Winters Express January 25, 2023

Classified employees ask Trustees for wage increase

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

The Winters California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 694 submitted a letter and asked the Superintendent and Trustees to consider approving their request for an increase in their wages at the Jan. 19 Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting.

During the Employee Organization session of the agenda, CSEA Chapter 694 Treasurer Tawnya Martin took to the podium on behalf of the Winters CSEA members. Martin has worked as an Administrative Assistant for Education Services at Winters JUSD for six years. The board room was packed with staff members there in support of the request being made.

In her speech, Martin noted that practices have changed in how classified staff members function in the school district, notably during the pandemic when they

served on the front lines helping to care for students as they waited for a family member to pick them up, deliver food to families, and managed contact tracing communications.

“We have rolled with every change because the students and staff are a priority for

all CSEA members. Unfortunately, with more work and high expectations of classified staff our pay and benefits do not reflect that,” Martin said. She listed off the types of tasks and duties classified staff members regularly do under their

See CSEA, Page 3

Nelson-Ortiz announces resignation as Waggoner Elementary Principal

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Waggoner Elementary School Principal Travis Nelson-Ortiz announced he had submitted his resignation in a newsletter sent to Waggoner families on Friday, Jan. 20.

“As we begin the second half of the school year, I want to share that I’ve decided to resign from my role as Waggoner Elementary School Principal at the end of the school year,” Nelson-Ortiz stated.

Superintendent Rody Boonchouy confirmed Winters Joint Unified School District had received the resignation, and Nelson-Ortiz’s name appeared on a separation report on the Jan. 19 Winters JUSD Board of Trustees agenda item on the Consent Calendar.

Assistant Superintendent Phoebe Girimonte told the Express that Winters JUSD appreciated Nelson-Ortiz’s contributions during his tenure as the Waggoner Principal and “wish him the best in his future professional endeavors.”

Nelson-Ortiz will continue in his role as Waggoner’s Principal for the remainder

of the 2022-23 school year. His last day at Winters JUSD is June 30.

“We have great things ahead in the coming months and my dedication to the students and staff at Waggoner will remain strong,” Nelson-Ortiz said. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be your child’s Principal.”

Nelson-Ortiz was appointed as the new Waggoner Principal in May 2021 following the resignation of former Principal Jennifer Kloczko. Nelson-Ortiz served at the helm leading Waggoner as students returned to campus

City Council closes traffic enforcement loophole, declares local emergency

By Jacob Hoffman Express staff writer

At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Winters City Council closed a missing link in the city’s municipal code, officially adding a California Government Codealigned schedule of fines for violations of the municipal code. In addition, the Council declared a local emergency along with other Yolo County cities in response to the damage brought by this month’s stormy weather.  The meeting, shortened in length due to the three new councilmembers would undergo training in Sacramento, had two principal discussion items. The

first, as described in the City Staff recommendation, proposed establishing a schedule of fines for violations of the city code where the city had previously left the fines unestablished. Police Chief John P. Miller presented the proposed addition to the municipal code.

Miller reminded the council that the Winters Police Department recently assumed responsibility for code enforcement and that as they were sorting through the code enforcement laws, noticed a gap in the code. Specifically, the Winters Municipal Code authorizes the city to make violations of the code subject to a fine.

The exact amounts for the fines need to be established in a schedule of fines by a resolution of the City Council. However, no administrative fine schedule had been established up to this point for certain code violations, and the police department and city staff suggested the City Council should establish a schedule of fines.

Miller laid out the amounts for the fines — in accordance with the amount for California Government Code violations — with the city staff report providing details on the exact amounts that these fines may cost. For infraction violations of city

Winters receives $2M for I-505 improvements

By Jacob Hoffman Express staff writer

On Jan. 17, members of the City Council were presented with a $2 million check by Congressional Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson that will go towards constructing pedestrian and bicycle crossings over the roadway, as well as im-

proving accessibility for all communities to the I-505 interchange. Garamendi was able to secure this funding at the federal level by having it included in a funding package for Fiscal Year 2023.

Winters City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa called this addition, “a major funding milestone for this $14 million project,”

crediting “the hard work, dedication and support of” our elected representatives at the Federal to Local levels.” Trepa gave credit to former Supervisor Don Saylor — “whom she said who was a tireless advocate” — and to County and City staff and consultants.

Abigail Arons and Terrell Baptiste of San Francisco announce the birth of their son, Max Ezekiel Arons Baptiste. Max arrived at 1:10 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2022. He weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 21 inches at birth. He is welcomed to the family by his older sister Eva Jean Arons Baptiste (2 years old). Max’s maternal grandparents are Karen Olson and Barry Parker of Winters, and Tom Arons and Anne Morris of Austin, Texas. His paternal grandparents are Annett and Dwain Baptiste of Houston, Texas. Max’s mother Abby Arons is a 2004 Winters High School graduate.

Submit birth announcements to the Express online at https://tinyurl.com/mrecft6j.

Future subscriber: Max Ezekiel Arons Baptiste

Courtesy photo

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Tawnya Martin, California School Employee Association Chapter 694 Treasurer, spoke on behalf of the the CSEA Chapter members requesting Trustees to consider an increase in wages and benefits.

Courtesy photo

Mayor Bill Biasi (front) Former Supervisor Don Saylor, Councilmember Jesse Loren, Congressmembers John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, Mayor Pro Tempore Al Vallecillo and Councilmember Carol Scianna met at El Rio Village on Jan. 17 to accept a check for improvements to the I-505 infrastructure.

Master Gardeners of Yolo host workshop on fruit tree pruning

By Denise Cottrell Master Gardener of Yolo County

UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo County (MGs) in conjunction with La Tourangelle Artisan Oils (La Tourangelle) will present a Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the La Tourangelle Community Garden, located in Woodland at 16675 County Rd., 98B (Ashley Avenue north of Kentucky Avenue).

If you are thinking about planting a fruit tree or need to learn how to prune or care for those in your garden, attend this workshop. Learn how to select and plant fruit trees, and how proper training and pruning of deciduous fruit trees during the winter dormant season directs new growth,

helps create a desired tree structure, and encourages spring fruit set.

This workshop, conducted by Master Gardener Steve Radosevich, will take place within the oneacre plot which La Tourganelle has dedicated to educational community projects that support workshops for elementary and high schools and regenerative agriculture. As this workshop will take place outside, be sure to dress accordingly, and in case of rain, the workshop will be held on Feb. 18 at the same time.

The relationship with MGs and La Tourangelle began in the spring of 2022. UCCE Master Gardeners and Yolo County Resource Conservation District

aided by students from Woodland High School, volunteered to install a hedgerow surrounding the La Tourangelle Community Garden. In addition, a pollinator garden, designed by MGs, was planted to support the established vegetable garden.

All the produce from the garden is distributed to low-income families and Food Banks. In continuing to support the mission of both the MGs and the vision of La Tourangelle, to educate the community, MGs continue to maintain the pollinator garden and have partnered with La Tourganelle to present this workshop. This workshop is one of the MGs monthly events which addresses seasonal garden issues.

Soccer shuts down opponents

By Sydney Andrade Express sta writer

The Winters High School men’s soccer team had a jampacked schedule last week with three back-to-back games against Colusa, Los Molinos and Pierce High Schools. While three back-to-back games and very little practice, due to weather conditions, may have affected some, it didn’t hold the Warriors back at all.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the men’s soccer team won their away conference game against Colusa by a score of 3–0 after not playing a game in over a month. Alejandro Murillo, Sebastian Pedraza and Agustin Covarrubias each scored a goal for the Warriors with an assist from Salvador Torres securing their win.

“As a team, we played very well. Our passing was quick and accurate and it was the main factor in us winning the game,” said head coach Fernando Cervantes.

Not only did the Warriors play an impressive offensive game with three goals, but their defensive

as strong. While the team as a whole played well together it was Esai Garcia who led the defensive line and took control of the game.

While the Warriors did maintain possession for a good portion of the game goalkeeper Bryan Angel had four saves, securing the shutout for the Warriors.

The Warriors played again on Thursday, Jan. 19, and won their home conference game against Los Molinos by a score of 2–0.

Sebastian Rodriguez and Pedraza both worked hard and were able to get a ball past Los Molino’s goalkeeper with an assist from Murillo. Noel Gutierrez and Covarrubias also played a great game.

“They both did a great job at maintain-

Basketball recap

By Aaron Geerts Express sta writer

The Winters High School Warrior hoopers took to the court again last week for more league competition.

Women’s varsity

five kids on the defensive end being really in sync. We’re getting closer to figuring it out in practice and just applying it during the game,” said head coach Jeff Christian.

ing possession of the ball to move it forward and motivating the team,” said Cervantes Los Molinos didn’t have a lot of opportunities to score but when they did attempt a shot Angel was able to protect the Warriors’ goal and had two saves by the end of the game.

On Friday, Jan. 20, the men’s soccer team won their third and final game of the week against Pierce by a score of 3–1.

Luis Lara, Murillo and Pedraza all scored for the Warriors with an assist from both Gustavo Herrera and Jairo Barajas.

“We did a great job taking shots at the goal and moving the ball upfield. We just need to work on getting it in the net,” said Cervantes.

While Pierce was able to get one ball in the net, the Warriors’ defense put pressure on Pierce and regaining possession of the ball for most of the game. Angel proved his skillset once again as the goalkeeper and ended the game with two saves.

on the Spartans on Friday, Jan. 20. This time, the Warriors would outlast their opponents and score a clutch 48–45 victory to add to their record.

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The women’s varsity squad traveled to Durham High School last Tuesday, Jan. 17 to take on the Trojans. It was a close game in the first half, but the Trojans revved up their offense in the second to win 52–33.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, the Warriors hosted the visiting East Nicolaus High School Spartans. After digging themselves a 16–3 hole in the first quarter, the Warriors battled back to keep the game within reason. Unfortunately, the shots just weren’t falling for Winters down the stretch and the team would lose 43–36.

“The team’s still working towards playing together. In our strategy, we need all

“I’m excited for the second half of league to see if we show some improvement and be able to knock down shots that come with more experience.

We’re getting good shots, we just have to be able to make them.”

Men’s varsity

On the men’s varsity side of things, the team hosted Durham on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

The game was a classic nailbiter to be sure that went down to the wire, but it was the Trojans who ended up leaving the game with a 49–47 victory under their belt.

The men’s varsity squad wasn’t finished with its high-pressure games for the week, however, as the team would travel up to East Nicolaus to take

“Middle of the season is always a grind. All the teams have film on each other and conference wins are so important, so it’s great competition every time on the floor. Tuesday, we faced a tough Durham team and went toe-to-toe with them. Our defense kept us in the game, and late shots got us within one shot of a win. Great defense by Logan Crabtree and key shots by Marcus Lopez and AJ Pignataro late was big,” said head coach Brendan McShea.

“We faced East Nic’ on the road on Friday and couldn’t make a shot for most of the game, but I give the guys credit that they trusted the game plan and played with a lot of heart. At one point, we got eight stops in a row, then when the shots started falling, we were in a position to get the road win.”

Ruby Campos Carpio

Ruby Campos Carpio, a Junior on the Winters High School women’s varsity soccer team, is Pisani’s Athlete of the Week. Campos Carpios has been playing for WHS’s soccer team since her freshman year and is the starting defensive midfielder. While the contributions Campos Carpio makes don’t necessarily reveal themselves in statistics, her play in taking back the ball on the defense is vital to the success of the team. “Offensively, most of our attacks begin with Ruby. However, her defensive play is key to the current run of four shutouts. She moves tirelessly around the midfield to break up plays,” said coach Chip McKenna.

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“generic job descriptions” which included cleaning toilets, working after hours to tend to school facilities damaged by storms, changing diapers of special education students, caring for any student showing signs of illness and helping the grounds crew to prepare the football field for events and games.

Martin presented Trustees and Superintendent Rody Boonchouy with a letter signed by the CSEA Chapter 694 members, asking them to support their need for a fair and competitive wage and benefit increase.

We would like to present a letter signed by CSEA staff requesting the Board of Trust to consider our proposal

“As essential workers, we strive in our efforts to support all (of) Winters JUSD. We are concerned about the lack of competitive wages to attract and retain quality employees,” Martin said. “The salaries in the surrounding districts have increased while ours have remained stagnant. WinterJUSD salaries are well below industry standards and the cost of living.”

FINES

ordinances, the first violation would not exceed $100, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and a fine to not exceed $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year.

For infraction violations of local building and safety codes, a first violation would result in $130, $700 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and a fine to not exceed $1,300 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year.

For infraction violations of short-term rental ordinances that pose a public health/ safety risk, a fine of no more than $1,500 would be issued for a first violation, $3,000 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and a fine to not exceed $5,000 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.

In addition, for violations of short-term rental ordinances that aren’t public health/ safety risks — such as failure to register or pay a business license fee — the fine for a first violation is $100, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and a fine not to exceed $500 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year would

RESIGN

following the pandemic, and as discussions regarding universal transitional kindergarten came to the table from the state.

Girimonte told the Express that Winter JUSD has begun the search for the next Waggoner Principal,

Martin noted the school district would face a “devastating impact” without classified employees on staff and asked Trustees “to recognize the value of classified employees and ask the superintendent to negotiate a competitive wage and benefits increase that reflects our commitment to the students, staff and community.”

Martin also pre-

school district and now made more than when she worked in Winters.

The final example Martin shared was the comparison of when an unnamed Trustee validated a $40K raise for a staff member in November 2021 so they wouldn’t “lose the staff member” to an unnamed special education instructional aide, who has 30 years of service at Winters

cluded before leaving the podium.

President Carrie Green clarified that Trustees were unable to respond since the issue was not an agenda topic (in accordance with the Brown Act).

The Express reached out to the school district for insight into the letter from CSEA Chapter 694. Lisa Dennis, Human Resources Director, responded that Winters JUSD negotiates with each of the school district’s bargaining units on an annual basis.

sented Trustees with a separation list of 21 classified employees who resigned from their positions over the last year. According to Martin, CSEA Chapter 694 members reached out to former employees and identified that 11 of them resigned due to the workload or the job not being worth the pay. Martin shared two instances – one was from a former employee who resigned because she and her spouse were unable to make their budget work. The other was of a former employee who resigned and took a job in a neighboring

apply.

The staff report included a reminder that “administrative fines or penalties enforced under these sections shall constitute civil debts owed to the City and shall be collectible, and bear interest or penalties for late payment.”

Following the presentation, Miller and City Manager Kath-

JUSD, currently making $27399.78 annually.

“(The total) doesn’t include the benefits the district offers because that same educational instructional aide who has been a loyal employee for 30 years cannot afford the insurance on the pay they currently receive from the district. The board approves a raise even after many comments of staff, not in agreeance,” Martin said.

“Here we are negotiating for better wages and benefits for staff members. So we don’t lose any more classified staff,” Martin con-

enforce compliance when there weren’t citations and that warnings and time to comply will still be given before citations once the schedule is approved.

Mayor Bill Biasi clarified the point as “we make all due diligence to let the people know they are in violation, and the fine is more of a last re-

“In the spring of 2022, with the knowledge that the Governor’s budget would include additional funding for schools, Winters JUSD and California School Employees Association agreed to a 3 percent increase for 2022-2023 with the commitment to return to the table to bargain for additional compensation in the fall,” Dennis said in an email.

Dennis confirmed Winters JUSD met with CSEA Chapter 694 on Nov. 3, Nov. 4, Dec. 6 and Jan. 12. They have two additional dates scheduled for bargaining representatives to negotiate.

“We are committed to working with our CSEA partners towards a solution for a compensation package,” Dennis said.

declare a local emergency in response to the atmospheric river storms that have hit the state.

Trepa explained the declaration would align with a series of emergency proclamations, with Yolo County being included this week in the federally recognized state of emergency area that affects more than 40 counties in the state emergency. The City Staff report notes that declaring this state of emergency is the first step in receiving federal aid and funding for disaster relief.

In a press release, Garamendi said he was “pleased to work with Congressman Thompson to secure this critically important funding for the City of Winters. These funds will ensure the State Route 128/I-505 interchange in Winters is safe and accessible for all travelers and communities. It will also cut down on pollution and make the air we breathe safer and cleaner for all. Congressman Thompson and I are looking forward to seeing all the good that will come from this new federal support.”

According to the funding request made by Garamendi in April of last year, the specific changes of the project include, “modify(ing) the SR 128/I-505 in-

terchange ramps to provide safer crossings to pedestrians and bicyclists,” as well as working to “widen the overcrossing to construct 10-feet standard outside shoulders on both sides of the structure and an 8-feet-wide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk on the south side,” and to “replace the existing bridge barrier rail to meet current standards…and construct a bike/pedestrian connection from the overcrossing to the El Rio Villa community.”

Garamendi stated this funding will “provide safer crossings to pedestrians and bicyclists, address social inequities and accessibility for disadvantaged communities, create a safer roadway for all modes of transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

leen Salguero Trepa answered questions from the council.

Councilmember Richard Casavecchia asked Miller how compliance was enforced prior to the fines.

“Truth of the matter is, there wasn’t enforcement,” Miller answered. “We would seek compliance, and when there wasn’t compliance the matter was basically dropped.”

Trepa expounded on his answer adding, “we do try and seek compliance without going to the citation level, this (schedule of fines) just means we have corrected our code.”

Trepa noted that code enforcement first contacts the offending party to correct the problem before issuing a citation, so the city could

and has plans to provide input opportunities for the school community as the search efforts proceed.

“The stability and success of the school is a top priority as we strive to maintain the most positive and productive climate for students and staff alike,” Girimonte said.

sort to enforcement” to which Miller confirmed.

In response to concerns about communicating the change in policy to the residents and the bilingual community, Miller assured that the enforcement notices will be in both English and Spanish.

The proposal was passed unanimously.

State of emergency declaration

Winters City Staff advised the City Council to have the city, along with the three other Yolo County cities, preemptively

“I would like to readily admit that we within the city of Winters have not experienced some of the damage and difficulties that other areas have,” Trepa clarified. “However, we are making this recommendation as really a preemptive action, so that should we experience anything within the next 60 days, we are ready.”

Trepa said the city has had costs for dealing with the damage and that FEMA will decide if the costs are high enough to be reimbursed. This measure is retroactive starting from Dec. 27 and that if nothing should go wrong for the remaining time in the declaration, it will simply expire.

“We do try and seek compliance without going to the citation level, this (schedule of fines) just means we have corrected our code.”

Kathleen Salguero Trepa, City Manager

“Winters JUSD salaries are well below industry standards and the cost of living.”

Tawnya Martin, CSEA Treasurer

Fire Jan. 13: 2:32 p.m., medical aid, 500 block of Abbey Street Jan. 14: 7:08 p.m., medical aid, 750 block of Richie Way Jan. 15: 12:43 p.m., medical aid, 220 block of Toyon Lane Jan. 16: 11:05 a.m., odor investigation, 700 block of Valley Oak Drive ~4:48 p.m., medical aid, 420 block of Anderson Avenue ~5:34 p.m., public assist, 730 block of Main Street Jan. 17: 10:32 p.m., medical aid, 90 block of Martinez Way Jan. 18: 8 a.m., medical aid, 100 block of Caselli Court Police Arrest Log

Jan. 12: Ricketts, Leah Ann (Age 39); Charges: one Yolo SO Warrant, three Solano SO Warrants, one San Mateo SO Warrant; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail Jan. 13: McNeil, Charlie Ross (Age 62); Charges: three Woodland Warrants, two Sutter County Warrants, one Winters Warrant, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail Jan. 14: Duran, Raul Jose (Age 42), Charges: Public Intoxication, Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail Jan. 17: Hisey, Doug (Age 60); Charges: Domestic Violence, Assault

with a deadly weapon; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail ~Lucky, Natalie Raeann (Age 29), Charges: Possession of drug paraphernalia, Disposition: Released on Notice To Appear Case Log

Jan. 8: 5:58 a.m., 900th block of E. Grant Avenue, Petty Theft Jan. 9: 3:12 p.m., 800th block Jefferson Street, Identity Theft Jan. 10: 1:45 p.m., 30000th block of Buckeye Road, Lost Property ~2:14 p.m., 200th block of Almeria Place, Harassing phone calls ~11:14 p.m., 100th block of Broadview Lane, Death Investigation Jan. 11: 12:40 a.m., 700th block Matsumoto Lane, Audible Alarm ~7:51 a.m., Grant Avenue/ Fourth Street, Traffic Collision Jan. 12: 11:35 a.m., Anderson Avenue/ Cottage Circle, Traffic Collision ~2:55 p.m., Apricot Street/Plum Place, Towed Vehicle Jan. 13: 12:01 p.m., Downtown, Misc Informational Report Jan. 14: 6:83 p.m., 700th block of Richie Way, Welfare Check ~7:03 p.m., 100th block of Main Street, Lost Property Jan. 15: 3 p.m., 100th block of E. Baker Street, Missing Person-Located ~8:40 p.m., Railroad Avenue/E. Main Street, Hit and Run

Years Ago

Dispatches from the Express archives.

145 Years Ago

February 2, 1878

(From the files of the Winters Advocate)

The continued rain has caused the waters in Putah Creek to rise so rapidly as to prevent continued work on the piling of the railroad bridge until yesterday.

The Bank of Dixon, in its last semi-annual statement, shows that the institution has been managed with judgement, showing $11,000 earnings over expenses.

A company has been formed for securing a right to the waters of Putah Creek for irrigation purposes, taking the same about the old Seeley Mill dam on the canyon road and conveying it by canal or pipes to Winters and vicinity, thus securing irrigation facilities in the driest seasons. The following are the original locators of the right alluded to, who have completed a survey and recorded a claim in the proper office: J. R. Wolfskill, Sam Blum, J. A. Devilbiss, Benjamin Ely, senior, J. A. Brown and F. E. Baker.

The abundant rainfall of the past three weeks has set at rest all doubts as to the certainty of good crops this season. A larger area has been sown to wheat in Yolo county than ever before.

130 Years Ago

February 4, 1893

D. P. Edwards came down from his ranch near Maxwell, Colusa county, on Wednesday.

We noticed W. J. Pleasants, the prosperous Pleasant Valley fruit grower, in town on Wednesday last.

Col. Samuel Taylor came up from Alameda last Saturday, to look after the work on his mansion. He was accompanied by J. W. Statler, one of the officials of the Northern Pacific Railway.

The Germans of Winters and vicinity held a meeting in Seaman’s Hall last Sunday, for the purpose of organizing a congregation to be known as the German Evangelical Congregation. The rules laid down by Rev. Yung were unanimously adopted. The congregation then elected trustees and officers, Henry Kettenburg, William Doll and L. Sager were elected as trustees.

Under the direction of H. B. Cooper culverts and drains have been put in on the blocks cornering on Main and First Streets, this week.

95 Years Ago

February 3, 1928

A total of $550 has been raised to link the local boys’ organizations with the

Things just aren’t the way they used to be. Whatever happened to businesses that were eager to please? Well, there is one right here in our town. We offer the same outstanding service offered decades ago. Are we hopelessly out-of-style? We certainly hope so.

Y.M.C.A. Victor Furth was chairman of the drive.

Miss Allena Martin, student at College of the Pacific in Stockton is enjoying her midterm vacation at home this week.

August Brinck, progressive farmer of the Apricot has purchased 400 young trees with which he is renewing his orchard. Varieties are peach and apricot.

J.R. Sidwell severed his connections with the E.H. Edwards Co. February 1st, to serve as office man for Sale & Ruggles.

Misses Jeannie Reasoner, Viola Koplin and Doris Connor were in attendance at a C. E. conclave in Sacramento over the week-end. H. G. Connor drove them over Saturday.

Harry Smith and motor party came over from Forestville for the week. Mrs. Smith who has been in Sonoma county for several weeks returned home with them.

Miss Lucille Gale, student, is at home from San Jose Teachers’ College for her mid-term vacation of a week. She is assisting at the counter in the C. E. Day store.

80 Years Ago

February 5,1943

The first wedding bells in 1943 where both participants were local young people sounded Monday in Reno, when Miss Alicia Conard and William Duncan

pledged mutual vows.  Charles Graf Jr. has received his call to report for US. Navy duty, Tuesday, February 9. He will be sent to Santa Ana for training.

Vernon Charles Bruhn, son of Vernon Bruhn was among the first group of 17-yearold Coast Guard enlistees, Friday in Sacramento. He left Saturday for training in Alameda.

Past president Leland Stith presided at the meeting of the Service Club Monday, President Perry Thornberry having been confined to his home by illness.

The Student Jr. Council of the Grammar School met Tuesday and elected new officers. They are Beverly Merchant, president; Mary Lipscomb, vice president; Claudia Moore, secretary; Joe Nunes, treasurer.

The high water of a couple of weeks ago washed out the north, or Yolo county approach to the Low Water bridge, five miles west of Winters.

Because the cost of production of the Winters High School Poppy is so high this year, the Poppy staff decided at a special meeting on Wednesday to raise the price of the annual this year from 50 cents to 75 cents.

Miss Wallace’s journalism class is learning how to write editorials and is working on the February edition of the “Warrior.”

Mrs. E. F. Udell attended funeral services Tuesday inSacramento for her cousin, Frank Newman.

Ernest Rice, employed in the ship yards at Richmond was a Sunday visitor at home.

Mrs. Thelma Raper has taken management of the Shell Oil Service station. Mrs. Raper took a brief course at the Shell school of instruction in Sacramento, and began operation of the business Monday.

City of Winters

The abundant rainfall of the past three weeks has set at rest all doubts as to the certainty of good crops this season. A larger area has been sown to wheat in Yolo county than ever before.

Picked by Charley Wallace File photo

Varsity songleaders, from left, Virginia Puccio, Lacie Crum and Connie Javier, were honored at the basketball banquet held on March 15, 1993.

TK, Kindergarten family info night

Waggoner Elementary School is hosting a family information night for incoming Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students in the Waggoner cafeteria on two dates.

Four-year-old children who turn five between Sept. 2 and April 2, 2024 are eligible for the 2023-24 TK class. The Transitional Kindergarten family information night is on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Children who are five years old before Sept. 2 are eligible for the 2023-24 Kindergarten class. The Kindergarten family information night is on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

On both nights, the English presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. and the Spanish presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. Families who have questions can call Waggoner at 530-795-6121.

Youth Day Committee meeting

The Youth Day Committee is seeking a volunteer to serve as the secretary/treasurer, as well as additional volunteers to help chair specific events and take on organizational tasks. A meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at Round Table Pizza to assign tasks.

The committee is also seeking theme

nominations for the 85th annual Youth Day event, should it happen. People who are interested in volunteers or who have a Youth Day theme submission should send an email to President Mike Sebastian at mjsebast63@gmail. com.

New garbage rates

City Council approved new rates for waste management at its last meeting.

Winters residents are able to select a trash bin capacity of 32-gallon, 64-gallon or 96-gallon. All residents each receive a 96-gallon recycle bin, a 96-gallon green waste bin, and yearly bulky pickup opportunities.

The Winters residential mixed solid waste rates (as approved on July 1, 2022) would increase this month from:

• $40.50 to $41.24 for one 32-gallon trash/ one 96-gallon recycle/one 96-gallon green waste/yearly bulky

• $44.69 to $45.56 for one 64-gallon trash/ one 96-gallon recycle/one 96-gallon green waste/yearly bulky

• $52.37 to $53.45 for one 96-gallon trash/ one 96-gallon recycle/one 96-gallon green waste/yearly bulky

Winter JUSD Hall of Fame nominations

The deadline to submit nominations for the Winters Joint Unified School Districts Hall of Fame class is Feb. 3. The

Hall of Fame consists of three categories of Alumni, Employee, or Distinguished Service. The eligibility criteria for each group are detailed on the nomination form available on the Winters JUSD website at https://tinyurl. com/mwyvu5zp.

City seeking commissioners

The City of Winters is seeking residents to serve on several of the City’s commissions. Currently, there is a need to fill one seat on the Winters Senior Commission on Aging, one seat on the Planning Commission, and two seats on the Climate Action Commission. Details about each commission and the application of interest form can be found online at https://tinyurl. com/2s3t53mx.

Share Winters FFA memories

The Express is celebrating National FFA Week (Feb 18–25) by sharing the community and alumni’s memories and photos from past Winters FFA experiences.

Editorial staff members is accepting community photos and memory submissions to select a few to share in an upcoming edition.

The goal of the special pages is to All memories and photo entries are due on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 11:59 p.m. to be considered for publication. The entries must be submitted online at https://bit. ly/3H5buvr.

Eventos Hispanos

El evento anual del Día de la Juventud de Winters (Winters Youth Day) pudiera cancelarse si más miembros de la comunidad no se ofrecen como voluntarios para ayudar a planificar los diferentes aspectos o para formar parte de la junta del comité.

El presidente Mike Sebastian le dijo que solo quedan dos miembros de la junta y que no pueden planificar el evento solos. Sebastian dijo que las responsabilidades que conlleva la planificación del evento son solamente demasiado para ellos dos.

“Nuestra secretaria/ tesorera y presidente general adjunto ha tenido que ausentarse debido a una emergencia familiar en el centro de California. Con ella ausente, eso deja solo a dos miembros de la junta para dirigir todo el evento,” dijo Sebastian. “Estoy limitado en lo que puedo hacer debido a mi salud, por lo que es imperativo que consigamos algunos voluntarios más para ayudar a ejecutar el programa.”

Se espera que la celebración anual número 85 tenga lugar el último sábado de Abril. Si no hay suficientes voluntarios para fin de mes, Sebastian dijo que cancelarán el evento de este año.

Según Sebastian, necesitan algunas

personas más para formar parte de la junta, así como para servir como presidentes de eventos para ayudar a planificar las diferentes actividades, incluido el desfile de Main Street y el desfile de niños, el Duck Derby (carrera de patitos), los vendedores del City Park y para coordinar las actividades de los niños. El comité necesita espe-

recerse como voluntarios se comuniquen con él lo antes posible porque se acercan las fechas límite para presentar los permisos y enviar las comunicaciones.

Los miembros de la comunidad que estén interesados en ser voluntarios o que tengan preguntas sobre las necesidades del voluntario deben enviar un correo electrónico a mjsebast63@gmail.

cíficamente a alguien con experiencia en contabilidad para que se desempeñe como tesorero y se encargue de las finanzas.

El año pasado, el Comité del Día de la Juventud estaba en una posición similar de necesitar voluntarios para dar un paso al frente. Sebastian es un voluntario del Día de la Juventud desde hace mucho tiempo y ha intentado retirarse del comité varias veces, pero dio un paso al frente para ayudar a traer el evento de regreso en persona después de la pandemia.

Sebastian dijo que es vital que las personas que deseen of-

com para obtener más información. Se una reunión el jueves 2 de febrero a las 6 p.m. en Round Table Pizza.

Tema del Dia de la

Juventud

Además, el Comité del Día de la Juventud llevará a cabo el concurso temático anual para la celebración anual del Día de la Juventud número 85 en Abril. Se otorgará un premio de $100 al tema ganador.

Las presentaciones de temas deben enviarse por correo electrónico a mjsebast63@ gmail.com antes de fin de mes. Sebastian dijo que necesitan tener el tema seleccionado para Febrero.

Por Crystal Apilado Traducido por Carol Alfonso

Día de la Juventud podría cancelar el evento del 2023 si no hay nuevos voluntarios

“Estoy limitado en lo que puedo hacer debido a mi salud, por lo que es imperativo que consigamos algunos voluntarios más para ayudar a ejecutar el programa.”

Mike Sebastian, presidente

Winters Farm To School donates $70K to school district

By Aaron Geerts Express sta writer

Winters Farm to School presented to the Winters Joint Unified School District with a check for $70K at the Jan. 19 school board meeting. The donation is just one of the organization’s means to provide Winters students with local produce and agricultural education.

Since it started back in 2011, Winters Farm To School has been on a mission to raise funds to provide fresh local produce, fruits and nuts for the children’s school meal programs, to educate children about the long-term wellness benefits of healthy eating habits and to reconnect the community’s families and children with the rich, agricultural heritage of Winters.

“All the money is raised through private philanthropy, people donate money to us and it’s very welcomed. We do receive private donations every year from community members who believe in our work and have witnessed what we’re doing,” said Cathy Olsen, Winters JUSD Director of Food Services and Winters Farm to School Treasurer and a founding trustee. “You notice we get attention statewide for that because we are working really hard at it. When we get the money for produce, we go out and buy it and serve it for school meals. We try to have something fresh from a local farm in every salad bar every school day.”

According to the staff report from the Jan. 19 meeting, Winters is now a leader in providing fresh fruit and

veggies through the school meal programs with nearly 68 percent purchased directly from local farmers and 98 percent purchased locally, all because of Winters Farm to School

“It was so rewarding and is a great feeling to donate this money, and I can speak for the board in that regard. It’s rewarding especially when you come around and work with the children in the gardens or in the cafeterias with the kids,” said Olsen. “It’s just rewarding to watch them during lunchtime being exposed to the produce, eating the produce and coming back for seconds. And if the community wasn’t engaged and didn’t support our work and fundraisers, we couldn’t do this for the kids.”

Winters JUSD Superintendent Rody Boonchouy said he is thrilled to collaborate with an organization like Winters Farm to School to provide students with knowledge and nutrition.

“This is a testament to the strong partnership we have with our community. I have a lot of gratitude for the support and investment from Winters to our nutritional ser-

vices program,” said Boonchouy. “The funds will be used for buying local produce that will be going to our school meals, and that’s awesome for our kids. It’s going towards our school gardens as well to support them which also provides a way to connect our students to the deep agricultural history of this area.”

Winters students had previously been given an opportunity to engage in the Kids Farmers Market, where they used paper money to buy fresh produce at school, and learn about the nutritional benefits and some interesting facts about the products they were buying. The food services team currently sends home recipes each month with the school lunch menus so that families can engage in the knowledge and try new meals.

Booonchouy noted how funding for the programs goes beyond just bringing fresh foods to students, it in turn, benefits the local economy of local farmers and ranches.

“It also goes to the kids’ farmers market coordinator stipend so we have some leadership and oversight for some of the programmatic work that happens. It’s always great

when we have collaborations that are mutually beneficial, so not only is it supporting our kids, but our local farmers as well,” said Boonchouy. “I’d also say we’re a model for the future of school nutrition services in the state given the robust and healthy partnership we have with our local farmers.”

Boonchouy expressed his profound gratitude and respect for Olsen’s leadership and how she’s used her community connections and networking to keep the collaboration between Winters Farm to School and the

“I’d also say we’re a model for the future of school nutrition services in the state given the robust and healthy partnership we have with our local farmers.”

Rody Boonchouy, Winters JUSD Superintendent

Winters JUSD thriving for the benefit of the students.

Board President Carrie Green said she loves seeing photos of students of all the different kinds of foods made available by Win-

ters Farm to School.

“This is the first time some of these kids are able to try all of these different types of foods that you’re able to bring to our campuses, and that’s just so great,” Green said.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Winters Farm to School President Vicky Tufts Jacobs and Treasurer Cathleen Olsen present Winters school board President Carrie Green with a check for $70K for the school district.

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., 200 Baker St. – Rooms 4 & 5, 530-668-0690

Tuesday, January 31

Transitional Kindergarten Family Information Meeting, English: 5:30 p.m., Spanish: 6:30 p.m., Waggoner Elementary cafeteria

Upcoming

Wednesday, February 1

Kindergarten Family Information Meeting, English: 5:30 p.m., Spanish: 6:30 p.m., Waggoner Elementary cafeteria

Thursday, February 2

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

Monday, February 6

Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee, 6:30-9 p.m., Zoom Meeting info, email cambios@covalle.net or jesse.loren@cityofwinters.org

Tuesday, February 7

Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/city-council-meetings_/

Wednesday, February 8

Winters Senior Commission on Aging Meeting, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), check www.cityofwinters .org/winters-senior-commission-on-aging

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 Game Days, 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., 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., Yolo Federal Credit Union Community Room

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.

Winter Youth Day Committee details needs, may cancel event

By Aaron Geerts Express sta writer

As awful as the above headline is to read, it’s a very real possibility one might see come April if not enough people volunteer to help facilitate this beloved Winters tradition. Mike Sebastian — a Youth Day volunteer for 45 years — is asking community members to step up and do their part so Winters’ youth can enjoy this special day.

Founded back in 1933 by reverend Charles P. Barkman and Winters High School principal Dr. A.M. Herron, Youth Day was meant to teach the youngsters of Winters the various aspects of city government. It’s since turned more into a vivacious parade and park party under the spring sunshine that celebrates the town’s youth. All of which —believe it or not — doesn’t just magically occur the day of. It takes weeks of meticulous planning and organizing beforehand to ensure the event runs smoothly, safely and legally.

“Right now, we need another person to join the Youth Day Board because it’s only myself, Bob Williams and Jenny Ramos. Unfortunately, Carol Stone had to step away this year to take care of her parents, but

she was the assistant general chairman. She did the fundraiser letter, all the social media, set up all our Zoom meetings, orders the porta potties, arranges for the park entertainment and stuff like that,” explained Sebastian. “Basically, we need to add one more person on the board and help out with some of these duties. I’m going to try to have a meeting on Feb. 1 with volunteers to divide and delegate the duties. A lot of this stuff I can do, but there

are other small things others can do too, like ordering the porta potties. All you do is order them, then the day before Youth Day you go down, watch them set it up and sign for it and that’s it.”

According to Sebastian, the Youth Day board needs a secretary/treasurer, they need to get the sponsor letters and parade information out, the website and social channels need attention and the aforementioned portable toilets need to

be ordered. Sebastian also believes he has someone who is willing to take care of the park-related needs after the parade.

“We also need a chairperson for the kids’ fair this year, but more than anything we just need someone else on the board so we can legally do voting and stuff like that. Overall, we need about 40 volunteers with the main bulk of that being parade marshals to man the barricades so no cars get up to the parade route,” said Sebastian.

According to Sebastian, on the morning of Youth Day, the team meets early over coffee and doughnuts to see if there are any changes to the parade. Then, the parade division leaders head out to

New board members revive PTA events

By Jacob Ho man Express sta writer

The Winters Combined Parent Teachers Association (Winters PTA) has a new board and a new slate of events happening in 2023, and couldn’t be more excited to share it with the community. Board President Danielle Smith spoke with the Winters Express to discuss what this new year will look like for the Winters PTA and for the families of Winters’ elementary schools.

Winters PTA was one of many organizations that have had a number of serious difficulties in the last three years, and Smith acknowledged  the previous PTA boards who “held it together during the pandemic” because “running a PTA is no easy feat.”

But Smith said the new board is eager to continue and expand on the work of previous Winters PTA boards, with the guiding hope of having the “diverse board to remain intact, that puts equity, inclusion, and student-parent engagement at the forefront of all that we do. It’s also our hope that we can be the liaison between families and the education system in a way that brings enrichment and excitement for the elementary schools in our district.”

Regarding what families can expect from Winters PTA, Smith said, “I think the community can look forward to a more prominent social media and marketing presence,” in

addition to the board’s, “passion for diversity and student-centered enrichment activities.”

“We wanted to collaborate with the community and our families, and the best way to do that is to be present physically and through media outlets,” Smith said. “Our current board brings incredible knowledge from all sorts of backgrounds and it’s been so fun to see how we’ve been able to work so cohesively as a 10-member board.”

One of the main efforts of the board has been working to gain and maintain the trust of both parents and teachers in the district, with Smith saying, “we want this program to stay and thrive, and it’s going to take adjusting and educating,

but a fully engaged PTA can exist in a small town.”

Smith called ensuring all families and communities in Winters stay engaged, informed, and heard, “the most important and difficult thing we have to do, and are continuing to do to this day,” especially, “bridging the gap between English- and Spanish-speaking families, and making school a place that is equitable and enjoyable for all.”

The Winters PTA is also working to encourage connection and understanding between teachers and families by organizing time for parents to talk with both current and future teachers and having weekly spotlights for

Courtesy photo

The Trunk-Or-Treat Festival was a new event that the Winters PTA brought to students in October. Organizers are looking to make it an annual event.

Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express

ABOVE: The Winters High School band marches in the 2022 Youth Day Parade.

BELOW: Mike Sebastian (right) and Jenny Ramos (left) presents Donnie Whitworth with his 2022 Educator of the Year award plaque.

Interest rate reprieve bolsters December home sales

California Association of Realtors

Special to the Express

• Existing, single-family home sales totaled 240,330 in December on a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate, up 1.1 percent from November and down 44.1 percent from December 2021.

• December’s statewide median home price was $774,580, down 0.4 percent from November and down 2.8 percent from December 2021.

• For the year as a whole, statewide home sales were down 23.1 percent from 2021.

A short respite in rising interest rates helped edge up California home sales in December to break a three-month sales decline but still remained below the 250,000 level for the second straight month.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 240,330 in December, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local Realtor associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annual-

ized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2022 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 up 1.1 percent on a monthly basis from 237,740 in November and down 44.1 percent from a year ago, when 429,860 homes were sold on an annualized basis.

“It’s encouraging to see an uptick in December’s home sales as buyers took advan-

tage of a slightly more favorable lending environment that provided them with a window of opportunity to enter the California housing market,” said C.A.R. President Jennifer Branchini, a Bay Area Realtor. “As buyers and sellers gradually adapt to the new normal, we are seeing a shift toward a more balanced market. With both sides slowly adjusting their expectations, it’s hopeful that we’ll see sales ratcheting higher as market conditions improve further throughout 2023.”

California’s median home price remained

on a downward trend for the fourth straight month and has been down on a monthly basis for six of the last seven months. December’s median price of $774,580 was down 0.4 percent from the $777,500 recorded in November. December’s price also was lower on a yearover-year basis for the second consecutive month, declining 2.8 percent from the $796,570 recorded last December. For 2022 as a whole, California’s median home price increased 4.5 percent from 2021’s $786,750 figure but is expected to decline by 8.8 percent in 2023.

“Home prices are holding up relatively well, despite rising interest rates and falling housing demand in recent months. Tight housing inventory was a primary factor preventing prices from free falling as new active listings continued to dip to reach the low-

est level in at least the past five years,” said C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. “While depressed inventory will preclude major price declines beyond the 8.8 percent we forecast for this year, it will also slow sales growth and prevent the housing market from having a rapid recovery.”

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“Home prices are holding up relatively well, despite rising interest rates and falling housing demand in recent months.”

Jordan Levine, C.A.R. Vice President and Chief Economist

How are you giving back to your community?

One of the things that I love about living in Winters is the fun things that our community puts on. I always tell people that Winters loves to throw a good party and support each other and a good cause. From annual festivals and fundraisers, to raising money to support a resident in need, Winters turns up the charm and an uplifting atmosphere.

The thing about those events is that they come to fruition from the work of community volunteers. And when volunteers get burned out or are simply unable to continue putting effort into events? Those events hit bumps in the road or even disappear. This is not a new phenomenon brought on by the pandemic, although the pandemic surely did not help matters any.

With the change of the guard among local organizations and nonprofits, some of the “tradition” has gone haywire. With new folks moving in,

and older residents either moving out or passing away — the institutional knowledge and details get forgotten.

Do not misunderstand me: new folks moving in are not the problem.

The problem comes when documentation isn’t created to notate procedures and checklists of how to do things. Challenges arise when groups do not create a contingency plan or put strategic effort into bringing on new members and training them before previous members depart. And, traditions may fade away when there is no longer a buy-in to host an event, and folks don’t volunteer to help put things on.

When there are not enough volunteers, over time the tasks and

responsibilities pile up high and even higher up on the few folks left that it gets hard to remember everything there is to pass on to the newer folks, or the high workload is far too overwhelming and the newer volunteers don’t stick around long enough to take the torch. On the flip side, trying to do too many new things, too fast, without careful planning steps, can also backfire in burnout and a lack of buy-in.

I have experienced all of that, and more, amongst different boards and organizations with which I’ve volunteered.

I had the opportunity to attend a volunteer workshop when I was on the Winters Friends of the Library board. One thing that stuck out to me was

the notion that there are different levels of volunteering that people can choose to engage in.

There are leaders who will step up and sit on the board and take on organizational and administrative tasks. There are smaller-picture leaders who will offer to take on a committee or organize and execute a main task. There are worker bees who will show up ready and willing to do what you need them to do. And, there are tasks you can ask folks to help fulfill like bringing those cupcakes, donating supplies or even helping to stuff envelopes with thank you cards.

From my experience, finding those leaders who are willing to help take on some of the “bigger” roles has been harder to fulfill nowadays. Being the President or Treasurer is indeed a scary commitment, but it’s needed in order for the organizations

Would like clarification

I just read the Page One, above-the-fold story in yesterday’s paper (Jan. 18 edition) about the City Council’s approval of Waste Management rate increases. It really could have used a lede like: “Winters residents will be paying $__ more for their garbage and recycling pickup starting on ____ following the City Council’s approval of rate increases for Waste Management. The residential rate will rise from $__ to $___.” I am a resident and ratepayer, so I was looking for that information and I couldn’t find it in the story. Please consider a clarification in next week’s edition. Thanks.

DAVE CHEIT

Editor’s note: Thank you for the opportunity to work on creating a more effective report. The rate update is available in the Local News Briefs on Page A5, and the digital version of the article has been updated to include the details.

Free tax preparation

Residents of Winters and the surrounding communities are invited to sign up for free income tax preparation and electronic filing. This service is sponsored by AARP Tax Aide Foundation and is IRS approved.

Tax preparation volunteers are certified annually so they are fully up-to-speed with current tax policies, both state and federal.

In prior years, this service was offered at the Winters Community Center. This year, our City Manager Kathleen Trepa approved the use of a City Hall conference room. This room will provide a more comfortable, more spacious environment for all. Appointments are required and there are two ways to get this done.

Option One: Please call 530-207-0055.

This is a message line where you may leave your name and phone number and someone from AARP will call you back, ask a few basic questions, and arrange your appointment. You will never be asked to share your Social Security number over the phone.

Option Two: Visit this website yolotaxes.org, and follow the directions to schedule your appointment in Winters.

The available dates are Feb. 13, 20; March 6, 20, and April 3, 10. Each of these dates is a Monday. Tax preparation is offered in hour-long segments from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at bobpolky@gmail.com

BOB POLKINGHORN AARP Tax Aide

Volunteer, Winters Need answers

from

the City, Council on Pocket H’Art Park

Richard Kleeburg gets right to the point in his column “Pity the Poor Pocket Park” in the Winters Express on Jan. 18, 2023 on page B7. He outlines questions that need to be answered truthfully by the City Council and the City Manager and that range far beyond the Park.

1. Is the City exempt from its own policies regarding regulations and specifications demanded by the Planning Commission and Planning Department for new construction?

2. How can the City claim to not know the size and extent of the PG&E transformer box at the north end of the park in 2022 when they directed the citizens’ group making the plans for the Pocket H’Art Park to include it with specific dimensions in the plans that were made public in 2021?

3. How can the City ignore the legal document for the sale of the lot that states the

LETTERS, Page 6

Grant Avenue is the gateway to Winters. We often hear Winters and Highway 128 referred to as the gateway to Napa.

We can classify surface streets as either a Street or a Road. Roads move cars efficiently from point A to point B. Streets are mediums for prosperity. Unless part of a name, my use of both words in this column is intentional and should not be read interchangeably.

Streets and roads have historically been spaces for cars where people are guests. But we have to live here, so we should be planning them as spaces for people that accommodate cars. Arteries of our human habitat, if you will.

Do we want a road with four lanes with trees on either side, and a landscaped median divider that shoots people from 505 to Railroad and funnels down to two lanes at the roundabout? Or is a street design more like Grant in front of the high school where people and cars intermingle at slower speeds a better design for our intended development at the entrance to town?

Grant Avenue has a planned design for cars that is a boulevard — a road. In addition to conflicting with the aesthetics of the rest of town, the design aspects are inappropriate for our intent. It has features that are better suited for a bedroom community, not a community with safe, prosperous streets.

Fully developed, Grant Avenue between highway 505 and the roundabout will have homes and apartments to the north, a grocery store or two, shopping, and

restaurants on both sides.

We want people visiting Winters to stop and spend money at our businesses, to keep them vibrant, not speed past our first business district. The resulting tax revenue shifts the funding burden of city services off of residents. Also, residents will want, and need, to cross Grant Avenue on foot.

However, mixing people and cars are inherently dangerous. And the design of a street or road determines the behavior of drivers and levels of risk.

Driving is a System One activity (a task that doesn’t require deliberate mental process, e.g. 1+1=2). In the days after reading this, be aware of how you drive. The speed you drive is really determined by how comfortable you feel on the street, road or highway. Not by a sign with numbers on the shoulder. This is often why people speed. The street or road communicates information to you on how fast you should drive.

Have you ever noticed that you slow down on Grant between Railroad and Fouth and your speed starts to pick up once you get to the Fruit Stand? That is the road design communicating to you.

In May 2022, a speed study was done on Neimann Street, and the 85th percentile of how fast people were driving was measured. We heard a discussion about road design, and that we can set the speed

limit to 5 mph above or below that speed. We chose to set it at 5 mph below which was 5 mph above the old speed limit. So, the designed speed of Niemann is still 5 mph higher than the posted speed limit.

The 85th percentile speed is the speed that a street or road is intentionally or unintentionally designed for. Most people will drive this speed regardless of posted speed limits.

We do not have enough police officers to sit on major streets and just enforce the speed limit all day. Speed limit signs allow speeding tickets, but do not slow drivers. This underscores the importance of design.

The residents of Baker Street and Senior Apartments want to be able to safely walk across Grant Avenue to shop at Lorenzo’s Market. Likewise, we will want the same for the intended Farmstead Development residents and the potential Grocery Outlet across from them. The Grant

Avenue street design should reflect this.

The 2017 update to our circulation plan indicates that peak traffic on the section of Grant in question will almost double when the town is completely built out per the General Plan. So, we can estimate that travel time from the roundabout to 505 would also double if we kept Grant at two lanes.

Any local objection to this design change will likely be rooted in traffic flow and circulation. So, the question becomes, do we care more about speed and leaving town 56 seconds faster? Or are safety and quality of life more important?

The answer depends on if we want to prioritize maintaining a community, or enabling future bedroom residents to commute out of town faster

The large regulatory roadblock to a Grant Avenue redesign is CalTrans. CalTrans owns Grant Avenue because it is also State Highway 128. It signed off on the current plan and it is notoriously hard to get staff to change their mind.

So why should they care about 1 mile of

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK S OFFICE

Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20230010 01/04/2023 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business Name: EFFORTLESS IAM Physical Address: 955 CRANBROOK COURT APARTMENT 301 DAVIS CA 95616 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s): JOYCE P BARRETT 955 CRANBROOK COURT APT 301 DAVIS CA 95616

line up parade entries and to make sure it all kicks off on time.

To date, Youth Day has only been canceled for two reasons. The first was World War II and the second was due to the pandemic.

Before succumbing to gloom and doom, however, Youth Day is still months away and scheduled for Saturday, April 29. This means there is still time for community members to step up to ensure one of Winters’ favorite traditions comes back for its 85th iteration.

To sign up to volunteer for Youth Day, send an email to Sebastian at mjsebast63@gmail. com.

educators on the Winters PTA’s social media with information about them, which Smith says “helps humanize the education system” for families.

Smith also highlighted the importance of supporting teachers by filling out their classroom wishlists, which she thanks the community for helping to provide assistance which she says, “has been life-changing for these teachers and these students, getting learning materials, furniture, books for these classrooms to accommodate all students and their learning needs.”

Upcoming events

Smith noted some upcoming events being organized by the Winters PTA coming

in the immediate future. This includes Heritage Night on Jan. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Shirley Rominger Intermediate School, free for all Rominger and Waggoner Elementary families. Smith says the event will have families share “food, dance, or artwork from their culture, and it’s a great way to celebrate the diversity that exists in our district and for students to learn about one another.

There will also be a Valentine’s Day Family Dance on Feb. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Rominger multipurpose room, also free for Rominger and Waggoner families.

Smith encouraged families to follow Winters PTA’s social media accounts to see the most recent information on events, times and locations.

ask to each and every one of you is to think about what kind of volunteer you have time to be. What skills, knowledge or experience can you offer? Find the organizations, events, or causes that mean the most to you or that ignite your soul and reach out to them with what exactly it is you have to offer.

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to continue running. Some nonprofits have found a co-Presidency is the way to go to fill in Board seats.

condition of the sale is for the City’s cooperation with a citizens group to design and install an Art Park including gardens, trees, and art?

4. Why can the City not provide a copy of the document that was sent in place of the Parks and Recreation Grant that the City Council voted unanimously to submit in January 2022?

5. Why did the City wait to use the SACOG grant until December 2022, when it told the citizens group about it in November 2021? Why the rush job when there was over a year to plan and follow the City procedures?

6. What is the plan for the lot overall? Is what we see the final resolution and if not, what is? Transparency, please.

7. Why has the City not taken up the offer of pro bono buildable plans for the park that would save the City at least $25,000? Why not use a credible and knowledgeable architectural organization that has volunteered to produce what is needed to proceed?

8. Why did the City close down the donations that had resulted in over $30,000 toward the Art Park? Why did the City ignore and turn the fundraising and investors’ assistance away, refusing to bring it to public notice?

9. Why did the City have no interest in an MOU based on the one created by the city for Project Playground (PP), when the City Manager says over and over what a great project PP was?

How many other issues have alternate realities from what is publicized by the City, and what is actually happening — in the negotiations for the Senior Center, with the developers, with individual permits, with small local businesses and with free speech? Finally, when answers are given, it has been my experience that the facts do not always match.

This lack of veracity in City business is pitting neighbor against neighbor. The park citizens coalition’s work of a year was dismissed with no recourse or reason, and action was taken in secrecy

although the citizen effort was building good results. Portions of the business community are left out of decisions while other parts are benefitting from money realized by the City.

When the City Manager moves into a neighborhood, those welcoming her receive a letter from the City Attorney saying they must not bother her. Are these proper uses of our resources and services? So many questions need an answer. However, are the resulting answers going to be true to the facts? Many answers given have not been.

Pity the Winters community that is being misled, misinformed and underserved by its public servants.

Thank you, Richard, for your timely article.

VALERIE WHITWORTH

‘Pity the poor pocket park’

Richard Kleeberg nailed it in last week’s “Pity the poor Pocket Park in Winters” article which in my opinion is another instance of the city doing something and the result being less.

Once heralded to be an art park, the 20year “H’art Park” vision now appears but a scant reality of the communal and artful vision presented to the City Council last January. It seems to

be little more than a brick-lined walkway connecting the Winters Hotel’s outdoor dining patio gate and Main Street with some inartful green PG&E boxes thrown in.

Kleeberg casts doubt on the City’s veracity with their saying they had no idea that the PG&E power boxes were being installed. Really? Why not? Aren’t there mandatory city inspections conducted? Yes, Richard, I agree it is hard to believe.

Is there a disconnect here? Our community is managed in many respects by non-resident management whose job titles are here, but whose own homes are as far away as Contra Costa, Colusa and Sacramento counties. They may come to work in Winters but are out of sight before the sun sets.

We also have outside contractors doing management’s job. The city is paying $75,000 to a consultant to prepare a SurveyMonkey survey, for among other things, to help recommend where to place downtown garbage dumpsters.

If City management can’t muster up a clear vision and plan for the future of Winters, perhaps it’s time for someone who can.

RICK VON GELDERN

And yet, those boards still need people to attend and contribute to the conversation, planning and even brainstorming so they can make a wellthought decision. I’ve been to those community meetings hosted by everyone from the City to local nonprofits and either the same five people attend or it’s just board members who are there.

I volunteer to give back to the town that helped raise me and provides me with opportunities. I volunteer to ensure that local youth and residents continue to have those same opportunities. I volunteer because I have continued to gain new experiences and skills and it fulfills my desire to continue learning new things and meeting new people. I volunteer because it gives me a chance to use the things I have learned to, hopefully, uplift and contribute.

My ask to each and every one of you is to think about what kind

of volunteer you have time to be. What skills, knowledge or experience can you offer? Find the organizations, events, or causes that mean the most to you or that ignite your soul and reach out to them with what exactly it is you have to offer.

Every event, nonprofit-provided service, and effort needs volunteers of all kinds to make it successful. But they need more community members to step up and reach out in some capacity. And if right now you are just trying to stay above water, take the time to fill your cup and then circle back once you’re in a better place to provide service to your community.

It truly takes a community cooperating together at different levels to make things happen, especially in Winters.

the rural road out of the millions of miles in California? I think the Scenic Highway program may be the answer if their view of street/road design hasn’t changed.

I believe there are opportunities to convince CalTrans to approve a design change. But there is also the very real possibility that we are stuck with what we have and nothing we do will convince CalTrans to approve a change. But just because something is hard, does not mean it is impossible and we should not try.

I do not think the currently planned design is one that we still want, nor one that works with our goals. If we want future Winters to be the best possible version of themselves for the residents, we have to make some adjustments.

As my former First Sergeant liked to tell me, “Sir, the simplicity of thought does not equal a simplicity of action.” Yet we found a way because we had to achieve our goals, as we should do here.

My