The Trojans proved as formidable as ever and thumped the Warriors 59–36. Undeterred, the Warriors laced up to take on East Nicolaus on Friday, Jan. 19. With their offense as hot as its been all season, the War-

riors captured their first win of the season and beat the Spartans 63–50. “On Friday, we got our first win of the season. This happened because we put all the pieces of fundamentals and high energy on defense together,” said head coach Marcus Chavez. “We played outstanding defense. We committed to our offense and controlled the tempo which gave us good open looks. We played a complete and consistent game for four quarters. I am super proud of the relentless commitment to getting better.”

Varsity girls The WHS varsity girls’ basketball team continued its stellar season against Durham on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Playing consistently as a team, the squad snagged yet another win beating the Trojans 44–34. Later on Friday, Jan. 19, the East Nicolaus Spartans pushed the Warriors — playing without their centers — to their limit. Emily Dodic put up 18 points along with Jordan Tucker who added 12 of her own. The squad not only proved its resiliency, but also sneak out with a 50–47 victory over East Nicolaus. “The girls really stepped up to fill the void. Lilli Borchard had her best game of the season as she got the start which was huge for us. Emily Dodic also had to go from point guard to center since we only had two post players available,” said head coach Ivan Dodic. “East Nicolaus had a really good team with size, their post players were a good, three to

Varsity athlete Miles Mariani brings the ball up the court against the East Nicolaus Spartans on Friday, Jan. 19. KS Winters Photography/ Courtesy photo

four inches taller than our post players, but we were able to negate their height advantage by really being active and working hard on rebounding. This game was a testament to the girls, we have been preaching all season to only focus on each player’s effort and execution, not the scoreboard or how many points they make. They did just that against East Nicolaus and we were able to pull out the victory.”

Varsity boys The varsity boys team also clashed on the court

with Durham on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The Trojans caught on fire offensively and the Warriors weren’t able to put it out by the end of the fourth quarter. Winters took a tough 64–34 loss. The Warriors played host as the East Nicolaus Spartans came to town on Friday, Jan. 19. With a suffocating defense paired with the Warriors hitting timely three’s down the stretch, WHS pulled out a 54–47 win. “It was nice to have a home game after almost two weeks of travel! Defensively, we played great from the start and held them to only

seven points in the second quarter,” said head coach Brendan McShea. “We started moving the ball better in the second half and in the third quarter saw an 18-point swing in our favor. Senior Colton Brown and sophomore Luke Felsen hit some big threes in that run and juniors Sebastian Valadez and Julian Herrera played some lock down defense to help us gain the lead and keep it the entire game. Three different guys scored in double figures and six guys got on the board. It was a full team effort.”

Newsom sides with parents’ rights groups to defend youth tackle football By Ryan Sabalow Cal Matters Update: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said today that he would veto any bill with an outright ban on youth tackle football. “My Administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children,” he said in a statement. Anaheim Assemblymember Avelino Valencia is a former tight end for San Jose State who tried out for the NFL. Before entering politics, he was a community college football coach. “The benefit that football has had in particular to my life, I cannot put a monetary amount on it,” he told

his colleagues on the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee. So it was painful for Valencia to throw his support behind a bill headed for the Assembly floor that would make California the first state to set a minimum age for tackle football — banning the sport for children under 12. But he said the evidence that the repeated brain trauma football players endure game after game is too clear. The committee’s 5-2 party-line vote from Valencia and his fellow Democrats last week to advance the bill set in motion what’s likely to be one of the more emotionally charged issues California lawmakers will consider in 2024. This time, they’re debating the future of the country’s most

popular sport, one that has a documented history of its players getting debilitating brain disease from repeated blows to the head. Several high-profile examples of former players – most notably the suicide of legendary NFL linebacker Junior Seau who suffered from a degenerative brain disease – have prompted the NFL down to youth leagues to try to make tackling safer. Researchers say tackle football is still dangerous despite the changes to the game. For instance, Boston University published research last year finding that players who’ve spent more than 11 years in the sport have an increased likelihood of brain trauma, leading to poor impulse control and thinking problems.

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But there’s no guarantee Sacramento Democratic Assemblymember Kevin McCarty’s bill will advance beyond the Assembly, even in a Legislature that’s not shy about citing medical research to make decisions that outrage parental-rights groups. Assembly Bill 734 would phase in a ban, first prohibiting children under 6 from playing tackle football starting in 2025, and working up to bar those younger than 12 by 2029. It must pass on the Assembly floor by the end of the month if it’s going to eventually make its way through the state Senate to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. A handful of other state legislatures have debated similar youth tackle football bans. None have passed. A

similar version of the bill in 2018 failed in California to even get out of committee. Along the way, lawmakers are sure to see a repeat of last week’s hearing. Dozens of coaches, youth sports association officials, jersey-clad pre-teen football players and their parents spilled out of the hearing room into the hallway as they lined up to take the microphone and urge the committee to kill the measure. As they weigh the bill, liberal lawmakers will consider arguments from the likes of Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper, who opposes it. Cooper, a Black former Democratic Assemblymember from Elk Grove, worries that banning youth tackle football would take away an outlet for young children in

Black communities who might otherwise find their way into a gang. Lawmakers, he said, have already passed legislation he authored in 2019 that limited full-contact youth football practices to no more than 30 minutes per day, two days a week. That bill had support from the California Youth Football Alliance. “If we ban this sport, we take away the opportunity and many opportunities from children to grow – not only as an athlete – but as a self-actualized adult who knows when they have the capabilities to overcome an obstacle and achieve success further,” said Assemblymember Tom Lackey, one of the Republicans on the sports and tourism committee.

PISANI’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Luke Felsen Luke Felsen, a Winters High School sophomore, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. Felsen has consistently been one of the varsity boys basketball team’s lead scorers this season and helped to spark the Warriors’ drive up a level against East Nicolaus by sinking in three-point shots. “Luke played well in both games last seeking, including a fantastic effort in our comeback on Friday,” said head coach Brendan McShea. “He played great defense, was second in rebounds, and first in points for the game.”

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B8 — Winters Express, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Art of Soul exhibit features Master Gardeners February events By Denise Cottrell historical perspectives of Black artist movement

Slinkard presents this monthly workshop, Gardening for Year-Round Meals, on Feb. 10, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Grace Garden. The garden is located behind the United Methodist Church at 1620 Anderson Rd., Davis. Walk to the back of the parking lot and you will find the site for the workshop. Topics for this month include starting seeds for warm season crops, planting perennial vegetables and herbs, growing fresh herbs and how to use them, planting and enjoying edible flowers, and what to enjoy now in your garden. More information about the UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo County and scheduled events can be found online at yolomg.ucanr.edu or contact Jennifer Baumbach via email at jmbaumbach@ ucanr.edu. For a specific garden query, the Master Gardener hotline is available by phone at 530-6668736 or email mgyolo@ucdavis.edu. Do not hesitate to contact the UCCE Master Gardeners–Yolo, and one of our members will get back to will get back to you.

Special to the Express

Special to the Express “The Art of Soul” is a group exhibition featuring artwork focusing on the American experience through an African American lens. The show opens Feb. 2 at YoloArts’ Gallery 625 in Woodland. The exhibition is curated in partnership with Shonna McDaniels, Executive Director of the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum in Sacramento and includes the artwork of regional artists and pioneering legendary artists from throughout the Sacramento region. Regional artists featured include Valerie Brown-Troutt, Mia Davis, Joha Harrison, Unity Lewis, Lee McCormick, Shonna McDaniels, Cedric Orange, Karen Seneferu, Malik Seneferu, Aliyah Sidqe, Gerry Simpson and Urban Sunshine. Some of the exhibition’s artworks are on loan from the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum and include works by the late Dr. Samella Lewis and Elizabeth Catlett, and contemporary artists Milton Bowens, Alpha Bruton, Daphne Burgess, Nahosenay Negussie and TAFA. Unity Lewis, the grandson of Dr. Samella will loan an additional piece of his grandmother’s art to the exhibit. The exhibit includes abstract and realistic paintings, works on paper, mixed media, and digital media. “The Art of Soul” coincides with February’s Black History Month, annually honoring the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shaped the nation while celebrating the rich cultural heritage, triumphs, and adversities that are part of our country’s history. The show’s title has a local history and is explained by Shonna McDaniels, “The title was used back in the

Courtesy photo

“The Blues Wore a Church Dress,” mixed media by Valerie Troutt-Brown.

Courtesy photo

“Black on Both Sides,” oil and acrylic on canvas by Aliyah Sidqe. early 1990s for a collaboration of Black artists that worked together to showcase a variety of art forms in the Black community. In 1990 the first Art of Soul festival celebrated the visual, performing, and theater arts at the old Radisson Hotel.” In bringing this dynamic group of artists together, McDaniels was inspired by their work ethic and creative spirit and the work they are all doing in the community. “YoloArts is thrilled to welcome back artist and activist Shonna McDaniels who had a solo show with us last year — and this time she has put together an incredible group of artists bringing their unique stories and styles,” says YoloArts’ Creative Director, Janice Purnell. “The show also includes pioneers of the Black artist movement, and we are excited to include these important historical perspectives.” Many of the artists, and McDaniels, will be attending the opening reception, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, coinciding with the downtown Woodland First Friday event. Music will be provided by guitarist Kevin Welch from the band, Boca do Rio. Light refreshments and Yolo County wine will be available. “The Art of Soul” artwork can also be viewed online at yoloarts. org/online-galleries. “The Art of Soul” continues at Gallery 625 through April 2. Gallery 625 hosts exhibitions and receptions every other month. New exhibitions typically open on the first Fridays of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Gallery 625 is located at 625 Court St. in Woodland, in Yolo County’s Erwin Meier Administration building and is open Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact YoloArts at 530-309-6464.

Despite the rainy and cold weather, now is the time to plan for adding bare root fruit trees to your garden. There are several factors to consider when se- ers–Yolo offer free lecting the “perfect” workshops, talks, tree for your garden, and events throughincluding where to out Yolo County to site it in the yard and provide Univerwhich variety grows sity of California best in our region. research-based inThe UCCE Master formation and asGardeners–Yolo sistance to home will be presenting gardeners. Listed a workshop in Win- below are two additers on Feb. 10 from tional events which 1:30 to 3 p.m. on The are free and open to Care and Pruning the public. of Fruit Trees. Join Valentine’s Day UCCE Master Gar- Flower Arranging dener, Bonnie Ber- will be presented by man, at the Winters UCCE Master GarCommunity Library dener Jim Schulte (708 Railroad Ave.) on Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. to learn about which “Gardening Advenvarieties of fruit tures” is a monthly trees are best adapt- workshop held at the ed to our climate and Woodland Communiarea. In addition, ty Center and Senior this free workshop Center located at will provide infor- 2001 East St., Woodmation useful for ev- land. Registration ery gardener with a is necessary for this backyard fruit tree. workshop. To sign Attend this work- up, call 530-661-2001. shop to learn how to prune your tree and Starting seeds for warm season crops deal with pests. Consider this and planting workshop prepara- perennial begetables, tion for the Winters herbs and rdible Friends of the Li- glowers brary Annual Fruit UCCE Master GarTree Sale on March dener–Yolo, Karen 2. The sale starts at 8:30 a.m. with bare root fruit trees for Yolo sale in addition County to a limited supply of citrus, and Premier berry bushes. And Craft of course, Master Gardeners will be Distillery available at this Winters Friends of TASTING ROOM HOURS: the Library event to answer any of Friday 3-7 • Saturday 2-7 • Sunday 1-5 your gardening Tastings + Cocktails + Food questions. The UCCE Master Garden- 723 Railroad Ave., Winters • 530-794-6174 • www.patio29.com

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