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Winters Express: Wednesday, November 6, 2024

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High School works to increase academic success News, Page 3

including tax

Students gain experience in art, business Features, Page 1

Volume 141, Number 40 — Locally-owned since 1884

Local sales tax measure has early voter approval Express staff Winters’ Measure S led with “Yes” votes as of 1:48 a.m. on Nov. 6 — the last unofficial election results update for the evening in the Nov. 5 General Election. On Wednesday morning, the Measure S unofficial results were Yes with 1,157 votes (59.92 percent) and No with 774 votes (40.08 percent). In the City Council race, Bill Biasi had 1,251 votes (53.21 percent) and Jesse Loren had 1,100 votes (46.79). Both candidates are the incumbents for their seats. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry leads the Yolo County race for the State Assembly 4th District with 33,032 (67.41

percent) followed by Darren Ellis with 15,973 votes (32.59 percent). Christopher Cabaldon leads the County race for the State Senator 3rd District with 32,245 votes (65.80 percent) followed by Thom Bogue with 16,763 votes (34.20 percent). Mike Thompson leads the County race for the US Representative 4th District with 25,032 (67.66 percent) followed by John Munn with 11,964 votes (32.34 percent). In the County US Senate race, Adam Schiff leads the Senator Full Term with 32,399 votes (65.36 percent) followed by Steve

See VOTE, Page 2

USDA rural roundtable educates on financial supports for communities By Sonora Slater Express staff writer

EXPRESS

“When people think USDA, they think agriculture,” Yolo County District 2 Supervisor Lucas Frerichs explained — and rightfully so, since the government group acronym stands for the United States Department of Agriculture. But as Frerichs and others learned at the mid-October roundtable hosted by the USDA Rural Development team and California Representative Mike Thompson, they also do a lot more than that. “I think people were pretty sur-

prised about the full suite of programs and services that USDA offers in rural communities,” Frerichs said. “It’s above and beyond just agriculture.” This includes $27 billion spent in communities all across the country in 2023, of which the rural development portion paid for financing water, wastewater, and electric infrastructure, expanding high-speed internet access for rural people, and giving loans and grants to local businesses and communities to support affordable housing initiatives, improve community facilities and more. The recent roundtable, which is one of five being held across Thompson’s

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Concilio of Yolo County honors locals By Abigail Hofland Express correspondent Four Winters residents were recognized at the Concilio of Yolo County’s 36th annual scholarship dinner this fall, the first held after a four year hiatus due to COVID. The Concilio, a nonprofit involved in advocacy for the Latino community, is in its 51st year of operation. Allison Aguiar and Sebastian Rodriguez, both seniors at Winters High School, received student scholarships. Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry received an Aguila Award and Ramon Altamirano received Yolo County District Recognition. He was nominated by Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. “When I was asked to consider nominating someone from District 2, I knew right away who was deserving of being honored,” Frerichs said in a newsletter. “From senior and aging issues, to community health care and community planning, to stewardship of the environment, Ramon is involved in all-things Winters.” Altamirano’s connection to the Concilio of Yolo County predates this year’s recognition and even the nonprofit itself. He first encountered its predecessor, the Sacramento Concilio, in 1971 when he worked as a farmhand during high school. The group discovered and

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

See USDA, Page 2

Index

We at he r

Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2

Date

Rain

High

Low

Oct. 30

.00

69˚

40˚

Oct. 31

0.01”

69˚

43˚

Nov. 01

.00

67˚

41˚

Nov. 02 0.20”

68˚

47˚

Eventos hispanos ....... A-5

Nov. 03

.00

64˚

42˚

Nov. 04

.00

70˚

53˚

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

Nov. 05

.00

76˚

43˚

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

Rain for week: 0.21 in. Season’s total: 0.26 in. Last sn. to date: 0.79 in.

Sports ........................... B-5

Courtesy photo

County District 2 Recognition awardee Ramon Altamirano shakes hands with Supervisor Lucas Frerichs who nominated him for the honor. reached out to him. “What they did was give me a paid position,” he said. “They put me in a high school to teach.” With a pending track scholarship, continuing education was already on the table for Altamirano, but his position as a teacher’s aide at Yuba City High School provided fuel in the form of practical training and a financial boost. “The Concilio was very important for me to continue my education, Altamirano said. “I consider myself an alumni.” In 1973, the Yolo Chapter of the Concilio was born. A year later, the nonprofit sued the Board of Supervisors for alleged employment discrimination against minorities, a lawsuit

Courtesy photo

Winters Superintendent Rody Boonchouy presented scholarship awards to Allison Aguiar (right) and Sebastian Rodriguez (not pictured) with Yolo County Superintendent Garth Lewis (center). they eventually won. Since then, the nonprofit has taken shape in different ways. Jesse Ortiz, President of the Concilio, and has been involved with the organization

on and off for 53 years. “In the ’70s, there was a lot of involvement in educational issues — hiring and retaining latino teachers, advocacy for

See AWARDS, Page 3

School district prioritizing student mental health SB 224 protects student mental health. Approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, the California bill became effective this January, with officials creating a “distinct category on mental health instruction.”

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

The hometown paper of Donna Schneider

Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

The curriculum, which consists “of reasonably designed and age-appropriate instruction on the overarching themes and core principles of mental health” is required in all state school districts, county offices of education, and special state and charter schools. The Winters Joint Unified School District takes SB 224 very seriously. Winters JUSD school psychologist Najwa Burdick-Yahya said the legislation is a transformative measure, allowing officials to address mental health education with the same importance as physical health in the classroom. “We understand that students today face unique challenges that weren’t as prevalent in previous generations, and it’s essential they have

the tools and understanding to manage these pressures,” Burdick-Yahya told the Winters Express in the first report of a fourpart series on student mental health. The school psychologist pointed to the four Winters JUSD Board of Education Priorities: • Create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments • Improve student engagement and access • Improve support for academic and graduate profile outcomes • Utilize Organizational operations “We’re dedicated to creating a school culture where students feel seen, understood, and safe to discuss personal challenges without judgment,” the school psychologist said. SB 224 language reads the “bill re-

quires instruction appropriate for use with pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English learners.” “At Winters Joint Unified School District, we believe this mandate is a step toward normalizing mental health as an everyday topic, something that should be talked about openly and honestly,” Burdick-Yahya said. The new curriculum is taught among traditional classes, removing any stigma that separates mental health studies from other courses. “By incorporating mental health into the health curriculum, we’re helping students recognize and manage their own mental wellbeing and

See HEALTH, Page 3

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Contact David DeLeon at David@WintersExpress.com


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