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Esparto gets a new playground News, Page 2
Yolo RCD provides services, programs Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number 27 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, August 7, 2024
The hometown paper of Mary Buckley
Winters students to receive free meals Express staff Winters Joint Unified School District will continue to provide free meals to students enrolled at all Winters school sites for the 2024–25 school year. Patricia Jimenez, Director of Nutrition Service, confirmed that Winters JUSD announced the policy to provide free meals is under the National School Lunch/ School Breakfast Program. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at Winters State Preschool, Waggoner Elementary School, Shirley Rominger Intermediate School, Winters Middle School, Winters High
School and Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy. For additional information, contact Jimenez at 530795-6700 ext. 8004 or piimenez@wintersjusd.org. Mail can be sent to Attn: Winters Joint Unified School District, Patrictia Jimenez/ Nutrition Services, 909 West Grant Ave., Winters, CA 95694. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at www.usda.eov/ sites/default/files/ documents/ad-3027. pdf, call 866-6329992, or by write a letter addressed to USDA.
Video footage debunks couple’s assault report By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
A couple who reported being attacked and nearly robbed of their scooter in Winters allegedly fabricated the story to avoid a domestic violence arrest, the Winters Police Department reported this week. The pair reported the robbery on the evening of July 25, after officers responded to reports of a man and woman arguing in the 100 block of E. Grant Avenue, police said in a social media post. “Both parties reported that an unknown Hispanic male in his 20s, wearing all black, approached them and attempted to take
their scooter from them by force,” the post said. According to their story, the man struggled over the scooter with the suspect, who then threw the woman to the ground before fleeing the scene. Officers searched the area but couldn’t find anyone matching the suspect’s description. An investigation ensued, leading police to obtain surveillance video from a nearby business last Friday. “The video showed the couple was involved in a physical altercation, with the male half of the couple throwing the female to the ground, then straddling her and placing his hands over her mouth while holding her down,” the post said. “There were no other subjects in the video. Based on the video evidence, it was evident that an
Courtesy photo
Fifty-five community members gathered at the Winters Community Library to celebrate 20 people who recently earned their American citizenship on July 30. The event featured featured speakers and stories from honorees.
Community celebrates newest US citizens Express staff On July 30, 55 community members gathered to celebrate a group of new US citizens at a citizenship celebration at the Winters Community Library. Yolo County Library, Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee and Winters Community Corazón partnered to host the citizenship celebration to honor 20 individuals who recently achieved their citizenship. Revalee Hemken, a volunteer who has been coaching the group through their studies opened the event with high hon-
Express staff writer
Index
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
July 31
.00
95˚
60˚
Aug. 01
.00
100˚
58˚
Aug. 02
.00
101˚
65˚
Aug. 03
.00
99˚
67˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-3
Aug. 04
.00
103˚
64˚
Aug. 05
.00
103˚
54˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Aug. 06
.00
100˚
56˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 0.00 in. Last sn. to date: 0.00 in.
Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
supports the programming put on by the Winters Community Library, while WFoL and library volunteers help candidates prepare for their interviews. “These new citizens will inspire future candidates to begin their own journey to citizenship. Yes, it can be done,” Hemken told attendees. For more information about upcoming events or to inquire about assistance through an upcoming citizenship clinic, send an email to info@winterscorazon.org or visit www. winterscorazon.org.
By Logan Chrisp
See REPORT, Page 5
Classifieds ................... B-4
trative aspects and fill out all of the required forms. After the paperwork is done, candidates begin their studies to prepare for the test. “Sometimes it’s easy, but sometimes it takes learning US history, and both reading and writing in a short window of time. It’s hard to pass the test,” Jesse Loren, Corazón board member and Winters city council member said in a community announcement. The journey to earn their citizenship was supported by many volunteers and organizations. According to Hemken, Winters Friends of the Library
Waggoner hosts Spirit of Winters mural The colorful Spirit of Winters inspired at mural at Waggoner Elementary School was completed on May 20, after many weeks of hard work from multiple young artists. Six high school students assisted over 100 Waggoner students who had worked on the mural, under the leadership of professional muralist Jamie Montiel. The mural was planned, funded, and executed with the collaboration of several Winters groups including the school district, the Spirit of
Features ........................ B-1
ors for the newest citizens’ efforts and dedication. “These fine people have worked hard and sacrificed much to realize their own American Dreams. I am so proud of them for persevering to earn their citizenship,” Hemken said. The Winters HAC and Winters Community Corazón regularly work to provide annual two-part workshops or citizenship clinics to help immigrants get started on their journey to become American residents. These efforts provide an opportunity to meet with attorneys to begin work on the adminis-
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Courtesy photo
Elementary school students submitted their ideas on what they think is special about Winters, and high school artists pulled from the ideas to create a mural design. The full mural design can be viewed along Grant Avenue/Hwy 128 at Waggoner Elementary. Winters community group and the Winters Participation Gallery. “The mural is based on what students feel is special about Winters. There was a lesson done with all K through 5th-grade students where they were read a book and then drew or wrote about what was special about Winters. The high school students took those drawings to develop the mural,” said Jill Aguiar, Expanding Learning and Opportunity Program Coordinator. The book used for inspiration was “My Papi Has a Motorcycle” by Isabel Quinte-
ro. The story is about how a young girl explores her hometown with her dad one evening. In the story, the main character reminisces about all the familiar landmarks that make her town so special. Aguiar had the students write down their reactions to the story and hired high school students to create sketches used to design the mural. The Spirit of Winters mural features iconic Winters landmarks, such as the city of Winters’ water tower and the Rotary Park gazebo, as well as images that reminded the young painters of
their town and community, such as tractors, playgrounds, sunflowers and a rainbow symbolizing the green river itself, Putah Creek. Much like the painters, the design of the mural is quite spontaneous. “I love that the students were the people who decided what would be on the mural through the assignment that they did. And then the high school students took what they said and, you know, designed it into that mural. The elementary kids
See MURAL, Page 5
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