Winters Express: Wednesday, February 14

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$1

including tax

Rominger shares new pick up /drop off procedure News, Page 2

Farm to School brings fresh produce to students Features, Page 1

Volume 141, Number 02 — Locally-owned since 1884

Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

The hometown paper of Kirsten Sellheim

Council directs staff to draft camping ordinance to address unhoused issue By Amelia Biscardi Express staff writer The Winters City Council opened up a discussion with the public about unhoused individuals down along Putah Creek at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting. After spending an hour and 50 minutes discussing the multifaceted issue, the next step for the council is to receive an ordinance banning camping in public parks without a permit. As well, as making the Putah Creek Nature Park an official park and working alongside Solano County to deter those in their portion of the creek. The ordinance could be received at either the Feb. 20 or March 5 city council meeting. Councilmember Richard Casavecchia emphasized a potential permit needing to be renewed daily. The hope of that being that the hassle of having to get a permit from the city each day would deter unhoused individuals. There were 14 people in person in the council chamber audience and 18 online. Ten Winters residents spoke during the public comments portion of homelessness issue. A large contingency of the Winters Downtown Business Association’s mem-

Courtesy photo

Students’ heart notes about why they love Winters hang along the historical Cradwick Building downtown in Paseo Park.

Students share a love for Winters Express staff

Rotary, Interact install art hearts in Paseo Park Following the success of last year’s heart art installation, Winters students shared their favorite aspects of their hometown just in time for Valentine’s Day. The Rotary Club of Winters and the Winters High School Interact Club members worked together over the weekend to hang a new series

of hearts from PVC pipes along the side of the Cradwick Building in Paseo Park along downtown Main Street. The hand-crafted valentines from local children shared why they love Winters including their favorite eateries, beloved community members, local places to play and more. WHS Interact Club President Mikenzie

See HEARTS, Page 5

Courtesy photo

Residents have reported finding stolen bikes along the creek in the encampments along both the Solano and Yolo County sides. bers were present. Corinne Martinez, President & COO of Berryessa Gap Vineyard, said that as a member of Visit Yolo, a group encouraging tourism in Yolo County, this situation is not a good look for Winters. “From a Yolo County perspective, Winters is the darling, and this is starting to give us a black eye,” Martinez said. “That’s really sad for me because the county and other jurisdictions look up to what we’ve done, the beauty of our downtown and what we’ve been able to deliver.” Emarie VanGalio, co-owner of Buckhorn

Steakhouse and Putah Creek Cafe, said she is no longer comfortable going down to the creek with her children unless her husband is there. She describes interactions with individuals down there displaying “erratic behavior” that did not leave her feeling safe. “Last week (an unhoused individual) was sitting in front of the Buckhorn with her chest exposed eating a bag of Cheetos,” VanGalio said. “Which to some people, it sounds like she’s living her best life but when you’re in front of an

See CAMPING, Page 3

Winters Fire seeking input from community on Prop 218 By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

EXPRESS

Winters property owners will receive a survey starting Wednesday, Feb. 21, to gain feedback regarding voter interest of support for Proposition 218 to provide funding for Winters Fire Department. At the Nov. 21 Winters City Council meeting, council members approved hiring SCI

Consulting services for balloting services and professional consulting. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said if voters approved the propositions the funding would support staffing and the purchase of needed equipment. In the first step, SCI Consulting is sending the survey out to property owners in the Winters Fire Protection District and the city of Winters which falls under the Winters Fire area of services. Residents who own property in both the rural district area and the city will

receive two surveys – which according to Snyder is approximately 22 individuals. Snyder said it’s important that both surveys get filled out and returned because the results will give them direction on how to move forward. “I’m asking (property owners) to fill out the survey, and be open and honest,” said Snyder. “Their feedback is what is going to drive the voting measure or not.” In addition to the survey, Snyder said they will host open houses to share

See FIRE, Page 3

Index Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2

Rain

Editor-in-Chief

High

Low

Feb. 07 TRACE

60˚

42˚

Feb. 08

0.28”

50˚

33˚

Feb. 09 TRACE

51˚

32˚

Feb. 10

.00

56˚

37˚

Eventos hispanos ....... A-2

Feb. 11

.00

62˚

32˚

Feb. 12

.00

60˚

36˚

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

Feb. 13

.00

62˚

37˚

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

Rain for week: 0.28 in. Season’s total: 17.26 in. Last sn. to date: 23.56 in.

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

Police investigate skimmers found at two local businesses By Crystal Apilado

We at he r Date

Courtesy photo

One of the two skimmers discovered over the card readers at the Dollar General store last week.

Winters rainfall season began 7/1/23. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.

Winters Police Department is looking to the community for any information regarding the placement of card skimming devices found on card readers at Dollar General and Lorenzo’s Market. Winters PD received a report on Feb. 8 at 2:15 p.m. that two card skimming machines were found on the card reader terminals at Dollar General. Additional

information from the report led officers to a different skimmer that was discovered at Lorenzo’s Market in a previous incident. Officers took the devices into their possession and during their investigation determined the devices had likely been placed on the Dollar General terminals that same day between the store’s public hours of 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Employees told officers that it is part of their protocol to

check the card terminals at the beginning and end of the day because of skimmers being placed. Residents who made purchases at either Dollar General or Lorenzo’s Market within the past few weeks are encouraged to monitor their bank transactions and report any unauthorized purchases to their banking institution and to the Winters PD non-emergency dispatch number

See SKIMMER, Page 3

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