Winters Express: Wednesday, February 28, 2024

$1 including tax Winter home improvement tips and tricks Special, Page 6

Council approves seasonal road closure request

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

The seasonal road closures of the Winters DBA’s annual Spring Open event to kick off the Fourth Friday season in March, and end on the last Sunday in October Winters DBA President Carla Wroten’s letter to the city stated the organization will once again support the downtown Winters Farmers Market on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April 28 to Oct. 27. Except three Sundays in April before the start of the farmers market on April 7, 14 and 21.

“On these weekends the Winter DBA recommends Main Street be reopened Sunday morning at the convenience of the public works staff,” Wroten said.

The street closure would last from 3 p.m. on Fridays until 3 p.m. on Sundays after the Winters Farmers Market has closed.

City Manager Jeremy

Craig noted that the request was the same as last year when council members initially approved the seasonal street closure schedule for Winters DBA’s intent to revive the Winters Farmers Market and host special events downtown.

The staff report detailed the Winters DBA request that Main Street be closed from Railroad to First

Street starting Friday evening. For the Spring Open Festival, the road closure would expand to Second Street early on Saturday to accommodate the craft show. Vendors would also be located in the “wings” of First Street up to the alleys and into Paseo Park, providing more space. The event would also utilize pergolas on Main Street.

Council member Richard Casavecchia asked if the special events for Spring Open and the Harvest Festival would require the street closure to cross Railroad Avenue and the two wings off of the Main Street and Railroad Avenue intersection as last year’s event requests.

Wroten and event coordinator Delaney Holden were on Zoom and confirmed that the road closure for the special events would include up to the driveway across from Hoobys because they didn’t want to block motorists from exiting the public parking lot.

Holden also clarified the request was for the Spring Open Festival from March 22 to 24, and the seasonal road closure for Fourth Friday and Winters Farmers Market events on the western part of Main Street from Railroad Avenue to the midblock crosswalk at Paseo Park. Winters DBA will put in an additional road closure request for the fall harvest-themed festival event.

See CLOSURE, Page 5

Amanda Ehnat was nominated as

Teacher of the Year by her peers and selected by a committee made up of teachers, administrators and classified staff at Vacaville High School.

Vacaville High School names

Ehnat Teacher of the Year

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

Serendipity defines Vacaville High School Teacher of the Year Amanda Ehnat’s story.

It was by accident she realized she loved teaching, according to the longtime Biology instructor. Ehnat, a Winters High School Class of 1999 graduate, began her 17-year-long career at the high school when asked to substitute for a friend.

“I fell in love with subbing and working with teenagers and felt if I liked subbing that much, then teaching would be even better since I’d get to have my own classes, which it was,” Ehnat said.

She said she loves working with the age group who are just figuring out who they are and where they want to go.

“It’s fun to see them grow and succeed as well as help

serve current Winters JUSD students in Transitional Kindergarten through seventh grade. Last year, the Board of Trustees approved to transition of the summer and afterschool programs from the city of Winters to the school district. School district staff have been working out the details for the upcoming programs through the transition from the city to Winters JUSD.

Registration for the summer program will be conducted through a Google Form that will be posted on the school districts website (www.wintersjusd.org) under Quick Links and under the Educational Services tab — Expanded Learning Programs. Families will also receive a notification through the Parent Square app.

The registration link is expected to go live at 8 a.m. on Tues-

Weather

Courtesy photo On Jan. 17, Vacaville High School announced on social media that Amanda Ehnat was named Teacher of the Year, and Noel Bradanini was named Classified Person of the Year.

them see that setbacks aren’t the end of the road, just detours along the way,” Enhat said. “I’m not so hung up on what a student plans to do after high school, as long as they have a plan.”

School district opens registration for summer program

day, March 5.

Registration assistance will be available on Tuesday, March 5, from 8 to 10 at the Winters JUSD Family Resource Center, 909 West Grant St., and on Tuesday, March 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Waggoner Elementary School in Room 27. The Summer Expanded Learning Program is funded and operated through the 21st Century Community Learning Cen-

ters and the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program grants. Each grant has specific requirements including students served and time spent at the program.

The program's dates run from June 10 to July 26 on Monday thru Friday. The program will not be in session on June 19 or on July 4-5. It will be hosted at Waggoner Elementary School and runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Index Date Rain High Low Feb. 21 0.07” 61 41 Feb. 22 0.03” 65 39 Feb. 23 TRACE 64 38 Feb. 24 .00 68 41 Feb. 25 .00 72 41 Feb. 26 .00 72 44 Feb. 27 .00 68 43 Rain for week: 0.10 in. Season’s total: 19.60 in. Last sn. to date: 25.47 in.

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

staff

Active registered voters in Yolo County should make a plan to ensure their vote is counted for the March 5 election.

All active registered voters should have received their absentee/ Vote by-Mail ballot. Vote-by-Mail ballots must be filled out and returned in the provided return identifi-

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cation envelope. Voters can return their voted ballots in their signed return identification envelopes: Via the mail (no return postage needed); ballots must be postmarked by March 5, and received by the elections office no later than March 12. Completed ballots can be dropped of at any of the 15 Ballot Drop Boxes until 8 p.m. on March 5. A list

See TEACHER, Page 5

with breakfast service begging at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast, lunch and a snack will be served daily. The program will focus on enrichment, recreation and academic activities.

More program information will be sent out through Parent Square next week.

Questions can be directed to Nicole Jordan at njordan@ wintersjusd.org or 530-681-1620.

County sends out primary ballots

and map of locations is available online at www.yoloelections. org/voting/polling_ place.

Student poets recite ryhmes Features, Page 1 Volume 141, Number 04 — Locally-owned since 1884 Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, February 28, 2024 The hometown paper of Curtis Roth Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2 Eventos hispanos ....... A-2 Opinion ......................... B-3 Real Estate ................... B-2 Sports ........................... B-7

In Winters, a Ballot Drop Box is located inside of Lorenzo’s Market, 121 E. Grant Ave.

Lorenzo’s Market business hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. now until March 4, and on Election Day, March 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

See BALLOTS, Page 5

by their peers, according to Vacaville High School Principal Adam Wight, who said Ehnat was one of 15 nominations. After submitted, all nominations are reviewed by a committee Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated 27990 County Road 90 Winters, CA 95694 www.pearcehvac.com State Contractor Lic# 864483

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Family or friends coming to town? Need some extra rooms? Call us! (530) 795-5870 101 Abbey Street, Winters, CA abbeyhouseinn.com

Courtesy photo

The Winters City Council approved the seasonal road closure request from the Winters Downtown Business Association at its Feb. 20 meeting.

Winters PTA receives grant to launch Safe Routes to School program

Special to the Express

The Winters Combined PTA President Danielle Smith announced that the organization was awarded a grant of $10,000 by the Yolo Air Quality Education Grant of the Yolo Community Foundation. The mission of the Yolo Community Foundation is to inspire and support giving and to provide philanthropic leadership in the community.

According to Smith, the grant will be used to increase the number of students walking or biking to school to reduce car traffic and the associated air pollution.

To do this, the PTA will launch a Safe Routes to School

program in Winters. Safe Routes to School is an established program that builds policy, cultural and structural support for active school commuting and provides a school curriculum on environmental benefits, physical fitness benefits, and safety for bicycle and pedestrian commuting.

“Our community has been working to increase walkability and bikeability in Winters,” Smith said. “The grant from the Yolo Community Foundation will give us additional resources to support students in being part of the effort toward healthier air and safe active commuting.”

Eventos hispanos

Bomberos de Winters recopilan opiniones sobre Proposición 218

Por Crystal Apilado

Traducido por Carol Alfonso

Las encuestas ya se enviaron por correo a los propietarios de Winters el pasado Miércoles 21 de Febrero para obtener comentarios sobre el interés de los votantes en apoyo de la Proposición 218 para proporcionar fondos al Departamento de Bomberos de Winters (Winters Fire Department).

En la reunión del Concejo Municipal de Winters del 21 de Noviembre del 2023, los miembros del concejo aprobaron la contratación de los servicios de SCI Consulting para servicios de votación y consultoría profesional. El jefe de bomberos Jack S. Snyder III dijo que si los votantes aprobaran las propuestas, los fondos apoyarían la dotación de personal y la compra del equipo necesario.

En el primer paso, SCI Con-

sulting está enviando la encuesta a los propietarios del Distrito de Protección contra Incendios de Winters y de la ciudad de Winters, que se encuentra dentro del área de servicios de los Bomberos de Winters (Winters Fire). Los residentes que posean propiedades tanto en el área del distrito rural como en la ciudad recibirán dos encuestas, que según Snyder son aproximadamente 22 personas.

Snyder dijo que es importante que ambas encuestas se completen y se devuelvan porque los resultados les darán instrucciones sobre cómo seguir adelante. “Les pido (a los propietarios) que completen la encuesta y sean abiertos y honestos,” dijo Snyder. “Sus comentarios son lo que impulsará o no la medida de votación.”

Además de la encuesta, Snyder dijo que organizarán jornadas de puertas abiertas

Votación el 5 de marzo

Winters Community Corazón

Especial para el Express ¡Winters Community Corazón le anima a votar! Si es un votante registrado, su boleta ya debería haber lle-

gado en su buzón. El día de las elecciones es el 5 de marzo. En Winters hay varias maneras de entregar su boleta antes de ese día o en el proprio día de eleciónes, o puede optar por votar en per-

para compartir información sobre los esfuerzos de la Proposición 218 y permitir que los residentes hagan preguntas al respecto. Según Snyder, dos cuestiones principales están impulsando la solicitud a los residentes. Winters Fire necesita aumentar el personal para las operaciones diarias y reemplazar el equipo que se acerca al final de su vida útil.

Snyder dijo que el objetivo principal es aumentar la dotación de personal. Actualmente, Winters Fire alberga una empresa de motores de dos personas y le gustaría aumentarla a tres. En el 2023, Winters Fire alcanzó un nuevo récord en volumen de llamadas. En Febrero, el volumen de llamadas ya había experimentado un aumento del 30 por ciento con respecto al año pasado.

Aunque hay una gran respuesta de los bomberos

Vea BOMBEROS, Página 3

sona.

Aquí hay una lista de información que podría ser útil en explicando las varias maneras de votar aquí en el Winters: Para verificar su estado de registro de votante: https://www. sos.ca.gov/elections/ registration status

Para registrarse para votar: https://registertovote.ca.gov

Para obtener más información sobre las elecciones primarias: https://www.sos. ca.gov/elections/primary-elections-california

¿Preguntas? Llame al 800-649-9943.

Redes sociales: Facebook @YoloACE,

Instagram @YoloCoACE, X (antiguamente Twitter) @YoloCoACE y YouTube @YoloCoACE.

¡Haga un plan para votar! Decida cuándo y cómo devolverá su boleta a las elecciones del condado de Yolo. Utilizé tinta negra o azul para marcar su boleta.

Coloque su boleta marcada en el sobre de identificación, firme el sobre y fecha, luego decida la forma en que desea entregarla.

Devuelva su boleta a un centro de votación o a la oficina electoral del condado a más tardar a las 8 p.m. del

Vea VOTACION, Página 3

DA won’t seek death penalty in Dominguez case

By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media

Yolo County prosecutors announced Monday they won’t seek capital punishment against Carlos Reales Dominguez, the former UC Davis student charged with killing two people and wounding a third during a week-long stabbing spree in Davis last year.

“After thorough investigation that has continued up until recent time, the people have made an election not to pursue the death penalty in this matter,” Deputy District Attorney Matt De Moura told Yolo Superior Court Judge Samuel McAdam.

Monday afternoon marked the start of a threeday preliminary hearing in the case, where prosecutors will outline their evidence in support of the charges that include two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Dominguez has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

Dominguez is accused of fatally stabbing David Breaux, 50, in Central Park; 20-year-old UCD student Karim Abou Najm in Sycamore Park and unhoused woman Kimberlee Guillory, 64, through her tent along L Street in late April and early May — crimes that gripped the community in fear as the assailant eluded police.

In June, Dominguez’s

VOTACION Continuado de la Página 3

día de las elecciones el 5 de marzo.

Coloque la boleta en una urna electoral oficial a más tardar a las 8 p.m. del día de las elecciones. El buzón de Winters se encuentra dentro del mercado “Lorenzo’s Market.

Por correo: Puede enviar su boleta por correo, pero debe ser matasellos del día de las elecciones o antes y recibido por la Oficina Electoral antes del 12 de marzo. No necesita un sello para enviar su boleta por correo.

Votar en persona: Si desea votar en persona, puede votar en el centro de votación de Winters: ubicado en la

The Sacramento Bee / Renée C. Byer, Pool

ber and returned him to Yolo County’s custody.

New details emerge

The preliminary hearing’s first day featured testimony from 10 Davis police officers who took part in the stabbing investigations, from the discoveries of the victims’ bodies to Dominguez’s seven-hour interview with detectives following his May 3 apprehension near Sycamore Park.

Among the newly released details: Police discovered the sheath of a Smith & Wesson fixedblade knife near Breaux’s body at Central Park. It would later match up with a four-inch, double-edged knife found in a plastic grocery bag Dominguez carried when police detained him.

$20 for it and he had it for about 20 years.”

Those were some of the conflicting and at times bizarre statements Dominguez made to police, as defense attorney Hutchinson would elicit during Muscardini’s cross-examination.

Muscardini confirmed that Dominguez sat rigidly still, avoided eye contact and refused food, water and bathroom visits during the hours-long interview. When he did speak, he offered mostly abbreviated answers in a monotone voice.

At one point, while both detectives were out of the interview room, Dominguez got up, put on his sweatshirt and attempted to leave, telling Muscardini he intended to go take a walk.

public defender Daniel Hutchinson declared doubts regarding the 22-year-old’s mental competency to stand trial, saying his client was unable to understand the nature of the court proceedings and assist in preparing a defense.

Prosecutors challenged a court-appointed psychologist’s conclusion that Dominguez suffered from symptoms of schizophrenia that rendered him mentally incompetent and took the matter to a jury.

biblioteca comunitaria de Winters, en la sala Margaret Parsons.

Del 2 al 4 de marzo de las 10 a.m. hasta las 6 p.m. El 5 de marzo, el día de las elecciones, de las 7 a.m. hasta las 8 p.m.

Testimony offered at a competency trial last summer revealed Dominguez suffered a steady mental decline in the months preceding the stabbings, and was expelled from UCD for failing grades several days before the attacks began.

Prosecutors abandoned their challenge following the trial’s first week, and Dominguez underwent several months of treatment with the Department of State Hospitals. Doctors deemed him restored to competence in late Decem-

BOMBEROS

Continuado de la Página 3

voluntarios en caso de incidentes de emergencia, el desgaste de las llamadas diarias puede resultar difícil para el limitado personal disponible, según Snyder. “Los dólares están muy ajustados en este momento, pero para que podamos mantener el nivel de servicio que necesitamos para servir a la comunidad, esta es una opción que debemos considerar,” dijo Snyder. La financiación también ayudaría a reemplazar equipos, incluidos tanques de aire y radios. Todo lo cual es costoso y depende

Initially identifying himself as “John Joas,” Dominguez told investigators Mathew Muscardini and Steve Ramos he still attended UCD and gave two different dates of birth, along with the wrong address for his home on Hawthorn Lane, Muscardini testified.

Dominguez also put himself at Central Park and Sycamore Park around the time of Breaux and Abou Najm’s slayings, but when asked if he’d stabbed Guillory, “he told me no,” Muscardini said. As for the knife, “he said he paid

de subvenciones para ayudar a comprar. Snyder dijo que, si se aprueban, los fondos ayudarían a Winters Fire a volverse autosuficiente, ya que el dinero sólo puede ser utilizado por el Departamento de Bomberos para sus necesidades. No tendrían que obtener la aprobación del Ayuntamiento ni trabajar para averiguar de dónde vendría el dinero para pagar las necesidades del reemplazo de equipos.

Los Departamentos de Bomberos de West Plainfield y Willow Oak tuvieron éxito al lograr que se aprobara la Proposición 218 en sus áreas y se han beneficiado de los beneficios de apoyar a su

“He didn’t seem to have any insight into the seriousness of the situation he was in, correct?” Hutchinson asked.

“Yes,” Muscardini said, also noting that Dominguez denied being diagnosed with any mental-health conditions.

“Sir, at the time were you aware that denial of a mental-health condition is in fact a common symptom of schizophrenia?” Hutchinson asked. Muscardini said he was not.

Testimony resumed at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

personal. El objetivo de Snyder es compartir información con los residentes de Winters con la esperanza de ver el mismo resultado aquí.

“En general, queremos asegurarnos de que la seguridad de la comunidad y de los socorristas sea adecuada para cualquier incidente, sin importar dónde o qué sea,” dijo Snyder. “Somos una especie de isla aquí. Cuanto más personal inicial tengamos es bueno. Otra ayuda tarda entre 10 y 20 minutos.”

Si los resultados de la encuesta son favorables, se enviará una boleta por correo a los residentes a fines de Mayo o principios de

Junio. Si los votantes lo aprueban, Snyder dijo que las adopciones comenzarían en Agosto y que Winters Fire podría tener más personal a bordo a fines del otoño de este año.

Se pondrá a disposición del público más información sobre la Proposición 218 y una lista de fechas de puertas abiertas tan pronto como esté finalizada. Snyder dijo que también trabajará para reunirse con grupos locales para informarles sobre el esfuerzo. Se pueden enviar preguntas al Jefe de Bomberos, Snyder por correo electrónico a jack.snyder@wintersfire.org o llamar al 530490-3620.

Carlos Reales Dominguez arrives with defense attorney Daniel Hutchinson, left, at Yolo Superior Court in Woodland on Monday.

130 Years Ago

March 3, 1894

Wm. Wolfskill has just finished planting about 4200 fruit trees on the Taylor tract, and is now helping his brother, J.H. plant out 30 acres more.

John Griffin has been urged to run for Supervisor from this district, at the election this fall, and we are informed that he has consented. John will be sure to be elected, and we believe will make a good officer.

While Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Bonney were driving to Davisville Saturday, to catch the 11 o’clock train for Sacramento, their horse became frightened about a mile below Mr. F.E. Russell’s place, and ran into the fence overturning the buggy and throwing both to the ground. Luckily Mr. Bonney held on to the reins and prevented any damage other than the breaking of one wheel and the cross bar. With the kind assistance of Mrs. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. Bonney returned home safely.

Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Briggs entertained the following young folks at their residence Wednesday evening in a whist party: Misses Mary and Sadie Briggs, Ada Hanson, Mary DeVilbiss, Pauline Spencer, Lottie Wilson, Mattie Humphrey, Mabel Jeans, Messrs. Bud, Ed and Carey Baker, James and Ralls Briggs, Lee Humphrey, Albert Morris, Leonard DeVilbiss.

Rube Clark and C.C. King of Monticello were down Wednesday. Rube says the

Years Ago

Dispatches from the Express archives.

Word is received locally that the big leaguer “Pete” Scott, Yolo county boy, and brother of Mrs. Charles Graf, who has been with the Pittsburgh Pirates several seasons has signed up with the Mission Bells of San Francisco.

roads could not be worse. The Express has made arrangements with Leonard DeVilbiss, whereby he will be associated with the paper in the conduct of the local department. All courtesies shown Mr. DeVilbiss will be duly appreciated by the publisher.

95 Years Ago

March 1, 1929

Word is received locally that the big leaguer “Pete” Scott, Yolo county boy, and brother of Mrs. Charles Graf, who has been with the Pittsburgh Pirates several seasons has signed up with the Mission Bells of San Francisco. Arthur Huntley of Point Arena visited friends in town Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Sullivan went to the city Thursday of last week, to see Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Laycock off on their return to Central America. The Laycocks have been on a visit here the past three months.

The Garden Section of the Fortnightly Club will meet at the home of Mrs. Mary Brinck on Monday, March 4.

Miss Genevie Dexter is one of the U.C. girls who were home over the holiday week end.

Mrs. Al Wells entertained at bridge Thursday evening of last week.

Weaver Gaddini spent the holiday and week end at home. He is a student at Sacramento Junior College.

Miss Patty Baker returned to the U.C. at Berkeley Sunday afternoon after having spent the week end at

home.

Miss Maggie, Reese and Lelwin Baker spent Sunday at the home of their sister, Mrs. McCune in Dixon.

80 Years Ago

March 3, 1944

Fire broke out Friday a.m. in the cottage in the rear of the Mrs. Olga O’Leary property on Abbay Street, reportedly from defective wiring. The The fire department worked valiantly in the face of a brisk north wind, but the house was gutted. Occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts, defense workers and three children lost all their house furnishings and personal belongings.

George Leggett who is in the Aviation Engineers, stationed in the Hawaiian Islands, writes that they keep him in good appetite and good chow. He had just put away a chicken dinner.

Cpl. Donald Gale arrived the last of the week from a Missouri base for a two weeks furlough visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Gale.

Donald Stephens, youngest son of Ben Stephens of Esparto, and Mrs. Alice Treanor of San Francisco, reported for Navy duty the first of the week and was sent to a Nebraska base for training.

Alan Furth was paying a farewell visit last Thursday to former friends in Davis and Winters. Alan is in the Marine service and left Sunday, after graduation Saturday at U.C., for a training base in South Carolina.

The Express is looking for the first Winters baby born after the stroke of Midnight on Jan. 1, 2024. Enter online  https://bit.ly/3NFxtyn.

Public Safety Report

The Winters Fire Log will return soon.

ters.org/157/Fire.

Police Arrest Log

Feb. 17: Adams, Thomas Nick (Age 53); Charges: Battery of spouse, obstruction of a peace officer; Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail Feb. 19: Matthews, Chaz Howard (Age 27), Charges: Battery with serious injury, Disposition: Transported to Yolo County Jail Report Log

Feb. 11: 1:26 p.m., 500 block of Edwards Street, Missing person – located Feb. 15: 1:29 a.m., 100 block of E. Grant Avenue, Audible Alarm Feb. 16: 8:34 a.m., 300 block of E. Main Street, Petty Theft ~9:32 a.m., 200

block of Railroad Avenue, Outside Agency Assist ~12:22 p.m., 100 E. Grant Avenue, Fraud Feb. 18: 9:41 a.m., 700 block of Aster Street, Violation of court order ~9:52 p.m., 700 block of Dutton Street, Audible Alarm Feb. 19: 12:55 p.m., 300 of Edwards Street, Missing Person ~4:37 p.m., 400 block of Haven Street, Audible Alarm

~9:11 p.m., Main Street/Third Street, False personation of a law enforcement officer Feb. 21: 3:33 p.m., Vasey Street/Valley Oak Drive, Found Property Feb. 22: 9:06 a.m., 600 block of Foxglove Circle, Harassing Phone Calls For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.

Lake Berryessa water levels up

Express staff

The water level of Lake Berryessa went up during the past week by 2.65 feet, with an increase in the storage of 48,427 acrefeet of water, according to Ken Emigh of the Solano Irrigation District. On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 27, the lake level was 436.10 feet above sea level, with storage computed at 1,478,448 acre-feet of water. Evaporation on the lake averaged 51 acre-feet of water per day. The SID is diverting 66 cubic feet per second of water in the Putah South Canal, with 27 cubic feet per second flowing at the Diversion Dam.

Local News Briefs

Express staff

Second Winters Volunteer Fair

Carol Scianna and Crystal Apilado are hosting the second Winters Volunteer Fair on June 15 at Three Oaks Park. The goal of the event is to introduce Winters’ newest residents (and long-time ones) to local nonprofits and agencies who have volunteer needs. The duo is looking for nonprofits and agencies in Winters and Yolo County who would like to participate. Groups can express their interest in participating in the Volunteer Fair by filling out an interest survey at https://bit. ly/42MSXjg.

Get city updates

The city of Winters’ Notify Me function allows residents to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists. Receive email or text messages for meeting information or city updates on selected lists, including the City Manager Friday updates. Check out Notify Me today at www.cityofwinters. org/list.aspx.

Mental health listening session

Take Part in the

Yolo County Mental Health Services Act Community Survey on Thursday, Feb. 29, at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. The Yolo County Mental Health Services Act team will be conducting an in-person listening session to get Winters residents’ feedback on their three-year spending plan for mental health services. In his Friday update, City Manager Jeremy Craig said, “I encourage you to come and make your voice heard as the team works on their program plans for the County.”

Youth Day

The Youth Day Committee is accepting parade entries and vendor applications for booths at the park. The 2024 Youth Day event is set for Saturday, April 27. The committee is also looking for event sponsors. Register today or learn more about volunteer opportunities or sponsorship at https://linktr.ee/wintersyouthday. The next Youth Day Committee meeting is on Wednesday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall large conference room (Abbey Street entrance).

Photo by Kim Orendor Winters varsity football team members who were named to the Butte View All-League first team in 1994 were (from left), back row: Nate Snyder, Justin Pate, Ruben Valencia; front: Abel Garcia, Joe Cook and Jimmy Lucas. Winters linebacker Ruben Valencia was named the BVL defensive MVP and quarterback Jimmy Lucas received the league offensive MVP honor.

WTC launches “Friends of the Opera House” to help organize event lineup

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

The Winters Opera House stage lights and curtains are getting dusted off as the venue returns to life.

The Winters Opera House, constructed in 1876, has long been an essential venue in the Winters community for performing artists, according to Kaitlyn Hinds, venue manager, who said the Palms relocated to the Winters Opera House in 2002.

However, the 18-year run hosting numerous talented folk, bluegrass, rock, and jazz performances ended with COVID-19.

“When they had to close its doors in 2020 due to the pandemic and decided not to reopen, I know the Winters community was sad to see such an important venue go,” Hinds said.

The Winters Theatre Company has been a part of this community for over 40 years, and they took over the lease of the Winters Opera House in December.

“In that time span, the company produced hundreds of plays and brought in a wide variety of local talented actors, producers, writers and directors,” Hinds said. “Many people who helped start the Winters Theatre Company still sit on the board today and

TEACHER

Continued from Page 1

of administrators, a former teacher of the year, and classified staff review, who review the nominations and select a winner.

“I think the nicest part about this award is that it starts with colleagues recognizing peers and the contributions to our school community as a whole,” Wight said.

Wight said those recognized are chosen because they are doing more than just great work in the classroom but are typically showing leadership outside their room. That is Ehnat. She not only teaches agricultural concepts but also instills in students a sense of responsibility, community service, and a deep appreciation for the agricultural industry, according to the principal.

“Amanda has worked to create multiple opportunities for students to grow as leaders and individuals, and she has formed bonds and connections with many of her students,” Wight said.

Some of those connections include multiple first-time student experiences, including out-of-Solano County trips, going to Disneyland, flying in a plane, and visiting a new state.

“Amanda still has

are still passionate about all the projects we put on.

One of Winters Theater Company founders, Linda Glick said the company’s mission is to provide the community with a wide range of quality theatrical experiences while supporting the local arts and education. She said the 501C nonprofit envisions providing a vital performing arts venue, recognized throughout the region for its commitment to cultural activities, theatrical productions, and the enhancement of downtown Winters.

“Leasing the Winters Opera House provides us with the opportunity to finally fulfill our dream,” Glick said, adding the theater company has a long, successful relationship with the Winters Community Center. “Now we have the opportunity to move forward and attempt the realization of our dream.”

Glick said the theater company is proud of its history in attracting actors, crews, and audiences from surrounding communities and hopes to see the Winters acting community grow with the new Opera House.

“The company mirrors this welcoming spirit by always holding open auditions for all ages and giving everyone an opportunity to join us on stage

frequent communication with former students who seek her advice and guidance,” Wight said.

Speaking of guidance, Ehnat recalls her favorite teacher growing up and what she learned from her.

“Mrs. (Germaine) Hupe,” Ehnat said. “She had a way of making history come alive and was always encouraging her students to be active learners.”

Regarding learning, the VHS teacher of the year said one of the three most significant lessons she has received from her tenure teaching is community matters.

“It’s a team sport,” Enhat said. “You really are only as great as the team you surround yourself with. I’m very lucky to have an amazing team in our agriculture department with Ashley Bailey and Danielle Morrison and such amazing faculty and staff at the high school.”

The second lesson is a teacher never knows where a classroom will take them.

“I started out teaching Human Anatomy and Biology, then fell into Ag teaching after a few years and fell even more in love with my job,” Ehant said. “I now get to share my love of animal care and agriculture with my students and get the pleasure of watching my students

or behind the scenes,” Glick said. “Now we have our own home, we have the opportunity to be a stronger part of the larger theatrical community.”     Glick and Hinds look forward to attracting a diverse community of performers of all ages and ethnicities to emulate Winters’s rich cultural history. Hinds said performance promotes expression, creativity, and art, impacting a person’s well-being through music, dance, theater, crafts, painting, or poetry.

“We want the Opera House to be a creative space where all creative minds are welcomed and put on events that highlight all of the local talent that we know Winters has to offer,” Hinds said.

You don’t have to be a performer to step foot on the stage, according to Hinds, who said volunteers are still needed for the “Friends of the Opera House” to help organize and execute events.

“So far, we have had a tremendous amount of outreach and support pertaining to this group,” Hinds said.

Glick said the company and venue are excited to share the space with the community, nonprofits, and Winters Joint Unified School District.

“That being said, we need to pay the rent,” Glick said. “We believe we have created

move on to amazing careers.”

The last and seemingly most important lesson the educator learned is “always remember to look back at how far you’ve come.”

“As a teacher, you can get stuck always thinking about what’s next on the to-do list, and you can forget how much you’ve done and improved,” Ehnat said.

Under Ehnat’s tutelage, Wight said more than 10 Vacaville FFA members received their American FFA Degrees, the highest honor for an FFA member, with less than 1 percent of all members receiving the national accolade.

Enhat learned about the honor at what she thought was just a routine January staff meeting.

“I was surrounded by friends and coworkers who are amazing educators,” Enhat said. “It felt very nice to be recognized and acknowledged by my peers and administrators, and I feel very lucky to be part of such a great faculty and staff.”

Wight said celebrating teachers is important, especially when “being in education is a tough job, so it’s important that they hear how much they are appreciated.” Appreciated is an

understatement, according to Wight, who said Enhat is the driving force behind the resurrection of the Vacaville FFA, now considered one of the top Solano County agricultural programs. Additionally, she introduced six new college curriculum-related classes to the VHS Agriculture program — she helped increase the number of agriculture teachers and students from less than 100 to more than 250.

If that was not enough, Wight said Ehhat’s role as the FFA advisor truly sets her apart.

“Her tireless efforts have resulted in the development of numerous initiatives and projects that not only enhance the FFA program but also contribute to the overall enrichment of our school community,” Wight said.

Amanda Ehnat has created a culture of hard work, dedication, and success on the VHS campus. Wight said she fosters an environment that promotes leadership, teamwork, and a strong work ethic.

“She is the embodiment of a Vacaville High School Bulldog, and her unrelenting commitment to her students, peers, and school should not go unrecognized,” Wight said.

Mayor Bill Biasi also requested that the end times be changed to reflect a closing time of 3 p.m. since the verbiage in the Resolution was inconsistent and listed the times as 3 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and vice versa. Councilmember unanimously approved the seasonal road closures with the amendment to expand it to Hooby’s Brewing for the Spring Open Festival and to include the wings.

Other discussions included whether the city should raise the vendor fee from $15 for the single-day business license since there is not an accurate reporting mechanism to record whether the vendors report their totals for sales tax revenues to the city.

Resident Kate Laddish asked the council for a discussion on whether there was a way to account for the sales tax from vendors.

“I know that some of the businesses don’t benefit from the closures and some do. This is from the perspective that we have all of the information,”

BALLOTS

Continued from Page 1

In Esparto, an outdoor Ballot Drop Box is available 24/7 outside of the Esparto Regional Library, 17065 Yolo Ave. Ballots can also be returned at one of the 13 Vote Centers.

Three of the VCs are already open in Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland.

The remaining 10 will open beginning March 2. Voted ballots in their signed return identification envelopes must be returned by 8 p.m. on March 5. A list of the county-wide Vote Centers is available online at www.yoloelections.org/voting/polling_place

In Winters, the Voting Center will be hosted at the Winters Community Library — Margaret Parsons Room, 708 Railroad Ave. on March 2 to 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Election Day, March 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Esparto, the Voting Center will be hosted at the Esparto Community Hall, 17020 Yolo Ave. on March 2 to 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Election Day, March 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All 13 Vote Centers are open on Election Day, Tuesday, March

Laddish said. “I was surprised to see that a lot of the vendors use Venmo, did I understand that correctly?

How is that possible that commerce happens but (the city) doesn’t get the tax benefits?”

Craig said that since vendors are transient, the city has to rely on them to report and comply with the guidelines. He said the city would spend more time and money trying to track down the data than what they would get from the total.

Biasi agreed stating that using city staff to try and track it down was a waste of funds.

Laddish also requested that Wroten and Holden add the Winters Theatre Company to their list of businesses to confirm with regarding downtown entertainment.

WTC took over the lease of the Winters Opera House in December, and Laddish’s concern is there could be competing noise between performances at the Opera House and live music on downtown Main Street.

Wroten confirmed she would include WTC in her communication and planning for live entertainment.

5, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vote Centers offer many services where voters may:

Drop off voted and signed vote-by-mail ballots

Pick up a replacement vote-by-mail ballots for yourself or a return identification envelope

Vote a regular ballot

Receive language assistance or copies of translated ballots for reference

Use accessible ballot marking devices

Complete sameday voter registration and conditional or provisional voting Yolo County operates a Mobile Vote Center which provides all of the services you will find at the other Vote Centers. The MVC will be visiting seven townships and unincorporated communities beginning Tuesday, Feb. 27 through March 4, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at each location.

Locations of where the Mobile Vote Center will be are listed and mapped at www. yoloelections.org/ voting/polling_place. Information about voting services is available on the Yolo Elections Office page at www.yoloelections.org/voting.

A rundown of popular flooring materials

Even

new flooring for their homes. The following rundown of three popular flooring options can help homeowners as they try to decide which material best suits their homes.

Hardwood floors

Hardwood floors might once have been a relatively straightforward option, but homeowners may now choose between solid wood flooring and engineered wood flooring. According to The Home Depot, engineered wood flooring provides the look of solid wood flooring without the high maintenance of such floors. Engineered wood is manmade and created with the use of wood strands, particles, fibers or veneers of wood that

are forged together with adhesives. Each engineered wood flooring plank is composed of several layers of plywood or fiberboard with a solid wood veneer on top, which is how it can provide the look of solid wood flooring. Solid wood flooring planks are made from a single piece of hardwood. Each type of flooring has its pros and cons, and homeowners who prefer hardwood floors are urged to speak with a flooring professional about the features that make these options unique from one another.

Laminate floors

Laminate flooring is another engineered flooring product. But unlike engineered wood flooring, laminate flooring does not utilize real wood and many people can recognize that the moment they step on a laminate floor. Flooring is such a vital and heavily trafficked component of a home that it’s typically best to leave installation to a qualified professional. However, homeowners who prefer the DIY route should know that laminate flooring is viewed as among the

easiest types of flooring for DIYers to install.

Vinyl flooring

The experts at Good Housekeeping report that vinyl flooring is the fastest-growing category of flooring.

The Home Depot notes that vinyl flooring is made from plastic and usually consists of acrylic, PVC and similar polymers. Luxury vinyl tile is thick and durable, and it’s often noted for its likeness to solid wood. Vinyl tile also is considered a versatile flooring option, as The Home Depot notes it can be purchased in planks, sheets or tiles. The Home Depot advises homeowners to consider the thickness range when mulling their vinyl flooring options. Thickness ranges between four and 40 millimeters, and a thicker layer is more resistant to water, scratches and stains.

Homeowners will be confronted with a variety of options when considering a flooring project for their homes. The right option for a given home may come down to a host of factors, including cost, look and durability.

Maintaining a lawn routinely roamed by pets

Metro

Special to the Express

Vibrant, green lawns can draw attention to any landscape. Many homeowners toil for hours each week to ensure their lawns are pristine, or invest in lawn care services to help maintain a yard if they do not have the time to do so themselves. While many treatments can be applied to lawns to help them thrive, animal waste is not among them. Pet owners who aspire to have beautiful lawns will have to take a few extra steps to ensure lawns can persevere despite the presence of furry companions.

Reseed with a damage-resistant grass

There are many different types of grass, and some are more resilient than others. Tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Bermuda grass are just some of the grass varieties that can capably handle pet traffic. If replacing the entire lawn is not possible, consider reseeding or addressing the areas that pets frequent. Strengthen the root system

It may be tempting to cut the lawn short, particularly if dogs or cats like to nibble on longer blades of grass. But that approach could be doing the

lawn a disservice. According to The Home Depot, letting the lawn grow to at least three inches will help keep moisture in the soil and prevent evaporation. That moisture will strengthen the roots, creating a healthier lawn for pets and people. Create pet paths Various materials can be used in these high-traffic areas to minimize the sights and signs of pet traffic. Mulch or crushed stone can establish these pet highways and look like intended features.

Set boundaries

Pet urine contains

See LAWN, Page 7

Adobe/Stock photo

Three popular flooring options are available to help homeowners decide which material best suits their homes.

LAWN Continued from Page 6

high levels of nitrogen, which can burn grass and turn it brown. It’s not possible to water down urine or pick up solid waste immediately every time a pet goes outdoors, so designate a pet-friendly spot for potty time.

Use fencing or a dog run to separate this area and help mitigate “land mines” all over the lawn. Fencing also can keep pets out of vegetable gardens and away from potentially toxic plants.

Avoid chemical lawn treatments

When pets use the yard and rest on the lawn, you’ll need to eliminate products that can be harmful to

them. Choose all-natural fertilizers and weed and pest preventatives.

Look for alternatives If maintaining a lawn with pets seems like an uphill battle, consider swapping out your landscape with a variety of materials. Scale back on grass, and incorporate groundcover, hardscape materials like pea gravel, or extend the patio. Artificial turf also is an option, as it won’t brown and wither. Some turf products can even be quickly and thoroughly cleaned with water. It can take some trial and error for pet parents to protect their lawns from the effects of having furry friends playing in the yard.

Humane pest control

Metro Special to the Express

Pest control in and around a home may be a necessity if homeowners are seeing an abundance of insects or animals where these creatures shouldn’t be. But some find it difficult to exterminate bugs or rodents — even if they give people the creeps. If both bugs and animals can feel pain, individuals may be interested in more humane ways to control their infestations.

These tips and tricks can help.

Eliminate entry points

Preventing insects and animals from getting inside is one of the best ways to control them in a humane way. Keep a close eye on various areas around the home, such as where pipes extend outdoors, window seals, doorway gaps, the space

between the garage door and the driveway, and where wires or other utilities enter the home. Be sure that these places are sealed so pests won’t be able to sneak in.

Modify the habitat

Habitat modification involves making changes to a home environment so it is less hospitable to pests. This can include anything from removing debris from a yard to adding a dehumidifier to damp spots to increasing lighting or noise to get pests to scram.

Use a humane bug catcher

PETA suggests using a cup to place over larger insects and then sliding a piece of paper under the cup to release the bug outside. There are humane bug catchers available for sale to put more space between you and the bugs when removing them.

Upon recognizing a living room has seen better days, individuals may decide it’s time to give the space a new vibe.

Give your living room a new vibe

An “out with the old, in with the new” mentality can extend to people’s visions for their homes. A home in need of repair or renovation can serve as a catalyst to take inventory of personal style and help make interior spaces reflect one’s unique vibe.

A living room can grow stale over time and often serves as a catch-call for clothing, blankets, gadgets, and other items. Upon recognizing a living room has seen better days, individuals may decide it’s time to give the space a new vibe. That transformation can start with these strategies.

Organize first

Clutter frequently is the culprit behind a living room that may not give off the vibe individuals desire. As families grow and people add belongings, space may be at a premium. Less is more has never been a more important concept. Remove extraneous items before purchasing new furniture or transitioning to a new design. You may even want to remove everything and start from scratch before reintroducing desirable elements to the space.

Seek professional assistance

Some people are adept at decorating and designing

spaces. But just as you wouldn’t perform your own medical procedures, you should leave jobs like interior design and renovations to the professionals. Hiring a professional interior designer and contractors can really bring a living room together in ways homeowners may have never imagined. These pros can build off of your ideas and truly create a space that may be worthy of a magazine spread. Promote wellness You may want to consider adding natural materials in the design to promote well-being. Eco-friendly furnishings, raw fibers and organic textures will

create an environment from sustainable choices. Plenty of plants also can create a welcoming environment that helps you surround yourself with positive energy and the items you love.

Light it up

One of the easiest ways to transform a room’s vibe is to utilize lighting. Change draperies to allow more natural light to shine in. Consider additional windows or skylights if yours is a particularly dark home. If you desire to create a more vivid or cozy ambiance, use a combination of accent, task and supplemental lighting in the space so there are no dim corners.

Create an industrial or urban vibe

Industrial-chic design celebrates the bones of a building.

It’s what makes city lofts so appealing, with their exposed beams and brick. Even those who live in suburbia or out in the country can give a living room this look with subtle nods to the style. Unadorned windows, clean lines on furniture, oversized, gallery-style art, and metal accents can add touches of this popular look to your home.

Revamping a living room doesn’t have to be difficult. With an idea in place and some professional touches, an entirely new vibe can be achieved.

Adobe/Stock photo

Adobe/Stock photo Pet owners who aspire to have beautiful lawns will have to take a few extra steps to ensure lawns can persevere despite the presence of furry companions.

Winters youth star in Mary Poppins Jr. at DMTC 10-Minute Play Festival returns

Special to the Express

Davis Musical Theatre Company (DMTC) presents its Young Performers’ Theatre production of “Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins Jr” from March 9 through March 30, at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center (607 Pena Drive, No. 10) in Davis. This year’s production features Winters native Quincy Gibbs in the role of Mary Poppins.

The jack-of-all-trades, Bert, introduces the audience to England in 1910, and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren’t the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a les-

son or two from the nanny who advises that “Anything Can Happen If You Let It Happen.”

A play for everyone

Ron Cisneros will direct and choreograph, with Montana Monroe providing musical direction. In addition to Gibbs, Winters youth Jackelyn and Reia Cooper are performing in the ensemble and as featured chimney sweeps.

“Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins Jr” plays on Fridays at 7 p.m. (March 29) and Saturdays at 2 p.m. (March 9, March 16, March 23 and March 30). All performances are at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Pena Dr, in Davis. Tickets are $8 for all ages and can be purchased online at dmtc.org or by calling 530-756-3682. (There is a $2 facility fee per ticket on a purchase, cash, charge, phone, internet or in person.)

For additional information, visit dmtc.org or call 530-756-3682.

Special to the Express

Drop into eight different moments over the course of 80 minutes and experience the unique cast of characters, emotions and stories that will be on stage at the third annual Winters Theatre Company 10-minute Play Festival.

The 10-minute festival has continued to gain popularity among the WTC community. This year the festival will feature eight 10-minute plays, without a specific theme, that will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and maybe think about things in a slightly different way.

The plays that will be performed are the result of an international call for authors to submit scripts according to established criteria for exceptional 10-minute plays. This year we reviewed over 100 submissions from across the country and the globe, resulting in an offering of eight diverse, thoughtful, thought-provoking plays for our audience members.

These plays have been written by both new and established playwrights and they will be brought to

life by a team of talented local directors, cast and crew. Our 2024 festival features the following selections:

• Confessions of a Serial Dingbat: written by Barbara Weber (Pennsylvania) and directed by Jim Hewlett

• Crossed Wires: written by Elle Bell (New Zealand) and directed by Rod-

ney Orosco

• Doom: written by Leo McElroy (California) and directed by Ana Kormos

• Doubles Troubles: written by Ross Tandowsky (California) and directed by Nancy Bovie Whitcomb

• Five Miles Long, Two Hundred Feet High: written by Maripat Allen (Michigan) and directed by Jim Hewlett

• Play Date: written by Kali Mitchell-Silbaugh (California) and directed by Jim Hewlett

• The Offering: written by Andrea Fine Carey (Virginia) and directed by Rodney Orosco

• Simple Pleasures: written by Peter Snoad (Massachusetts) and directed by Linda Glick and Bridget O’Flaherty Performances will be at the historic Winters Opera House in downtown Winters — the new home of the Winters Theatre Company. Join us on March 15–16 and 22–23 on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets or more information, visit the winterstheatrecompany.org or email winterstheatre company@gmail.com.

Citrus, blueberries at WFoL’s Fruit Tree Sale

By Linda Springer Special to the Express

There’s nothing like picking and eating fresh, tree-ripened fruit. Here’s the perfect event to make that dream come true. The Winters Friends of the Library is holding its annual Fruit Tree Sale (rain or shine) on Saturday, March

2 from 9 a.m. till sold out, at the parking lot on Railroad Avenue between Baker and Edwards Streets. WFoL members can enter the sale at 8:30.

Not a member and wish

you were? A membership table will be set up at the entrance so you can join on the spot and gain early entry. Featured this year are bare-root fruit trees grown by a premier nursery from the region. Sierra Gold Nurseries of Yuba City has donated the trees, which will be on sale for $20 each. There is a limit of 10 trees per customer.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to explain techniques for pruning and planting the trees. Trees types available include

almond, apple, cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, olive and walnut. This year WFoL will also be featuring citrus, including lemon, orange and mandarin for $30 each, and blueberry bushes for $10 each. To find a more extensive and detailed list of available trees, go to the Winters Friends of the Library website at wfol.org. Proceeds from the sale of these trees will be used to expand library collections and programs at the Winters Community Library.

Courtesy photo

Jim Hewlett and Lori Vaughn rehearse for the upcoming 10-Minute Play Festival.

FEATURES

Wednesday, February 28

Winters JUSD/Winters City 2x2 Meeting, 5 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), check www.cityofwinters. org/AgendaCenter/Yolo-County-2x2-17

Wednesdays

Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution, Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue

Thursdays

Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690

Tuesday, March 5

Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/194/Meetings

Upcoming

Wednesday, March 5

Winters Youth Day Committee Meeting, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance, https://linktr.ee/ wintersyouthday

Thursday, March 7

Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check https://wintersjusd.diligent.community

Monday, March 11

Winters Climate Action Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Check cityofwinters. org/182/Climate-Action-Commission

Library Services

Winters Library Public Hours (School in Session)

Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8–8 p.m., Fri: 8–5 p.m., Sat: 1-5 p.m. (Mask Only 1–3 p.m.)

Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library

Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library

Virtual English Conversation Group, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@ yolocounty.org

Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m.

Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request.

Saturday Matinee, First Saturday, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library

All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing

Older Adult Programs

Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Thurdays, 1-3:30 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Ongoing

Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org

Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays, 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon, The Buckhorn

Winters Museum public hours, Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St.

Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month (January thru March), 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House, 13 Main St. Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Wednesdays, 6 p.m., Hooby's Brewing, kiwanisclubofwinters@ gmail.com

Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: » St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 Main St. (back entrance) Tuesdays, 7-8 a.m. and Fridays, 7-8 a.m. » Yolo Housing office building, 62 Shams Way: Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m.

January home sales, price report

Measuring growth at a reunion OPINION, Page 3

Student poets take to the stage for annual Poetry Jam/Slam

Express staff

Winters students showed off their recitation skills and their creativity at the 14th annual Poetry Jam/Slam on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the high school gym. Winters Joint Unified School District students from Waggoner Elementary, Shirley Rominger Intermediate, Winters Middle School and Winters High School performed before

a live audience of community members, family and friends at the Winters High School gymnasium.

Two hundred elementary-aged students recited poems of all genres, while others wrote original pieces for the Poetry Jam session.

Fourteen middle school and high school students performed before a panel of judges for the Poetry Slam section.

This year’s judges features Sally Hirst, Liz Coman and Jesse Loren.

Kenneth Matheson placed first in the high-school competition. Josie Lundy placed second. Evelyn Frazier and Hannah Arias-Dunlop placed third.

The middle-school winners were the trio of Natalie Saunders, Addison Thach and Carmella Wroten.

Newspapers a necessity

From the March 15, 1879 edition of The Winters Advocate:

In this day and age the newspaper has become almost a necessity in every family. In all large cities we find dailies that give the general news from all parts of the world. They not only furnish the news of our State and nation, but from all parts of Europe they collect the most important matters, which are transmitted by telegraph and furnished to readers a few hours after they transpire. Hence, it will be seen that to be well posted in all that is transpiring in our own and foreign countries, the newspaper has become a necessity. The field, however, for the large dailies is so extensive that it is impossible for them to give but a condensed form of the most important news, and therefore the local items of each locality must be in a measure neglected for more general and important matter. Here, then,

comes in the necessity of the local newspaper, if the different communities expect to be known to the outside world, for everything that transpires of importance is collected and published by the local paper, and the most important items are copied by the city papers, (while they would not have had time nor opportunity to collect the original matter) and in this way the locality that has a local paper becomes known to the rest of the world. Some may say, “We take a daily, and that gives us all the news.”

No, it does not give you the local news, as we have shown; it cannot without the aid of a local paper, and in order to make a good local paper the encouragement and support of every business man where it is published is needed.

Taking it for granted, then, that the people of Winters want a good local paper — since it will be to their interest and advantage — we shall look for help and encouragement from all the

people of this vicinity, and on our part, with their help, we hope to give them as good a local paper as can be found in any inland town in the State.

Dwight L. Hackett, editor, The Winters Advocate, Saturday, March 15, 1879

The introduction of the internet put a damper on the livelihood of print publications. When Facebook opened its public access in 2006, it was the unknown start of the decline for magazines and newspapers. Many well-known, long-run print publications have switched to digital print only or shuttered their presses.

However, having a local newspaper remains vital to a thriving community. I recently obtained archives of both the

Winters Express and the Winters Advocate I found a snippet from the Advocate published in 1879 that still rings true today.

Delivering information and facts for residents to make their own decisions and remain informed remains this editor’s top priority. Giving the community and its organizations a platform to share perspectives, make calls to action, and discuss things out loud is a precious opportunity I cannot fathom being without. I hope that all of you find this archive as exciting as I do. Thank you all for your support of local journalism and it’s an honor to be part of the effort to keep you connected with all the happenings going on in Winters.

— Crystal Apilado, Editor-in-Chief

Students in Kathy Lester’s class recite “How Doth the Little Crocodile” by Lewis Carroll at the 14th annual Poetry Jam/Slam on Feb. 22.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

UPPER LEFT: Addison Thach, Natalie Saunders and Carmella Wroten won the middle school category. UPPER RIGHT: Winters High School Librarian Olivia Rodriguez (back) joins judges Jesse Loren, Sally Hirst and Liz Coman.

Courtesy photo

UPPER LEFT: Kenneth Matheson shows off his first place winnings with high school Librarian Olivia Rodriguez.

UPPER MIDDLE: Josie Lundy, who won second place, poses with her little sister Lena.

UPPER RIGHT: Evelyn Frazier and Hannah Arias-Dunlop placed third in the high school category.

Tempering mortgage rates propel home sales

California Association of Realtors

Special to the Express

California existing home sales rebounded in January to the highest level in six months as mortgage rates pulled back sharply at the end of 2023, the California Association of Realtors. Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 256,160 in January, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2024 if sales maintained the January

pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

January’s sales pace climbed 14.4 percent higher from the revised 224,000 homes sold in December and was up 5.9 percent from a year ago, when a revised 241,920 homes were sold on an annualized basis. While the increase in January was the first year-over-year sales gain in 31 months, the sales pace stayed below the 300,000-unit threshold for the 16th straight month and will likely stay below that level in the first quarter of 2024. With interest rates moderating sharply at the end of 2023 and leveling off nearly 100 basis points below the most recent peak, home sales should continue to grow year-over-year

& approximately 78 acres planted to walnuts. M2 & Company

530-795-2810

in February, but the improvement will be modest.

“It’s encouraging to see California’s housing market kick off the year with positive sales growth in January,” said C.A.R. President Melanie Barker, a Yosemite Realtor. “While we’ll likely experience some ups and downs in home sales in the coming months as rates continue to fluctuate, the lending environment is expected to be more favorable in 2024, so the market should see more pent-up demand translate into sales.”

While California’s statewide median home price decreased 3.8 percent from December’s $819,740 to $788,940 in January, it registered a 5.0 year-overyear gain, the seventh straight month of annual price gains. The monthly price decline was due primarily to seasonal factors, and

the January figure marked the first time in 10 months that the median price dropped below the $800,000 benchmark. With mortgage rates softening since mid-October, home prices will likely maintain their upward momentum, and the market should continue to observe a mid- to single-digit, year-over-year growth rate in California’s median price in at least the early part of 2024.

“The increase in new active listings for the first time in

19 months was great news for the California housing market,” said C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine. “With rates climbing back up to a two-month high earlier this week due to the latest inflation concerns, potential home sellers could hit the pause button on listing their house on the market and wait until rates begin to ease again. In general, rates are expected to decline later this year, and available inventory should slowly improve throughout 2024.”

Other key points from C.A.R.’s January 2024 resale housing report include:

• At the regional level, sales in all major regions rose in January on a year-overyear basis, with the Central Valley region recording the largest increase of 12.5 percent from a year ago. The Far North (6.8 percent), San Francisco Bay Area (6.2 percent) and Central Coast (5.2 percent) were the other major regions posting modest sales growth of 5 percent or more from the prior year. Southern California (2.2 percent) also registered an increase from a year ago, but at a more moderate pace.

• Fourteen of the 52 counties tracked by C.A.R. registered a sales decline from a year ago, with 7 counties dropping more than 10 percent yearover-year and four counties falling more than 20 percent from last January. Mono (-50.0 percent) registered the biggest sales dip, followed by Trinity (-33.3 percent) and Glenn (-25.0 percent). Thirty-six counties logged a sales

See HOMES, Page 4

Express Yourself

A quick road trip to meet old friends

When I got an email about a mini-reunion of some of my fraternity brothers from Cal Poly, I marked it on my calendar. I saw the guest list and it included some people that I haven’t seen in 40 years. One, Dennis Smith, was in our wedding. Some I see every year or so, but not often enough.

Sherri had previous plans, so off I went.

It was a quick trip, down on Wednesday for a dinner at Avila Beach, crashed at my best man’s house on Wednesday night, and back to Winters for a Rotary Charter Night event on Thursday.

I’ve written about Randy Fiser before, truly the best man at our wedding. He got a new heart on Sept. 11, 2022, and he looks great. I should run a picture of his pillbox, which has 24 large squares, full of meds and vitamins. He said he only takes a handful every morning and evening, making that sound like a good thing. His hair is growing back, darker than it was originally. He is still pretty thin on top, but he has high hopes.

He was the center on Cal Poly’s football team, weighing in at something like 260. He was down to 160 pounds after the heart surgery. He now

weighs 185, his high school playing weight. I still can’t believe he weighs less than I do. It might be a record, 670 miles to have dinner with friends. I took Highway 5 because it is easier than Highway 101, even if it might be 30 minutes faster. I don’t like getting stuck in Bay Area traffic.

I make this trip every year or so, and the changes along Highway 5 are striking. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of acres of young pistachio trees. There are still a lot of almonds and tons of citrus, but you don’t see many walnut trees. There are still signs about the government stealing their water, but if I remember correctly when they asked those farmers to pay for added storage, they voted no. Water isn’t supposed to be free. When people talk about growth in Winters, they have no idea what rapid growth really looks like. The road from San Luis Obispo to Grover Beach used to be open land. There is a restaurant on Highway 101 named McLintocks that used to be out in the middle of nowhere. It is now in the middle of thousands of homes.

See QUICK, Page 5

Horoscopes

ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20) Take a few days off from work if you find you have been running yourself ragged, Aries. The pressure to be the best may have gotten to you and you need a rest.

TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21) Powering through a situation sometimes works, but not if you are feeling ill or injured, Taurus. Prioritize your health right now and take a step back if need be.

GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21) Gemini, there are always two sides to every story, so resist the urge to weigh in on a situation between friends right now. Get all of the information first and then stay neutral.

CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22) Listen to someone’s feelings when they come to you and try to vent, Cancer. Exhibit some patience and help this person work through his or her issues.

LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23) A great opportunity is coming down the pike, Leo. You will have to get your timing correct to maximize its impact on your life. Organize all of the elements you can control.

VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22) Advice from a loved one prompts you to reevaluate your plans for the coming weeks, Virgo. Step away from the situation to see how things might work.

LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23) It is important to take the reins this week, Libra, particularly if you want to get noticed by those in positions of power. You need to be your own best advocate.

SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22) Sometimes the hardest thing to do in a situation is to stay silent when you don’t agree with things, Scorpio. Keep in mind that others may not be ready to hear your advice.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21) Take ownership of any mistakes you have made and learn from them this week, Sagittarius. That is the only way you can grow as a person and make a difference in others’ lives.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20) Capricorn, are you ready to accept the consequences of your actions? If you go out on your own path when others are warning against it, you will need to confront the consequences on your own.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18) Aquarius, you may be ready to make a big move in your life, but others may not be there with you just yet. You need to find the timing that works for as many as possible.

PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20) Pisces, it may not be possible to put blinders on for every situation. However, sometimes it is advisable to look the other way in the name of keeping the peace.

increase from last year, with Siskiyou (72.7 percent) gaining the most year-overyear, followed by San Benito (66.7 percent) and Tuolumne (62.2 percent).

• At the regional level, all but one major region recorded an annual increase in their median prices. The San Francisco Bay Area posted a 10.6 percent yearover-year jump. The median price in Southern California (7.0 percent), Central Valley (6.8 percent) and the Central Coast (3.5 percent) also jumped from a year ago in January, but the growth was more moderate. The Far North (-2.0 percent) was the only region of the state to record a price

decline when compared to January 2023, with three of its seven counties posting price drops from a year ago.

• Home prices continued to show year-over-year improvement in many counties, with 41 counties across the state registering a median price higher than what was recorded a year ago. Santa Barbara (43.8 percent) registered the biggest price increase in January, followed by Mendocino (27.0 percent) and Marin (26.9 percent). Nine counties logged median price decreases from last year, with Siskiyou dropping the most at -14.7 percent, followed by Lassen (-11.9 percent) and Glenn (-11.1 percent).

• Unsold inventory statewide increased 28 percent on a month-over-month

basis and declined from January 2023 by -8.6 percent. The Unsold Inventory Index (UII), which measures the number of months needed to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate declined from 2.5 months in December to 3.2 months in January. The index was 3.5 months in January 2023.

• Active listings at the state level dipped again on a year-over year basis for the 10th straight month in January, but the decline was the smallest — a sign that active listings might be heading in the right direction as the market approaches the spring homebuying season.That said, while the reprieve in mortgage rates might have provided some hope that more for-sale properties would

be listed as we kick off the new year, the jump in mortgage rates in the past couple of weeks could cause potential sellers to reconsider listing their homes for sale.

• Active listings declined from a year-ago in 35 counties in January, with 17 of them registering a double-digit decrease at the beginning of this year.

Contra Costa had the biggest year-over-year dip at -36.0 percent, followed by Mono (-33.3 percent) and Santa Clara (-31.8 percent). Sixteen counties recorded a year-over-year gain, with El Dorado jumping the most with an increase of 32.0 percent from a year ago, followed by Santa Barbara (31.6 percent) and Nevada (28.9 percent).On a month-to-month basis, 34

counties recorded a drop in active listings last month while 18 counties recorded a monthly increase in forsale properties in January with active listings in Shasta (143.6 percent) more than doubled.

• New active listings at the state level increased from a year ago for the first time in 19 months, and the annual increase was the largest since May 2022. The jump in new active listings contributed to an improvement in overall active listings, and the sharp drop in rates at the end of 2023 was likely the motivating factor that convinced more homeowners to sell their homes.

• The median number of days it took to sell a California single-family home was 32 days in January and 39 days in January 2023.

‘Garden’ without getting your hands dirty

By Denise Cottrell UCCE Master Gardener–Yolo

The late winter of February and the beginning of March can bring signs of spring, and prod gardeners to ponder what needs to be done in the garden despite rainy weather or questionable conditions. The UCCE Master Gardeners of Yolo (UCCE MGs–Yolo) provide several opportunities to “garden” without getting your hands dirty. Utilize late winter and early spring to “garden” with the UCCE MGs–Yolo through our public classes and information desk.

In March, Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions in different locations throughout Yolo County. On Saturday, March 2, UCCE MGs–Yolo will be available to answer your gardening questions, including those about planting and care of a bare root fruit tree, at Winters Friends of the Library (WFoL) bare root tree sale. There is still time to plant a bare-root fruit tree so attend this sale which takes place rain or shine.

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The closer you get to the beach, the smaller and older the homes, with the hills now full of new giant homes and condos.

There was an oil spill and a permanent oil leak under Avila Beach, so about 20 or 30 years ago, they tore down all of the businesses and homes over the contaminated soil and rebuilt the town. They did a pretty good job of making it look old, but they slipped in a few hotels facing the ocean. If you walk up the hill you can see

The sale begins at 9 a.m. and a pre-sale for WFoL members at 8:30 a.m.

The sale is located on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Edwards Street where you will find WFoL offering a large variety of trees to add to your garden: apricot, nectarine, peach, plum, pluot, prune, apple, cherry, pear, almond, walnut, and olive trees are $20 per tree and three varieties of citrus: orange, lemon, and mandarin for $30. Blueberry and blackberry bushes will also be available for $10 each.

In addition, the UCCE MGs–Yolo will be available for in-person consultation during March at two additional locations in Yolo County. From 8 a.m. to noon

where the new construction ends and the true older homes start. We have witnessed a lot of growth over the past 10 years, but looking at what happened to San Luis County is truly amazing. Not surprising is that Cal Poly went from 8,500 students when I was there in 1969 to over 22,000 today. I would think that the population in San Luis County has more than quadrupled since then. Winters had about 2,000 people in 1970. A lot of my friends were in agriculture and got jobs in the Central Valley, Bakers-

on Saturdays, the UCCE MGs–Yolo “Questions and Answers Desk” can be found at Central Park in Davis at 4th and C Streets near the Central Park Gardens, between the Rose and Sensory Gardens. In West Sacramento, the Questions and Answers Desk will be located at Lowes (2250 Lake Washington Blvd.) on two Saturdays, March 2 and March 16, from 10 a.m. to noon.

When you visit in person, there are three things you can do to aid the Master Gardeners in answering your questions:

• Bring a sample of your sick plant, such as a small branch with several leaves

• Provide details of the problem, such as when you first saw the issue, and what you saw; and

• Bring the plant sample or insect in a separate sealed non-returnable container to aid in identification and, if necessary, leave with Master Gardeners for additional research.

If the in-person times are not convenient, don’t forget, one can also obtain gardening advice, by contacting the

field, Fresno, etc. As they retire, many have moved to cooler weather along the coast. Morro Bay seems to be a favorite, along with Shell Beach and Grover Beach, to just name a few of the beach towns along Highway 101 and Highway 1. What’s not to like? Most of those in attendance said their goodbyes and drove home to sleep in their own beds. Nice life.

Driving back to Winters I’m always reminded that we live in a small town, even if there are times I think we are the center of the universe. Enjoy your friends and have a good week.

UCCE MGs–Yolo at 530-6668736 or by email at mgyolo@ ucdavis.edu.

While waiting for spring, don’t forget the UCCE MGs–Yolo will present several workshops, talks, and classes throughout March. A wide variety of topics are covered, and all events are open to the public at no cost. The events for March 2024 are listed below. For more information, please contact Jennifer Baumbach at jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu

Basic Gardening and Companion Planting will be presented on Friday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m. at the Woodland Community and Senior Center, located at 2001 East St., Woodland. One must register in advance to attend this free class led by UCCE MG Jim Schulte. Register by calling 530-661-2001 or drop by the Center to sign up.

Kitchen Garden Chat will continue on Saturday, March 2, from 10 to 11 a.m. via Zoom, (https://ucanr. zoom.us/j/98028723763).

You won’t want to miss this workshop with UCCE MG Treva Valentine. The topic is “What to do in the Edible

Garden in March.” Treva will talk about what to plant, the edibles a March garden can offer us, what chores need to be done, and additional details about starting plants from seed and preparing the soil.

Flower Arranging will take place on Monday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at the West Sacramento Community Center, located at 1075 W. Capitol Ave. The UCCE MGs–Yolo will demonstrate flower arranging and making small arrangements. You must pre-register for this class. Register in person at the West Sacramento Community Center or via telephone at 916-617-5320. The UCCE MGs–Yolo workshop on Gardening for Year-Round Meals meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to noon, at Grace Garden, located behind the United Methodist Church at 1620 Anderson Rd. in Davis, near the back of the parking lot. For this month’s meeting, on March 9, UCCE MG–Yolo Karen Leaf will

See GARDEN, Page 6

Winters Fire provides services to older adult community

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

While firefighters are generally considered to be the ones who jump in to extinguish flames, Winters Fire Department crews also provide services and are first on the scene for medical emergencies.

Winters Fire crews also work to provide services to local older adults to help them stay safe and attend to general wellness.

Winters Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said they respond to a high number of medical emergency calls for older adults in town. He said some of the most notable incidents include falls and lift assists, low blood sugar, heart and respiratory checks (chest pains, breathing issues) and accidental overdoses of prescribed medications.

Additionally, Snyder said Winters Fire also helps to provide preventative services to the older adult community (and the general community as well). Crews will come out to help install and check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. They can also assist in activating medical pendants and check their functioning to make sure they are working properly.

“If their smoke detectors keep going off, we’ll check them,” Snyder said. “If we notice they don’t have smoke detectors, we’ll bring some by and help install them.”

Snyder said his team is working to explore new programs that Winters Fire can offer as part of its Community Risk Reduction programming.

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discussion on a wide variety of topics including planning and planting your summer garden, what’s edible in your garden now and how to prepare it, recent struggles in the garden, irrigation considerations when planting, and the art of vermiculture, using worms to make compost. The UCCE MGs–Yolo and the Yolo County Library will hold their regular semi-monthly Gardening Workshops on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. The first workshop is on March 14, from 3 to 4 p.m., via Zoom (https:// yolocounty.zoom. us/j/89236348462).

“If their smoke detectors keep going off, we’ll check them. If we notice they don’t have smoke detectors, we’ll bring some by and help install them.”

Winters Fire Chief

Jack S. Snyder III

The challenge is Winters Fire is experiencing a higher number of calls and currently has low staff numbers which puts limits on the services they provide. According to Snyder, at this time last year, they had 945 calls compared to the 1,072 calls they have received (as of Monday morning) this year.

Currently, Winters Fire is operating with a two-person engine company. And utilize volunteer firefighters as they are available — which according to Snyder is challenging for day-to-day operations while those volunteers are often at their day jobs.

“For a lift assist, we could do a lot better care with three people than two. Three people increase in safety when moving the patient, especially in an apartment complex with stairs, and maneuver patients within tight places (in a fall situation). It’s a safety aspect from both sides — theirs and ours,”

Join Jennifer Gilbert for an informative discussion about Backyard Composting. This “everything you wanted to know about composting” workshop will cover the ins and outs of successful composting practices in your backyard. Gilbert is a Conservation Coordinator for the city of Davis where she has worked over 17 years coordinating and implementing the City’s Solid Waste Program, including backyard composting education. In addition, to learning the basics of traditional backyard composting, this class emphasizes simple, pest-free methods of composting food scraps via worm composting, homemade food digesters, and in-ground com-

posting.

Snyder said. “If one of us gets hurt, our pool dwindles. And, their dynamics are a lot different than everyone else.”

Potential programs

Snyder said increasing staffing will allow Winters Fire crews to be more involved in the public and get out to the senior community more to do potential education and prevention programs.

Some of the program ideas Snyder is considering exploring include:

• Cooking safety for older adults

• Developing a program for blood pressure screenings or sugar checks.

• Specified emergency preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies

Snyder said the goal of emergency preparedness is to identify older adults and individuals with disabilities and help them create an evacuation plan and educate them on how to be self-sustainable inside their homes while waiting for emergency crews to arrive.

This includes focusing on the future development of identifying residents who need extra power support in a power outage or mobility challenges for evacuation incidents downstairs if the elevator isn’t working correctly in senior living facilities.

“We can plan to attend to them first and educate them on how they can better help us or self-sustain depending on the type of emergency,” Synder said. “We’d like to be a little more proactive in our preplanning.”

See FIRE, Page 8

The second workshop on March 28 will continue the discussion with information about Vermiculture.

UCCE MG–Yolo Janet Gaard will lead this Zoom workshop (https://yolocounty. zoom.us/j/87053297221) on using worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants. Vermiculture is a great way to reduce waste, improve soil health and create a sustainable gardening practice. The talk will also provide you with an understanding of the do and don’ts of fertilizer use, how to determine when a plant needs fertilizer, and specific fertilizer recommendations for a variety of plants.

If you need medical supplies or have questions about how to navigate difficult conversations regarding them, we would be happy to help you

Seniors can backstroke their way to improved health

Metro Special to the Express

Exercise provides a number of measureable benefits for people of all ages, including older adults. Swimming is one exercise that may be especially beneficial for seniors.

Many people learn to swim in childhood and sharpen that skill as they get older. Though swimming devotees may get in the water for fun rather than fitness, this popular, joyful and relaxing pastime may be the ideal exercise for seniors looking to improve their overall health, particularly because it is very low-impact.

Because the water provides buoyancy while swimming, there is little risk of injury and minimal strain on the body. Water exercises, including swimming, work all the muscle groups, so it can be a complete exercise, says American Senior Communities. Swimming also is a great cardiovascular exercise that can strengthen the heart muscle and improve lung function and endurance. Because it lowers blood pressure and improves circulation, swimming is a great way to get the heart pumping.

A gentle, 30-minute swim

can burn up to 200 calories, which is more than walking. A faster swim can burn calories more quickly than running or cycling. However, since water supports up to 90 percent of the body’s weight, this activity will put less stress on muscles and joints while one is exercising.

Individuals with mobility issues or arthritis pain may find that swimming helps relieve discomfort and improves range of motion.

Again, because the water is doing much of the work holding up the body, it will take the stress off of joints, helping a person to feel better while stretching and moving gently in the water.

Even seniors who don’t know how to swim can still reap the benefits of water exercise. Walking in shallow water, or using a kickboard to stay above the water can be effective. Using foam dumbbells or even pushing and pulling one’s arms through the water can serve as a great resistance exercise that builds strength.

Swimming and additional water activities are great ways for seniors to stay in shape. As always, individuals should speak with their doctors before beginning any exercise regimen to ensure that it is safe.

Girls soccer takes section, heads to state

By

Andrade

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Winters High School girls’s varsity soccer team went head to head against Williams High School and secured its spot in the CIF NCS D3 Championships game with a final score of 5–0.

While the game was originally scheduled to take place at Dr. Sellers field in Winters, the poor field conditions due to excess rain forced Athletic Director Daniel Ward to look for other options, which ultimately led to the game being held at the Woodland Senior Center on synthetic turf.

“It took the Warriors a few minutes to settle in and get used to the fast surface, but we managed to get two shots in the back of the net before the half,” said assistant coach Kim Olivas.

The Warriors played an aggressive game, scoring three additional goals in the second half. Ava

Muir-Vickrey added to her season stats with three goals in the game. Senior captain Alondra Molina made one goal and three assists and sophomore

speedster Varenna Terronez made one goal. Idaly Lopez Sanchez also made an assist in the game.

The Warriors’ defensive side of the ball also played an impressive game with mor than 29 steals, leaving goalie Violet Tuel largely untested with only two soft saves in the box.

Section championship

The Warriors didn’t have

much recovery time as they headed to the NSCIF D3 Sections Championships on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 24, against the Hamilton High School Braves. The ladies welcomed favorable conditions for a great game and decent playing surface and won the title of Section Champions by a final score of 4–0.

“With a home-field ad-

vantage and a few hundred fans in the stands, freshman Aylin Molina put the first goal in the back of the net 14 minutes into the game, assisted by Izabella Bermudez,” said Olivas.

Sanchez added to the score shortly after, assisted by Aylin Molina and Alondra Molina. Giving the Warriors a 2–0 advantage going into the second half.

“After making a few ad-

justments at halftime, the girls put on a passing clinic connecting with each other and maintaining strong possession of the ball and the game,” said Olivas.

Aylin Molina added another goal, assisted by Sanchez and Terronez.

Alexys Penunuri scored the fourth and final goal for the Warriors with an assist from Muir-Vickrey. The Warriors had another strong day defensively with 36 steals, once again leaving goalie Tuel largely untested in the box with only three saves on the day.

Ruby Campos led the Warriors with six steals.

This win gives the Warriors their second consecutive CIF NCS D3 Championship and their seventh championship since their first in 2014.

“This team is only losing three seniors this year, so expect strong teams for the next couple of years,” said Olivas.

The Warriors girls soccer team traveled to take on Ripon Christian High School in Ripon on Tuesday, Feb. 27 as part of the 2024 CIF NorCal Girls Soccer Championships – D5.

There remains some confusion as to when

How to navigate the confusion around stretching muscles

Metro Special to the Express

Fitness and health care professionals generally agree that stretching is an important component of an effective workout regimen. However, there remains some confusion as to when to stretch and which stretches athletes should perform to maintain optimal health and flexibility. For example, Harvard Medical School notes that stretching was once believed necessary to warm up muscles and prepare them for activity. However, the Mayo Clinic now notes that stretching should not be considered a

warmup activity. Rather, the general consensus among health care professionals is that individuals should first warm up their bodies for five to 10 minutes with some light exercise, such as low-intensity walking or jogging. In addition, the Mayo Clinic notes that some research has suggested that pre-event stretching adversely affects athletes’ performance. That may be a concern for competitive athletes and can add to the confusion non-competitive fitness enthusiasts have about the importance of stretching. Individuals who exercise to improve their over-

all health can stretch after their five- to 10-minute warmup and then again after completing their cardio and strength training. Competitive athletes can consult their coaches and trainers about when to stretch and which stretches to perform. When stretching, all people, including competitive athletes and individuals who exercise as part of their health care routines, should focus on proper form. Numerous online tutorials indicate how to stretch the various muscle groups in a way that improves flexibility and decreases injury risk.

Girls basketball falls to University Prep, head to Division championship

By Aaron Geerts Express staff writer

It’s playoff season and the Winters High School varsity girls basketball team has weathered a storm of competition. On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Warriors took on the University Prep Panthers.

The girls brought energy, passion and precision to execute their game plan on both sides of the ball. They played so well, that University Prep had to switch up their defense game.

“We played as tough and executed as well as we could on offense with our motion offense. So much so that University Prep switched from man-toman defense to zone at the end of the first quarter because they weren’t able to stop our man offense. This was the first time they played zone all season. We did a great job in our zone offense as well which gave us a two-point lead at halftime,” said head coach Ivan Dodic.

Winters had a 32–30 lead going into halftime, but the Panthers responded in the second half rallying be-

hind their star player, guard Joanna Warren. At 5-foot, 10-inches, nothing hindered Warren from scoring at will. That is until the Warriors began double-teaming her on defense.

too little too late, and we couldn’t erase the lead they’d built.”

“University Prep had a really good guard in Joanna Warren and stopping her was the focus of our defense. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to control her as well as we had hoped but we were hanging in there. In the second half, Joanna came out very focused and physical which we were unable to match, and led them to take an 11-point lead at one point,” Coach Dodic said. “Finally, in the fourth quarter, we double-teamed her once she crossed half-court. This strategy worked but it was

Jordan Tucker had yet another brilliant game offensively, leading the Warriors with 27 points along with 12 from Maci Dodic and another nine from Emily Dodic.

Unfortunately, the Warriors weren’t able to overcome the lead Warren created and lost the game 57–51.

“This loss was on me. But, this was our best effort as a team and thus far this season. I am very optimistic we will keep improving heading into the state championship tournament,” said Coach Dodic.

The squad headed to the Division 5 state championship tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 27.

David Bosse, 3dollarpictures.com/Courtesy photo

The Winters High School girls soccer team secures the NSCIF D3 Sections Championship title over the Hamilton Braves over the weekend.

Adobe/Stock photo

Adobe/Stock photo

Express Yourself: Senior adult poverty continues to rise

By Wally Pearce Winters Elder Day Council

Jane spent her life taking care of others. A single mother to three children, she struggled as their primary provider, working multiple jobs to pay the bills. Today, at 78 years old, she continues to work at low-paying jobs to pay rent and buy food. She also cares for her son, who has cancer. Her full-time catering job requires her to work all day on her feet, sometimes more than 10 hours a day. She also picks up work on evenings and weekends bartending at a convention center and clerking at a Salvation Army store. Because most of her employers paid Jane in cash, and therefore never paid into Social Security, Jane’s Social Security low-earning compensation is not adequate to meet her daily needs. Jane believes she’ll never be able to retire and will have to work until she dies.

To be clear, Social Security’s special minimum benefit provides a primary insurance amount (PIA) to low-earning workers with

Vote on March 5

We’re all in the midst of election season, receiving voter guides, campaign materials and opinions via the mail, lawn signs and social media. So much to review and consider! Are there easy-to-access, nonpartisan guides to break through the barrage of information and, possibly, misinformation?

Yes! There are several resources available to Yolo County voters.

First is VOTE411, a nonpartisan online resource supported by the League of Women Voters where you can get your personalized ballot with information about candidate, state, and local ballot measures. Yolo County participates in VOTE411 (https:// www.vote411.org) by encouraging candidates to submit their information so voters can learn more about their priorities and

the lowest minimum PIA, with at least 11 years of work, based on that, Jane’s per-month benefit is $49.40 in 2023, and will be $50.92 in 2024.

Social Security is the major source of income for most senior adults who are economically insecure and struggle daily with rising housing costs, health care, poor nutrition, transportation, diminished savings and much more.

The term “senior adult” refers to those age 65 and above, and their poverty rate is often based on a lifetime of lower earnings, absences from employment due to childbirth, and jobs that lack an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Ultimately, this experience takes its physical, psychological, and monetary toll over time. According to the U.S. Census Supplemental Poverty Measure, over 6 million seniors aged 65 and over live in poverty each day and that number continues to rise. Today, twice as many women as men live in poverty, and under the official federal poverty rate,

Letters

goals. The Yolo County Elections Office provides information about local measures, voter registration, vote centers and ballot drop box locations, and more at https:// www.yoloelections. org/.

The League of Women Voters of California is another resource for nonpartisan information about California ballot measures (https://cavotes.org/ vote/elections/ballot-measures). For example, an analysis of Proposition 1 which will be on the March 5 election ballot.

Available in five languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), the Easy Voter Guide (https://easyvoterguide/org/) provides information about the voting process for March 5 as well as state ballot measures in a straightforward format.

Need to know about

over 20 percent of black and Hispanic older women live with insufficient income resources.

Nowadays, Yolo County residents are witnessing a subtle increase in the senior-adult population, and by 2040, Yolo County estimates that over 70,000 people aged 60 and older will be living there, a 235 percent growth. In comparison, California’s expected senior-adult growth rate over those same four decades should be about 180 percent.

When asked in 2022, over 3,000 Yolo County senior adults stated that they felt as though they were living in poverty and relevant California data validates that assertion. Yolo County policymakers suggest that by the completion of 2023, the number of senior adults (age 65 and older) should’ve increased by over 7,000. Part of that number could translate to the city of Winters with an approximate increase of 1,000.

Some city of Winters senior-adult statistics to consider:

how to register to vote, check your voter status, find translated election materials, and more? Go to the California Secretary of State’s website at https://www.sos.ca/ gov/elections.

Finally, the League of Women Voters chapters in Woodland and Davis recently conducted a series of local candidate and pro-and-con forums. They’re available for viewing at https:// my.lwv.org/california/ woodland and https:// lwvdavisarea.org/.

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization dedicated to voter education and empowering citizens to shape better communities worldwide. We hope everyone takes advantage of these resources to help them participate in voting.

KAREN URBANO

President, League of Women Voters of Woodland

• The approximate number of older adults (age 65 and older) living in the city of Winters is 1,000 (9 percent).

• The estimated number of senior adults in the city of Winters that may live in poverty is nearly 7 percent. A conceivable 43 percent of total senior-adult households in the city of Winters earn less than $30,000 per year.

• Over 60 percent of senior adults receive food stamps.

• A projected 16 percent of Social Security Supplemental Insurance recipients earn less than $11,000 annually.

• The average yearly income from Social Security is $17,603.

• Medium annual income from Social Security is $36,000. Researchers at the Urban Institute created the Relative Poverty Level program, which is indexed to wages. Relative Poverty is when households receive 50 percent less than average household incomes. The sources of higher relative senior poverty are the in-

creased share of retirees who are single, widowed, and divorced, and the reduced growth in benefits associated with the lack of any increase in a retiree’s Social Security income. Poverty has increased among Americans aged 65 and older in 2022 to over 11 percent according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. The increase results in 1 million more senior adults who rely on scarce resources. In early 2023, senior poverty was up over 15 percent.

The Winters Elder Day Council clearly acknowledges that senior poverty is on the rise. Senior poverty means not having sufficient resources to meet basic daily needs including food, clothing, housing, and more. Furthermore, poverty is much more than just not having enough money; it’s an explicit hardship that translates to wrenching hunger, a lack of shelter, reasonable transportation, and basic healthcare. Sadly, these absences of resource inequities often lead to homelessness.

Learn to create butterfly habitat at online workshop

Special to the Express Solano RCD is offering two free online workshops to help residents learn how to provide monarch habitat in as little as 100 square feet in their backyard. Each workshop will cover the natural history and life cycle of monarchs, the types of plants Monarchs need to survive, and how to correctly install and manage those plants for the benefit of butterflies. Monarch butterflies have suffered a 95% decline in their population numbers in the past decade. Loss of habitat and food resources are the main reasons for mon-

FIRE Continued from Page 6

Prop 218 survey

Snyder said while he and the city are exploring other funding options, he is currently gathering feedback from the community regarding Proposition 218. Winters property owners received a survey in their mailbox on Feb. 21, to gain feedback regarding voter interest.

Snyder said if voters approved the propositions the funding would go to support staffing efforts and the purchase of needed equipment nearing its life expectancy.

“I’m asking (property owners) to fill out the survey, and be open and honest,” said Snyder. “Their

archs’ decline and residents can help them recover by providing these resources in their backyards!

The workshops will be held on Zoom on Sunday, March 10, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m,. and Tuesday, March 19, 7 to 8 p.m. Each workshop will cover the same material. To register, fill out the form at https://forms. office.com/r/h87xbcCvkb or contact Sammy Flohr at Sammy. Flohr@solanorcd.org. Workshop attendees will have the option of purchasing a monarch “Waystation” kit for half price ($25) at Solano RCD’s Spring Native Plant Sale. These

feedback is what is going to drive the voting measure or not.”

Snyder said if approved, the funds would help Winters Fire to become self-sufficient as the money can only be used by the fire department for its needs. They would not have to get approval from the city council or work to figure out where the money would come from to pay for equipment replacement needs.

It also does not have a sunset clause, meaning if voters decide they no longer want to support it, the City Council and the Fire District board can vote it down and it would cease.

West Plainfield and Willow Oak Fire Departments saw success in getting Prop 218 passed in their areas and have gained from the benefits of supporting their staff. Snyder’s goal is to share information with Winters residents in hopes of seeing the same outcome here.

kits contain the perfect mix of flowering plants to nurture both monarch butterflies and caterpillars, including 12 milkweed plants for monarch caterpillars to feed and pupate on and 24 flowering plants that provide nectar for the adult butterflies. Simple drip irrigation kits that can be attached to a hose bib will also be available for purchase to make monarch habitat installation a snap. Solano RCD’s annual fall plant sale will be held on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 4 p.m. at Berryessa Brewing Company, 27260 Highway 128 in Winters.

Snyder called the potential of obtaining Prop 218 funds a “fast band-aid for now” and it’s not the solution to Winters Fire’s challenges.

“Having that additional day-to-day staffing ensures that we can meet all of those calls and attend to them in a timely fashion and not exceed our capacity,” Snyder said. “To me, this is a temporary solution. This is not something that we would continue 20 years or so down the line.”

Prop 218 funds would also help replace the radio system (originally purchased in 2014) that ensures Winters Fire crews can stay connected no matter where they are working.

Snyder said information will be available on the Winters Fire webpage on the city of Winters website at www.cityofwinters.org/157/Fire. Questions can be sent by email at jack.snyder@wintersfire.org or call 530-490-3620.