$1
including tax
Volunteer to wrap diapers for local families News, Page 2
Help for struggling fruit trees Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 48 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Chris Walton
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Sergeant Ramos retires
Celebrate local heroes at Toast of Winters Express staff
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
On Saturday, Dec. 27, community members, public safety officials, family, and friends gathered at the Winters Community Center to honor Sergeant Albert Ramos, who joined the Winters Police Department in 1997. Pictured are retired and current Winters PD officials. Be sure to congratulate him if you see him around town. Watch for a full story in an upcoming edition of the Winters Express.
Local man surrenders to police after five-hour standoff Friday By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media
EXPRESS
A convicted felon barricaded himself inside a Winters residence Friday night, surrendering to police only after a SWAT team intervened, according to the Winters Police Department. What would turn out to be a nearly fivehour standoff began shortly before 6:30 p.m., when police received a report that a man, later identified as 34-year-old Jose Sanchez-Valdez, brandished a handgun at his mother at her home in the 500 block of East Street. Officers were able to meet at another location with the mother, who “confirmed Sanchez-Valdez had pointed a gun at her and threatened to shoot her,” police
said in a social media post. “It was also determined there were two other family members still inside the residence with Sanchez-Valdez. The family members were contacted and encouraged to leave the residence for their safety.” “The family reported Sanchez-Valdez was acting erratically and believed he was under the influence of controlled substances,” the post continued. “The family also confirmed Sanchez-Valdez had been in possession of a handgun and ammunition in the previous days and that he had fortified and barricaded his living area inside the residence.” With aid from the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, members of the regional Crisis Negotiations Team and K-9 units from the Woodland Police Department, police established a perimeter around the home and made phone contact
with Sanchez-Valdez. Police also issued alerts to nearby residents, advising them to shelter in place until the activity had ended, although some neighbors later reported they hadn’t received the advisories. “Sanchez-Valdez was uncooperative, acting erratically, and refused to exit the residence,” the post said. “He further stated he would not be taken into custody and challenged law enforcement to come into the residence.” After multiple failed attempts to secure Sanchez-Valdez’s peaceful surrender, the Yolo County Regional SWAT Team was activated, using “flash bang” diversionary devices and tear gas to remove Sanchez-Valdez from the house. He surrendered at about 11:20 p.m., continuing to physically resist arresting officers and spitting on them, police said. Police then served a
Index
We at he r
search warrant at the residence and reported recording a BB gun, a Glock-replica airsoft gun and ammunition from Sanchez-Valdez’s living space. He was booked into the Yolo County Jail on charges of criminal threats, resisting arrest, being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and brandishing an imitation firearm. Those who did not receive the police Everbridge alerts are urged to visit www. alertyolo.org to ensure their information is entered and correct. For more information, contact the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services by calling 211 or emailing oes@yolocounty.gov. Public safety related updates are posted live on social media pages and on the Winters Express website in collaboration between the Express and the Winters PD and Winters Fire Department depending on the emergency.
Get ready to raise a glass to the people and businesses who make Winters shine. The official selections are in for the 2025 Toast of Winters honorees. Hosted annually by the Winters District Chamber of Commerce, the Toast of Winters awards celebrate the achievements of community members and local businesses recognized by their neighbors. This year’s honorees are: • Business of the Year: Ample Electric • Theodore Winters Award: The Guerrilla Gardeners • Senior Citizen of the Year: Rich Marovich • Citizen of the Year: Gloria Lopez The Winters Express will spotlight each awardee in a special series of articles throughout January, highlighting the contributions that earned them this recognition. The Toast of Winters event takes place Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Winters Community Center. Tickets are available online at www. eventbrite.com/e/toast-of-winters-2025tickets-1967839288284 or bit.ly/toast25tickets. Raise a glass and celebrate the people who make Winters a community to be proud of.
Winters JUSD modernization projects move ahead By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer Construction projects across Winters Joint Unified School District are moving forward, with improvements to classrooms, kitchens and student facilities despite a rainy start to winter. At the Dec. 18 Winters JUSD Board of Trustees meeting, Ashley Del Rio, program manager at Van Pelt Construction Services, updated trustees on work completed over Thanksgiving break, including additional concrete, a painted curb to address drainage and safety and new dolphin-shaped bike racks. While asphalt work could face weather-related delays, Del Rio said the transitional kindergar-
ten building is rapidly taking shape, with progress continuing on interiors. At Winters Middle School, modernization efforts are ongoing, including kitchen upgrades. Del Rio praised contractor CORE for completing a long-term roof repair at Waggoner at no cost, helping prevent winter leaks. “We really appreciate the CORE team just kind of taking matters into their own hands, really treating the district well and getting us through what’s apparently going to be a very wet winter,” she said. Trenching for future utility lines has progressed, and the kitchen will temporarily relocate from the multipurpose
See BUILDS, Page 6
Rain
High
Low
Dec. 24 0.89”
62˚
50˚
Dec. 25
1.11”
65˚
51˚
Oakdale Fire victims’ claims seek millions in damages
Dec. 26
0.57”
62˚
47˚
By Lauren Keene
Dec. 27
0.26”
60˚
38˚
McNaughton Media
Eventos hispanos ....... A-4
Dec. 28
.00
57˚
36˚
Dec. 29
.00
59˚
31˚
Opinion ......................... B-4
Dec. 30
.00
60˚
31˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 2.83 in. Season’s total: 9.86 in. Last sn. to date: 9.40 in.
Yolo County officials received a dozen multimillion-dollar claims Tuesday stemming from the fiery July 1 explosion — known as the Oakdale Fire — that killed seven employees at an Esparto fireworks storage facility. Several of them al-
Features ........................ B-1 Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-5
Date
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
lege the existence of a “county coverup” in which the involved parties — including three longtime Yolo County Sheriff’s Office employees — were “allowed to violate state and county law and regulations because of the close relationship between the owners of the property and county
officials.” The claims, filed on behalf of the victims’ families and owners of neighboring properties damaged as a result of the disaster, are precursors to any civil lawsuits that might be filed. Government entities may investigate and potentially
See VICTIMS, Page 4
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A2 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Community Volunteer to wrap, donate diapers for families on Jan. 19 Express staff Yolo Diaper Bank invites residents of Winters and surrounding communities to roll up their sleeves and take part in its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Community Diaper Wrap, helping
provide diapers for local families in need. The volunteer event will be held Monday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Yolo Federal Credit Union Community Room in Winters. No experience is necessary, and all training and sup-
plies will be provided, making it an easy and meaningful way to give back. In addition to volunteering, community members can bring diaper donations or purchase them online. To donate online, add items to your cart, choose Yolo Diaper Bank’s address for delivery, or donate via https://bit.ly/ydbdonate2026 or www.yolodiaperbank.org. All sizes are needed, and open packages are accepted. Those interested in volunteering to wrap diapers can register at yolodiaperbank.org. At past MLK Day of
Community members can register to volunteer and help wrap or donate diapers at Yolo Diaper Bank’s MLK Day of Service Community Diaper Wrap on Monday, Jan. 19, in Winters. Courtesy photo
Service Community Diaper Wraps, more than 90 volunteers helped prepare over 85,000 diapers for local families, demonstrating the tangible
difference a few hours of community service can make. Yolo Diaper Bank launched in September 2018 to address diaper need in the
region. By partnering with local agencies, it works to remove diaper need as a barrier to the health and stability of Yolo County families.
Lake Berryessa water levels up Express staff The water level of Lake Berryessa increased by 2.05 feet over the past week, resulting in a difference of 9,832 acrefeet of water storage, according to Cristian Tejeda, Solano Irrigation District – Putah Diversion Office. On the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 30, he reported that the lake elevation was 431.62 feet above sea level, with the water storage behind the Monticello Dam calculated at 1,369,883 acre-feet. The SID released 50 cubic feet per second into the Putah South Canal, with 45 cubic feet flowing into lower Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation from the lake averaged 23 acrefeet of water per day.
Public Safety Report City of Winters
Fire The Winters Fire Department Log will return next week.
View the Winters Fire Activity and Call Log at https://cityofwinters. org/157/Fire.
Dec. 17: 10:16 a.m., 100th block of Broadview Lane, Informational Report ~7:43 p.m., 100th block of Almond Drive, Sexual battery Dec. 18: 1:03 p.m., 10000th block of Russell Boulevard, CPS referral Dec. 19: 7:28 p.m., 10th block of E. Edwards Street, Theft ~9:37 p.m., 30000th block of County Road 31, Outside Agency Assist Dec. 22: 2 p.m., 100th block of Colby Lane, Informational Report Dec. 23: 6:26 p.m., County Road 89/ Niemann Street, Stolen Vehicle Recovery
View the Winters Police Department Arrest and Report Logs, visit www. cityofwinters.org/289/ Report-Arrest-Log
Jack Graf’s children all showed up to sing him a song in honor of his 1996 Citizen of the Year award. The banquet was held at the Community Center. Pictured, left to right: John, Peggy, Jody, Kathy and Patty. Children will always show up when offered a free meal.
Years Ago Dispatches from the Express archives.
129 Years Ago January 4, 1896
Police Report Log
File photo
Col. Sam Taylor has sold his ripe pickled olives, amounting to 300 gallons, to San Francisco parties for 50 cents a gallon, in barrels. Murray and Ed Goodyear and Alda Wolfskill came up from a visit in Benicia on the 11 o’clock train Monday morning. Mr. William Baker returned home last Saturday from a month’s stay with her daughter, Mrs. R. L. Stephens, near Dixon. Sinclair’s Band played several airs on Main Street last Wednesday afternoon, much to the delight of the listeners. The band plays well and we are glad to know that the boys intend to stick together. A party was given by Miss Esther Hemenway, on Friday evening of last week, in honor of her friend Miss Maude Culton.
H R B & ASSOCIATES INC
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Walter Hemenway opened up his photograph gallery at the old stand yesterday and will begin taking pictures today. William Wolfskill has been up in Berryessa Valley the past two weeks, pruning fruit trees. The girls should remember that this is a leap year, and they have the privilege of “popping the question.’ With this issue, the Express enters upon its 13th volume. For 12 years we have labored zealously for the upbuilding and progress of this community, and have given the best efforts of the best years of our life to the work.
94 Years Ago January 2, 1931
Putah Creek was solidly frozen over this week at Cannonball, three to four inches thick. The temperature at Monticello hit 10 degrees several days during the week. Hundreds of people turned up at Cannonball to enjoy skating, sledding
or just sliding on the ice. At Monday evening’s meeting of the Exchange Club, Gregory Vasey was elected president to preside over the destinies of the club for the half year beginning Jan. 1. Dr. King was elected vice-president. Just 48 years ago yesterday, Jan. 1, Winters had 12 inches of snow. D. O. Judy states the snow began falling at 1 o’clock and continued until 12 that night. This would be 1883, and several others of the old time residents recall the event. The special train which went up the line in the middle of the night last week was a bunch of 1,500 cattle from Lathrop bound for the Fair ranch at upper end of Berryessa valley. The cattle are unloaded at Cadenasso and driven over the mountains to the range. J. R. Briggs and son, Fenley saw the East-West football game Saturday. Mrs. Frank Judy is leaving today to again take up her work as faculty member in the Junior high school at Ustick near Boise, Idaho, having spent the holiday vacation at her home here. E. F. Haven who has been confined to his home for several weeks on account of illness, is reported
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79 Years Ago
Danzero, U.S. Navy, has just returned from the Pacific area.
45 Years Ago
January 4, 1946
Yolo County now has a population of 34,000. At the city council meeting Wednesday, the resignation of J. M. Robinson, night watchman, was accepted. Ben Couch was named to succeed him, his term of office to begin Jan. 10. Holiday guests at the E. R. Crum home were Prof. and Mrs. Robert Miller and son, Robert, Jr., of Davis, Mr. and Mrs. George Crum of Patterson, Major William Crum of Perrin Field, Sherman, Texas, and Miss Martha Crum of Berkeley. Mr. and Mrs. Lester Ireland entertained the following guests on New Year’s Eve: Messrs. and Mesdames Douglas Fenley, Roy Ish, Wayne Ireland, Bill Fredericks, Mrs. E. Edwards and Mrs. Peggy Mays. Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Pearse of Vallejo were New Year’s Day guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Young. Eusabio Carrion USNR, stationed in San Francisco, spent several days leave here at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carrion. Claude Long has purchased the Gordon Kendall home located at 411 First Street. Lt. and Mrs. A. E. Danzero of San Francisco were recent guests with Mrs. Danzero’s parents, the F. C. Hemenways. Lt.
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YESTERYEAR
Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 — A3
December 31, 1980 Louie and Betty Campos and their son, Steve, returned home on Saturday after spending the holiday with their daughter and son-inlaw, Cindy and David Rozeman and their son David in Sedona, Arizona. Also joining the family get-together was the Campos’ daughter Diana. The Richard Romingers spent Christmas Eve with the Robert Currey, Jr. family in Dixon where members of the Rowe family gathered. On Christmas day, the Rominger clan gathered at the home of Anne and Albert Rominger, including the Dan Martinez family, Claire Stark and daughter Romin, Lucille Russell and children, Matt, Diana and Tom, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Guidice and daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren (the Joe Holmberg family), Carol and Rob Guidice, and the Don Rominger family for gift-exchanging. Linda and Phillip Bishop entertained for their fam- ily on Christmas Day, having as guests Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Lowrie and son David, Mike and Margie Lowrie and their two sons, Mikey and Joshua, and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Ramos and their three children, Stacey, Stevie and Dani.
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A4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Eventos hispanos Bomberos de Winters busca opinión de la comunidad para plan estratégico Por Crystal Apilado Traducido por Carol Alfonso Los miembros de la comunidad tienen pocos días para brindar sus comentarios a través de la Encuesta del Plan Estratégico Impulsado por la Comunidad del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters Fire, una iniciativa que, según los funcionarios, ayudará a guiar las prioridades y los servicios del departamento durante los próximos años. La encuesta anónima está diseñada para recopilar la opinión pública mientras el departamento desarrolla su plan estratégico formal, un documento a largo plazo que dará forma a las operaciones, el personal, la capacitación y la asignación de recursos. La encuesta está abierta a los residentes de la ciudad de Winters y del Distrito servido por Winters Fire. El jefe de bomberos de Winters, Jack S. Snyder III, explicó que un plan es-
VICTIMS Continued from Page 1 settle the allegations or reject the claims, clearing the way for a lawsuit’s filing. Those filed on behalf of the employees who died in the blast seek as much as $35 million in damages for lost earnings and general damages, citing causes of action including negligence, public nuisance, infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices. “These deaths were unnecessary had government officials performed their mandatory duties as required by law. These entities and individuals allowed fireworks to be stored at a facility which was not permitted and that was operating illegally,” attorneys from four law firms representing the victims’ families said in a joint statement. “This was known by state and county employees who instead turned a blind eye due to a culture where friends are not subjected to the same oversight as the rest of us. This was the true cause of this tragedy.” Yolo County officials acknowledged receipt of the claims Tuesday but declined further comment on their allegations, noting that the county “receives claims on a regular basis and reviews them in accordance with state law, including the requirement to act within 45 days.” “While most claims are ultimately de-
tratégico sirve como una hoja de ruta basada en evidencia para el futuro del departamento. “Un plan estratégico es un documento formal de gobernanza y gestión que define la dirección a largo plazo de una organización, establece prioridades claras y guía la toma de decisiones durante un período de cinco años,” dijo Snyder. En el contexto de los servicios de bomberos, explicó, el plan alinea la misión del departamento, las capacidades operativas y las limitaciones fiscales con una evaluación objetiva del riesgo y la demanda de servicios de la comunidad. El jefe de bomberos enfatizó que la opinión de la comunidad es una parte fundamental de la planificación moderna de la seguridad pública. “Los miembros de la comunidad no son receptores pasivos de los servicios de emergencia; son partes
nied, each claim is reviewed individually before the county takes action and provides written notice of its decision,” officials said. “Because this is an active legal process, the county cannot comment on the specific allegations or the merits of the claims at this time. We recognize the significant impact the Oakdale Fire has had on individuals and families and extend our deepest condolences to those affected.”
‘Preyed upon’ The seven people who died in the explosion, which shook buildings for miles, sparked an 80-acre fire and sent up a massive plume of smoke that was visible from space, were identified as: • Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco • Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco • Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento • Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo • Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo • Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas • Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton Li served as the general manager for Devastating Fireworks LLC, which along with BlackStar Fireworks operated fireworks storage facilities on the property at County Road 23 and 86A. The others worked as seasonal employees, helping the companies prepare for upcoming Fourth of
interesadas clave,” dijo Snyder. “Sus actividades diarias, los patrones de uso del suelo y sus expectativas influyen directamente en la demanda de servicios y la exposición al riesgo.” Según Snyder, las respuestas de la encuesta se evaluarán junto con datos operativos como las tendencias de incidentes, los tiempos de respuesta y las evaluaciones de riesgos. Los comentarios ayudarán a definir los objetivos estratégicos y pueden influir en las prioridades relacionadas con los servicios médicos de emergencia, la mitigación y la preparación ante incendios forestales, los modelos de personal y despliegue, la capacitación de bomberos, los programas de reducción de riesgos comunitarios y las iniciativas de educación pública. Dijo que las preocupaciones identificadas podrían traducirse en acciones específicas, in-
July fireworks shows around Northern California. Both businesses and their owners are named in the claims. “The companies preyed upon Hispanics who comprised the work force, paying them in cash and avoiding all pretense of the standard employer/employee relationship,” the claims say, alleging that fireworks were unlawfully assembled on-site and improperly stored. “All of this took place with knowledge of high-ranking Yolo County employees who failed to take any steps to correct the problems and prevent the tragedy or informs state and federal authorities.” In addition to Yolo County, the claims call out Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal, which had granted pyrotechnics licenses to Devastating Pyrotechnics owner Kenneth Chee and Blackstar owner Craig Cutright, a former volunteer firefighter with the Esparto Fire Protection District. The fire district also is named, along with its chief, Curtis Lawrence, who days after the explosion admitted having knowledge of the fireworks storage facilities and conducting “site visits” but no formal safety inspections, the claims say. The documents also name other individuals including the property’s owners, Yolo County sheriff’s Lt. Sam Machado and his wife Tammy, a le-
cluidos programas de prevención específicos, ajustes de políticas, planificación de mejoras de capital o una mayor coordinación con las agencias asociadas. La opinión de la comunidad también ayudará a respaldar futuras solicitudes de presupuesto, propuestas de personal y solicitudes de subvenciones al proporcionar apoyo público documentado para las inversiones planificadas. Snyder dijo que la encuesta tiene como objetivo tener un impacto directo en la toma de decisiones. “Esto no es meramente informativo,” dijo. “Es una oportunidad importante para dar forma al futuro del departamento. Las respuestas se tratarán con seriedad y confidencialidad, y los resultados informarán directamente las decisiones estratégicas.” El administrador de la ciudad, Jeremy Craig, exhorto a los residentes a par-
gal secretary for the agency; and Reiko Matsumura, Tammy’s sister and a recently retired sheriff’s deputy. The Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Tom Lopez also are listed in the claims. Also named are Yolo County chief building official Scott Doolittle and county hazmat specialist Moushumi Hasan, who became aware as of June 2022 — more than three years before the deadly blast — the agriculture-zoned Esparto property was being used as a pyrotechnics business but took no enforcement action, according to county emails released earlier this year in response to Public Records Act requests.
Investigations continue The claims’ filings are among several developments this month amid Cal Fire’s ongoing probe into the cause of the deadly explosion. Last week, authorities in Del Norte County announced the arrest of a Crescent City man, Ronald Botelho III, after serving a search warrant along with members of the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, which is conducting a criminal investigation into the blast. Botelho was arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including possession of destructive devices, reckless possession of explosives near or in a residential area, possession of materials with intent to make any de-
ticipar en su actualización del Viernes 19 de Diciembre, calificando la encuesta como una oportunidad para que la comunidad ayude a guiar el futuro del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters Fire. “La encuesta es completamente anónima y permite que la comunidad participe en la planificación del futuro del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters Fire,” dijo Craig. La encuesta está disponible en línea en https:// forms.gle/rviQA5pH5bpuvvEU8 o https://bit.ly/ wfdcommunitysurvey25. También se ha publicado en las páginas de redes sociales del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters Fire y de la Ciudad de Winters. Para obtener actualizaciones del Departamento de Bomberos de Winters Fire, visite facebook.com/ WintersFire o instagram. com/wintersfire26.
structive device, child endangerment. That arrest occurred less than two weeks after Devastating Fireworks was fined $221,000 from the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Occupational Safety and Health Division. Cal/OSHA outlined 15 alleged violations in a 32-page penalty notice dated Dec. 1. Of those, three of the citations are classified as “accident-related serious,” indicating they’re directly related to the explosion. Specifically, Cal/ OSHA investigators say, the company failed to provide its employees with an emergency action plan, “in that employees were not trained on emergency evacuation procedures, including what to do in the event of a fire, explosion or any other emergencies involving pyrotechnics materials.” In addition, “the employer failed to apprise employees of the
fire hazards associated with the materials and processes at the worksite, including the handling and storage of pyrotechnic and explosive materials. “As a result … a fire ignited in a warehouse located at 18080 County Road 86A,” the notice says. “The fire caused multiple explosions and resulted in fatal injuries to seven employees who were unable to respond safely due to the lack of training and knowledge of fire prevention and emergency procedures.” Devastating Pyrotechnics also failed to immediately report the workers’ deaths to Cal/OSHA, says the notice, which also lists alleged violations of multiple heat illness prevention, industrial truck safety, hazard communication and portable fire extinguisher policies. Chee had 15 days to appeal the citations but had not done so as of Monday, Cal/OSHA officials said.
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Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 — A5
Senior News Many older adults don’t see themselves as disabled By Paula Span
The New In her house in Yp- Old Age
KFF Health News
silanti, Michigan, Barbara Meade said, “there are walkers and wheelchairs and oxygen and cannulas all over the place.” Barbara, 82, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so a portable oxygen tank accompanies her everywhere. Spinal stenosis limits her mobility, requiring walkers, wheelchairs, and help from her husband, Dennis, her primary caregiver. “I know I need hearing aids,” Barbara added. “My hearing is horrible.” She acquired a pair a few years ago but rarely uses them. Dennis Meade, 86, is more mobile despite arthritis pain in one knee but contends with his own hearing problems. Dissatisfied with the hearing aids he once bought, he said, “I just got to the point where I say, ‘Talk louder.’” But if you ask either of them a question included on a recent University of Michigan survey — “Do you identify as having a disability?” — the Meades answer promptly: No, they don’t. Disability “means you can’t do things,” Dennis said. “As long as you can work with it and it’s not affecting your life that much, you don’t consider yourself disabled.” Their daughter Michelle Meade, a rehabilitation psychologist and director of the Center for Disability Health and Wellness at the university, accompanies her parents to medical appointments and tends to roll her eyes at their reluctance to acknowledge needing
support. Working with other researchers on the recent national poll has shown her how often older adults feel they are not disabled despite evidence to the contrary. The survey looked at nearly 3,000 Americans aged 50 and older and found that only a minority — fewer than 18 percent of participants over 65 — saw themselves as having a disability. Yet their responses to the six questions the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey uses to track disability rates told a different story. The survey asks whether respondents have difficulty seeing or hearing, limitations in walking or climbing stairs, difficulty concentrating or remembering, trouble dressing or bathing, difficulty working, or problems leaving the home. In the university’s survey, about a third of those aged 65 to 74 reported difficulty with one or more of those functions. Among those over 75, the figure was more than 44 percent. Moreover, when respondents were asked about additional health conditions requiring accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including respiratory problems or speech disorders, the proportion climbed higher. Half the 65-to74 group reported disabilities, as did about two-thirds of those over 75. Yet only a sliver — fewer than 1 in 5 — of older adults had ever
received an accommodation from their health care providers to which they are legally entitled under the ADA. Even among the small minority who identified as disabled, only a quarter had asked for an accommodation. “It’s a familiar story,” said Megan Morris, a rehabilitation researcher at NYU Langone Health and director of the Disability Equity Collaborative. When it comes to the way people describe themselves, “many people still feel like ‘disability’ is a dirty word,” she said. It’s almost an American value to decline help, even when the law requires it, Michelle Meade added. Faced with a disability, she said, “we’re supposed to toughen up and battle through it.” That may be particularly true among older Americans whose attitudes formed before the landmark ADA became law in 1990, or even before the 50-year-old Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, which guaranteed access to public education. “It’s going to be hard for that older generation,” Morris said. “Disability was something that was locked away. Younger folks are more open to seeing disability as being part of a community.” In the University of Michigan survey, among people over 65 who had two or more disabilities, about half identified as a person with a disability. In the younger cohort, aged 50 to 64, it was 68 percent. Why does that matter? “It greatly assists
in health care settings if you disclose a disability and know to request an accommodation and support,” said Anjali Forber-Pratt, the research director at the American Association of Health and Disability. Such accommodations “can make a stressful situation easier,” she added. They include mammography and X-ray machines that allow patients to remain seated, scales that wheelchair users can roll onto, examination tables that rise and lower so patients don’t have to step onto a footstool and swivel around. Health care providers may also offer amplification devices for people with hearing loss, as well as magnifiers and large print materials for the visually impaired. Buildings must be accessible. Practices can send a staff member with a wheelchair to help patients traverse long distances. Even with a disability parking placard, “you hike in, you wait for the elevator, you hike to the office,” said Emmie Poling, 75, a retired teacher in Menlo Park, California. Because of arthritis and spinal stenosis, “I can’t walk with an upright posture for more than a few minutes” without pain, she said. “I basically live on Tylenol.” Yet when she makes an
appointment and the scheduler asks if she will need assistance, Poling replies that she won’t. “My personal voice says, ‘Come on, you can do it,’” she said. Identifying as a person with a disability provides other benefits, advocates say. It can mean avoiding isolation and “being part of a community of people who are good problem-solvers, who figure things out and work in partnership to do things better,” Meade said. Government programs and private organizations like the National Disability Rights Network, the Americans with Disabilities Act National Network, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities help connect people with services and supports in their communities. Several studies have found, too, that patients who identify as disabled have less depression and anxiety, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of “self-efficacy” than disabled people who don’t. For years, despite a lifetime of surgeries for congenitally dislocated hips, as well as joint replacements and cancer treatment, Glenna Mills, an artist in Oakland, California, told herself that she was not disabled. “I suffered a lot by denying that I couldn’t
walk very far,” she recalled. Although walking caused pain in her knees, hips, and shoulders, “I didn’t want people to see me as someone who couldn’t keep up,” she added. But about 10 years ago, “I stopped worrying about that,” said Mills, 82. “I was more willing to say, ‘I can’t do that activity. I can’t walk that far.’” She bought a scooter that allowed her to take walks with her husband and dog, and to spend time in museums. “I’m happier now,” she said. More often, older Americans resist a label that could help improve their care. Even those who do request accommodations may find that enforcement of the ADA remains spotty, in part because patients don’t always report violations. The Meades, after years of pleading from their children, have made appointments to see an audiologist about new hearing aids.
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A6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Regional News Solano County to spend $253,000 on homeless services By Todd R. Hansen McNaughton Media If anyone wants to rankle Mitch Mashburn, mention unfunded mandates. It is a surefire vexation for the chairman of the Solano County Board of Supervisors, who is nearing the end of his second year as the board’s top officer. Still, Mashburn managed to stay quiet earlier this month when the board approved an agreement with the Community Action Partnership Solano Joint Powers Authority, or CAP Solano JPA, for coordinated entry of homeless services. The county agreed Dec. 9 to pay $253,350 for its share of the service through Dec. 31, 2028. “In Solano County, CAP Solano JPA is the administrative entity for the
Continuum of Care and, as such, is required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to operate a coordinated entry system,” a staff report to the board states. “The CES is a process developed to ensure that all people experiencing homelessness have fair and equal access to available housing and are quickly identified, assessed and connected to housing and assistance based on their strengths and needs.” The report notes that while HUD provides some funding for the entry system, it does not cover the full cost of the mandate. “Since 2019, Benicia, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo and the county have agreed to provide funding to supplement federal funding for the annual cost of the
agreement with the operator,” the report states. “The most recent funding agreement with the jurisdictions expired May 31, 2025.” The new agreement — a memorandum of understanding — is set at the same rates as previously funded. The shares paid by the cities and HUD were not immediately available. An email seeking that information was sent to CAP Solano. The county’s share is funded by the general fund through the Department of Health and Social Services budget. The share for fiscal year 2025-26 is $81,966; $84,425 for 2026-27; and $86,958 for 2027-28, the staff report states. “Through coordinated entry, people experiencing homelessness are matched to services and housing based on their level of vul-
nerability, need and preferences,” the report states. “Standardizing the intake process across the Continuum of Care, sharing information in real time and adopting uniform prioritization policies are all at the core of a high-performing CES.” HUD established the requirement in 2017. Each Continuum of Care, including the local Housing First Solano CoC, was required to implement the HUD requirements by January 2018 to receive funding. Caminar is the current administrator of the coordinated entry system for the Housing First Solano CoC. According to the annual CAP Solano JPA report, 1,022 individuals and households had coordinated entry intakes completed during 2024 — nearly dou-
California’s minimum wage increase in 2026 By Cayla Mihalovich CalMatters
This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Californians will see the minimum wage increase to $16.90 per hour starting Jan. 1. The adjustment — a boost of 40 cents per hour — was calculated in August by the Department of Finance as part of its minimum wage annual review required by state law. California has been raising its minimum wage over the past decade. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, in 2016, signed a watershed law to increase the minimum wage from $10.50 per hour to $15 per hour, plus annual adjustments for inflation. The current rate of $16.50 per hour suggests that a minimum wage worker needs to work 98 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom rental at fair market rent in California, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. California is one of
19 states to raise minimum wages in 2026, according to payroll company ADP. Cities and counties can also set their own minimum wages. This year, over two dozen local jurisdictions have increased local minimum wages. West Hollywood will have a $20.25 minimum wage starting in January — the highest of any California city, according to the UC Berkeley Labor Center. Voters last November narrowly rejected a ballot measure that would have increased the minimum wage to $18 per hour. But some low-wage workers this year have successfully lobbied for bumps in pay in specific industries. Under laws Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in 2023, fast food workers earn a minimum wage of $20 an hour and health care workers are on track to make $25 an hour. That momentum extended to Los Angeles hotel and airport employees. Labor organizers in May secured
a city minimum wage increase to $30 per hour for those workers by the 2028 Olympics. Large businesses fought back, arguing that wage hikes will only increase challenges for the tourism industry, which is still struggling to find its footing after the pandemic. After failing to gather enough signatures for a ballot measure to repeal the new minimum wage, business groups later filed a different measure that could gut millions of dollars of revenue from the city’s general fund. Following the move, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson this month introduced a motion to delay the full wage increase from taking effect until 2030, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times. Labor leaders rebuked the motion, calling it “repulsive.” “You can’t threaten to blow a hole in our budget and then the
Winters
only way to stop it is on the backs of workers,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of the union that represents many hotel workers, UNITE HERE Local 11. “That kind of raw extortion and shakedown has no place in our city.” According to Peterson, a coalition of community organizations and unions are beginning to collect signatures for a ballot measure that would raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour for all workers in Los Angeles. “The power is everyone together,” said Peterson. “Working people need help and raising wages is the easiest, most straightforward thing to do. Going up 40 cents per hour in 2026 doesn’t move the needle at all.” —Cayla Mihalovich is a justice reporter for CalMatters. She is a California Local News fellow and a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism.
ble the prior year’s total of 591. Resource Connect Solano, the coordinated entry program, received 17,603 phone calls from individuals and families. Another 1,654 individuals and families came in person to physical access sites in Fairfield and Vallejo, and 1,594 individuals and families emailed seeking help and resources. During the reporting year, Resource Connect Solano referred 475 households to services and housing projects participating in the coordinated entry system. The report notes that 137 clients — up 10 percent from 2023 — found rental or permanent housing with family or friends. Not all clients file exit reports, so the number could be higher.
BUILDS Continued from Page 1 room to a classroom to accommodate construction. Del Rio said the school district is planning a February field trip for middle and high school students to see a “dusty robot” system — a Roomba-like device that uses building modeling data to mark floor plans on concrete. “It’s seeing robotics in real life, and we saw a great opportunity to bring kids out,” Del Rio said. “This is going to be super cool, because it’s exciting for everyone in our industry, too.” Del Rio also reported that Winters JUSD submitted career technical education (CTE) state funding applications on Dec. 1. Two applications seek reimbursement for completed high school projects, including the culinary and ro-
botics buildings, totaling about $3 million. A third application proposes a future CTE building at the district’s agriculture site, described as a high-level concept that would be refined through the design process if selected. Finally, Studio W will present at a January subcommittee meeting after reviewing six to seven options for the front drop-off area. Del Rio said the team will also provide updates on the multipurpose room. “We walked through six to seven different options for the front dropoff area,” she said. “We’ll be presenting those to the subcommittee to review and talk through, and then they’ll give us an update on the MPR as well.” The next Winters JUSD Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15, at 6 p.m.
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Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 — B1
FEATURES
Existing-home sales up
Reflections and resolutions
Auditions open for Winters Theatre
HOMES, Page 2
OPINION, Page 4
A&E, Page 6
Fruit tree fungal diseases, citrus care Ask a Master This column is written by the Master Gardeners of Yolo County Gardener each month. It provides answers to selected questions recently asked by Yolo County gardeners.
Thursdays Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, January 1 canceled, January 15 only first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690, https://yolofoodbank.org/find-food Sunday, January 4 WHS CIF State Football Champion Parade, Parade at 1 p.m. Main Street (Starts at Second Street, down to Rotary Park), Meet & Greet with Players until 2 p.m., Rotary Park Monday, January 5 Library Event: Mangonada Monday , 2–4 p.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/
Upcoming
Thursday, January 15 Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://bit.ly/4fwmfHK or www.wintersjusd.org Tuesday, January 20 Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/
City Facility Closures
Winters City Hall, Closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 5 Public Safety Facility Lobby, Closed Jan. 1
Library Services
Winters Library Open to Public (No School in Session) Dec. 22 to Jan. 5, 2026, Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 12–8 p.m., Fri/Sat: 1–5 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.) Cafe Yolo Social Dining, Thurdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Reservations required 24 hours in advance at 530-662-7035 or welcome@mowyolo.org Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Thurdays, 12:30-3 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.)
Ongoing
View the Winters community events calendar at https://bit.ly/WintersCommunityEvents Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays (September thru May), 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., historicalsocietyofwinters.org Saved & Sober program, Thursdays, 7p.m., The Rock Church West, 201 Main St. Winters Open Mic, third Thursday, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.), Visit wintersopenmic.org Metaphysical Book Club, third Friday at 5 p.m., 212 Grant Ave., Sign up at dixiesbookclub@gmail.com, call 530-212-5026, or just drop in 12-Step Bonfire meeting, third Friday, 6:30 p.m. fellowship, 7 p.m. meeting, LuNita Ranch, 8189 Olive School Ln, Winters, Bring a camp chair. Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Wednesday, 6 p.m., Turkovich Family Wines - Boss Lounge, kiwanisclubofwinters@gmail.com Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org Dance Fitness, - first/third Sundays February thru July, 8 to 9 a.m., Winters Community Library. No registration required. 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.
Common fungal fruit tree diseases Q: What fungal diseases are commonly seen in fruit trees in the Sacramento Valley? What treatments do you recommend? A: Fruit trees in the Sacramento Valley face a variety of fungal diseases due to our Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters. Many fungal pathogens thrive during rainy periods, then infect new growth in the spring. Below is an overview of the most common fungal diseases you might see and the typical treatments and management strategies. Peach Leaf Curl (Taphrina deformans) infects peaches and nectarines. It causes distorted, thickened, and reddened leaves in early spring, premature leaf drop and reduced fruit set. A dormant-season fungicide is essential. Apply copper-based fungicides between leaf drop in fall and before bud swell in late winter. Avoid applying once buds begin to swell, treatments after that point are ineffective. There are resistant varieties of peach available (e.g. ‘Frost’) that might be worth considering for a new planting. There are no resistant varieties of nectarine. Brown Rot (Monilinia fructicola) affects stone fruit such as peach, plum, nectarine, apricot and cherry. It will kill blossoms in the spring. Later, the fruit will turn soft and brown, rotting while still on the tree. Still later, fruit that remains will become “mummified” and harbor spores that can spread the disease the following year. Pruning to improve airflow can reduce infections. Avoid overhead watering. Remove infected fruit, including the “mummies” that fall or remain on the tree. Pick fruit promptly, even a little green, which may give you a harvest before the fruit is infected. Copper fungicides may be sprayed at just the point when the blossom buds begin to swell. You may need to spray again as the green fruit is ripening. Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera spp.) can be found on apples, peaches, plums and grapes as a white, powdery growth on leaves, shoots or fruit. It can cause distorted foliage and russeting on fruit. Prune to improve air circulation. Apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate as a preventative before you see symptoms. Horticultural oil or Neem or Jojoba oil may be applied to help control an infestation. Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) infects apples and crabapples. It causes green to black lesions on leaves and fruit and premature leaf drop. Remove
“Fruit trees in the Sacramento Valley face a variety of fungal diseases due to our Mediterranean climate...” fallen leaves in the winter to reduce overwintering spores. Copper-based sprays, or neem or mineral oils, can be used in the spring up to the point of full bloom. Sulfur sprays can also be applied in the spring, especially just after a wet period. Some resistant varieties are available, such as ‘Liberty’ and ‘Enterprise.’ Shot Hole Disease (Coryneum spp.) will infect stone fruit such as apricots, peaches and plums. It causes small purple spots on leaves that drop out, leaving holes. It can also cause gumming lesions on twigs and gumming on the fruit. Remove infected twigs and avoid irrigation that splashes onto the leaves. Treatment consists of applying copper fungicide after fall leaf drop and again before spring rains. In general, prune in winter to increase airflow. Remove plant debris that may harbor fungi. Avoid wetting leaves and the trunk when irrigating. Maintain tree vigor with adequate irrigation and fertilization. When necessary, used approved anti-fungal treatments in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Nutrition problems in grapefruit trees Q: My five-year-old grapefruit has yellowing leaves. It has not bloomed. I water it every day. What should I do? A: A five-year-old grapefruit tree with yellowing leaves and no blooms is telling you something important about water, nutrients or growing conditions. Daily watering is undoubtedly part of the problem. Citrus hate “wet feet” and chronic over-watering is one of the most common reasons for yellow leaves, nutrient deficiencies, and failure to flower. Ironically, underwatering can cause many of the same symptoms. But assuming you are giving the tree more than a light sprinkle, too frequent and possibly too much cumulative water is the likely problem. Grapefruit (and other citrus) trees need deep but infrequent watering. Their roots require oxygen and saturated soil suffocates them, causing root stress that can lead to uniform yellowing leaves, leaf drop, stunted growth and few or no blooms. Instead, four-year-old citrus, and older, should be
watered every ten to fourteen days. Trees up to three years of age should be watered every week or two times a week during hot spells. For your tree, wait until the top two to four inches of soil are completely dry before watering again. When you do water, water slowly and put on enough to wet the soil to a depth of two feet. Your water area should extend from a point halfway from the trunk to the edge of the tree and extend beyond the edge of the tree by that same distance. Once winter rains start, you can stop watering during a normal rain year. During a drought, however, you will need to water once the soil dries out, as stated above. Yellowing leaves often signal nitrogen, iron, magnesium or potassium deficiencies, all of which become more pronounced when the soil stays too wet. The pattern of yellowing will be different for each and you can find pictures online to try to match to your leaves. Once watering is corrected, apply a citrus-specific fertilizer with a high percentage of nitrogen and, ideally, with iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc. Follow the package recommendations for size and age, but a five-year-old citrus tree typically needs three to four feedings per year, spaced from late winter to late summer, divided so that the largest portions are used first, before the weather gets hot. If the newest leaves are yellow with green veins, you likely have iron chlorosis, more common in over-watered or poorly drained soils, but also may occur in our alkaline soils. Once you fix the watering, applying a chelated iron supplement usually solves it. Citrus require eight to ten hours of direct sun daily to bloom reliably. Too little light often causes leafy but bloomless growth. If your tree is shaded by other trees, light pruning may help if that is possible. In extreme cases, transplant to a better location in late winter. That may be possible with a five-year-old tree. It is not feasible with a full-grown citrus; once watering and nutrition improve, you are likely to see blooms next spring. Your grapefruit tree is almost certainly over-watered, and that stress is causing yellowing leaves and preventing blooms. Shift to deep, infrequent watering, and feed with a balanced citrus fertilizer and ensure the tree gets full sun. With these adjustments, your tree should bounce back and begin flowering within a season or two. Here is more on citrus care: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/ files/2013-07/72239.pdf. Have a gardening question? Send it to jmbaumbach@ucanr. edu, with “Ask MGs” in the subject line. Include as much detail as possible and pictures if you have them.
Courtesy photo
A group of Winters residents took a Carnival cruise to Cabo and Ensenada from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, bringing along a copy of the Express to celebrate Carla Mickel’s birthday. From left: Clarissa Flutz, Rita Holder, Stephanie Atherton, Dan and Carla Mickel, Vicki Leverett, and Valerie Garay (holding a photo of Walt Neil from a previous Express Travels). Take your copy of the Express on your next trip and email a photo with details to news@wintersexpress.com.
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B2 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Existing-home sales edge up in November National Association of Realtors Special to the Express Existing-home sales increased 0.5 percent in November, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Existing-Home Sales Report. The report provides the real estate ecosystem — including agents, homebuyers and sellers — with data on home sales, prices and inventory. Month-over-month sales increased in the Northeast and South, were unchanged in the West, and declined in the Midwest. Year over year, sales were unchanged in the Northeast and South and decreased in the Midwest and West. “Existing-home sales increased for the third straight month due to lower mortgage rates this autumn,”
said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, inventory growth is beginning to stall. With distressed property sales at historic lows and housing
mand. As has been the case throughout the year, single-family home sales outperformed condominium sales in November. The typical price of
“Wage growth is outpacing home price gains, which improves housing affordability.” Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist wealth at an all-time high, homeowners are in no rush to list their properties during the winter months.” “Wage growth is outpacing home price gains, which improves housing affordability,” Yun added. “Still, future affordability could be hampered if housing supply fails to keep pace with de-
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a sold condo was 13.5 percent lower than the typical price of a single-family home. However, the purchase price does not include condominium association fees, which are rising and making these purchases more expensive.”
National snapshot Total existing-home sales (November) Existing-home sales increased 0.5 percent month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million. Sales declined
1.0 percent year over year. Total housing inventory stood at 1.43 million units, down 5.9 percent from October and up 7.5 percent from November 2024 (1.33 million). Unsold inventory represented a 4.2-month supply, down from 4.4 months in October and up from 3.8 months in November 2024.
of 3.75 million, down 0.8 percent from November 2024. The median price was $414,300, up 1.2 percent from last year. Condominiums and co-ops (November) Sales decreased 2.6 percent month over month and year over year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 380,000. The median price was $358,600, up 0.1 percent from November 2024.
Median sales price (November)
Regional snapshot (November)
The median existing-home price for all housing types was $409,200, up 1.2 percent from one year ago ($404,400). This marked the 29th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases.
• Northeast Sales increased 4.1 percent month over month to an annual rate of 510,000 and were unchanged year over year. Median price: $480,800, up 1.1 percent from November 2024. • Midwest Sales decreased 2.0 percent month over month to an annual rate of 970,000, down 3.0 percent year over year. Median price: $319,400, up 5.8 percent from November 2024. • South Sales increased 1.1 percent month over month to an annual rate of 1.89 million and were unchanged year over year. Median price: $361,000, up 0.8 percent from November 2024. • West Sales were un-
Inventory (November)
Single-family and condo/co-op sales Single-family homes (November) Sales increased 0.8 percent month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
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changed month over month at an annual rate of 760,000 and declined 1.3 percent year over year. Median price: $618,900, down 0.9 percent from November 2024.
Realtors Confidence Index (November)
Properties spent a median of 36 days on the market, up from 34 days in October and 32 days in November 2024. First-time buyers accounted for 30 percent of sales, unchanged from November 2024 and down from 32 percent in October. Cash sales represented 27 percent of transactions, down from 29 percent in October and up from 25 percent one year ago. Individual investors or second-home buyers made up 18 percent of transactions, up from 16 percent last month and 13 percent in November 2024. Distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) accounted for 2 percent of transactions, unchanged from October and November 2024.
Mortgage rates
The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.24 percent in November, according to Freddie Mac, down from 6.25 percent in October and 6.81 percent one year ago.
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Fabulous Winters Ranch Home built in 2016, sprawling one story home with an extra wide lot, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal living room and dining room, office or den, 3 car garage with tons of storage cabinets. Great room style family room and kitchen, fantastic covered patio with ceiling fans, built-in BBQ fully landscaped with low maintenance vegetation. List price $799,000.
IN CONTRACT! 925 Charity Lane, Dixon
Beautifully remodeled, single story, pool home with spa on a large lot close to North Park, located in the fabulous Watson Ranch development. 3 beds, 2 baths, formal dining or office, large laundry room, valued ceilings, gorgeous remodeled kitchen and family room. Huge primary bed and bath, covered RV or boat parking. This home is model perfect, a real “10”, move-in ready. List Price $649,000. Appointment only.
Cutting the Hassle in Real Estate CA DRE LIC# 01215931
CHARLOTTE LLOYD, GRI CA DRE LIC# 00862615
530.681.8939
204 EMERY STREET, WINTERS
Walk to Downtown Winters! Charming 3BD/2BA with open floor plan, fruit-filled backyard, and garage with drive-through potential. Great location, ready for your modern touch! $515,000.
SOLD! 8621 OLIVE SCHOOL LANE, WINTERS Enjoy breathtaking views from the deck of this beautifully updated home. Features include an open floor plan, modern kitchen, cozy fireplace, indoor laundry, and two upgraded bathrooms. Garage has a workout area or fits two cars. Property includes two outbuildings, fruit trees, and a small vineyard. A must-see! $1,150,000.
VACAVILLE EXCLUSIVE — 5+ ACRES IN TOWN! Rare chance to own 5.149 buildable acres surrounded by million-dollar homes. Six separate lots—ideal for a private compound or luxury development. Gated, private, and perfectly located within city limits. Seclusion, space, and investment potential. Call for details.
Price Reduction! IN WINTERS. Large corner lot in New Subdivision Build your dream home along with a second ADU unit as per city. Seller had plans drawn up for a home and second ADU unit which they are willing to pass on to new buyer. Buyer also has conditional approval from City for a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 story with addition ADU unit. Priced at $199,995.
Under Contract! IN ESPARTO. Horse lovers dream on 24 Acres!!! Indoor
arena with 10 stalls, tack room, hay storage, wash rack, power and water to barn, outdoor round pen, large detached garage for trailer or motor home All this with a beautiful custom built home 3 bedroom 2-1/2 bath 1788 sq ft which features, new roof, dual pane windows, updated kitchen and master bathroom, open floor plan, lovely covered patio and backyard which has been used as a wedding venue, beautifully landscaped front and rear yards. Approx 20 acres planted in Almond Trees which are about 6 years old. Seller maintains orchard themselves. They hire out the harvest. Now priced at $1,399,995.
THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HOME? I HAVE A BUYER LOOKING FOR HORSE PROPERTY IN WINTERS, WOODLAND, DAVIS, ESPARTO OR CAPAY AREA.
530.682.0302
LIC. #817420
CARRION PROPERTIES
Residential, Commercial & Agricultural Real Estate John M. Carrion, Owner/Broker CA DRE #: 00970701
Chad Carrion, Associate Broker CA DRE #: 01975830
RECIPIENT OF THE YOLO COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS MASTERS CLUB SINCE 2012
Congratulations!
OUTSTANDING LOCATION. Corner lot tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. 4 beds, 2 baths. A little under 2400 square feet. Single story with inground pool. Very nicely kept home with AMAZING curb appeal. Offered at $799,000. Call for details.
GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN RIO VISTA! 5 Ac Commercial property zoned industrial. Perfect for a storage unit business or boat storage. East side of property fronts 476’ on busy Airport Road. Well suited location surrounded by businesses and housing. Just minutes from Hwy 12 and core of down town Rio Vista. Water and PGE at property line. Priced reduced to $1,130,000.
Under Contract! IN ESPARTO LOCATED ON THE WINTERS SIDE. Very well maintained property 4 bedroom 2 bath 2362 sq. Ft manufactured home on a permanent foundation on 27 acres. 20+ in which are planted in Almonds. Home features new quartz counters in the kitchen, newer microwave, dishwasher and stove, newly painted cabinets. Master bedroom features new flooring, new quartz counters in bathroom, a jetted tub and full shower, a sitting room which seller uses as an office, very open floor plan, large roomy bedrooms, outside is a large fenced yard and nice wood patio/deck. Almond trees are approx 6 years old. There is a Ag well and domestic well. There is a 24 x 36 workshop/Ag building Also on the property are 3 covered 3 sided separate paddocks with fenced pasture for 3 horses. Water to paddocks for horses. Call for your private showing. Now priced at $995,000.
• Remodels/Additions • Repairs
7 East Main St., Ste. C Winters, CA 95694 530.795.4000 Camelot Winters, Inc.
916.849.8700
charlotte.myrealtor@gmail.com
• New Construction • Residential/Commercial
43 ACRES ALONG HIGHWAY 128. Across from Pleasure Cove resort area. Call Chad for details. Offered at $195,000. 7.7 ACRES OF HOWARD WALNUTS between Winters and Vacaville. Plenty of room to build that dream Home. Ag well and irrigation system is in. Call for details. Offered at $489,000. OUTSTANDING LOCATION. Walking distance to downtown! HUGE 1.6 acre lot. This private court offers the privacy that you’ll love, and the ability to have all the space you need SOLD Over 2400 square feet for all the toys. NO rear neighbors. of living space. Offered at $1,150,000. Call for John or Chad for details! SUPER CLEAN. Completely remodeled. 3 bed, 2 bath. SOLDOffered at $549,000. HUGE side yard for RV parking.
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A LITTLE OVER 35 ACRES. Class 1 soil. Great location in between Davis and Winterxs. the possibilities of D SOLExplore building your dream home!!! Offered at $649,000.
David Lorenzo
Public Figure • Real Estate Agent • Coach
(530) 795-3834 • 127 Carrion Ct, Winters
Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 — B3
Sho Local
Winters
Business & Service Directory You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy local and achieve it. Construction
Horoscopes ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20) Strange things are happening, Aries. It may be better to go with the flow right now. You might like the change that ensues, and the change in pace could be a positive. TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21) Better days are ahead, Taurus. It’s just a matter of having a little patience and waiting a little longer for things to settle down. Start a new project to take your mind off things. GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21) Make the most of time spent with friends and family this week, Gemini. You may need to step away for a little while, so cherish this time you get to spend with those you love. CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22) Cancer, someone special is able to take a peek into your inner thoughts this week. Their ability to see you so personally could reinforce your outlook. LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23) You might feel a bit melancholic as the holiday season nears its end, Leo. It’s understandable based on how much has been going on. Maintain a strong social calendar. VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22) Virgo, generosity is an admirable trait, and now is a good time to indulge your love of helping others. Make a concerted effort to pitch in where your assistance is necessary. LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23) When one door closes, another door opens, Libra. Look at all of the positive things in your life and embrace the great changes that are coming your way. This is an exciting time for you. SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22) Scorpio, there are so many things going on right now but you can still function effectively. The pace might be hectic right now, but things will calm down soon enough. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21) A relationship is blooming, Sagittarius, and you’re not sure how you feel about it just yet. Take a few more weeks to work through all of your feelings.. CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20) You have an eye for deals, Capricorn. Even though you have been spending a lot this past month, you can’t resist a discount on some post-holiday sales. AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18) Take a firm hold of your finances for the next few weeks, Aquarius. Overspending could complicate an important relationship if you’re not careful. Curb any purchases for a few days. PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20) You are not sure how to harness your artistic energy this week, Pisces. You might take a class or engage in a hobby that interests you. Redesigning a room in a home also might be an idea.
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B4 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Express Yourself How did you rate 2025? Rewind & Revisit
I
t is the end of another year and we should be looking forward, but . . . I always take time on New Year’s Day to look back and see how we did. Yes, I check our retirement accounts and financials for tax purposes, but I also think about lost friends and pets. Some years are better than others, and I would rate 2025 above average for my family. I think Winters had a pretty good year, too. The downtown seems to be busy, and I don’t think you can find more than one empty storefront. You never know what the future holds, but we have had a pretty good run lately. Our football team is number one in the state, the high school is still looking new, and there are other school projects in the works. Our Police and Fire Station is the envy of the state, and our cemetery has a new water well. The
“I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions, but if I did, can’t we all just get along?” Winters Express is still being printed and read. It is not too late to give a gift subscription to one of your neighbors. Developers still want to build homes here, and people still want to move to Winters. We’ve had to tax ourselves to support our schools, fire and police departments and there is a chance, maybe small, that our elected representatives will treat the new revenue like it is their own. Remember, being called cheap
(frugal) is a compliment.
I
don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions, but if I did, can’t we all just get along? How about demanding that politicians quit wasting our tax dollars and balance the budget? Can we figure out how to end conflicts around the world and learn to love our neighbors? Can politicians, from both parties, find common ground and fix some of our problems and not just point fingers and call each
other names? Now you know why I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, and I didn’t even mention the cost of just living and homelessness.. They are coming out with a weight loss pill, instead of a weekly shot, so maybe I will work on losing weight again this year. I set a goal of losing 10 pounds in 2025, but I’ve gained 5 so far. I’m writing this a few days before the end of the year, and there are more sweets in our house than ever before. I never thought I would cringe when I opened up a box, left on our front porch, but a 2-pound box of See’s candy isn’t something that we need. Maybe some of the candy will find a home at the museum, so we can spread out the weight gain to our friends and enemies. Try to stay positive and hope for a good, or better, New Year.
Solution for senior health care hides in plain sight By Janice Grandi, M.D. Special to CalMatters
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters.
P
ACE stands for Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and it is an effective option to support older adults whose goal is to safely age in their own homes. As a physician focused on the field of geriatric medicine (a specialty focused on caring for older adults), I believe in the power of PACE. Unfortunately,
Diverse Perspectives it remains one of the most underutilized resources in our longterm care system. Although there are several reasons for this, there also exist several attainable solutions. Each PACE program is community-based and provides wraparound medical and social services. The goal is simple but powerful: help seniors age with dignity and independence while
remaining in their communities as long as possible and simultaneously reducing hospitalizations. Its comprehensive services range from primary care, physical therapy, social work and dental, to transportation, meals, home care and day center activities.
S
ome might think PACE seems too good to be true, that it must be available only to those with ample resources. Well, good news! PACE is funded through Medicare and
Medi-Cal, making it a feasible option for a wide range of people. Participants qualify for PACE enrollment if they are 55 or older, live within a PACE program’s service area and need nursing-home-level care. PACE sounds nice, but does it actually work? A 2021 study by CalPACE, the state’s PACE advocacy association, found that PACE participants were hospitalized 44 percent less often than similar
See PACE, Page 5
Bad faith attacks undermine Newsom’s critics By Dan Walters CalMatters
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters.
A
s Gavin Newsom ramps up his almost certain campaign for president, and polls put him in contention for the Democratic Party’s nomination in 2028, he has become a favorite target of right-leaning commentators on network television and in YouTube videos and social media. While some criticism is grounded in fact and reasonable differences, there’s also a substrata of highly exaggerated, even fictional, output. Talking heads present him not as an ambitious politician who poses as a selfless public servant — something they all do, including the current president — but as a crooked charlatan. There’s plenty of material in New-
Diverse Perspectives som’s nearly three decades-long political career for legitimate criticism. And he tends toward over-thetop braggadocio about his accomplishments and amnesia about his failures. However, his most virulent critics take nuggets of fact — including those having nothing to do with Newsom — and pump them up to depict him as an agent of corruption and incompetence. One much-repeated trope is that Newsom, in concert with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, purposely or incompetently failed to protect residents of the city and suburban neighborhoods from devastating wildfires early this year. President Donald Trump fed that narrative by accusing Newsom of not sending enough water to
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20250988 12/1/2025 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business: ROCKPILE VENTURES Physical Address: 1006 SUFFOLK CT, WINTERS CA 95694 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: 1. SPRING WARREN, 1006 SUFFOLK CT, WINTERS CA 95694 BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: INDIVIDUAL Starting Date of Business: 11/21/2025 /S/ SPRING WARREN If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025 #85911
Southern California, thus leading to shortages that impeded firefighting. It’s just not true, but it’s repeated, with embellishments, on a regular basis.
A
nother oft-aired criticism of Newsom misuses a column I wrote when he was inaugurated in 2019. It depicted the fascinating interconnections be-
tween his family and the Getty, Brown and Pelosi clans, stretching back more than eight decades. Videos that frequently pop up on YouTube quote from the column verbatim, without attribution, and show the chart of family connections that accompanied the article. Then they tack
Dispatches from the Express archives.
Reprinted from the December 31, 1980 edition of the Winters Express
ANNIVERSARY: With this issue, we begin our 34th year as publisher of the Express. I don’t know where all the years went. It was December 20, 1946 when I came to Winters to see about buying the paper. It was a Friday morning and Fred Smith, then publisher, had been up all night getting the paper out. He was anxious to sell. From that experience, I decided never to sell out on press-day — wait until I’ve rested over the weekend to get a proper perspective. After closing the deal, I caught a Greyhound bus from Alice Lee Estepa’s restaurant back to Vacaville and then on to Sacramento to return by train to Upland to spend Christmas with Ida and Wilson, who was then a baby. I returned to Winters to take over the ownership of the paper on January 1, 1947. Looking back, it was somewhat audacious for a 27-year-old to impose himself on a town as publisher, giving the townspeople no voice in the matter. Fortunately, most of our readers feel that the paper is as much theirs as ours, referring to it as “our newspaper.” Only a handful of merchants who were in business when we came in 1947 are still in business, such as Greg Vasey, Rupert Snodgrass, Wayne Ireland, Jimmy Barker and Elmer Bruhn. The 33 years of stewardship on the Express is not a record. The late F.C. Hemenway owned the Express from 1908 until 1944, 37 years lacking one month. Add his 37 years to our 33, and you have a total of 70, meaning that the other publishers, Fred Smith, Walter Stark, Frank Owen and E.C. Rust had a combined total of 26 years. We would like to thank the community for putting up with us all these years and look forward to serving you for a good many years to come.
Your voice matters, and our community is stronger when it’s heard. Visit the “Submission Forms” page and click the “Online Services” link. Look for “Submit a Letter” or “Submit Content” to send it in. Not sure where to start? Email the editor for help
See CRITICS, Page 5
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20251004 12/5/2025 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business: DAVIS HARDWOOD & CARPET Physical Address: 436 COLLEGE ST, WOODLAND CA 95695 Mailing Address: 1826 IMPERIAL AVE, DAVIS CA 95616 Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: 1. CLAUDIA DIANE PEARSON, 1826 IMPERIALAVE, DAVIS CA 95616 BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: INDIVIDUAL Starting Date of Business: 1/23/2016 /S/ CLAUDIA D. PEARSON If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo DECEMBER 17, 24, 31, JANUARY 7, 2026 #85960
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20251002 12/4/2025 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business: A CLASS TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL Physical Address: 38630 WEST KENTUCKY AVE, WOODLAND CA 95696 Mailing Address: 2529 ORTIZ AVE, WOODLAND CA 95776 Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: 1. A CLASS TRUCK DRIVING SCHOOL, 2529 ORTIZ AVE, WOODLAND CA 95776 BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: CORPORATION Starting Date of Business: 5/17/2016 /S/ RISHIRAJ SINGH SIDHU If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: CEO I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo DECEMBER 24, 31, JANUARY 7, 14, 2026 #86140
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20250985 12/1/2025 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business: LG EQUINE SERVICES Physical Address: 300 HAMPSHIRE CT, WINTERS CA 95694 Mailing Address: Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: 1. TARA C LEONARD, 300 HAMPSHIRE CT, WINTERS CA 95694 2. HERIBERTO GONZALEZ, 300 HAMPSHIRE CT. WINTERS CA 95694 BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: GENERAL PARTNERSHIP Starting Date of Business: 7/1/2008 /S/ TARA LEONARD If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: GENERAL PARTNER I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo DECEMBER 10, 17, 24, 31, 2025 #85895
FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Clerk/Recorder F20251006 12/5/2025 Business is located in YOLO County Fictitious Business: COLDSTONE CREAMERY #24409 Physical Address: 835 RUSSELL BLVD STE 190, DAVIS CA 95616 Mailing Address: 3809 EL CENTRO RD, SACRAMENTO CA 95834 Names of Registrant(s)/Owner(s) & Physical Residential Address, State, and Zip: 1. FROZEN GALAXY LLC, 3809 EL CENTRO RD, SACRAMENTO CA 95834 BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY Starting Date of Business: N/A /S/ GURJIT DHILLON If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: MANAGING OFFICER I hereby certify that this is a true copy of the original document on file in this office. This certification is true as long as there are no alterations to the document, AND as long as the document is sealed with a red seal. Jesse Salinas, County Clerk/Recorder, State of California, County of Yolo DECEMBER 17, 24, 31, JANUARY 7, 2026 #85938
Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025 — B5
Sports Warriors ready for full slate of winter competitions Express staff Winters High School Warriors fans can expect plenty of action this winter as teams take the court, field and mat across multiple sports. While basketball, wrestling and soccer — including the school’s new junior varsity soccer program — are already underway, the varsity boys basketball is also ready to tip off now that 10 players have returned from football after helping lead the Warriors to a CIF state championship. With rosters now fully intact, fans can mark their calendars for a full slate of winter competitions.
Save the date Winters residents are invited to celebrate the 2025 CIF State Football Champion Winters High School Warriors during a community parade and rally on Jan. 4. The celebration will begin at 1 p.m. with a parade featuring the football team, cheerleaders and band members traveling from Second Street — a change from previously published information — to Rotary Park. The Warriors will bring the CIF
state championship trophy, and community members will have an opportunity to take photos with the trophy and players during the celebration. A community rally will follow at Rotary Park and continue until 2 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.
Sports schedules Below are the upcoming schedules. Games marked with * are league games/ matches.
Wrestling Jan. 2–3: Joe Rios Memorial at Chico High School, Chico, boys varsity at 11 a.m. (Friday) and 9 a.m. (Saturday). Jan. 7: Match Night at East Nicolaus High School, all wrestlers at a time TBD. Jan. 9–10: Napa Valley Girls Classic at American Canyon High School, girls at 9 a.m. Jan. 14: Senior Night Match Night at Winters High School, all wrestlers at 4 p.m. Jan. 17: • Corning Boys Invite at Corning High School, boys varsity at 9 a.m. • Ed Zuckerman Classic at Willows High School, girls at 9 a.m. Jan. 21: Match Night at Williams High
PACE Continued from Page 4 non-PACE individuals and had 26 percent less emergency room usage. Additionally, 98 percent of PACE participants continued to live in the community, and participants overall experienced lower rates of depression, better medication adherence, and higher satisfaction with care. PACE isn’t just the right thing to do for seniors; it’s smart public policy. With Medi-Cal costs rising and nursing home capacity strained, PACE relieves stress on the elder care system and budget. For example, PACE enrollment saved California taxpayers $369.4 million in 2024 alone. Why then are only about 10 percent of eligible older adults enrolled in PACE? Unfortunately, PACE remains limited by geography, infrastructure and awareness. Thus far PACE serves less than half of
School, all wrestlers at a time TBD. Jan. 24: Corning Girls Invitational at Corning High School, girls at 9 a.m. Jan. 28: Match Night at Pierce High School, Arbuckle, all wrestlers at a time TBD. Feb. 7: SVL League Championships at Winters High School, varsity at 10 a.m. Feb. 14: NSCIF Divisions 3 and 4 at Paradise High School, at a time TBD. Feb. 20–21: NSCIF Masters at Anderson High School, at a time TBD. Feb. 26–28: California State Championships, at a time TBD.
Varsity soccer Times labeled with “Both” are displayed as (Girls/Boys).
Jan. 6: vs Live Oak in Winters, Both, 4 p.m./6 p.m. Jan. 8: at Gridley, Both, 3 p.m./5 p.m. Jan. 13: vs Colusa* in Winters, Both, 5:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. Jan. 15: BYE week Jan. 20: at Pierce, Both, 5:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. Jan. 22: vs Willows* in Winters, Both, 5:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. Jan. 27: at Williams*, Both, 5:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. Jan. 28: at Consumnes Oaks, Girls at
California counties. And starting a PACE program requires significant upfront investment and navigating complex state and federal licensing processes. Even where programs do exist, many eligible seniors, caregivers and healthcare providers don’t know about them. To improve access and use, we should consider focusing state-level funding to help new PACE programs launch — especially in underserved areas — and on streamlining the approval process for PACE centers and investing in outreach to families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. With nearly one in four Californians projected to be over age 60 by 2030, it’s time to take action and invest in more effective and compassionate care models. Models like PACE hold out hope for a future where every older adult can age with the support, grace and respect they deserve. —Janice Grandi is a primary care physician working in geriatrics
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6:30 p.m. Jan. 29: at Colusa*, Both, 3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. Jan. 30: at Dixon, Boys at 6 p.m. Feb. 2: at Hamilton, Both, 5:15 p.m./3:15 p.m. Feb. 5: vs Pierce* in Winters, Both, 3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. Feb. 10: at Willows*, Both, 3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. Feb. 12: vs Williams* in Winters, Both, 3:30 p.m./5:30 p.m. Feb. 19: NSCIF Rd. 1, Details TBA Feb. 24: NSCIf Rd. 2, Details TBA Feb. 28: NSCIF Championship, Details TBA March 3-7: Nor Cal Regionals, Details TBA
Junior varsity soccer Times labeled with “Both” are displayed as (Girls/Boys).
Jan. 5: at Rio Linda, Boys at 4 p.m. Jan. 7: vs Roseville in Winters, Girls at 4 p.m. Jan. 12: at Woodland, Boys at 4 p.m. Jan. 19: vs Dixon in Winters, Boys at 4 p.m. Jan. 21: vs Rio Linda in Winters, Girls at 4 p.m. Jan. 28: at Consumes Oaks, Girls at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 30: at Dixon, Boys at 4 p.m. Feb. 4: at St Helena,
CRITICS Continued from Page 4 on fact-free addendums suggesting connections to organized crime or some other nefarious activities. Another line of criticism cites some leftwing legislative or ballot measure proposal, treats it like it’s already in law, portrays its supposedly devastating effect on the innocent public and lays it at Newsom’s feet. The proposed wealth tax, which could appear on the 2026 ballot, is one favorite topic, even though Newsom has repeatedly rejected it. Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations. But some are recognizable California figures.
Games labeled with two times are displayed as (JV/V).
Jan. 5: vs Marysville in Winters, 5:30 p.m./7 p.m. Jan. 6: vs East Nicolaus* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 9: at Paradise*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 12: vs Pierce* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 14: at Durham*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 16: at Willows*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 20: BYE week Jan. 23: vs Colusa* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 26: at Pierce*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 28: at East Nicolaus*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Jan. 30: vs Paradise* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Feb. 3: vs Durham* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Feb. 6: vs Willows* in Winters, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Feb. 9: at Woodland, 5:30 p.m./7 p.m. Feb. 13: at Colusa*, 5 p.m./8 p.m. Feb. 18: Playoffs – 1st Round, Details TBA Feb. 20: Playoffs – 2nd Round, Details TBA Feb. 25: Playoffs – 3rd Round, Details TBA Feb. 28: Section Finals, Details TBA All WHS winter sports schedules are available on the WHS Athletics department page at whs.wintersjusd.org under the “Student Life” tab.
Two frequent YouTube critics are Carl DeMaio, a longtime Republican politician in San Diego who won a seat in the state Assembly last year, and Victor Davis Hanson, an historian connected to Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. DeMaio’s shtick is that he has discovered some horrible thing that Newsom and other Democrats have cooked up to damage honest, hard-working Californians, but that mainstream media have ignored. It’s usually accompanied by a pitch for donations to his organization. Hanson is a widely recognized, erudite authority on military history, particularly World War II. He also fancies himself a political commentator with a particular bead on Newsom, but his critiques are often factually deficient. One of Hanson’s favorite assertions is that Newsom diverted bond funds meant to construct new
water projects into financing the demolition of four dams on the Klamath River. However the commitment for that project dates back to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s governorship, and the bond issue specifically contained the appropriation for it. Distorted criticism of Newsom is more off-putting than even his own tendency to bend historic fact. It also undercuts legitimate questioning of Newsom’s record, because he can, and does, depict any negative depictions as baseless propaganda. The anti-Newsom drumbeat is likely to get louder as he moves ever closer to a declaration of presidential candidacy. Viewer beware. — CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary.
Both, 4 p.m./6 p.m. Feb. 6: at Roseville, Girls at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 6: at El Camino, Boys at 4 p.m.
Varsity girls basketball Jan. 6: vs East Nicolaus* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9: at Paradise* at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12: vs Pierce* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14: at Durham* at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16: at Willows* at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20: BYE week Jan. 23: vs Colusa* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26: at Pierce* at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28: at East Nicolaus* at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30: vs Paradise* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3: vs Durham* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6: vs Willows* in Winters at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9: vs Anderson in Winters at 6 p.m. Feb. 13: at Colusa* at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17: Playoffs – 1st Round, Details TBA Feb. 19: Playoffs – 2nd Round, Details TBA Feb. 24: Playoffs – 3rd Round, Details TBA Feb. 28: Section Finals, Details TBA
Boys basketball
REALTY WORLD-CAMELOT WINTERS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Camila Martinez Camila Martinez, a Winters High School sophomore, is the Realty World – Camelot Winters’ Athlete of the Week. Varsity girls soccer head coach Alex Monsalve said Martinez leads by example and through strong communication on the field. “Defensively, she is very organized and disciplined; she has owned her duels against opponents while inspiring teammates to defend tenaciously. She is a big reason why we have only conceded one goal this season,” Monsalve said.
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B6 — Winters Express, Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Arts & Entertainment
WTC to host auditions for 10-Minute Plays, ‘A Chorus Line’ Special to the Express Winters Theatre Company will kick off its 2026 season with auditions for two productions: the return of its popular 10-Minute Play Festival and the musical “A Chorus Line.” All auditions will be held at the Winters Opera House, 13 Main St.
10-Minute Play Festival Auditions for the 2026 10-Minute Play Festival will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, and Tuesday, Jan. 13. No preregistration is required, and auditioners only need to attend one night. The festival features eight original works by eight writers and is produced by Ana Kormos and Jim Hewlett. Auditions will consist of cold readings, with directors introducing their plays and roles at the start of each evening. Many roles are flexible in age and gender, and actors may audition for multiple plays, with a maximum of three roles per performer. Rehearsals run Jan. 26 through Feb. 12, generally Monday through Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., with a required all-cast and crew meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan.
Credit
Actors Aaron Love and Rebecca Howard Till rehearse for “When the Mice Are Away,” directed by Jim Hewlett, which was performed as part of the 2025 10-Minute Play Festival. 22. Performances are scheduled for Feb. 20–22 and Feb. 27–28. More information about the selected plays is available at www.winterstheatre.org/2026tenminuteplays.
‘A Chorus Line’ WTC will also hold auditions for “A Chorus Line,” directed by Shane Robert, with music direction by Jia-Min Rosendale and choreography by Pamela Lourentzos. Auditions are by registration only and will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, and from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Callbacks are set for 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, and are mandatory for casting consideration.
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Auditioners must be 18 or older and should be prepared to dance and sing. Performers should prepare 16 to 32 bars of a song in the style of the show and bring sheet music in the correct key. An accompanist will be provided. The registration window runs Dec. 19 through Jan. 19. To register, email Shane. Robert349@gmail.com with the subject line “A CHORUS LINE REGISTRATION,” including a headshot, résumé and preferred audition date. Rehearsals begin March 30, with performances scheduled May 22 through June 7 at the Winters Opera House. Full audition details for both productions are available at winterstheatre.org.
Artery puts on group show for new year Special to the Express The Artery starts the new year with “Perfectly Square,” a group show featuring 40 Artery members and nine guest artists. The exhibit extends from Jan. 9 to Feb. 2, with the reception on Friday, Jan. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. This exciting show reveals the creativity of artists who have strict limitations. The pieces in “Perfectly Square” have no medium restriction, but the common thread is the square and dimensions of either 8-by-8 inches or 12-by-12 inches. It is exciting to see how creative each artist is with such limitations. This show includes paint-
Courtesy photo
“Head, Tails, and Scales” by Chris Dewees. ings, photography, ceramic and glass. Fiber and woodworking artists are also represented. All the pieces are new and were never shown before. The Artery, at 207 G St., is open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday, 10
DMTC to hold auditions for two upcoming spring productions Special to the Express The Davis Musical Theatre Company will hold open auditions in January for two upcoming productions: the Young Performers’ Theatre presentation of “Beetlejuice Jr.” and the main stage musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Young Performers’ Theatre Youth performers ages 7 to 17 (18 if cur-
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rently enrolled in high school) are invited to audition for “Beetlejuice Jr.” Auditions will be held at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, and Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Peña Dr., No. 10, in Davis. Callbacks are scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the same location. “Beetlejuice Jr.” is directed by Teá Pusey, choreographed by Logan Sexton and musically directed by Montana Monce. Based on the popular film and Broadway musical, the show follows Lydia Deetz, a teenager grieving the loss of her mother, who encounters Beetlejuice, a mischievous demon, after moving into a haunted house. The production contains mature language and themes and is generally rec-
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a.m to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery will be open through 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, for the reception of “Perfectly Square” which is also part of the Davis Second Friday ArtAbout.
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ommended for audiences ages 13 and older. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review the content prior to auditions. Auditions are open for all roles, and any role may be performed by an actor of any gender. Auditioners should prepare a song not from “Beetlejuice Jr.” and bring sheet music. A piano accompanist will be provided, and cold readings will be part of the audition process. Sign-ups and audition forms are available at dmtc. org/publicforms/ypt/ audition. Additional audition information can be found at dmtc. org/ypt-auditions. Rehearsals begin Monday, Jan. 12. Performances will be held March 14, 21 and 28, and April 3, 4 and 5.
Main Stage
Auditions for the main stage production of “Little Shop of Horrors” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, and Monday, Jan. 12, at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center. Callbacks will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the same location. The production is directed by Brian McCann, with musical direction by Tonya Whitson-Whennen and choreography by Kelly Lynn Jordan and Logan Sexton. The dark comedy tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a meek florist who discovers a mysterious plant, Audrey II, that promises fame and fortune — at a deadly cost. Auditions are open for all roles. Auditioners should prepare a song not from “Little Shop of Horrors” and bring sheet music. A piano accompanist will be provided, and cold readings will be included. Character lists and audition details are available at dmtc.org/auditions, with additional process information at dmtc.org/auditionsabout. Rehearsals begin Sunday, Jan. 18. The show opens Friday, March 6, and runs through Sunday, March 29.