City moving forward with Senior Center project

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

The Winters Senior Commission on Aging did not have a quorum at its Wednesday, March 8 meeting, and instead shared updates from local organizations and engaged in discussion without taking any official actions.

City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa informed Commissioners about the status of the City’s efforts to obtain the plans for the Winters Senior Center building.

The Winters Senior Center project has been held up for two years first due to the pandemic shutdown, and second due to the fact that the City did not have the legal right to use the originally drawn building plans. This meant the City was unable to incorporate the new 2023 code energy updates. The City was also unable to obtain bids for the project.

Domas originally anticipated building both the Blue Mountain Terrace senior apartments and the

Senior Community Center. However, the project ran short of funding and the Senior Center had to be split off to allow the construction of the apartments to finish.

They continued to design the Senior Center with the understanding the City would pay them once they obtained grant funding. When the Senior Center project became a “public works project,” state laws prevented Domas from bidding on the project because they had designed it.

Domas Management Company was working with City staff to obtain a signature from the original architect, who drafted the plans to sign them over to Domas. In January, Trepa told Commissioners the City met with the original architect in September, who had since been silent.

However, on Wednesday, Trepa said the owner of the architectural plans had given his final answer. “He is not signing a release for the plans,” Trepa said.

Trepa continued that Domas said they would waive the unpaid amount of $130K associated with the design of the Senior Center and consider it a loss. Domas did provide the building information to the City, so whoever takes the project on will be able to use it to redraw the plans with the updated codes and requirements, including the two building code changes since the center was designed and add on an emergency generator.

Trepa said securing an architect is the City’s first next step to get the Senior Center project back into action.

“We now need to move rather quickly to show that we are now making forward momentum,” Trepa said. “All this time has been associated with trying to get control of the plans, figuring out how much we owe Domas, and how to move forward since the project was split.”

According to Trepa, anything above the amount of $130K originally owed to Domas would be the related fiscal impact, but she was unsure of what the costs would be. She also noted that while they hope to see a ground-breaking in about six to nine months after City Council awards a project bid, material delays could cause big issues.

The next Winters Senior Commission on Aging meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance).

Commissioners will revisit the development of Senior Programming at the Winters Community Center and discuss a possible change in the start time of it’s regular meeting.

All of these services are designed to provide growers with valuable information at no charge so they can optimize their irrigation system, improve the evenness of delivery to plants, and help save water and energy.

The aim of the Mobile Irrigation Lab is to provide growers in Yolo, Sutter, Colusa, and Yuba counties with important detailed information about their irrigation system to assist them in making decisions on their water and energy services and usage.

To sign up for an evaluation or learn more about the Sutter-Yolo Mobile Irrigation Lab, reach out to Conor Higgins, YCRCD Mobile Irrigation Lab Manager, at higgins@yolorcd. org or call 530-6611688.

Interested individuals can sign up for a free irrigation system evaluation, by filling out the Google Form at https://tinyurl.com/ yolomobilelab.

Winters Senior Foundation hosts community meeting

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

The Winters Senior Foundation is reviving their monthly in-person meetings, kicking off with its first 2023 community meeting on Thursday, March 23 from 2 –4 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave.

WSF member Tina Lowden said they are planning on bringing back the practive of featuring speakers at each meeting, as well as provide an opportunity for Winters older adults to socialize and have fun.

At the March 23 meeting, WSF will feature a presen- tation from Nancy Gifford of the Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance. Gifford’s presentation “Matter of Balance” will focus on balance and fall prevention.

Janet Johnson-Yosgott, of Agency on Aging Area Four, is the second featured speaker on the agenda.

Johnson-Yosgott’s presentation is titled “Lift Strong and Safe.” WSF will have cake, cupcakes and coffee available for attendees. Questions can be directed to Lowden at 530-794-6067. For information on WSF, visit www. wintersseniorfoundation.org.

Thursday, March 16

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

Thursdays

Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 200 Baker St. – Rooms 4 & 5, 530-668-0690

Sunday, March 19

Capstone Project: History of Bodybuilding, 1 2 p.m., Winters Museum, 13 Russell St.

Monday, March 20 Winters Community Blood Drive, 1 –5 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Register at Vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 with code 'SMFM164'

Winters Natural Resources Commission Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), check cityofwinters.org/climate-action-commission

Tuesday, March 21 Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/city-council-meetings_/

Wednesday, March 22

Winters City Council Goal Setting Workshop, 9 a.m.– 2 p.m, City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance)

Wednesdays

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

Upcoming

Thursday, March 23

Winters Senior Foundation: Community Meeting, 2 – 4 p.m, Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Questions: 530-794-6067

Sunday, March 26

Be Thankful Banquet Turkey Soup Luncheon, 1 – 3 p.m. (as food supplies last), 511 W. Main St., RSVP to 707-208-5861

Tuesday, March 28

Winters Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/planning-commission/

Library Services

Winters Library Open to Public (School in Session), Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. , Sat: 1–5 p.m.

Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 13:30 p.m., Winters Community Library

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

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

Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Second Thursday, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-666-8005 to schedule an appointment

Afterschool Adventure (ages 6-12), Third Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Winters Community Library

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

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

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.) CANCELED March 23

Ongoing

Winters Wide World of Sports exhibit Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., Winters Museum, 13 Russell St.

Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Meeting details: https://wfol.org/

Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon,

The Buckhorn

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

Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5 p.m.), 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.

Capstone project challenges students to rethink driving under the influence

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in--Chief

Winters High School students experienced an emotional journey last week as the “Every 15 Minutes” two-day program was revived on campus.

On Thursday, March 9, the rain poured down in sheets on students as they gathered around two vehicles near the baseball field. Each vehicle had WHS students who were role-playing a scenario representing the aftermath of an impaired driving-related accident. Winters first responders from Winters Police and Fire Departments worked alongside emergency personnel as they role-played their regular tasks of the realistic and tragic scene. The crash portrayed the injuries of the students in both cars. Senior John Lopez was chosen to represent an impaired driver and underwent the motions of a field sobriety test from a Winters Police officer before being arrested for driving under the influence of drugs.

The Grim Reaper was also on-site watching the scene, as well as guarding over the “living dead” students who had been collected from classrooms throughout the morning. As this is happening the families of the “living dead” received a visit from a TAGS (Trauma & Grief Support

Program) volunteer and California Highway Patrol officer to notify them of their loved one’s death. By 2 p.m. that afternoon, 17 students had been collected by the Grim Reaper. The group stood solemnly by the accident scene.

Students regrouped on Friday, March 10 to view the WHS Every 15 Minutes video production. The video depicted from start to finish the events that led to the crash and the emotional and raw ripple effects afterward.

Seniors Paris Zaragoza and Alissa García faced multiple challenges to execute their Senior Capstone Project that almost didn’t happen. García shared their gratitude to Principal John Barsotti for “making a hard decision and trusting us with this extraordinary project.”

Zaragoza noted that while it was a stressful and exciting project to take on, it was worth it.

“While this program may seem intense and emotionally charged, it is incredibly effective at changing the way young people view driving under the influence. The program aims to create an emotional impact that will stay with participants for years to come, influencing their behavior and decisions making long after the program has ended. Participating in the Every 15 Minutes program can change your life by opening your eyes to the real con- sequences of driving under the influence,” Zaragoza said.

Lopez said he had never heard of the Every 15 Minutes program but he instantly agreed to participate as the “under the influence” driver because the program’s message is important.

He shared his experience of being cuffed, being processed in jail first-hand, and sitting through the court system. He advised his peers that they did not want to “get cuffed because it is not comfortable at all.”

Featured speakers included Kate Sherfey of Mothers Against Drunk Driving who shared about the night her mother was killed by a drunk driver. She noted to students that when she refers to the incident she will never refer to it as an accident because it was “100 percent the choice” someone made to get behind the wheel drunk and to drive and that she will always refer to it as a “crash.”

Winters Police Sergeant Jose Hermosillo shared about the intense and detailed DUI training that police officers endure to prepare and about the investigation process of impaired driving crashes and drivers who are under the influence.

Gustavo Figueroa of the Yolo County District Attorney’s office shared about the different consequences for impaired drivers and what his role is in processing the cases.

“In my opinion, DUIs are the easiest crime to avoid. None of you should be drinking alcohol right now, but in the event that you are drunk at a party or are high, it’s a very easy decision to not get behind the wheel — It’s a very avoidable crime,” Figueroa said.

Trying to not get too depressed

The older you get, the more friends you lose. There is a George Jones song, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” about Country Music legends that have passed on. Should we be worried about who will fill the shoes of the people who have helped make Winters a special place to live, work and raise our children?

I’ve been writing this column for over 40 years and I can’t count the number of times I’ve written about this subject. Usually, it is when a prominent citizen dies and I feel like a piece of Winters is missing, forever.

Harold Anderson passed away last week and my heart sank with the news. Harold was a constant in Winters, whether serving on the City Council or heading Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast. How many times did he walk down to the Little League field, or other sporting events, to help out? How many meetings did he attend over his lifetime?

Harold was a calming influence on Winters. Never one to get upset or angry, but when needed, he got his point across with a stern look and tight lips. One of his dreams was for a sports park where the old city dump used to be on Moody Slough Road. He didn’t live long enough to see his vision come true, but he did make sure that it is in our General Plan. I would suggest that our General Plan map be edited to mark that 20-acre parcel as Harold Anderson Sports Park. Can I get a second on that motion?

I spend too much time picking out the Yesteryear photos for each week’s Express. I can spend days going through old photos, and finding the ones that I think our subscribers might like. If they are too old, no one will remember who is in them and I can’t get too current, or they aren’t Yesteryear-worthy.

Currently, I’m going through the 1981 and 1993 photo files.

I find pictures that I like and then I have to find the printed photos in the Express to help identify all of the participants and why the photo was in the paper in the first place. You might think that is an easy task, but I get lost reading old newspaper stories and remembering the people in the photos. I found a Lions Club group photo in the paper with my brother,

Jim. I remember him living in Winters for a few years before he moved away, but I don’t remember him being in Lions Club with me and my brother John. I would like to run the photo in the Express, but I can’t find the original photo in our archives.

Only a few photos that we take end up in the newspaper. When we used film, there would be one roll for general news (24 pictures) and one roll for sports (36 pictures) each week. Maybe we used six or seven in the paper and the rest were just filed away. With digital photos, we might take a hundred photos a week, use eight or nine, and file or delete the ones we don’t use. Since I retired, I don’t have access to those files, just “stuff” on my old computer.

It might take me an hour, or so, but I’ll find a picture of Harold for next week’s Express Have a good week.