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Details on school district’s new Graduate Profile News, Page 3
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Library card design winners Features, Page 1
Volume 140, Number 41 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Cathy Jurado
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, November 8, 2023
YCF honors five residents for their contributions By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer At Yolo Community Foundation five Winters residents were recognized for their efforts to benefit the overall Yolo County community on Nov. 6, at the Veterans Memorial Center. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., approximately 229 people filled the room, abuzz with excitement and cheese platters. The Yolo Community Foundation recognized Kurt Balasek, Emarie VanGalio, Kate Humphrey in memorial, Kelli Villanueva and Tom Crisp. With 32 nonprofits each recognizing the significant contributions made by the honorees. Kurt Balasek was recognized by the Winters Education Foundation, Emarie VanGalio was recognized by Winters Farm to School, Kelli Villanueva was recognized by Lead4Tomorrow and Tom Crisp was recognized by Friends of Yolo County Archives. Kate Humphrey was especially
recognized with a memorial award from the Winters Participation Gallery for the Arts. “It’s impressive that the Yolo Community Foundation puts on an event like this to honor all of the local philanthropic folks, everybody, even the donors too,” Balasek said. “But especially the people behind the scenes.” Throughout the video presentation honoring everyone, one of the themes was giving gratitude to those who work behind the scenes. Tom Crisp for example, was commended for his thorough archiving of local sports. Recently, he helped to curate a Winters sports exhibit at the Winters Museum. Emarie VanGalio, who runs The Buckhorn and Putah Creek Cafe, explains the importance of helping one’s local community. “I love being a part of Farm to School, just because what we’re giving back to the kids in our community, it’s amazing,” Van-
Galio said. “And working with so many partners and locals it’s really meaningful.” VanGalio explained that Winters Farm to School works with local partners focusing on school lunches, gardens and other programs. But at the heart of the organization, is feeding healthy and sustainable food to students. Kurt Balasek, who volunteers with WEF explains that they focus on a different portion of students’ school day, making education special. “We’re looking for that special experience,” Balasek said “Experiential is the word we use, so we can get the kids on a school bus down to the creek, or walk to the creek, as an example. We love helping out.” Balasek explains that some of the things they do are helping teachers with mini-grants, trying to find more of that experiential learning, and subsidizing when possible to allow students more opportunities.
Courtesy photo
Four of the Yolo Philanthropy Awards honorees hail from Winters: (from left) Emarie VanGalio, Kurt Balasek, Kelli Villanueva and Tom Crisp.
Salmon Festival, more than just salmon By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer
EXPRESS
As the leaves make their annual transition to autumn hues, Winters celebrated the sixth annual Salmon Festival with booths abound and multicolored salmon artwork everywhere. The community event was held in Rotary Park with vendors for education, crafts and food. One of those manning a table was Erin Hasbrook, a former schoolteacher. Hasbrook had brought for kids coloring pages of salmon and trout as well as booklets about the salmon lifecycle. For Hasbrook, she has seen a lot of great improvements of Putah Creek over the years, allowing for the salmon to spawn. And for her, it is important to impact that ecological wisdom onto the younger generation. “If you teach kids young, then, it tends to make a greater impression,” Hasbrook says. “Their integrated ability
MOW unveils new kitchen facility By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer
Amelia Biscardi/Winters Express
The salmon made their way through the crowds visiting for photos with Winters residents at the Salmon Festival on Nov. 4. to see the science and nature, the environment and their choices affect each other. They tend to have a greater sense of mindfulness about the world.” From native plants at the Putah Creek Council booth and Solano Resource Conservation District to three live bats at the NorCal Bats booth, there were plenty of interac-
Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
tive elements for all ages. Stephanie Meyers, a Winters resident since 1991, has seen how the creek has grown over the years. But to Meyers, the education opportunities stood out, especially the NorCal Bats booth with their three ambassador bats. “I’m a wildlife biologist and
See SALMON, Page 5
We at he r Low
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By Crystal Apilado
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-2
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Opinion ......................... B-3
Nov. 07 TRACE
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Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.04 in. Season’s total: 0.83 in. Last sn. to date: 1.28 in.
While serving a search warrant related to an investigation of child pornography, Winters Police Department arrested a local man for possession of an illegal firearm. Police Chief John P. Miller told the Express that Winters
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
See MEALS, Page 5
Man arrested for illegal firearm, further investigation of child pornography
Date
Editor-in-Chief
Sports ........................... B-7
There are people in our country who are suffering from food insecurity — with a portion of those many being senior citizens in Yolo County. Meals on Wheels Yolo County recently opened its newest facility, the Winters Senior Nutrition Center to bolster the number of seniors they impact with food, nourishment and companionship. The grand opening and ribbon cutting event was held on Thursday, Nov. 2. MOW is on a mission to engage with the seniors of Yolo County through meal delivery. Currently, the organization serves 800 seniors county-wide with around 50 being in Winters. According to Meals on Wheels Executive Director Joy Cohan the number of seniors currently being served is a 110 percent increase from
two years ago. As a large part of this organization’s mission is to nourish and engage, it also offers congregate meals where people come together and dine with one another. Although these meals with social interaction a la carte were on a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, they’ve slowly but surely been making a comeback. The congregate meals will be making their return to Winters before the end of the calendar year and be taking place at the community center. Bolstering the services of the newest MOW facility is the Winters Senior Nutrition Center at 111 Main St. The site was unveiled as the “Meals on Wheels – Sutter Health Senior Nutrition Center” at the Nov. 2 event. “The Winters Senior Nutrition Center is
PD received a report from ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) connecting a Winters resident to evidence related to child pornography. Officer Kyle Shadman took the lead on the case, which led officers to the 100 block of E. Baker Street with a warrant to collect evidence related to the report on Monday,
Nov. 6. Officers obtained multiple electronic devices that were collected to be sent to the Yolo County District Attorney’s High Tech Crime Unit for forensic analysis. During the execution of the warrant, an illegal sawed-off shotgun was discovered.
See ARREST, Page 5
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