Laughter appointed as director of special education, student services
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Adriane Laughter as the school district’s new director of special education and student services at a special board meeting held Thursday, July 24. Laughter succeeds Jenny Pinedo, who recently departed the role. Lisa Dennis, the school district’s director of human resources, presented the recruitment and selection process to the board. The position was posted in May, and the district received 24 applications. After a screening process, four candidates were invited to interview with a panel made up of special education staff, site leaders, and dis-
trict administrators. Laughter was identified as the top candidate on July 2.
“Adriane brings a wealth of experience in education, spanning classroom teaching and both site and district-level leader-
ship,” Dennis said.
“She has served as an assistant principal, principal, pupil services coordinator, and mental health coordinator in Dixon Unified School
See LAUGHTER, Page 6
City adjusts pool schedule as new school year nears
Express staff
The city of Winters has announced changes to its lap swim schedule at the city pool (Bobbie Greenwood Swim Center) to accommodate staffing transitions and preparations for the upcoming school year. According to City Manager Jeremy Craig, lap swim will be available from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. from July 28 through July 31. This temporary shift departs from the regular weekday lap swim hours of 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Additional schedule adjustments will
take effect Aug. 4 to 10, including modified lap and open swim times and the introduction of high school swim practices in the afternoons. New schedule
The updated schedule for Aug. 4 to 10 is as follows: Monday through Thursday
• Lap swim: 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
• Open swim: 12 to 3:15 p.m.**
• High school swim: 3:30 to 5:15 p.m.
• Lap swim: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday
• Open swim: 12 to 3:15 p.m.**
• High school swim: 3:30 to 5:15 p.m.
• Lap swim: 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
• Family swim: 7 to 9 p.m.**
Saturday
• Lap swim: 9:30 to
11:30 a.m.
• Open swim: 12 to 5 p.m.
Sunday
• Lap swim: 8:30 to 11 a.m.
• Open swim: 1 to 5 p.m.
Open swim lane
During all open swim sessions marked with “**,” a single lap lane (Lane 1) will be available for lap swimming. The lane is open to any participant of open swim on a firstcome, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. A $2 open swim fee or open swim punch card is required. For the full swim schedule and updates, visit www.cityofwinters.org/169/ Swim or the lap swim information page at www.cityofwinters. org/209/Lap-Swim.
Weather
Planning Commission approves vet clinic, hears public input on Farmstead
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
At its July 22 meeting, the Winters Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit for a new veterinary care business in the city of Winters.
The practice, located at 15 E. Baker Street and set to be called “Winters Veterinary Care,” will be run by local resident Danielle Fusco.
Former Winters city manager John Donlevy attended the meeting to speak on behalf of the project.
“This is super important for our community,” Donlevy said. “Anyone who has a pet in Winters knows that if you need to take them to the vet, you often can’t do it here because all the vets are full.”
After the project was introduced, the commissioners clarified various details of the conditional use permit, including a variance that allows for one fewer parking space than is typically required due to space limitations on the lot, and a variance that allowed for modifications to the trash enclosure requirements.
There is an existing residence on the property that was constructed in 1867, but it is beyond repair and
will be demolished to make way for the new structure. Commissioner Ramon Altamirano asked if the building had any special historical significance or designation, and planners confirmed that it does not.
The conditional use permit passed unanimously, and the project will now move forward with the next steps in design and eventually construction.
Farmstead development public input
The Farmstead development, a large-scale, 61.9 acre project with commercial and residential areas located north of Grant Avenue and east of Morgan Street, has been in the works since fall 2018. Since then, a multitude of discussions among city officials and the general public have shifted the plans to include less commercial space and more diverse housing options.
The current plan, the newest version presented to commissioners, includes a park, a commercial area, entry-level townhomes, single-family homes, and apartments, as well as designating a certain portion of the land to be used for low-income housing.
See PLANNING, Page 6
Winters resident hosts Red Cross blood drive Aug. 4
Winters resident Amanda Ellis will partner with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive on Monday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave.
All presenting donors will receive a $15 e-gift card as a thankyou from the Red Cross.
“As a nurse in the emergency department, I see firsthand how much blood is administered each day. Just today, I gave a patient two bags of blood,” Ellis said.
Appointments are
highly recommended to assist with planning and to help minimize wait times, though walk-ins will be accepted. Donors can register online at https://bit.ly/Aug4blooddrive using the sponsor code “Winters,” or by visiting www.redcrossblood. org and searching zip code “95694.” Prospective donors can view eligibility guidelines and complete a RapidPass health history questionnaire on the morning of their appointment to streamline the donation process. More information is available at redcrossblood.org.
Ellis said this is the first American Red Cross blood drive held in Winters, and community support is encouraged. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives. Red Cross volunteers will assist at the event. Those interested in volunteering with the Red Cross can learn more and register at redcross.org/volunteer. Spanish translation services can be requested in advance. For questions or to request accommodations, contact the Red Cross through the event registration site.
Courtesy photo
Winters native Adriane Laughter was appointed as the school district’s new director of special education and student services.
Express staff
Courtesy photo
Regional air district inaugurates air-filtration program
Special to the Express
Last Tuesday, the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District launched its Fresh Air For All –Home Air Filtration Pilot Program to provide free, high-quality air filtration devices to eligible households.
The program is designed to help residents — especially those in disadvantaged communities — maintain healthy indoor air during wildfire smoke events and other poor air quality days.
“Smoke from wildfires can significantly impact public health, and we’ve already experienced some poor air quality this season,” said Gretchen Bennitt, Exec-
utive Director of the District. “This pilot program is focused on supporting our most vulnerable communities by offering home air purifiers to help protect indoor air.”
Each eligible household that applies will receive one Oransi AirMend150 HB air filtration unit and one replacement HEPA filter, designed to last up to 12 months. Approximately 700 devices will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Households may submit only one application, and participants must pick up their device in person—either at a distribution event or at the District office, located at 1947 Galileo Court, Suite 103, in Davis.
Distribution events are scheduled for the Ro Vista Library from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16; Holy Cross Church in West Sacramento from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 17; and the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.
Residents can sign up in advance using the online application (also available in Russian and Spanish) or register on-site during a distribution event. The process is simple: applicants just need to complete the form and provide a document showing proof of address, such as a driver’s license or utility bill.
Once the form is submitted and documentation is verified, participants can
take home a unit immediately. If someone does not have documentation on hand at the event, staff will assist them in signing up for a later pick-up date.
Wildfire smoke can result in prolonged periods of poor air quality and poses serious health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration device in a well-sealed indoor space can reduce particulate pollution by more than 90 percent.
The district encourages residents to use air filtration devices during smoke events and to create “clean
air rooms” to ensure access to safe indoor air during high-pollution days.
The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District’s mission is to protect human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution.
As a public health agency, the district is responsible for safeguarding air quality and overseeing air pollution control in Yolo and northeastern Solano counties, including the cities of Dixon, Rio Vista, and Vacaville.
For information, visit ysaqmd.org. Connect with the Air District via Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Nextdoor.
Local gardeners invited to a free pest management class
Special to the Express
Gardeners of all expe-
rience levels are invited to attend a free pest management class on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden, 137 N. Cottonwood St. in Woodland, along the west side of the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Bauer Building. Hosted by Yolo County HHSA and led by a certified Yolo County UC Master Gardener, the class will focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a low cost, environmentally friendly approach to managing unwanted pests using natural methods. This class is part of an ongoing gardening education series offered throughout the year at the community garden.
No previous gardening experience is required to attend. Participants will learn how to identify beneficial and unwanted
pests, determine if pests are becoming a problem and learn about natural methods that are used to control them.
County earns national award for transparent purchasing
Special to the Express
Yolo County is proud to announce it has been awarded the 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement by the National Procurement Institute, Inc. marking another year of recognition for the county’s ongoing commitment to procurement excellence.
“This recognition reflects the county’s unwavering commitment to excellence, transparency, and fiscal responsibility,” said chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, Mary Vixie Sandy. “I commend our procurement team for their hard work and leadership in setting a high standard for public service. Their efforts ensure we continue to deliver value and accountability to the people of Yolo County.”
The AEP Award is presented annually to public agencies that demonstrate outstanding principles in innovation, profes-
sionalism, productivity, leadership and the effective use of technology, including e-procurement. This prestigious recognition highlights the county’s continued leadership in adopting best practices that enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability in public purchasing.
Procurement plays a critical role in ensuring Yolo County operates effectively, delivering essential goods and services to support daily operations and long-term goals. Receiving the AEP Award reaffirms the county’s dedication to responsible stewardship of public funds and its commitment to continuous improvement in managing public resources.
“The Procurement team is honored to be among the 216 agencies recognized with the 2025 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award,” said Tonia Murphy, deputy director of the
Yolo County General Services Department.
“This award affirms our team’s dedication to innovation, integrity, and excellence in public procurement. The team remains committed to upholding the highest standards in service to our community.”
First established in 1996 with only nine recipients, the AEP program has grown significantly, with nearly 200 awardees in recent years. In 2024, there were 198 successful applicants across cities, counties, school districts and other public entities. The rigorous application process encourages
agencies to exceed minimum standards and showcase innovative, results-driven procurement strategies that elevate the public procurement profession.
This recognition supports the goals of Yolo County’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, particularly in promoting a thriving economy, advancing smart development and being responsible stewards of public assets through operational excellence.
For more information about the National Procurement Institute and the AEP Award, please visit www.npi-aep.org.
There will be time to ask questions and discuss common pest problems in our region.
This class is free to all and is part of HHSA’s commitment to providing education that can help residents eat fresh fruits and vegetables and live healthier lives.
Registration is required by Friday, Aug. 8.
To register, contact Nick Gazda at Nick.Gazda@YoloCounty.gov or at 530-666-8429. Participants are encouraged to dress for warm weather, bring water and sun protection.
In the event of extreme heat or poor air quality, the class will be moved inside.
To learn more about the garden activities and classes, go online to www.YoloCounty.gov/ garden.
Federal forestry cuts fuel wildfire, resource concerns
By Christine Souza California Farm Bureau
As wildfire conditions across California are expected to increase steadily through the summer, state officials this month expressed concerns about cuts in staff and funding at federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, a division within the Agriculture Department that partners with the state to fight
wildfires and manage forests. California is home to 18 national forests, with 48 percent of its land owned and managed by the federal government.
“On critical priorities like wildfire, safety and water supplies, federal agency effectiveness is critical,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said during
See FORESTRY, Page 3
Courtesy photo
The Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden is at 137 N. Cottonwood St. in Woodland.
Regional News
Yolo DA pursues second Dominguez trial, set for early 2026
By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office plans to re-try a Davis stabbing case that ended in a mistrial last month after the jury failed to reach verdicts on most of the charges.
Attorneys in the case agreed upon a Jan. 20, 2026, start date for what’s expected to be an nine- to 10-week trial for former UC Davis student Carlos Reales Dominguez, they announced Thursday in Yolo Superior Court.
The prior jury acquitted the 22-yearold Dominguez of two counts first-degree murder in connection with the spring 2023 killings of David Breaux and Karim Abou Najm, but deadlocked on second-degree murder allegations.
Jurors also hit an impasse on an attempted-murder charge stemming from a third stabbing of Kimberlee Guillory. For that and the second-degree murder counts, the panel’s votes leaned
a webinar in which he and other state officials discussed potential impacts of federal staffing reductions to the state’s natural resources, including forests.
Patrick Wright, executive director of California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, expressed concern about how a 10 percent cut in U.S. Forest Service staffing could affect firefighters’ ability to battle wildfires and support efforts to thin forests and do prescribed burns to reduce wildfire fuels.
“The key is we need to scale up across the board if we are going to meet our targets and keep our communities safe,” Wright said. “This causes real concern in the federal ability to step up and meet our joint targets.”
A June executive order by President Trump called for “commonsense” wildfire prevention and response, and directed the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to consolidate wildland fire programs, strengthen the use of partnerships and mutual aid, remove barriers to preventing and responding to wildfires, and strengthen wildfire mitigation.
A budget request for fiscal year 2026 would unify wildfire management programs under a single U.S. Wildland Fire Service within the Department of the Interior. The president also called for increased timber production on federal land and reduced environmental red tape to expedite logging projects.
The 2026 federal budget and appropriations are under discussion in Congress and being heard in committee hearings. The proposed budget includes a reduction in Forest Service spending, including for fire suppression.
“Many Farm Bureau members are stakeholders who work and
toward acquittal. The mistrial followed five weeks of testimony and nine days of deliberations, halting the trial before it reached a planned sanity phase to determine whether Dominguez, who suffers from schizophrenia and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, knew his actions were legally and morally wrong.
Three mental-health experts who testified for the defense said Dominguez was in a state of “florid,” or active, psychosis during the stabbings that altered his perception of reality.
During Thursday’s trial-setting conference, Judge Samuel McAdam, who is presiding over the case, asked prosecuting attorney Matthew De Moura whether he planned to file an amended charging document based on the previous trial’s outcome.
With first-degree murder charges now off the table due to the acquittals, Domin-
live among the state’s forests, so as this federal agency reorganization plays out, we want to maintain strong communications to ensure that our members are informed and that their property, livelihoods and families are safe,” said Erin Huston, federal policy consultant for the California Farm Bureau.
Huston said the Farm Bureau supports “efficient and well-executed fire suppression,” including timber harvest and livestock grazing.
This month, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources related to Trump’s budget request for the Forest Service for fiscal year 2026. When questioned about sufficient Forest Service firefighting personnel this year, he said the agency currently has 11,250 firefighters, and the maximum that is typically hired is 11,300.
“We have not made any changes to our resource availability this year, whether it’s aviation resources or firefighters,” Schultz said.
About 1,400 nonfirefighting personnel who had “red cards,” or incident qualification cards, which indicate they are qualified to do the job when arriving at an incident, retired through the deferred resignation program, he said. Firefighters are not eligible for the program, he added.
To prepare for this fire season, Schultz said he met with local,
guez faces two counts of second-degree murder along with the lesser-included offense of involuntary manslaughter, as well as one count of attempted murder.
But while prosecutors initially charged Dominguez with an enhancement alleging the attempted killing was willful, deliberate and premeditated, McAdam suggested dropping that allegation the second time around.
Because the first jury ruled the two killings weren’t premeditated, “it would seem a matter of logic …
state and other partners, and they agreed to operate agreements related to who pays the cost of fighting fires.
Cal Fire reported 4,423 wildfires and 221,000 acres have burned in the state since January.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña said the state has a very robust mutual aid system, and the closest personnel are the first to respond.
“We’re fully staffed as we would be in every peak fire year situation,” he said, adding that Cal Fire responds to fires within its “responsibility area,” including in cities and counties, and sends resources when federal firefighters request help.
Staci Heaton, senior policy advocate of the Rural County Representatives of California, said her group has long wanted Forest Service restructuring and “don’t necessarily see it as a bad idea in the long run.”
“Our concern at this point is the slow pace at which this sort of restructuring of the Forest Service is happening and the large percentage of staff that they have eliminated,” she said.
To help the Forest Service, Matt Dias, president and CEO of the California Forestry Association, said his association is working to advance a public-private partnership for federally managed lands. He called the effort a strategy to allow partners to assist the Forest Service on meeting its objectives.
that this enhancement should be stricken as well,” along with a special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders, which requires a first-degree murder verdict, McAdam said.
Prosecutor Matthew De Moura disagreed the premeditation enhancement should be dropped. He noted the first jury made no finding on that allegation, which has its own set of facts, and should therefore go before a new jury to decide.
Dominguez’s attorney Dan Hutchinson concurred “from a strictly legal stand-
“The (federal) directive to increase fiber outputs is really an analogous to increasing pace and scale to provide better levels of protection for communities and natural resources through management of national forests,” Dias said. “The public-private partnership that
point,” although “practically speaking, had (the jury) reached it, there’s no doubt they would have made the same finding.”
McAdam continued to express concerns, saying the first jury “rejected” the prosecution’s theory that Dominguez carried out the killings in “intense anger” over his personal struggles, including his recent expulsion from UCD and a romantic breakup.
“Is that something you’re willing to consider dismissing, to streamline the trial, even though you may legally be on sound footing?” McAdam asked the prosecutor.
“No, your honor,” De Moura replied.
McAdam also urged the attorneys to “keep an open mind” about resolving the case before a second trial gets underway.
“Obviously, the community has spent a lot of resources on this case,” the judge said, citing not only the most recent trial but also a prior proceeding to determine whether Dominguez
we’re launching is actually having some of our members—the forest products sector— also carry some of that load.”
However, there are still lots of unknowns, he warned.
“It is fair to say that we don’t really know what the impact is going to be right now,”
was mentally competent to stand trial in the first place.
McAdam offered the services of a retired judge, Stephen Mock, to foster settlement discussions in a confidential setting if necessary.
“It’s premature, but I won’t say ‘no,’ ” De Moura said.
Meanwhile, one victim’s relative is questioning why the case is being re-tried at all.
“I don’t understand why there’s another trial. It’s not what I want,” Maria Breaux, David Breaux’s sister, told The Davis Enterprise. “For both me and David, and as several mental health experts agreed, Carlos needs compassionate care. Prolonging this is deeply painful.”
Abou Najm’s parents, Majdi Abou Najm and Nadine Yehya, also attended Thursday’s hearing but declined to comment afterward.
The case returns to court Oct. 16 for a status conference.
Dias said. “We are paying very close attention to how that restructuring occurs. Everybody is waiting to see where the chips fall.”
This article was originally published in the July 16, 2025, issue of Ag Alert, and is reprinted with permission of the California Farm Bureau.
An annual publication that welcomes our out-of-town visitors, newcomers and long-time residents with information and community events of Winters and the surrounding areas. This full color magazine will be direct mailed to over 4,100 homes in Winters and available at key locations. Don’t miss this opportunity to reach our growing community.
D ect Mailed to Wint s Homes on Friday, August 29
Courtesy photo
The Hanna and Herbert Bauer Memorial Community Garden is at 137 N. Cottonwood St. in Woodland.
Lake Berryessa water levels down
Express staff
The water level of Lake Berryessa was down by 0.55 feet over the past week, decreasing to 10,024 acre-feet of water storage, according to Cristian Tejeda, with the Solano Irrigation District – Putah Diversion Office. On the morning of Tuesday, July 29, he reported that the lake elevation was 433.88 feet
above sea level, with the water storage behind the Monticello Dam calculated at 1,437,843 acre-feet. The SID released 537 cubic feet per second into the Putah South Canal, with 45 cubic feet flowing into Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation from the lake averaged 225 acre-feet of water per day.
Public Safety Report
cluding vehicle accident with injury
July 16: 3:58 a.m., E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~7:58 a.m., Roosevelt Avenue, Public Assist
~1:58 p.m., Putah Creek Road, Grass Fire
~2:51 p.m., E. Main Street/Maple Lane, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~7:21 p.m., Morgan Street, Fire Alarm
July 17: 1:41 p.m., E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~3:12 p.m., Russell Street, EMS call – ex-
~3:39 p.m., Morgan Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury July 18: 4:02 a.m., Edwards Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~12:50 p.m., Winters Road, Natural vegetation fire (other)
~2:40 p.m., E. Grant Avenue, Dispatched and canceled en route
~3:05 p.m., Interstate 505/County Road 29A, No incident found on arrival at dispatch address
David Egbert passed away peacefully at Kaiser Hospital on July 22, with loved ones and friends by his side. David was 87. He was born on July 22, 1938, in Camden, New Jersey, to David and Laura Egbert.
David entered the US Air Force in 1956 and was stationed at Travis AFB. During this time, he met Joann Alexander of Winters. The two married in the spring of 1960 and settled in Winters, where they raised their family. He took a job with Pacific Gas and Electric in 1961. David attended college, receiving an AA degree in Criminal Justice, served as a Reserve Police Officer for the City of Winters, a Yolo County Sheriff’s Deputy and an EMT. He remained with PG&E, where he would work for the next 41 years until his retirement in 2000.
David lived for his family, always willing to sacrifice so that they would have anything they needed. This giving nature was not limited to family, though, as he tried to help anyone in need. David was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Winters, where he was a dedicated volunteer in the food closet, providing free food to members of his community.
David believed that any person could be successful and make it in life through hard work, sacrifice, and faith. He was always quick to give solid advice and encouragement to anyone in need of it. David was a long husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle. His death leaves a huge void in our lives, and he will be missed by all.
David was preceded in death by wife Joann Egbert, father David R Egbert Sr., mother Laura DiAmato, father-in-law Paul Alexander, mother-in-law Pearl Alexander, brother-in-law Charles Alexander (Marion), Joan Gamble (Lowell), and Bob Moore. He is survived by brother Charles; daughter Leslie Klimper (Robert); son David; grandchildren Benjamin Klimper (Nora), Eric Klimper (Megan), Cody
Klimper and great-grandchildren
Robert and Matthew Klimper, Crew and Callan Klimper and numerous nephews and nieces. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge the kind and loving personnel at Corner Stone Assisted Living, Vacaville, California, who we consider to be family. They provided a safe and loving environment for David the last 8 months of his life. All the lives David touched is a testament to his legacy.
A celebration of David’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, at First Baptist Church, 512 First St., Winters, CA 95694. David was very passionate about supporting St. Jude. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Picked by Charley Wallace
Charles Wallace/Express file photo
Richard Pitts, Jim Abels, Shirley Gibson and Celestino “Junior” Galabasa.
Courtesy photo Courtesy photo
California joins lawsuit over SNAP data access
This
By Wendy Fry and Mikhail Zinshteyn CalMatters
California, 18 other Democrat-led states, and Washington, D.C., are suing the Trump administration to halt the U.S. Department of Agriculture from collecting sensitive information about people who receive federal food vouchers, known as SNAP.
The Trump administration told states to provide the data by July 30 or risk losing federal funding to administer the program. California receives $1.3 billion annually to distribute about $12 billion a year to 5 million residents who rely on the food vouchers, called CalFresh in California. About 13% of the state’s population receives the aid.
“The purpose of what the Trump administration is doing here is to target immigrant communities,” said Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel, during a press conference today. She said Trump’s actions “send a chilling effect to American citizens, and to tell them that if they apply for programs that they are perfectly entitled to under law, their most personal and sensitive data is going to be shared with all kinds of people, and it’s going to have the impact, and I think it already is, of scaring people away from seeking these increased incredibly important programs.”
Residents without lawful legal status in the U.S. are not eligible for SNAP benefits. However, during Trump’s first term, he proposed eliminating benefits even for
EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
~9:12 p.m., Main Street/Ireland Street, Animal Rescue
July 23: 12:03 a.m., Walnut Lane, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury
View the Winters Fire Activity and Call Log at https://cityofwinters. org/157/Fire. Police Report Log
July 16: 12:30 p.m., 1000th block of Village Circle, Fraud
July 18: 8:57 a.m., First block of Russell Street, Found Property
July 19: 7:18 a.m., Cody Street/Dry Creek
“mixed-status” families where at least one person in a household lacks legal status.
In another example of policies that put California at odds with the Trump administration’s effort to crack down on immigrants living in the U.S., the state has tried to expand food benefits to some immigrants without legal status. In 2022, California became the first state in the nation to offer about $165 a month in food benefits to about 35,000 immigrants, mostly to recent green card holders. That expansion was part of the California Food Assistance Program, or CFAP, a state-funded version of food stamps.
Advocates for that effort argued many farmworkers toil in fields for decades at low wages, providing food to the rest of the nation, and then are unable to buy enough to eat, especially when they become senior citizens.
Why states are suing Attorneys general that are filing the suit argue that the Trump administration’s policy is “arbitrary and capricious,” violates the 10th Amendment that protects states’ rights as well as various privacy laws.
“We’re seeing a number of different cases recently where there’s this Spending Clause violation, where new conditions that Congress never put on the funding are being added by the executive branch after the fact,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “They can’t do that.”
The suit will be filed today in the federal Northern District of See SNAP, Page 7
Lane, Vehicle Tow
~10:54 p.m., 800th block of W. Grant Avenue, Domestic Dispute
July 20: 5:53 p.m., 700th block of Niemann Street, Miscellaneous Incident Report
July 21: 7:30 a.m., 700th block of Main Street, Vehicle Tow
~10:31 a.m., 100th block of Martinez Way, Miscellaneous Information Report
~3:10 p.m., 100th block of E. Grant Avenue, Miscellaneous Incident Report
View the Winters Police Department Arrest and Report Logs, visit www. cityofwinters.org/289/ Report-Arrest-Log For our editorial policy on crime log entries, see www.winters express.com/unpub lishing-policy.
Eventos hispanos
Comunidad y personal de emergencias se unen para la Noche Nacional en El Rio Villa
Por Redacción del Express
Traducido por Carol Alfonso
Residentes de El Rio Villa y organizaciones comunitarias están invitados a unirse a la segunda celebración anual de la Noche Nacional (National Night Out) el Martes 5 de Agosto, de 5 a 7 p.m., en el 62 Shams Way. El evento busca fortalecer los vínculos entre vecinos, personal de seguridad pública y proveedores de servicios locales.
La Noche Nacional es una iniciativa nacional que fomenta la participación comunitaria y promueve sólidas alianzas entre residentes y las fuerzas del orden público.
Este año, el evento incluye la entrega de mochilas, organizada en colaboración con el Distrito Escolar Conjunto Unificado de Winters JUSD. Los
niños en edad escolar recibirán mochilas gratuitas hasta agotar las existencias. Agentes del orden público, bomberos y personal de emergencias locales estarán presentes para reunirse con las familias, responder sus pregun-
ejecutivo de Vivienda del Condado Yolo (Yolo County Housing) y la Corporación de Desarrollo Comunitario New Hope (New Hope Community Development Corporation/New Hope CDC). “También es una gran oportuni-
“Los beneficios para los residentes son interactuar con diferentes proveedores de servicios y socios comunitarios que pueden ofrecer recursos útiles.”
Ian Evans, director ejecutivo
tas y compartir recursos de seguridad. “Los beneficios para los residentes son interactuar con diferentes proveedores de servicios y socios comunitarios que pueden ofrecer recursos útiles,” dijo Ian Evans, director
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dad para disfrutar de una cena gratis y pasar tiempo con los vecinos.”
Los organizadores enfatizan la importancia de fomentar la confianza y la colaboración entre los funcionarios de la seguridad pública y
las comunidades a las que sirven. “También quiero destacar la importancia de colaborar con las fuerzas del orden público para crear comunidades más seguras,” dijo Ami Reyes, coordinadora principal de servicios al cliente de Yolo County Housing/New Hope CDC. “No se trata solo de hacer cumplir la ley, sino de fomentar la confianza y una comunicación abierta entre la policía y la comunidad.”
Los organizadores del evento buscan organizaciones locales adicionales para que se unan. Para participar, contacte a Ami Reyes al 530-669-2215 o a Natalie Pérez al 530-669-2259. También puede enviar consultas por correo electrónico a areyes@ ych.ca.gov o nperez@ ych.ca.gov.
Voluntarios ayudan a cocinar hamburguesas en la Noche
Nacional del 2024 en El Rio Villa.
Foto cortesía
Kamala Harris will not run for California governor
By Alexei Koseff CalMatters
Kamala Harris will not run for California governor, ending months of feverish speculation and raising fresh questions about the next chapter of her political career.
The former vice president — a California native who rose to prominence as attorney general and U.S. senator for the state — announced Wednesday that she would skip next year’s open gubernatorial race. Though she did not confirm other plans, the decision leaves open the possibility that Harris will make another bid for the White House in 2028.
“I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election,” Harris
PLANNING
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At the July 22 meeting, the planning commission hosted a public hearing to collect community feedback on the latest version of the project plan before bringing the proposal back to take action on Aug. 12. Although the commission doesn’t have the final say on how the project plays out, they will make recommendations to the council regarding the final environmental impact report, amendments to the general plan land use map and zoning map, and approval for the development’s affordable housing plan, and pass on feedback they receive from the public during this part of the process. The main concerns raised by the public during the meeting included potential impacts on the residences neighboring the new development, and ways to lessen
LAUGHTER
Continued from Page 1
District. Most recently, she held the position of director of prevention and wellness at the Yolo County Office of Education, where she provided technical assistance and professional development to support the implementation of the multi-payer fee schedule and led countywide initiatives supporting foster and homeless youth.”
Dennis also noted Laughter’s deep connection to the community.
“Adriane is also a Winters native, still living here in town with her husband and two children, who attend our schools,” Dennis said. “Adriane’s vast experience and demonstrated leadership will be
wrote in a statement posted on social media. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”
Conjecture about what Harris would do next began almost immediately after she lost the November election to President Donald Trump. The 60-year-old Harris is still relatively young in political terms, and her flashy 107-day drive for the presidency, after then-President Joe Biden dropped out, reignited public interest in a figure who had been pushed to the margins in Washington, D.C.
Many observers came to see the California governorship as a natural landing spot. Harris previously passed on the office to run for U.S. Senate in 2016,
the environmental footprint of the project.
David Springer, a member of the Winters Climate Action Commission, asked whether solar power could be integrated into the design and encouraged the planning team to find ways to incorporate EV chargers and easy ties to public transportation. Currently, the residential areas of Farmstead are set to be all-electric, but the commercial zones are not.
Olivia Rodriguez, also a member of the Climate Action Commission, encouraged the developers to consider creating bike-friendly paths throughout Farmstead to connect it to other neighborhoods across Raileroad Avenue.
Kyle Ward, Richard Atherton and another neighbor, whose homes on Almond lane back up to the new development, said that they’re excited to welcome new neighbors but are
an excellent asset to Winters Joint Unified School District.”
Laughter is a graduate of Winters High School, Class of 1994, and attended Winters schools throughout her academic career. She credited several local educators with inspiring her path in education.
“Teachers like Joyce Sahara, Polita Gonzalez, Germaine Hupe and Nick McClellan had a profound impact on my education growing up in Winters,” Laughter said. “Their genuine care and deep engagement in the classroom inspired me to pursue a teaching credential. I feel truly privileged to now have the opportunity to give back to the school district that gave me so much and helped shape the person I am today.”
averting a showdown with future Gov. Gavin Newsom and setting off her rapid ascent in national politics. With Newsom terming out next year, the 2026 gubernatorial race is wide open, and California’s outsized role in the political discourse still provides its governor with a stage that can reach far beyond the state.
But seeking the office would have almost certainly forestalled a campaign in the next presidential election, which will kick into overdrive in early 2027, just as California’s new governor is taking office.
And despite returning to the state, where she lives in the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood, Harris appeared in recent months to be more interested in cultivating her place in the national spotlight. She publicly dipped back into politics in April with a speech at
hopeful that the new homes built directly next to their existing neighborhood be one story, rather than two, to match stylistically and give the current residents some privacy in their backyards. The developers were amenable to this idea and said they would discuss it further to flesh out what that might look like.
Crystal Apilado, the Winters Express editor-in-chief and a resident in the Walnut neighborhood, asked if there are plans for a security fence between the commercial and residential zones on the additional block of Broadview Lane, and planners confirmed that there will be a seven-foot privacy wall between the two areas.
The commissioners took note of the public’s feedback and will continue the conversation as planned at the Aug. 12 meeting at 6:30 p.m. to receive more public input.
In her new role, Laughter said she looks forward to supporting all stakeholders in the district.
“I am honored and excited to serve as the next director of special education and student services for the Winters community,” she said.
“As a parent, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the dedication, talent,
a fundraiser in San Francisco, where she warned that Trump was fomenting a constitutional crisis and called on Democrats to stand together to fight back against his dismantling of American values.
“They are counting on the notion that if they make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others,” Harris said at the time. “But what they have overlooked is that fear is not the only thing that’s contagious. Courage is contagious.”
The crowded field of California gubernatorial candidates is no doubt breathing a sigh of relief at the news. Harris’ near-universal awareness with voters and nationwide fundraising network would have made her the immediate frontrunner in the race and likely sent many of her fellow Democrats scurrying for the exit.
Early public polling is
spotty, but an April survey from Inside California Politics and Emerson College found that 31 percent of voters supported a theoretical Harris campaign, while no other contender exceeded single digits. They include former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former state Controller Betty Yee, former state Senate leader Toni Atkins, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and timeshare magnate Stephen Cloobeck. Former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are the most prominent Republicans in the field. —Alexei Koseff covers Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Legislature and California government from Sacramento.
and care that define our district. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to support our students, families, and staff in this role. I look forward to working collaboratively with our educators, families, and community partners to build on our successes and continue strengthening our special education program in service to
all students.”
Summer retreat
Following the appointment, trustees and district staff participated in a governance team workshop focused on leadership development and district planning. The agenda included team building, a review of the Winters JUSD vision, mission and graduate profile, a “reality check” session, commitments and next steps, and an overview of facilities and funding outlooks. The board’s summer retreat was facilitated by Terilyn Finders of F3 Law. The next regular meeting of the Winters JUSD Board of Trustees is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m.
This story was originally published by CalMatters.
Courtesy photo
A map of the Farmstead development planned bike pathways.
Senior News
Seniors benefit from new MOW Yolo, GroundGame.Health partnership
Special to the Express
Meals on Wheels
Yolo County, the regional organization that works to deliver fully prepared meals to food-insecure, isolated seniors, has entered a transformative partnership with GroundGame.
Health, a Tampa, Florida-based social impact company. The collaboration strengthens the local response to a nationwide crisis affecting millions of older adults — and thousands in Yolo County alone.
“In a state where more than 735,000 seniors face food insecurity – and more than 8,000 in Yolo County – Meals on Wheels Yolo County is creating healthier outcomes for Yolo County seniors through the delivery of nutritious food which also fosters social connections through regular
California. It is the 35th time in 27 weeks that California has sued the Trump administration.
“SNAP applicants provide their private information on the understanding, backed by long-standing state and federal laws, that their information will not be used for unrelated purposes,” Bonta said.
The Trump administration has tried to tap several state databases to quickly amass troves of sensitive personal information about hundreds of millions of people. Using that information is part of Trump’s effort to fulfill his campaign promise of carrying out the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history.
His administration says collecting the data is aimed at preventing waste and fraud. Trump issued an executive order in March that ordered his administration to have “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all state programs that receive federal funding.” In May, NPR reported that the administration sought Social Security numbers, addresses and,
visits and interactions between volunteers and seniors,” said Susan Rawlings Molina, co-founder and CEO of GroundGame.Health.
“We’re honored to power their work with technology that helps them advance their ability to drive deeper local impact.”
Meals on Wheels Yolo County serves more than 1,000 seniors daily, bridging nutritional and social gaps across rural and urban areas. The organization is also expanding its reach through additional nutrition assistance programs, including
for one state, citizenship data, for SNAP recipients. The orders came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and DOGE, the White House office that sought to slash government spending and was met with numerous lawsuits. Bonta said the Department of Agriculture “has never once asked states to turn over private and sensitive data on such a massive scale.” Now, it seeks five years of data about recipients, according to the attorneys general. California has already sued Trump for his administration’s efforts to collect personal data from people who rely on government services.
The Department of
medically tailored meals for Medi-Cal members with chronic conditions. It also partners with other
“This
California.
“This partnership amplifies our mission to nourish and engage seniors, ensuring they live healthier and safer lives as they strive to age in place,” said Joy Cohan, executive director of Meals on Wheels Yolo County. “With GroundGame. Health’s support, Meals on Wheels Yolo County’s team soon will have access to more robust and com-
partnership amplifies our mission to nourish and engage seniors, ensuring they live healthier and safer lives as they strive to age in place.”
Joy Cohan, executive director
senior nutrition programs and community-based organizations across Northern
Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, obtained access to people’s data held by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, including private medical information and other personal details about Medicaid recipients.
Nessel added that California and New York, the states leading the suit, contribute more in taxes to the federal government than they receive in federal services.
“We paid tax dollars to the federal government, then the federal government, you know, routes that money back to us in the form of these essential programs,” Nessel said.
If
ing to advance MOW Yolo’s ability to assist more seniors.”
Meeting urgent needs with scalable technology
Yolo County faces one of the highest poverty rates in California at 19.5 percent, despite being one of the country’s most productive agricultural regions. Many older residents live in food deserts or have limited mobility, cutting them off from essential services. Meals on Wheels Yolo County tackles these challenges directly—now with expanded capacity through GroundGame.Health’s Implify platform.
prehensive data in one system, optimizing and driving data-informed decision-mak-
The platform will support day-to-day operations, including management of clients, services, volunteers, staff scheduling, outreach, education, engagement, and revenue cycle
services. Implify is designed to align with programs funded under both the Older Americans Act and California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), reducing administrative burdens while meeting regulatory requirements. GroundGame. Health connects health plans, providers, employers, community-based organizations and other stakeholders to address unmet social needs and close quality gaps in care nationwide. Together, Meals on Wheels Yolo County and GroundGame.Health aims to close critical access gaps with compassionate, tech-forward solutions that grow alongside community needs.
To learn more, visit groundgame.health and mowyolo.org.
The Winters Senior Foundation, a local all volunteer non-profit foundation dedicated to providing social opportunities for seniors.
August Events
Wednesdays – Chair Yoga – Free - Drop-ins welcome –9:30am to 10:45am – St. Anthony Parish Hall Thursdays – MOW Cafe Yolo Lunch –11:30am to12:30pm –12:30pm to 3:00pm – WSF Social Gatherings –Drop-ins welcome – Community Center (530) 794-6067
info@wintersseniorfoundation.org
Courtesy graphic
Raptors, local author featured at Peña Adobe event Aug. 2
Free
family-friendly event features live raptors, author talk and local music Express staff
Looking for a wild and wonderful way to spend your Friday?
Head out to Peña Adobe Park in rural Vacaville on Friday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the Peña Adobe Historical Society will host a lively day of learning, nature, and local history.
This special event features the UC Davis California Raptor Center and author and avian expert Aaron M.K. Haiman, promising something for bird lovers, bookworms, and curious kids alike.
Nestled just off Interstate 80 on Peña Adobe Road, this peaceful park offers more than just scenic views — on this day, you’ll come face-to-face with some of California’s most majestic birds of prey.
Meet the raptors
Claire Stover, outreach coordinator for the California Raptor Center, will introduce visitors to the world of raptors — hawks, owls, falcons and eagles. Using taxidermy models, falconry gear, skulls, talons, and other hands-on displays, she helps people of all ages understand and
appreciate these magnificent hunters of the sky.
The California Raptor Center, based at UC Davis, is home to many non-releasable birds — those that have been injured or cannot survive in the wild — and these raptors serve as living educators.
Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls,
and American kestrels are among the center’s feathered ambassadors.
Also featured is Aaron M.K. Haiman, author of Birds of the California Delta, a stunning guide to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s diverse birdlife.
A lifelong birder and now a senior environmental scientist with the Wild-
life Conservation Board, Haiman brings passion and expertise to his talks. He began observing birds at age 5 and later earned advanced degrees in Avian Science and Animal Behavior from UC Davis. More to explore
While you’re there, bring your binoculars and camera — Peña Adobe Park is a haven for wildlife watching. Stroll the easy trails, hike up to the historic pioneer graves, or settle in for a picnic under the oaks. Tap your toes to live music from the Vacaville Jammers, who will “sing like the birds” throughout the day. Tour the Peña Adobe, built in 1842 and listed as California Historical Landmark No. 534, and visit the Mowers-Goheen Museum next door. Friendly docents will be available to answer questions and share stories of the Peña and Vaca families who helped shape the region. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. For more information, call 707-447-0518 or email penaadobe@gmail.com.
California schools to receive withheld federal aid, conditions still apply
By Adam Echelman CalMatters
After withholding billions of dollars in school funding for nearly a month, the U.S. Education Department said today it would release the money, starting next week.
But some school officials are still waiting until they have cash in hand before celebrating.
“The only way to know is next week, which is when these funds are supposed to arrive, but I am worried about what sort of hoops they want us to go through to be compliant,” said Kindra Britt, a spokesperson for California County Superintendents, an organization that includes all of the state’s 58 county superintendents.
Normally, California’s department of education begins working with the federal government in the spring so that K-12 and adult schools can start spending federal money on July 1 — but this year is different.
On June 30, the state education department learned that the Trump administration planned to withhold more than $800 million intended to support a slew of essential services in California, such as after-school programs and professional development for teachers. The administration also said it would withhold roughly $100 million for adult education, including money for English-language learning and high school equivalency courses.
Several California counties laid off workers soon after
the announcement, said Britt. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, arguing that the department is required to disburse the funds because Congress already appropriated them.
Last week the Trump administration partly relented by allowing the money for after-school programs to flow, but on a condition that schools use the money in accordance with the U.S. Constitution and other federal non-discrimination laws. The administration has used similar language as a pretext to propose cutting or delaying funding for diversity initiatives. Today the administration said it would release the rest of the funds starting Monday, but the same conditions apply. In an
email to adult education administrators, the U.S. Education Department said it was prepared to claw back any dollars used for “unallowable activities.” Based on the administration’s previous actions, those activities could include promoting diversity or allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports.
“Nearly two weeks after California joined with 23 other states to sue the Trump administration and nearly a month after grants were due to states, the administration has finally announced a plan to release education funds that they are illegally withholding,” said Michelle Hatfield, a public information officer with the California Department of Education. “In the meantime, school is already in session in parts of California
and the Trump administration’s actions continue to negatively impact California students.”
Nonetheless, Hatfield said she’s hopeful that the Trump administration “follows through” and sends the money to California quickly.
Bonta’s original lawsuit against the U.S. Education Department is still “ongoing,” said Elissa Perez, a spokesperson for the state’s justice department. “This is one of the latest examples of the Trump Administration sowing chaos to services and sectors that are critically important to Americans nationwide.”
Despite the potential for future litigation, many school officials say the release of federal funds is a victory and a testament to their advocacy.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond spoke out repeatedly about the funding delays, and lawmakers, including Congressional Republicans, agreed.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Troy Flint, chief communications officer with the California School Boards Association. “The funds never should have been held in the first place.”
Sharon Bonney, the CEO of Coalition on Adult Basic Education, said she was “elated” when the education department notified her. But she acknowledged that the month of delayed funding still had a serious impact. “There have been a number of programs that shuttered their doors or already started delivering a fraction of services.”
Courtesy photo
Rachel Avila holds Ember during a visit to Peña Adobe Park in Vacaville.
Thursdays
Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690, https://yolofoodbank.org/find-food
Saturday, August 2
Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution
Saturdays, 11 a.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue
Sunday, August 3
Start with Calm: Yoga at the Library (Adult 18 & up), 8 a.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/
Winters Sunday Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Downtown Main Street
Tuesday, August 5
Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/
Entertainment
Friday, August 1
Remedies, 6:30–9 p.m., Downtown Main Street
Sunday, August 3
Sofia Burns, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Downtown Main Street
Thursday, August 4
Silver City, 7 –9 p.m., Winters Rotary Park Gazebo Upcoming
Thursday, August 7
Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom info, check https://bit.ly/4fwmfHK or www.wintersjusd.org
Tuesday, August 12
Winters Planning Commission Special Meeting, 6:30 p.m.,City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/planning-commission/ Library Services
Winters Library Open to Public (Summer Hours of Operation) May 19 to Aug. 22, 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
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
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.
Walking Meditation, third Sunday, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Meet behind the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave.
Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: » St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 Main St. (back entrance) Tuesdays, 7-8 a.m. and Fridays, 7-8 a.m.
Walking into Marian Kammerer’s home, you can feel the love and legacy of family.
Marian grew up and has lived most of her life in Winters. She was born in November 1935. Growing up
Marian is an only child. Her mother died while giving birth. It was difficult. As a small child, you ask about your mother. It was upsetting to others, so she learned not to ask questions. She said that was hard, but it was just how they handled things back then.
Marian first lived with her mother’s parents, her grandparents, as her father was working. Her grandmother raised her and did not speak English. Spanish was Marian’s first language. Marian attended Olive School, which is no longer standing, though we still have Olive School Lane. She moved with her family into town when she was in the fourth grade. The rest of her education was completed in Winters schools.
At age 17, when she was a senior in high school, Marian lived with her father. He farmed for a while and then opened a grocery store, the Winters Food Center.
After she graduated from high school, Marian got married and left because, as she said, “I knew it all!”
Notable life experiences
Marian married her high school sweetheart, John C. John was in the Navy, and they were stationed in Oregon for two years. When they returned to Winters, he farmed with his father. Marian and John had 12 wonderful years of marriage. They had three sons. John died at age 32 from a heart attack. She said it was scary to be a single parent with three little boys. It was a hard time. Marian said she knew she had two choices, and she had to do something: Either go to school to learn and develop a career or get a job. She wanted to be home when her children came home from
school; this was important to her. Experiencing this struggle is the reason why she always encouraged youth to go to college. It is so important to have a way to take care of yourself and your family.
Fortunately, a job opened up at Winters High School and she worked as a secretary and attendance clerk. Marian worked at the high school for about nine years until her youngest child graduated from high school. This job was a lifesaver and where Marian met her second husband, John Kammerer. John was divorced and had custody of his two daughters and his son. They became The Brady Bunch. With their combined family, they had two children. Together, they raised Andrea, Ellen, John C. Jr., John K. Jr., Ed and Manny. Marian said some of the nicest times they all shared were at the dinner table. Boy, did they learn a lot about what was going on and experienced much camaraderie. One group of children cleared the table, and one group loaded the dishwasher. She said you had to literally hold onto your plate. Their house was never locked because it was a great, safe neighborhood. They hosted and attended many parties and events. Children were at their house all the time. Youth Day was always a great time and they had so much fun. In
An interview with a plant whisperer
By Michael Kluk Special to the Express
The UC Davis department of entomology and nematology is not the place you would normally expect to find a research scientist who is developing a completely new understanding of how plants relate to their environment.
But Dr. Richard Karban, formally trained in ecology and a member of the UCD entomology department since 1981, is doing just that. To be fair, much of his research focuses on the interaction of insects and plants, so there is a clear connection. But it doesn’t take long to see that his real love is plants.
I had the opportunity and pleasure to sit for a conversation with Dr. Karban over a cup of coffee on a beautiful spring day. His work is featured in “The Light Eaters” by Zoe Schlanger, Harper Collins, 2024. Fortunately for us, Dr. Karban believes science should be made available and accessible to all of us. He was
Ask a Master Gardener
most accommodating.
Now a retired professor emeritus, he still has a lab on campus, teaches seminars and conducts field research. He is clearly a man who is active, loves his topic and still spends much time studying plants in their natural environments.
Rick Karban’s life work gained focus when he realized that plants are not the passive life forms we often see them as. “I grew up thinking of plants as not doing much, not being very sensitive, not being very aware. But that is simply not true. The responses of plants are slower than animals. Because of that we miss many of their responses. But they are perceiving and responding to their environment in ways that make a lot of sense.”
Much of Dr. Karban’s research has been pushing the envelope on our understanding of how plants interact with their environ-
ment. His research has demonstrated without question that plants have a surprising ability to respond to threats, modify their interaction with their environment based on numerous factors and, central to much of Dr. Karban’s research, communicate with other plants.
In the cautious world of research science, it took time for Dr. Karban’s work to get a foothold. He delves into topics that simply are not going to attract big research grants and in the early years, he struggled to publish. “In the beginning of my career I worked on induced resistance in plants. (How plants
develop defenses in response to threats.)
People didn’t believe it. Didn’t believe it occurred; didn’t believe it was important. Didn’t believe I was finding it. That segued into work on volatile forms of communication as one cue that leads to this resistance.”
Acceptance has slowly come around. It is now much easier for him to publish. He still doesn’t receive research grants and must run his lab on a relatively tight budget. But he seems to prefer it that way, wanting to spend his time doing field research rather
than
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Winters Mayor Albert Vallecillo (right) presents honoree Marian Kammerer (center) with a certificate from the city. Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (standing left) and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs also presented certificates. Woody Fridae (right) holds the portrait he took of her.
Courtesy photo
Dr. Richard Karban of the UC Davis department of entomology and nematology.
Courtesy photo Marian Kammerer was celebrated as one of the 2025 Winters Elder Day honorees.
US existing-home sales dip 2.7 percent in June
National
Special to the
Existing-home sales fell 2.7 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million, according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest Existing-Home Sales Report. The data offers a detailed view of sales activity, pricing trends and inventory levels to guide industry professionals, buyers and sellers nationwide. Sales were down month-over-month in the Northeast, Midwest and South, while the West saw a modest increase. Compared to one year ago, sales declined in the Northeast and West but rose in the Midwest and South.
“The record high median home price highlights how American homeowners’ wealth continues to grow—a benefit of homeownership. The average homeowner’s wealth has expanded by $140,900 over the past five years,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.
“Multiple years of undersupply are driving the record high home price. Home construction continues to lag population growth. This is holding back first-time home buyers from entering the market. More supply is needed to increase the share of first-time homebuyers in the coming
years even though some markets appear to have a temporary oversupply at the moment,” Yun said.
“High mortgage rates are causing home sales to remain stuck at cyclical lows. If the average mortgage rates were to decline to 6 percent, our scenario analysis suggests an additional 160,000 renters becoming first-time homeowners and elevated sales activity from existing homeowners,” Yun continued.
“Expanding participation in the housing market will increase the mobility of the workforce and drive economic growth. If mortgage rates decrease in the second half of this year, expect home sales to increase across the country due to strong income growth, healthy inventory, and a record-high number
of jobs,” he said.
National highlights for June
Total sales: Down 2.7 percent from May; unchanged year-overyear. Inventory: 1.53 million units, down 0.6 percent from May and up 15.9 percent from June 2024 (1.32 million).
Supply: 4.7-month supply of unsold inventory, compared to 4.6 months in May and 4 months in June 2024.
Median price: $435,300, a 2 percent increase from one year ago ($426,900), marking a record high for June and the 24th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains.
Housing type breakdown
• Single-Family
Co-ops Sales: Unchanged at a rate of 360,000 units, down 5.3 percent from June 2024.
Median price: $374,500, a 0.8 percent increase from a year ago.
Regional snapshot
• Northeast Sales: Fell 8 percent to 460,000; down 4.2 percent year-overyear.
Median price: $543,300, up 4.2 percent.
• Midwest Sales: Down 4 percent to 950,000; up 2.2 percent year-overyear.
Median price: $337,600, up 3.4 percent.
• South Sales: Dropped 2.2 percent to 1.81 million; up 1.7 percent year-over-year.
Median price: $374,500, up 0.3 percent.
Homes Sales: Down 3 percent to an annual rate of 3.57 million, up 0.6 percent from June 2024.
Median price: $441,500, up 2 percent year-over-year.
• Condominiums and
• West Sales: Increased 1.4 percent to 710,000; down 4.1 percent yearover-year.
Median price: $636,100, up 1 percent.
Courtesy photo
Existing-home sales across the U.S. declined by 2.7 percent in June, while the national median price reached a record high, according to the National Association of Realtors
Express Yourself
Letters
Fireworks risk lives, not worth it
I am opposed to the sale of fireworks in the city of Winters. Our fire and police services must be able to focus their resources and energy on being prepared to confront natural emergencies rather than those caused by fireworks. The argument that nonprofit groups “need” to sell fireworks is ridiculous. There are many nonprofits in town that raise their money in ways that do not threaten our safety or cost the city money in stepped up surveillance and policing.
I am in favor of a city-wide ban on the use of fireworks by nonprofessionals, but I do understand that it will take time to educate our residents about the dangers of setting off fireworks and how much it costs the city to deal with their use. It will also take time to inform people who come from out of town to use fireworks on our streets and in parking lots, and to enforce any ban once it is in place.
I hope that Yolo County Supervisors will begin talks about a countywide ban on fireworks. Solano and Napa Counties are two neighbors that have banned fireworks. Fireworks are too dangerous for use just about everywhere in the West under our normal summer weather conditions.
Thank you for your consideration.
REVALEE HEMKEN Winters
Letters Policy
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• We reserve the right to determine legitimacy. Submit online at https://tinyurl.com/ syzevywd or visit wintersexpress.com and visit the “Submission Forms” page.
Horoscopes
ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20),
You’re on fire this week, Aries. Ideas are sparking left and right. Don’t forget to slow down before you burn out. You want to showcase energy without creating chaos.
TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21),
This week is ideal for treating yourself to something great, Taurus. Money and love are both flowing in a way that is to your liking. The universe delivers for you right now.
GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21), Gemini, your words have power this week, so use them wisely or go wild. It’s a great time to network, flirt or finally send that romantic text you’ve been thinking about.
CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22), It’s not a bad thing to have so many emotions flowing right now, Cancer. This week is ideal for reconnecting with your intuition or redecorating your space.
LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23), Get ready to shine again, Leo. You could be the center of attention and those around you love the show. You may also enjoy some career wins this week.
VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22), Virgo, you’re crushing your to-do list this week while others seem to be snoozing. Midweek brings you a curveball, but you can handle it with signature grace and organization.
LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23), Your charm is turned up to 100 percent right now, Libra. A chance encounter could ignite something sweet this week. Weigh your options regarding which path to pursue.
SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22), Scorpio, this week you’re serving up mysterious mastermind energy. People want your attention, but you are playing it really cool. Money or career secrets may come to light.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21),
Adventure doesn’t have to translate to a far-off trip, Sagittarius. It could mean a new idea or even a flirty conversation. If you’re in the mood to explore, bring someone along.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20), Capricorn, you might be plotting your next power move, and this week the stars are backing you. You could be giving off boss energy, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18),
You’re cool, quirky and full of surprises this week, Aquarius. Others are finally catching on to your appeal instead of trying to go up against you. A collaboration could spark genius.
PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20), Listen closely to your dreams this week, Pisces,. They are trying to tell you something. A creative streak could hit hard and it might lead to something truly magical.
Express Yourself
Investing in the news that knows you, the vital role of local journalism
Now and then, while out and about, I run into someone from Winters who’s moved away. When they find out the Winters Express is still going strong — still “a thing” — they’re often surprised. Not because they doubt its value, but because so many small, independent newspapers have disappeared.
We’ve all seen it happening — not just across the country, but right here in our region. More and more community papers are shutting down or getting absorbed by large media companies. It’s not surprising when you consider the challenges: declining advertising revenue, shrinking print subscriptions and the rise of digital platforms that deliver free headlines and highly targeted ads.
Even before the pandemic, I saw these shifts firsthand in the pet publishing world.
Page counts shrank. Glossy covers were replaced by lower-cost paper. As advertisers moved online, it became harder and harder for print publications to sustain themselves — even those with a loyal readership.
But here’s the good news — the Express is still here. Still printing. Still reporting. Still telling your stories.
I subscribe to the Express, even though I’ve read every article multiple times before it goes to press. My husband reads it too — usually scanning for the typo that got past my editing team — and always the opinion section. My daughter flips through looking for her friends and teachers, and she saves editions where she or one of her plays is featured.
So rather than focus on the headwinds local journalism faces, I want to focus on what readers lose when they don’t support it — and why I believe this paper is worth sustaining.
Local journalists ensure decisions are made in the open.
We attend city council meetings, school board sessions, and planning commission hearings — often the very places where decisions that shape your daily life are made. We show up, follow up, and ask the hard questions — even when we don’t get answers.
We share crucial public safety information and updates.
Wildfire alerts. Road closures. School emergencies. Election updates. We provide timely, trustworthy news — in print and online — without the noise and misinformation you have to wade through elsewhere. We strengthen community connection.
The Express shines a
Yes, plenty of folks — especially younger readers — turn to social media and online newsfeeds. And it’s true: a once-a-week print paper isn’t built for breaking news. But we adapt. We share urgent updates online and publish deeper context in print. It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable — and grounded in real reporting, not algorithms, rumors, or clickbait.
light on youth sports, community events, small businesses, historical stories, and quiet everyday heroes. It’s how we stay connected to each other. It’s how we celebrate what makes Winters special.
We provide a platform for local voices.
From guest columns to letters to the editor, this paper gives you a place to speak up, respond to issues, and advocate for the things that matter. It’s civic discourse on a human scale.
We preserve Winters’ history.
Newspapers are living records. Births, graduations, championships, public debates — they all become part of our shared timeline. I often dive into the archives of the Express and the Winters Advocate. Our sesquicentennial editions alone are proof of the power of local print to hold onto our collective story.
But the loss of local journalism has consequences. When a paper shutters, transparency tends to vanish with it.
A 2018 study from the University of Notre Dame found that when local newspapers close, public agencies often operate with less oversight, and taxpayers end up paying more — often through increased borrowing costs. Why? Because when no one’s watching, inefficiency and
poor decision-making grow more common. And sometimes, watchdog journalism is actively discouraged. In 2023, the small-town Marion County Record in Kansas made national headlines when its newsroom and the home of its publisher were raided by police. Officers seized devices and protected reporting materials — all over a complaint linked to a public records search. The raid was widely condemned by legal experts and press advocates and ultimately deemed unlawful. The damage, however, was done.
That story resonated with many small-town newsrooms, including ours. At the Express, my staff and I are committed to asking the tough, sometimes uncomfortable questions — because they matter.
Many of the questions we pursue come directly from you. People often bring concerns to us because they fear backlash or worry that they’ll be seen as stirring the pot. But the questions they ask are valid — and deserve answers. That’s part of our role: to speak truth to pow-
er, to dig deeper, and to press for accountability in the agencies and institutions that shape our schools, our city, our county and our lives.
Because when those questions go unasked — or worse, are discouraged — we all lose something essential. We lose clarity. We lose truth. We lose the chance to grow and improve.
If you already subscribe — thank you for
supporting local journalism.
And if you don’t subscribe — why not? It is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to invest in your town. You supports our ability to keep reporting, printing and showing up for Winters — week after week. Because when we invest in our local newspaper, we’re not just keeping it alive — we’re keeping Winters informed and connected.
Express Yourself
Fire Protection District special tax fails, big time
The final ballots were counted last week in a special election to raise money for the Winters Fire Protection District, covering parts of Yolo County outside of the Winters city limits. It didn’t pass and it wasn’t even close. The vote is weighted, which means that the more you pay in taxes the more your vote counts. You vote by how many tax dollars you will pay and not by how many houses you own. I would like to blame the residents of the district for the failed ballot measure, but with only 32.14 percent voting for the new tax, something went wrong with either the message or the perceived benefits of the added fees. If you
count the weighted vote it was only 8.86 percent in favor of the new assessments. That means that the larger landowners voted no. That would be 91.14 percent of the land value, or $65,984 in new taxes. The new tax would have raised $72,402.05 annually for the district. There were only 112 ballots turned in, out of 279 mailed out, or just over 40 percent. Sometimes I forget what it means to live in a rural community. There just aren’t that many people living out there.
The results were turned in by SCI Consulting Group, who I would assume was paid for by the fire
between the fire district and the residents where questions should have been asked and answered as to how to balance the needs of the district with the needs of the residents. Maybe the rural residents believe that their level of fire service is fine and decided to leave everything
“That will increase our fire protection in town, but since we contract to protect the rural fire district, they will benefit without paying.”
district to help with the election process. I have a suggestion; don’t hire them again. There were meetings
just the way they are now. Or, they were willing to pay a little more, but the formula just didn’t work for
them. The citizens of Winters voted to raise our taxes and hire at lease one more fireman, maybe two, and ordered a new fire truck. That will increase our fire protection in town, but since we contract to protect the rural fire district, they will benefit without paying. Just a small burr under my saddle.
Istill think that the rural fire district needs to increase their tax base, just to keep up with the added cost of running a fire department. Just how that is going to happen is up to those living in the district.
Chief Snyder told me that we can no longer rely on volunteers, as in the past, and we have transitioned to a paid fire department.
He added that volunteers are still big part of the operation.
There are several large farming operations in Southwest Yolo County that voted no. Who is going to sit down with them and figure out how much they are willing to pay for better service? Or, are they never going to vote to raise their own taxes?
There are plenty of smart people on the two fire boards, plus our city council. I’ll be waiting to hear if there is a Plan B, C or Z, and if they want to try again next year? Who is going to be the one with a sharp pencil that offers free coffee and new ideas? I would like to be the fly on the wall at that meeting. Have a good week.
WHS PE waiver for athletes undermines equity
By Chris Novello
It has been two months since the Class of 2025 crossed the graduation stage at Winters High School, my 32nd Commencement as a teacher. Like many ceremonies, the participants were united in their uniform of cap and gown.
The display of additional sashes, power cords, and tassels delineated various distinctions and honors.
The earning of a State Degree in FFA, Dual Enrollment through a Junior College and CSF membership due to stellar grades, to name a few. With the exception solely of membership in the Migrant Education Program, the opportunity to aspire to become the next valedictorian or participate in the afore-mentioned programs is available to all students at WHS.
Again, to clarify, every single member of the incoming freshman Class of 2029 will begin high school with a fresh start, with an opportunity to chart their own success. It would be naive not to acknowledge, however, that not all of our students will follow through on taking full advantage of all of these opportunities.
In the best of circumstances, high school is a challenge. It is extremely difficult to have sustained success on your own. My years in education have shown me that, collectively, the students who have the most success are often those who have a strong support system, especially as it concerns advocacy. Advocacy, which in turn can help open opportunities to access. But what is to be done for students who do not have advocacy and support on their behalf? Especially when the lack of advocacy and access is due to circumstances not within their own control.
Every parent should feel empowered to take action on their child’s behalf to try to ensure that their child gets the best education possible. Even though this stance will put me at odds with my employer, I feel a moral obligation to speak up when I see a situation that is providing access to a certain group for certain benefits, while denying
Diverse Perspectives
access to another group for those same benefits. I choose to speak on behalf of those who may not have advocates. Not because those students and their parents are incapable of speaking for themselves, but because they actually may not even be informed of the mechanisms in play that are creating situations of unequal treatment or a lack of equity of opportunity.
Such is the case, I believe, with the recent decision by Winters Joint Unified School District to move forward with a policy allowing student athletes at WHS to gain PE credit for their sophomore year by way of participation in inter-scholastic sports. The district has enacted a policy that would provide a waiver, allowing a select group of students the opportunity to take another class in place of PE during their academic day, be it an enrichment elective or an A-G course to bolster their academic credentials.
In April and May of this past school year, fellow PE teacher and Athletic Director at WHS, Daniel Ward, and I petitioned the school board, and both WHS and District Admin to not go forth with this program. From my observation, trustee Sterling Davis, an educator who is also the cheer coach at WHS, stands alone in raising consistent concerns with, and voicing opposition to, this proposal.
To be clear, the proposal to allow the district to waive this year of PE is permissible by Board Policy and Ed Code. I believe, however, that as proposed, the waiver policy violates Board Bylaw 9310: The Board shall ensure that district policies align with the district’s vision and goals, promote student learning and achievement, provide for consistent and fair treatment of students and staff, and proactively address equity and the provision of equal access to opportunities for all students. (The bold print is my emphasis).
On paper, all students at WHS have “access” to be involved in extracur-
ricular activities, such as sports. The reality for many in our community, however, makes such access not very practical, if not impossible. It has been shared with the Board that these factors include transportation issues for those who are bussed immediately after school to homes far away, including the 1.3 miles to El Rio Villas; there are students who are tasked with caring for younger siblings, due to family obligations and the simple fact that child care is scarce and expensive; there are students who, due to family obligations, work after school jobs to help their family make ends meet. Finally, there are students who would not be able to participate in this program for a variety of other reasons: they have no interest in sports, but may have other passions and
college readiness, and create opportunities through field trips, available to all students, to visit various colleges; the counselors do an amazing job of working with students on college and career planning, including offering multiple workshops on applying for FAFSA and navigating the Common Application process; all students, regardless of academic standing can challenge themselves and pursue taking AP classes. Yet, regardless of the origin of this additional support and advocacy, what all students at WHS have in common is the length of the school day–for certain, the bell schedule and the number of class slots available is quite an equalizer. Until it is not. It may not be the district’s intention, but the consequence of this decision to allow select stu-
“The district needs to rescind this offer of additional access, or they need to allow for ALL sophomores to pursue satisfying the state required second year of PE through alternative means.”
pursuits–such as art, music, CTE courses–that are not being validated this way; they have a great interest in sports, but may lack the skill set to “make the team” and survive cuts; there are other students who have health conditions precluding such involvement. When presented with the questions of how this proposal does not invalidate the district’s stated missions and goals of equal access and equity, there has not been a coherent, logical answer. This author finds such dismissals of acknowledging how this proposal is leaving certain students behind to be dismissive and insensitive. In circling back to the situation of varying advocacy on behalf of students, I take comfort in the fact that WHS does, I believe, attempt to mitigate as much as they can this issue of access and support. To this end, there is tutoring available through many sources; the AVID program emphasizes foundational skills of organization and note-taking to promote
dents to opt out of PE will allow those students to, in a sense, widen the achievement gap over their peers who will not have this opportunity, based solely on athletic aptitude and ability.
The solution to this issue I believe is pretty-straightforward. The district needs to rescind this offer of additional access, or they need to allow for ALL sophomores to pursue satisfying the state required second year of PE through alternative means. It was just a few years ago, while WHS had a 7-period day, that we offered an opportunity through summer school and an online program for students to complete this 2nd year PE requirement. This program was presented as an opportunity for students to expand their access to academic classes, while others used it for credit recovery, following Distance Learning of COVID. Both Mr. Ward and I know this program inside and out because we both taught the program. In
my opinion, if this alternative option is not offered to all sophomore students for the coming 2025-26 school year, leaving in place the option of opting out of PE solely to WHS athletes, it will be further evidence of a conscious bias against a segment of our student population.
I would encourage all interested parties to utilize the proper channels to express their views on this matter, both pro and con. If you are a proponent of the exclusivity of this access to student athletes only, and can articulate a coherent argument about how such a policy does not go against the guarantees of equity and equality afforded to all students by Ed Code, please share such thoughts with me at cnovello@wintersjusd.org.
If you find fault with this proposed policy, you can share your views in a variety of ways. The power to award this waiver rests with the Superintendent Rody Boonchuoy (rboonchouy@wintersjusd.org), or his designee(s): Assistant Superintendent of Ed Services Phoebe Girimonte (pgirimonte@wintersjusd. org) or WHS Principal Justin Young (jyoung@wintersjusd.org).
The next school Board meeting is Thursday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m. I do not anticipate this issue being a Board Agenda item at that time. Individuals can address the Board about any topic of concern, with a 3-minute speaking limit. Keep in mind that in order to speak, you must fill out a speaking card before the start of the meeting. Make plans to come early to the district board room so you can fill one out ahead of time. You may also correspond with Board President Joedy Michael (joedymichael@wintersjusd.org) or any board member: Trustee Sterling Davis (SterlingDavis@wintersjusd. org); Trustee Carrie Green (Cgreen@wintersjusd. org); Trustee Kristin Trott (Kristintrott@wintersjusd. org); Trustee Everardo Zaragoza (Everardozaragoza@wintersjusd.org) — to share your feelings on this matter, and to provide them an opportunity to explain their position on this matter, in their own words.
Special to the Express Winters AYSO Region 436 has announced its schedule of balancing clinics for the 10U and 12U divisions, set for Monday, Aug. 4, at the Shirley Rominger Intermediate School soccer fields, 502 Niemann St. Balancing clinics are not tryouts. Rather, they allow coaches and registration administrators to observe players’ skills and abilities to form balanced teams, in keeping with AYSO’s six core philosophies: Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship and Player Development. Clinic schedule:
• 10U boys: Check-in
at 5:15 p.m., begins at 5:30 p.m.
• 10U girls: Check-in at 5:45 p.m., begins at 6 p.m.
• 12U boys: Check-in at 6:15 p.m., begins at 6:30 p.m.
• 12U girls: Check-in at 6:45 p.m., begins at 7 p.m.
Players should wear comfortable clothing and bring water. Activities will involve a series of skill-based stations.
14U girls players needed
The AYSO registrar is urgently seeking additional players for the 14U girls division. Players born in 2012 or 2013 are eligible. At least four more players are needed to form a second 14U girls team for the Fall Core season.
than we realize.
EPIC registration open
Registration remains open for Winters AYSO’s new EPIC (Everyone Plays In our Community) program, an inclusive soccer league for youths and adults with disabilities.
The six-week season begins Sunday, Oct. 6, with games held Sunday afternoons through Nov. 10 at the Rominger soccer field. Registration will close in August to allow organizers time
to order uniforms and volunteer T-shirts.
Open to players ages 4 and up, the EPIC program is supported by trained volunteer coaches and on-field “buddies,” who assist and encourage players during games.
There is no program fee, but a one-time $25 AYSO National Player Fee is required and covers participation through July 2026. Players who register now will not need to pay again for the spring season. Each participant receives a free uniform.
An EPIC information booth will be available at the inaugural AYSO Youth Soccer Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Winters Rotary Park. Families can ask questions, register players, and learn more about volunteering as a coach or buddy.
To register or to find information, visit www.wintersayso.org. Direct questions to wintersayso@gmail. com.
One common example of plants responding to their environment is seen in a plant’s response to light and shade. We’ve all seen a plant bending towards light, away from shade. That is actually accomplished with a hormone, auxin, that elongates the cells on the shady side causing the plant to bend. Dr. Karban explained that this response is not as simple or “mechanical” as it may seem.
Plants can actually recognize if they are being shaded by a wall or another plant. If another plant, research shows they much more aggressively work to avoid the shade.
Plants primarily use the red wavelength of light for photosynthesis. Light that passes through the leaf of the shading plant is deficient in the red portion of the spectrum and less useful than shade cast by a wall. And, in fact, there is evidence that plants can “anticipate” they are going to be shaded by another plant and will begin to grow away from it before the shading actually occurs. This is one common example that illustrates plant responses can be much more sophisticated
Much of Dr. Karban’s work has focused on plant responses to damage, such as that caused by insects. His research, and that of others, demonstrated that plants use a variety of mechanisms to resist further damage once an attack occurs. As he emphasizes, plants respond slower than animals do, they can afford to lose more tissue than we can, but respond they do.
Some plants will increase the lignin in their bodies which makes them tougher, others may produce more trichomes, tiny hairs on the surface of stems or leaves, both of which make them less palatable. There is clear intraplant communication because this happens throughout the plant, not just the portion subject to attack. Even more surprising is the ability of some plants to produce substances internally that are very unpalatable to insect attackers. Again, this happens throughout the plant once attacked and relatively quickly in “plant time.” Thirty years ago, the idea of induced resistance was extremely controversial. Now it is well accepted, largely due to Dr. Karban’s work.
Dr. Karban also realized that a plant’s ability to gear-up its
defenses in areas that have not yet been attacked happened much more quickly than communication through the plant’s vascular system would allow. He surmised and has since proved that at least in some plants, this is done through the release of volatile chemicals to the air that are then received and acted upon by the other portions of the plant. Once intraplant communication via volatile chemicals was discovered it became clear that neighboring plants were picking up on the chemicals and thus also being warned of imminent attack. They increased their internal defenses before suffering any damage.
“The primary way plants communicate with each other is with volatile chemicals. There may be other things we don’t know about. But at this time, the best-known ways of plants communicating is with volatile chemicals in the air and in the soil. This has been documented in more than 50 different plants and has been known for 30 years. I would imagine all plants have this ability to a greater or lesser extent. It is not a one off.”
At least with the sagebrush that Dr. Karban was studying, communication
seemed to be limited to plants within 60 cm (2 feet). The mechanism plants use to receive these cues is unknown at present, but the physiological response is observable. It is clearly happening.
Continued from Page 1 administering grants.
the later years, when the children had all moved out, that emptiness syndrome was tough to get through.
Dr. Karban conducts much of his research on sage brush at a UC Berkeley field station north of Truckee. There he has a group of ninety-nine sagebrush plants he has studied extensively. He knows their genetics and through that their relationship to each other: parent, offspring, sibling, cousin or more distant relation. Because of this in-depth knowledge, he was able to recognize that the composition of the volatile chemicals emitted by each plant varied but there were definite similarities in the chemical “fingerprints” of close relatives. It turned out that the plants could also recognize the warning cues given off by a close relative as opposed to a “stranger.” They were much more likely to build a defense when warned by a relative.
My talk with Dr. Karban ended with a discussion about an infestation of cutworms attacking his broccoli plants. We didn’t come up with a completely satisfactory solution and, apparently, the broccoli plants haven’t either, at least not yet.
— Michael Kluk is a UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
Marian’s family legacy includes six children, 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way), and two great-great-grandchildren. In addition to working at the high school, Marian worked at a doctor’s office for about 19 years. She also helped run her son’s office at his construction company until John became sick. They had 40 good years together before John died in 2007. Marian said time hangs heavy when you are a widow. She has many fond memories. John helped to raise funds to take the Winters football team to Hawaii, as well as other places such as Lake Tahoe and Disneyland. John helped to broaden the horizons of local young people. Marian was a part of this, too. She said working with and helping youths was extremely rewarding.
John and Marian traveled quite a bit after their children got out of college. They went to Spain, to the area where her grandparents came from, and also visited the area where her father was born. Overall, they traveled on six different occasions to Europe, including Spain, as well as other countries. They had
many adventures together, with so much to be grateful for.
Life reflections In reflecting on her life, she said that her mother’s friend Lurleen was someone who made a difference in her life.
Lurleen helped Marian get into 4-H and taught her to sew. She did so many wonderful things, like making matching dresses for her daughter and Marian. She said that Lurleen was a gift and showed up in so many ways. She advises youths to get an education. Most importantly, Marian advises everyone:
• To be a caring person, to have compassion and to be understanding.
• Help others in any way you can. Take them to the doctor. Take them to lunch. People need to know that somebody cares about them.
• Faith is also important. It helps carry you, especially through the hard times.
• When mistakes are made, it’s what you do after that that matters; that is what is most important.
• Be positive, this will carry you through.
• Don’t sit at home, watching the “idiot box” (TV) all day.
• We all make our words of wisdom as we go along, through trial and error.
The Winters Express is featuring all five 2025 Elder Day honorees. To see the full list, visit https://bit. ly/2025WintersElders.
birthday this weekend while traveling to Oregon with her team for tournament play.
ELDER
Courtesy photo
Winters AYSO soccer focuses on player development, good sportsmanship, and balanced teams to create a fun, inclusive experience for every child on the field.
Arts & Entertainment
Secrets take the stage in ‘Murder on the Nile’
Special to the Express
This summer, Winters Theatre Company invites audiences to embark on a thrilling journey down the Nile River with its summer production of “Murder on the Nile” by Agatha Christie. Opening weekend kicks off Friday, Aug. 1, at the historic Winters Opera House (13 Main St.), and promises an unforgettable voyage filled with suspense, secrets and dramatic twists.
Set aboard a luxury steamer cruising through Egypt, “Murder on the Nile” delivers a gripping mystery centered around a wealthy newlywed couple whose honeymoon is cut short by murder. As tensions simmer among the eclectic group of passengers, long-buried secrets surface and alliances shift. With every character a potential suspect, this classic Christie whodunit keeps audiences guessing until the final moment.
Directed by Shane Robert, the produc-
tion offers a fresh and emotionally layered interpretation of one of Christie’s most intriguing plays.
The cast features a mix of WTC’s veterans and new faces, whose dynamic performances bring depth and intrigue to every scene.
With precise pacing, richly imagined characters, and a sultry Egyptian backdrop, “Murder on the Nile” captures the spirit of
golden-age mystery while exploring timeless human motives like love, greed, envy and betrayal.
Opening weekend performances will be held:
• Friday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. (matinee time)
Performances continue the following weekend at 7:30 p.m.
on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available now at www. winterstheatre.org.
Don’t miss this chance to experience Agatha Christie’s classic suspense story brought to life on stage. Join WTC for an evening of mystery where no one is safe, everyone has something to hide — and the truth waits just beneath the surface.
Wine not? Celebrate Albariño in Winters on Saturday
Special to the Express
Raise a glass to International Albariño Grape Day during the Albariño Wine Stroll on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in historic downtown Winters.
Guests 21 and older are invited to sip, stroll and savor the vibrant streets of Winters with a curated tasting experience featuring small bites and half-glass pours of Albariño wine or Albariño-inspired cocktails at local tasting rooms and businesses.
Check-in details
Concert lineup: Free music on Main and at the Gazebo
Express staff
Live music and small-town charm take center stage in Winters as the Winters District Chamber of Commerce hosts its free summer concert series on Main Street and at the Rotary Park Gazebo.
The lineup kicks off Friday, Aug. 1, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. with Music on Main featuring the Remedies, who bring classic rock and upbeat energy to downtown’s outdoor crowd.
The music continues Sunday, Aug. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., during the Downtown Winters Farmers Market, with singer-songwriter Sofia Burns performing along Main Street. Shoppers can enjoy fresh produce and handmade
goods while taking in acoustic folk and indie-inspired tunes.
On Thursday, Aug. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Chamber concert series returns to the Rotary Park Gazebo for an evening with Silver City, delivering smooth melodies and crowd-pleasing classics in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
All concerts are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets to the gazebo concerts and enjoy food and beverages from local restaurants and vendors.
For more information about these events and others hosted by the Winters District Chamber of Commerce, visit www.winterschamber.com.
Participating locations include Turkovich Family Wines Tasting Room, Berryessa Gap Winery Tasting Room, Ficelle, Carboni’s Ristorante, The DeVillbiss Room, The Back Alley at Preserve and Hooby’s Brewing. Tickets are $50 and include a 3-ounce pour at each stop, plus exclusive access to day-of promotions with proof of passport purchase at select locations.
The full promotion details can be found online at www.discoverwinters.com/winestroll.
Attendees must check in at the white tent near the Rotary clock on the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Bring your ID, email confirmation and the name your tickets were purchased under. Checkin closes at 3 p.m. Late arrivals can check in at the Turkovich Family Wines Tasting Room (304 Railroad Ave.). Wristbands and event passports are required to access tastings. Be sure to keep your passport with you throughout the event.
For information or to purchase tickets, visit www.discoverwinters.com/winestroll.
Joy & Madness brings funk to Odd Fellows stage
Special to the Express
The Davis Odd Fellows Thursday Live! concert series is back on Aug. 7 with the eight-piece soul
and funk band Joy & Madness. We dare you to stay seated for this show!
The Odd Fellows Hall is located at 415 Second St. in downtown Davis. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Live! shows are donation-only, with all money going to the musicians. Donations are encouraged.
Joy & Madness is a Sacramento/Davis project with roots in funk and soul music. They describe their sound as a raucous mix of raw energy, pulsing grooves and juicy horn lines coloring tightly crafted songs. They’ve shared the stage with performers as prolific as Trombone Shorty, Tower of Power and Collective Soul. The band is fronted by Hans Eberbach on vocals, joined by Andrew Enberg on drums, Ron Cowden on guitar, Miss Nixi on bass and vocals, Jeremy Springer on keys, Raul Sandoval on bari sax, Tim Taylor on tenor sax and Tony Marvelli on trumpet. Thursday Live! is presented by the Davis Odd Fellows Music
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Visitors can explore downtown Winters sipping Albariño and tasting small bites during the Winters Albariño Wine Stroll.
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Winters Theatre Company’s summer production of “Murder on the Nile” by Agatha Christie opens this weekend on Friday, Aug. 1, at the historic Winters Opera House, 13 Main St.
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Joy & Madness takes the stage Aug. 7 when the Davis Odd Fellows’ Thursday Live! music series returns from its summer hiatus.
Friday Aug 1st
David Outlaw Band w/Jonny Mojo at Craw‐
Scott Guberman: Playing The Dead @ 11pm O'Reilly’s Pub, 1840 Haight St, San Francisco
Lagerlicious Summer Soiree with Red's Blues @ 4pm Touchstone Brewing Company, 116 N 16th St Suite 100, Sacra‐mento
gizeh muñiz - FISHBLOD @ 7pm / Free Jul 31st - Aug 3rd Damn, I think this piece is about adoration... and devotion. But also, disobedience. omg and obsession. This piece is about TRUST ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing. ODC The‐ater, 3153 17th Street, San Fran‐cisco. boxof�ce@odc.dance, 415549-8534
Kevin Sgarro plays Dead @ 7pm Barbary Coast, 952 Mission St, San Francisco
Storek - A NPU Venue, 155 9th Street, San Francisco. directors@detour.pro ductions
Wanjiru Kamuyu | WKcol‐lective, a dance companyAn Immigrant's Story @ 8pm / Free Jul 31st - Aug 1st As a “foreigner”, “(im)migrant”, “othered body” one is confronted with the pertinent need to re-de�ne home and re-establish one’s place within a new societal framework. ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco. boxof�ce@odc.dance, 415-549-8534
Swept to Sea @ 8:30pm Neck Of the Woods, 406 Clement St, San Francisco
Matt Logan: Lunchbox Music @ Salesforce Park @ 12pm Salesforce Park, 425 Mission St, San Francisco Scott Guberman and Alex Jordan @ 1pm O'Reilly’s Pub, 1840 Haight St, San Francisco Kira Fargas - Maya @ 5pm / Free Inspired by the reality of families torn apart by seas, structures, and policies, this new work researches themes of displacement,
Born And Raised Band: Born And Raised w/ Burke. A Night to REMEMBER @ 7pm The Green Room Social Club, 251 Main St, Plac‐erville Leila Awadallah - shuhada alive-streamed un-ceased FIRE @ 7pm / Free Aug 2nd - Aug 3rd Leila Awadallah’s duet with a unique, self-playing musical in‐strument confronts and distorts the tropes of the Arab, feminine body ODC Theater, 3153 17th Street, San Francisco. boxof�ce@ odc.dance, 415-549-8534
Magic Nostalgia - Live at Music City SF | Pop @ 7:30pm / $10 The band you never knew you needed Music City San Francisco, 1355 Bush Street, San Francisco. andrea@musiccitysf.org
WTC presents Murder on the Nile @ 7:30pm / $21.05-$23.18
Class, money, and reputation are at stake on a Nile River cruise where deceit, theft, and murder make waves in this suspenseful Agatha Christie whodunit full of mystery and drama. Winters Opera House home of the Winters Theatre Com‐pany, 13 Main Street, Winters. win terstheatre@gmail.com
Natalie John Music: Victor Little's Big Hit @ 8pm Dawn Club, 10 Annie St, San Fran‐cisco
Root of Happiness Presents Tony Irie @ 9pm Root of Happiness Kava Bar | Mid‐town, 808 R St #101, Sacramento
KEPIK: Darkness We Rise Tour Kickoff @ 9pm Public Works, 161 Erie St, San Francisco
SATURDAY: Melvin Seals & JGB - A Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Celebration @ 10pm Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
Cynthia Lin: Summer UkeSplosion! @ 12pm Yerba Buena Gardens, 750 Howard St, San Francisco
Maya Jane Coles @ 1pm Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy St, San Francisco
WTC presents Murder on the Nile @ 2pm / $21.05-$23.18
Class, money, and reputation are at stake on a Nile River cruise where deceit, theft, and murder make waves in this suspenseful Agatha Christie whodunit full of mystery and drama. Winters Opera House home of the Winters Theatre Com‐pany, 13 Main Street, Winters. win terstheatre@gmail.com
Pamela
WTC presents Murder on the Nile @ 7:30pm / $21.05-$23.18 Winters Opera House home of the Winters Theatre Com‐pany, 13 Main Street, Winters. winterstheatre@gmail.com Class,
dad's on the River @ 2pm Crawdads on the River, 1375 Garden Hwy, Sacra‐mento
Phil Grif�ths: Featuring for Rocky Dale Davis at Cobb's Comedy Club @ 7pm Cobb's Comedy Club, 915 Colum‐bus Ave, San Francisco
Ranjit Bawa @ 8pm Crest Theater, 1013 K Street, Sacramento
Ranjit Bawa @ 8pm Crest Theater, Sacramento
AXIAL TILT - An All-Star 5Hour Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Celebration @ 9pm Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
Rotary Club of Davis Weekly Lunch & Program @ 12pm See website for details. ro‐taryclubofdavis.com Davis Com‐munity Church, 421 D Street, Davis. spshoe@mac.com
Plastic Nancy @ 7pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco
Penn Jillette @ 7pm Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento
Penn Jillette in conversa‐tion with Mark S. Allen @ 7pm Crest Theater, Sacramento
Philthy Dronez @ 8pm Rickshaw Stop, 155 Fell St, San Francisco
Laney Jones @ 8pm The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, Sacramento
The Spirits @ 8pm The Starlet Room, 2708 J St, Sacramento
Water‐color Painting with Misuk Goltz (6sessions) @ 10am / $215 Aug 5th - Sep 9th
Expand your watercolor painting skills in this 6session workshop with Misuk Goltz! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pencesocialmedia@ gmail.com, 530-758-3370
Pro Am Showcase - Live
Comedy @ 7pm / $8 New comics and seasoned pros share the stage at Laughs Unlim‐ited to bring you the funny. Get your tickets NOW! Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laugh sunlimited@gmail.com, 916-4468128
The Sympathy Of All Things LIVE @ The Lucky Horseshoe @ 7pm The Lucky Horseshoe, 453 Cort‐land ave, San Francisco
Skinny Pete @ 7:30pm Cafe Colonial, 3520 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento
9am / $350 Aug 8th - Aug 16th Join us for The BIG Night, a Wine Country Charity Auction bene�ting the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. He‐lena and Calistoga. Support edu‐cation, health, art, and recreation programs for Napa Valley youth. Trinchero Napa Valley, 3070 St He‐lena Hwy, St. Helena. steve@bgc shc.org, 707-909-0627
Harmonic Jam @ 5pm Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco. guestexperiences@war riors.com
/ $29 Aug 6th - Aug 7th Celebrating 45 years in comedy in August 2025, Laughs Unlimited will be hosting the Sac Town Comedy Get Down which will be four day and night festival of comedy, edu‐cation, insight and FUN!! 25 Comics Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laughsunlim ited@gmail.com, 916-446-8128
Mikailo Kasha Quartet Featuring Matt Stubbs @ 7pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐cisco
Los Yesterdays @ 7:30pm Harlow's, 2708 J St, Sacramento
Los Yesterdays @ 7:30pm Harlow's, 2708 J Street, Sacra‐mento
Dougie Poole + Meredith Edgar Trio @ Cafe DuNord @ 8pm Cafe Du Nord, 2174 Market St, San Francisco
Catherine Moan @ 8pm DNA Lounge, 375 11th St, San Francisco
The Beltones @ 8pm Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St, San Francisco
Suede Razors
@ 8pm Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St, San Francisco
Jackpot, Golden Shoulders, Sarah Bethe
2nd Friday ArtAbout at the Pence Gallery @ 6pm View fun art exhibits at the Pence during the monthly artwalk! Pence Gallery, 212 D Street, Davis. pence socialmedia@gmail.com, 530-758-3370
Candlelight: Tribute to Bad Bunny @ 7pm / $34 St Ignatius Church, San Francisco. fever@eventvesta.com
Night Shop @ 7pm Kilowatt Bar, 3160 16th St, San Francisco
Emo Night Brooklyn @ 8pm The Chapel, 777 Valencia St, San Francisco
Thomas Dollbaum @ 8:30pm 4 Star Theater, 2200 Clement St, San Francisco
Sac Town Comedy Get Down - 45 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! @ 9:30pm / $29 Aug 8th - Aug 9th Celebrating 45 years in comedy in August 2025, Laughs Unlimited will be hosting the Sac Town Comedy Get Down which will be four day and night festival of comedy, edu‐cation, insight and FUN!! 25 Comics Laughs Unlimited Comedy Club and Lounge, 1207 Front Street, Sacramento. laughsunlim ited@gmail.com, 916-446-8128
