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Shop local with holiday gift guide Special, Pages 6-7
Take on a MOW Yolo volunteer role Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number46 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Jeanette Jeno
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, December 18, 2024
We would like to extend our appreciation to our staff, parents and community partners for your hard work and dedication to our students. We wish everyone a prosperous 2025 filled with health, joy and peace.
Winters JUSD Board of Trustees Joedy Michael, Everardo Zaragoza, Sterling Davis, Carrie Green, and Kristin Trott
Cannabis, street vendor regulation head to council By Sonora Slater Express staff writer Councilmember Jesse Loren (center) and Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi take their oaths of office at the Dec. 10 city council meeting. Sonora Slater/ Winters Express
Council hears updated Paseo Park design proposal Certifies General Election results By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
EXPRESS
The Dec. 11 special meeting of the Winters City Council was largely focused on a discussion of Paseo Park, an empty lot next to Pacific Ace Hardware on Main Street that has long been in talks to be transformed into a community space. Cole Skaggs, a consultant with Super Extra Fancy, LLC, gave a presentation to the council on the final design concept planned for the park, created
through several iterations that incorporated feedback from the council and the general public. Before the presentation, council members briefly certified the Nov. 5 General Election results, and swore in Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi and Councilmember Jesse Loren to continue their positions, on the council. Additionally, Albert Vallecillo officially stepped into his new position of mayor. Winters resident Kate Laddish expressed gratitude for the re-sworn in members of the council for choosing to continue the work they do for the city. “What you all do up here isn’t easy,” Laddish said. “I know what we see in meetings is just the very tip of the iceberg of what you do with all the committees and meeting up with constituents, so thank you for throwing your hat in
Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-3
the ring yet again. We’re very capably served by you both.” Vallecillo led the conversation for council to see the Paseo Park project moving forward. “It’s been a long, long process for this little piece of land downtown, but it incorporates all the things that the community wants to see in that space,” Vallecillo said. “It’s exciting to get to this point and see it moving forward, and see it look very doable.” Skaggs went over all the pieces of the visible design, also noting that there will be some soil preparation and underground infrastructure required to prepare for the build. The park includes several benches and picnic tables, a brick patio for local performances, a games area with things like corn hole
See PARK, Page 5
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Dec. 11
.00
62˚
30˚
Dec. 12
0.51”
63˚
36˚
Dec. 13
0.07”
52˚
45˚
Dec. 14
1.84”
55˚
48˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-2
Dec. 15
0.12”
62˚
36˚
Dec. 16
0.69”
54˚
41˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Dec. 17
0.28:
48˚
41˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 3.51 in. Season’s total: 7.87 in. Last sn. to date: 2.16 in.
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
The Dec. 10 special Winters Planning Commission meeting focused on wrapping up two conversations begun at the meeting held in late October, including regulations on street vendors in Winters and where in the city a cannabis dispensary should be allowed to open — if building such an establishment would be allowed at all. Assistant city attorney Joanna Gin reminded the commission that based on the conclusions drawn at the Oct. 22 meeting, they would not be recommending a cap on the number of street vendors. The remaining portion of the res-
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Express staff
Art contest opens
The Winters Youth Day Committee announced the theme in a social media post for the 2025 Winters Youth Day event as Youth Around the World. Debbie Pitts submitted the winning theme. “Youth Around the World” reflects the global spirit of our youth and celebrates cultural diversity and unity. In an act of generosity, Pitts donated her prize money back to the organization, helping to ensure the continued success of this cherished annual event.
With the theme decided, the Youth Day committee launch the 2025 Winters Youth Day Art Contest. This is a unique opportunity for local artists to showcase their talent and contribute to the community by designing the artwork that will be featured on the official event t-shirts and marketing materials. The art contest details and submission form are available online at https://forms.gle/ n8jy1op7iQStKRRA6, https://bit.ly/4iFsvQ6 or on
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Youth of One, a local organization founded in 2022, will host its inaugural Christmas Toy Drive, offering local children the chance to pick out a toy for the holidays. Founder Art Garcia is calling on the community to rally together and help make this heartfelt event a success.
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See CONTEST, Page 5
Volunteer at holiday toy drive
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See PLANNING, Page 5
Winters Youth Day 2025 theme, art contest announced
YOUR
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503
olution would simply add the ability to enforce fines for violations of preexisting vendor regulations, like health and safety codes. Members of the public asked a few clarifying questions about details left unanswered at the last meeting, and then after the distinction between pushcart vendors and mobile vendors (food trucks) was made clear, the commission had time to comment. Chair Gregory Contreras said that he wasn’t a fan of one new rule in the resolution that states mobile vendors are not allowed to sell within 500 feet of a school unless there is a
Inspired by the large-scale toy drives he witnessed in Los Angeles, Garcia aims to create something equally impactful for his hometown of Winters. Youth of One has been dedicated to empowering local youth by building self-esteem, confidence and social skills through team-building and exercise programs. Now, with this toy drive,
Garcia is expanding the organization’s mission to include holiday joy.
Register a child
Families can register their children to participate by visiting https://form.jotform. com/243466592145058, https://bit.ly/3ZXkiiO or scanning the QR code available on the Youth of One
See TOYS, Page 5
VOTE NOW! through
January 6th davisenterprise.secondstreetapp.com/ Readers-Choice-Yolo-County-2025