Trustees approve new high school personal finance course
By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer
On Thursday, May 1, the Winters Board of Trustees voted to approve several items, including a new personal finance course starting for Winters High School in 2027. Trustees voted unanimously to implement the new
personal finance class and will begin being offered in the 2027 school year.
The proposed class will be a semester-long version of the previously adopted year-long personal finance course that’s currently offered at WHS.
Teacher Chris See COURSE, Page 5
Community invited to Memorial Day event
staff
The Winters Cemetery District invites the community to gather in solemn remembrance on Monday, May 26, at 1:30 p.m., for the 2025 Winters Memorial Day ceremony honoring those who gave their lives in service to the nation. Flags will fly at half-staff, and smaller flags will mark the graves of veterans laid to rest in the Winters Cemetery where the event takes place. The ceremony will
feature the Winters Girl Scouts leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a community singalong of patriotic songs led by Bruce Chapman. Col. John Klohr, Commander of the 60th Mission Support Group at Travis Air Force Base, will serve as the featured speaker.
The event will conclude with a 21-gun salute in honor of the 26 veterans from the area who were killed in action, as well as the 468 veterans buried in the cemetery. Kevin Corrales will perform TAPS to close the tribute.
All members of the community are encouraged to attend and pay their respects.
Police, Fire celebrates staff
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
In the midst of a packed agenda at the May 6 Winters City Council meeting, the Winters Fire Department and the Winters Police Department took a moment to recognize staff who have shown extraordinary dedication to their work over the past year.
For the Winters PD, this came in the form of announcing its 2024 Officer of the Year: Gordon Brown. This is Brown’s second time receiving the honor, with the last time being in 2014. He was nominated for the recognition this year by Sergeant Albert Ramos, who said that Brown is a proactive and community-focused member of the team. After an injury forced Brown to temporarily shift to light duty, he was able to return to work in June of 2024, and now leads the department in citations and arrests.
Festival and Trunk or Treat or the Cadet program, for which he is a mentor.
“After I was injured, I worked my butt off to come back,” Brown said. “It means the world to be here still wearing this uniform, doing a job I dreamed of doing as a kid.”
Ramos added in his nomination that Brown also arrives at work early, communicates well with the public and with other members of the department, and is eager to participate in community outreach, whether it’s events like the Public Safety
From the Winters Fire, Fire Captain Matt Schechla was recognized for his completion of the National Fire Academy Managing Officer Program — the first in Winters Fire history to do so, and one of only approximately 600 people in the United States with the des-
ignation.
“He is the epitome of self-growth,” Winters Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said while presenting the accomplishment.
This designation is the culmination of classwork geared toward leadership and data analysis, as well as an independent capstone project. Schechla has been working for Winters Fire since 2015, and tackled the Management Officer Program as a personal challenge.
For his capstone project, Schechla put
The hometown paper of Marcella Heredia
Express
Sonora Slater/Winters Express
Police Chief John P. Miller presented Officer Gordon Brown as the Officer of the Year.
Sonora Slater/Winters Express
Fire Capt. Matt Schlechla’s daughter pins his newest bar on his uniform at the Winters City Council meeting.
achievements
Eventos hispanos
El Ayuntamiento
detalles de ordenanza para vendedores de comida
La ordenanza volverá al Ayuntamiento el 17 de Junio
Por Sonora Slater Traducido por Carol Alfonso
Una propuesta de ordenanza que endurecería la aplicación de diversas regulaciones relacionadas con los vendedores de comida, además de aclarar el proceso de permisos para vendedores y posiblemente limitar el número de vendedores de comida en la ciudad, se pospuso hasta el 17 de Junio después de que varios ciudadanos expresaran sus inquietudes en la reunión del Ayuntamiento a mediados de Abril.
La gran cantidad de asistentes se debió a una petición, firmada por más de 200 personas en la zona de Winters/Woodland/ Vacaville, que instaba al Ayuntamiento a reconsiderar la ordenanza. La petición, creada por un vendedor local de camiones de comida (food trucks), indicaba que el Ayuntamiento redactaría una nueva ordenanza que obligaría a los vendedores de comida a vender en propiedades privadas en lugar de públicas, y mencionó las dificultades para encontrar propietarios de propiedades privadas dispuestos a permitirles vender comida en su espacio.
Sin embargo, como se aclaró en la reunión del 15 de Abril, operar camiones de comida en propiedad pública ya violaba la ordenanza aprobada en el 2018, y lo ha hecho durante algún tiempo. La norma simplemente no se ha aplicado estrictamente en los últimos años, lo cual fue uno de los factores que llevaron a la redacción
de la ordenanza, que se encuentra en proceso desde Octubre del 2024. Sin embargo, como lo evidenciaron los comentarios públicos durante la reunión, esto no era ampliamente conocido ni comprendido por algunos vendedores ni por el público.
Andrés Salazar, propietario del camión de comida Burger Bros, comentó que creía que el camión tenía permiso de operar en propiedad pública durante cuatro horas al día según el código vigente. Otros vendedores de comida expresaron opiniones similares.
“Hemos estado operando bajo la impresión de que cumplíamos con la ley municipal,” dijo Salazar. Juan Pablo López, propietario del camión de comida Guichos Taqueria, también comentó que creía que operaban según el código. Guichos, cuando la ciudad le dio el permiso original, obtuvo permiso para establecerse en una propiedad privada de Dollar General. Sin embargo, la gerencia del local cambió de opinión posteriormente, siguiendo las instrucciones de su oficina corporativa. El personal municipal permitió que el puesto de tacos operara temporalmente en propiedad pública mientras López buscaba un nuevo local en propiedad privada, pero hasta el momento, Guichos no ha encontrado un propietario dispuesto a aceptar la idea. “Cuando está en juego tanto dinero y el sustento de la gente, no puede haber este tipo de malentendido,” respondió el residente Dillan Rivas. El alcalde pro tempore, Bill Biasi, señaló que los negocios tradicionales también tienen una inversión financiera
significativa en sus establecimientos, y señaló que otra de las motivaciones del consejo tras la ordenanza original era apoyar a los negocios tradicionales del centro (Downtown de Winters) y protegerlos de ser ignorados en favor de comida más barata de un camión de comida con costos generales mucho menores. Pero Rivas afirmó que comparar gastos generales no es justo cuando los niveles de ingresos también difieren proporcionalmente, y Araceli López, hermana de Juan López, comentó de forma similar sobre la naturaleza subjetiva de una gran inversión financiers.
Varios concejales expresaron su incertidumbre sobre la aprobación de la ordenanza tal como estaba redactada esa noche. La concejala Carol Scianna comentó que desde el principio había tenido dudas sobre ciertos elementos de la ordenanza, pero que tras compartir las opiniones de la comunidad, se sentía cada vez menos cómoda con su redacción actual.
“Construimos esto asumiendo que habría propiedades privadas disponibles,” dijo Scianna.
El concejal Jesse Loren expresó su apoyo a continuar la conversación basándose en los comentarios recibidos, y el concejal Richard Casavecchia coincidió.
“Lo que tenemos pondría a la gente fuera del negocio,” dijo Casavecchia. “No tienen adónde it.”
Sin embargo, Biasi no apoyó la continuación de la conversación debido a la tardanza de los comentarios, argumentando que, al ser esta su quinta reunión pública sobre el tema y la tercera reunión del consejo municipal, el tiempo del personal
dedicado a perfeccionar la ordenanza ya había sido considerable. Si bien el alcalde Albert Vallecillo apoyó la continuación de la conversación, coincidió con el comentario de Biasi y lo amplió sobre el momento oportuno del comentario, refutando la sugerencia de la petición de que esta ordenanza era nueva.
“Entiendo su frustración, y necesitamos resolver algunas quejas,” dijo Vallecillo. “Por lo tanto, no quiero concluir esta conversación esta noche. Pero los ciudadanos deben prestar atención a lo que está sucediendo en su comunidad; hemos estado trabajando en esto durante cinco meses.” Rivas dijo que la falta de participación comunitaria previa a la ordenanza podría deberse a que los vendedores de alimentos desconocían que las nuevas normas, o mejor dicho, la aplicación más estricta de las antiguas, los afectaría.
Dirección del personal, próximos pasos
Todos los miembros del consejo apoyaron la idea de intentar incluir en la legislación vigente a algunos de los camiones de comida (food trucks) existentes, especialmente a aquellos que operaban en propiedad pública, en parte debido a la falta de comunicación con la ciudad. Esto significaría que las antiguas normas sobre la ubicación de las operaciones seguirían aplicándose a estos vendedores específicos, mientras que las nuevas normas se aplicarían a cualquier vendedor nuevo. Sin embargo, la fiscal adjunta de la ciudad, Joanna Gin, explicó que esto no es posible en este caso, ya que las antiguas normas (las actuales,
dado que aún no se ha aprobado una nueva ordenanza) tampoco permiten la operación de los camiones de comida en propiedad pública. El consejo solo podría considerar la inclusión en la legislación vigente a estos vendedores si su ubicación se ajustaba al código vigente, lo cual no es así. El consejo sí consideró habilitar una vía para que los food trucks obtuvieran un permiso de intrusión, lo que permite que sus actividades se realicen dentro de la vía pública. Sin embargo, la residente Kate Laddish expresó su preocupación por el acceso para personas discapacitadas según la ley ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act), que podría bloquearse si los clientes hacen fila en la acera. Las necesidades de los discapacitados y otras consideraciones de salud y seguridad son otro de los principales factores que motivaron la ordenanza original. Refiriéndose a estos pilares originales de la ordenanza, Casavecchia comentó que cree que una versión renovada debería centrarse principalmente en la salud y la seguridad, en lugar de la competencia commercial.
“Lo que escuchamos esta noche es que el centro no pide protección,” dijo Casavecchia.
Consigue
Algunos dueños de negocios del Centro de Winters se manifestaron durante la reunión, afirmando que creen que más razones para ir al centro significan que más gente vienen al Downtown, y que la competencia puede, a la inversa, ser beneficiosa para los negocios. Sin embargo, Biasi comentó que también ha escuchado a varios dueños de restaurantes preocupados por los camiones de comida que operan demasiado cerca del centro.
“Llego a las reuniones del Ayuntamiento con mucha información, pero siempre estoy escuchando,” dijo Loren. “No quiero que más negocios tradicionales quiebren.” La ordenanza se presentará ante el consejo en la próxima reunión del 17 de Junio. Mientras tanto, el personal explorará opciones para un proceso de sistema de intrusión, aclarará las definiciones de términos para vendedores ambulantes y fijos, y perfeccionará el proceso de solicitud de permisos.
“Nos corresponde establecer un proceso que permita a la gente presentarse, averiguar qué necesita hacer y analizarlo con mucha franqueza,” dijo Vallecillo. “Porque no es fácil navegar por todo esto.”
Yolo County News
Yolo supervisors reallocate Crisis Now funds
By Rebecca Wasik McNaughton Media
Last Tuesday, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors opted to follow a staff recommendation to reallocate board-directed project funds in the amount of $3.2 million.
Supervisors Sheila Allen and Lucas Frerichs attended the meeting via Zoom.
Three million dollars of unused Crisis Now funding for a behavioral health receiving/sobering center was decided to be reallocated, with $2 million being set aside to assist in addressing the county’s budget gap and $1 million being directed to support behavioral health services, including a second co-responder for the Davis Police Department.
And, $200,000 of unused child welfare funds were also reallocated and set aside to assist with the county’s budget gap.
The board had three options when it came to the Crisis Now funds. The first option was to leave the $3 million allocated to the project. The behavioral health receiving/sobering center would be extremely
COURSE
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Novello spoke during public comment, asking the board to pause before adopting the new course.
“There is an argument to be made for allowing the development of this upcoming graduation requirement to go through the same in-depth process of stakeholder involvement as was experienced with the ethnic studies course in March of 2023,” Novello said.
He added that a new health course at the WHS should have the attention of the board, rather than the personal finance course.
“The district cannot accurately state that we have a health curriculum that’s K-12,” Novello said.
Novello continued, saying that without a WHS health class, students aren’t being helped to meet the district graduation requirements that ask students to be equipped with social-emotional competencies for life after high school.
After Noevello’s comments, Board President Joedy Michael said he has heard a desire for a personal finance class over the last few years from the community.
expensive for the county and there would not be adequate funding to support it through the three-year pilot and beyond.
Option Two explores the feasibility of implementing a modified behavioral health receiving/sobering center in partnership with a current contractor in Woodland for a one-year pilot.
Option Three looks into the possibility of contracting with a facility in Sacramento to utilize an existing program that provides similar services for a one-year pilot.
Allen had concerns about choosing solely option three due to Sacramento’s proximity to Yolo County.
“It’s just worrisome to me to totally rely on a contract in Sacramento,” said Allen.
“It likely may be superior for residents in West Sacramento because it may be closer to them but I have worries about the rest of the county, so I would really prefer us to not solely rely on Sacramento.”
Staff’s recommendation, as unanimously approved by the board, explores Options Two and Three with
the possibility of implementing a combination of both. Staff will come back to the board with more information regarding this at a later date.
MHSA Innovation Plan
With Frerichs absent from the decision, the board unanimously approved the Mental Health Services Act Innovation Plan.
Counties currently receive Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funding under the regulations of Proposition 63. With the upcoming start of the Behavioral Health Services Act (Proposition 1) on July 1, 2026, there are additional considerations.
The innovation plan for 2025-27 includes sections on a description of needs, the proposed project, expected outcomes and the project’s budget.
The budget for the three fiscal years is $5,267,305. Benefits of approving this innovation plan, according to staff, include that it will not revert $473,000 of MHSA funds, will allow for some existing IT costs to be absorbed, and will al-
low for some MHSA capital facilities and technology funds to be reallocated for direct services.
Drawbacks of the plan however include difficult implementation with unseen challenges and funding that could potentially be used to support other county objectives.
This plan will next go to the county’s Commission for Behavioral Health on May 22 and must be approved by it by June 30.
Budget
The board also received a fiscal year 2025-26 budget development update ahead of the recommended budget hearing scheduled for June 10.
To address the structural budget deficit, the staff is committing to achieving a structurally balanced budget and knows this will require a multi-year process. They are implementing an immediate hiring review, continuing to identify onetime funding and solutions to limit severe program and service impacts, evaluating the use of restricted departmental funding, implementing a departmental
“There is an argument to be made for allowing the development of this upcoming graduation requirement to go through the same in-depth process of stakeholder involvement as was experienced with the ethnic studies course in March of 2023.”
Chris Novello, WHS teacher
to fit that need,” Michael said. He continued, asking Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Phoebe Girimonte how the program can be adapted to any changes from the state level.
“It’s an online curriculum that can be modified in accordance with ongoing developments at CDE as related to the curriculum guide,” Girimonte said. “We’ve been utilizing this curriculum for some time. It was the Winters High School staff that advocated for the year-long course to be adopted.”
Trustee Kristen Trott acknowledged Novello’s concerns.
room for the course currently.
“I think personal finance makes the most sense,” Trott said. “It is something that kids also need to know. And our community is asked for and students have asked for.”
In addition to the new personal finance course, Girimonte provided information on two new course descriptions that’ll be back in front of the board for approval at the May 15, board meeting.
and well-being,” Girimonte said. The second is a challenge math course, an
reduction process, evaluating options for long-term cost savings and evaluating options for ongoing revenue enhancement.
The 2025-26 base budget gap is $39,846,440. To revise the base budget gap to $809,404, staff has created a budget scenario that includes a base adjustment of $5,673,167, departmental reductions that will save $13,013,963, one-time funding sources for $16,676,287 and the use of reserves for $3,733,619. Recommended augmentations are $60,000. The board asked that staff avoid using General Fund reserves.
In FY 2025-26, staff project that HHSA will use all available MHSA fund balances and have a remaining deficit of $4.7 million in the Community Services and Support category.
Staff will return to the board at its May 20 meeting to discuss transitioning from the MHSA to the BHSA, allowing HHSA to develop funding options for the board’s consideration.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors will next meet on May 20.
elective designed to support seventh and eighth grade students in developing problem-solving, logical reasoning and mathematical exploration skills beyond the standard curriculum.
Other news Trustees unanimously approved the resolution to lay off eight employees. Three of the eight were full-time employees, according to
the district; the reduction is due to a lack of work and/or a lack of funds.
The employees will be notified before May 15 of the decision.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 15. The meeting agenda and packet are available on the school district website at wintersjusd. org.
The first course is a personal wellness class for Winters Middle School, which is designed to provide students in sixth through eighth grades with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their physical, mental and social well-being.
“I think that is going
“I also agree. I think health is a super important topic, I mean, mental, physical health. I want kids to learn about those things,” Trott said. She continued, stating that adding a robust health course is something to consider in the future, as the district doesn’t have
“The courses aligned with the California Health Education content standards and support students in developing essential life skills for personal growth
MEMORIAL DAY FLAGS AND SERVICE
Winters Cemetery District (WCD) is seeking volunteers on Friday, May 23rd, to help place the 500 flags on all veterans’ graves. Please report to the Center Building at 9:00 AM sharp with a screwdriver (the tool...not the drink) for your instructions. Please don’t be late!
The WCD is inviting the community to participate in our Memorial Day service commencing at 1:30 PM on Monday, May 26th. We will honor the 26 veterans killed in action, as well as the remaining 474 veterans buried here. Veterans and their spouses or partners are invited and encouraged to sit in the special seating, right of the podium under the canopy.
Thursday, May 15
Winters JUSD School Board Meeting, 6 p.m., School District Office, Zoom Meeting info, check https://bit.ly/4fwmfHK or www.wintersjusd.org
Thursdays
Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690
Saturday, May 17
Winters Open Mic Night, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.), Visit wintersopenmic.org
Sunday, May 18
Winters Sunday Farmers Market, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Downtown Main Street
3rd Annual Winters Volunteer Fair, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., Rotary Park
Monday, May 19
Winters Natural Resources Commission Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance), Check cityofwinters. org/187/Natural-Resources-Commission
Tuesday, May 20
Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/city-council-meetings_/
Wednesdays
Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution
Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue Library Services
Winters Library Public Hours (School in Session), Mon/ Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8–8 p.m., Fri: 8–5 p.m., Sat: 1-5 p.m. (Mask Only 1–3 p.m.)
Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library
Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library
Virtual English Conversation Group Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@yolocounty.org Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request.
Saturday Matinee, First Saturday, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library
All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing Older Adult Programs
Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.) Cafe Yolo Social Dining, Thurdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Reservations required 24 hours in advance at 530-662-7035 or welcome@mowyolo.org
Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Thurdays, 12:30-3 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.)
Ongoing
View the Winters community events calendar at https://bit.ly/WintersCommunityEvents Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org
Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesday (September through May), 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)
Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon, The Buckhorn
Winters Museum public hours Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St., historicalsocietyofwinters.org
Winters Open Mic, third Thursday of the month, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.).
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.
Winters Spiritual Living Circle, last Wednesday at 5 p.m., 212 Grant Ave., Sign up traycee@outlook.com, call 760-688-6302, or just drop in 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. » Yolo Housing office building, 62 Shams Way: Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m.
Winters
Express staff
From free bikes and helmets to safety rodeos and whimsical creations, this year’s Winters Bike Month proved that when a small town comes together, big things can happen — especially on two wheels.
With sunny skies and strong community spirit, the month-long celebration brought out families, cyclists, and volunteers in droves, creating a series of events that blended fun, education, and generosity. At the heart of it all was a shared goal — to get more people riding, and to do it safely.
One of the most heartwarming successes? Sixteen free bicycles were given away to residents. Safety remained a top priority. Thanks to the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency’s Traffic Safety division, over 100 free helmets were distributed during the month. The Winters Police and Fire Departments added their presence with informative booths and engaging conversations about bike safety and traffic
for impactful Bike Month
awareness.
Olivia Rodriguez, a Winters Climate Action Commission member and one of the event organizers said that Peter Wagner’s imaginative, eye-catching bicycle creations turned heads and sparked conversations.
“The whimsical bikes were an absolute hit,” Rodriguez said. “They brought so much color and fun to the events — it was like art in motion.”
The community’s
generosity was equally impressive. Twenty-two local businesses donated raffle prizes, and the Winters Chamber of Commerce played a central role — promoting events, encouraging storefront displays with a bicycle theme, and supporting Steady Eddy’s Cyclist Appreciation Day. The café rolled out the welcome mat for local riders with special offers and plenty of community cheer.
The bike rodeos at
Waggoner Elementary and Winters Middle School were another standout success. These hands-on events taught children practical cycling skills and road safety through fun, interactive stations. The rodeos were coordinated through a wide network of support from the Winters Police and Fire Departments, Yolo Commute, Winters PTA, the City of
UCD clinical trial helps dog beat cancer
By Rob Warren Special to the Express
In February 2023, Lola, a 9-year-old golden retriever, was diagnosed with oral melanoma, an aggressive cancer in her mouth that had already spread to her lungs.
Lola’s veterinarian told her owner, Allison Roth, that Lola most likely had less than six months to live. She was referred to the Oncology Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for treatment options.
UC Davis has one of the largest and most comprehensive cancer treatment facilities anywhere in veterinary medicine. Researchers and clinicians at the School of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Medicine routinely collaborate to discover new treatments for a disease that is strikingly similar in dogs and humans.
“When Lola was a puppy, I was treated for a brain tumor at the Mayo Clinic,” said Roth. “Through my multiple brain surgeries, she was always by my side. When it came time for her cancer treatments, I was thrilled that she would be treated at UC Davis — what I would call the ‘Mayo Clinic for
dogs.’”
Roth was given two options for Lola’s treatment — she could receive palliative radiation treatments that could give her more time or participate in a study at the school’s Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials that was showing success with a groundbreaking immunotherapy treatment. Roth chose to enroll Lola in the clinical trial.
The study, “Intravenous Doxorubicin and Inhaled IL15 Immunotherapy for Treatment of Lung Metastases,” was the latest version of an ongoing series of clinical trials of immunotherapy treatments involving inhaling cancer-fighting drugs. The trial was a collaborative study by veter-
inarians Drs. Robert Rebhun (co-principal investigator) and Michael Kent (co-investigator) and physician Dr. Robert Canter (co-principal investigator), a surgical oncologist with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. While previous iterations of the IL-15 clinical trial showed success, the researchers wanted to explore additional options of the treatment. In this third version of the trial, ten dogs with pulmonary metastasis greater than 1 centimeter were enrolled in the study with a goal of determining whether preconditioning the immune
Courtesy photo
Lola beat an apparent terminal cancer following participation in a clinical trial at the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital.
Winters Climate
Courtesy photo
Students put their riding skills and safety rules to the test on a bike course at Waggoner Elementary School.
rallies
Courtesy photo
Davis Bikes & Skateboards was on site to help make bike repairs and fill deflating tires.
California home insurance costs likely to continue rising
Leading housing insurance experts gathered in Sacramento last week for a panel discussion around the state’s home insurance crisis hosted by the Center for California Real Estate (CCRE). Among key insights shared by panelists, Stanford University Climate & Energy Policy Director Michael Wara predicted California’s insurance prices will likely continue to rise for the next 10 to 20 years. The panel, Strengthening California’s Insurance Market: Expanding Access & Stability,featured the latest insights and solutions to address insurance challenges California homeowners are facing; and
expanding access to and building a more stable, resilient insurance market. The panel also featured David Russell, director of the CSU Northridge Center for Risk Management and Insurance; John Norwood, chief lobbyist for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California; Emily Rogan, senior program officer at United Policyholders and Sanjay Wagle, senior vice president of Governmental Affairs at the California Association of Realtors. Reporter Megan Fan Munce from the San Francisco Chronicle moderated the discussion.
A video recording of the panel can be accessed at https://www. ccre.us/pastevents. Among the key insights from the cross-sector panel discussion:
• Solving for availability of insurance before affordability Russell told the audience that attracting capital back to the market is the priority in order for insurance to become more widely available, and to expect an increase in premium costs. He argued Californians must share the burden of higher rates, even in lower risk areas — a concept not palatable for many.
“In high-risk areas, to be able to afford to insure, they’re going to have to raise the premium on someone else. We have a cost sharing issue,” he said. “I’ve seen huge rate increases in my own policy, even though I’m in a low-risk area, and I (have) filed no claims, ever. So, these risks are being socialized, and there are California citizens that don’t
want to pay a part of the premium that someone else has imposed on the system,” Russell said.
Rising construction costs will also contribute to insurance coverage conversations, as demand for both materials and worker availability outstrips supply, panelists noted. Contractors are being increasingly drawn to Los Angeles, where they can currently make far more than in other areas of California — impacting not only local prices but construction schedules across the state.
• FAIR Plan has been a “quick fix” but is not a long-term solution Norwood addressed increasing challenges with the state’s insurance-of-last-resort program, calling the California FAIR plan ‘the elephant in the room.’ “The FAIR
Plan has ballooned to half a million or more policies, (and) there’s already been a billion-dollar assessment. My understanding is their losses in the LA fires are somewhere north of $4 billion,” he said.
Norwood warned that the depopulation of the FAIR plan is necessary to get temporary policyholders on to better coverage.
As estimates following the Southern California wildfires continue to rise, the secondary reinsurance market is showing signs of impact, contributing to rate increases.
Panelists agreed that insurance cannot be the standalone solution to mitigating risk. Wara emphasized the need to see government incentives and more insurance incentives for home hardening and risk reduction.
“We cannot insure our way out of this problem,” he said.
“The thing that is not happening enough is actual physical risk reduction. We need to reduce risk so there is less risk to transfer, and so we can afford that risk transfer.”
Wara said the state’s wildfire risk has grown exponentially in recent decades. “If you talk to any firefighter and ask them the following question, ‘is the situation today the same as when you first started, 20-30 years ago,’ they’ll say it’s totally unrecognizable,” Wara said.
Rogan urged homeowners to also check their policies to make sure they aren’t under-insured, an increasingly common scenario for this year’s Southern California wildfire victims, many of whom have discovered that contemporary replacement cost estimates are far outpacing covered amounts.
• ‘We cannot insure our way out’
Editor’s Note: The Express will publish the second half of the panel coverage in next week’s edition.
Seeking prize donations
Winters Middle School is currently collecting donations for our WMS End-of-the-Year Rally. If you’re able to contribute, we would greatly appreciate donations of any of the listed items. If you have other items you’d like to donate, you’re welcome to bring them to the WMS office. We will be collecting donations through Wednesday, May 28.
Please use the SingupGenius link for items the students would like to have. See the list of items at: https://bit.ly/WMS2025incentives. Thank you for your continued support!
JOSE BERMUDEZ
WMS PrinciPal
Thanks for a successful Bike Month
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year’s Winters Bike Month a great success. Your enthusiasm and support helped promote bike safety, community spirit, and sustainable transportation in a truly inspiring way.
Here are just a few of the highlights: 16 free bicycles were given away to community members and more than 100 helmets were distributed by Yolo County Health and Human Services (Traffic Safety Division), helping keep riders safe.
The Winters Chamber of Commerce played a crucial role — sharing flyers, encouraging businesses to create bike-themed displays, and partnering with Steady Eddy’s for a special Cyclist Appreciation Day. In total, 22 local businesses donated prizes.
The WMS and Waggoner Rodeos were well attended and skillfully coordinated by a collaborative team including the Winters Police and Fire Departments, Yolo Commute, Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Winters PTA, the Winters Climate Action Commission, Yolo Health and Human Services (Traffic Safety), and the Winters Joint Unified School District.
We were honored that the City of Winters issued a proclamation in recognition of Bike Month.
This event was truly a team effort, and it couldn’t have happened without the many volunteers, businesses, organizations, and agencies that contributed their time, resources, and energy. Thank you for helping us celebrate cycling and for supporting a healthier, safer, and more connected Winters.
OLIVIA RODRIGUEZ
WinterS cliMate action coMMiSSion MeMber
Wellness events at local library
One of the great parts of living in the community of Winters is that so many do just that. Not only supporting their local library but
See LETTERS, Page 4
Horoscopes
ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20),
Aries, you soon find yourself pushing forward with great determination. Your drive is unstoppable, but tread carefully and respectfully in the pursuit of greatness.
TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21),
Introspection is paramount right now, Taurus. You may find yourself reflecting on your values, goals and personal growth. This week there are chances to change.
GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21), Gemini, right now is a good time to collaborate with others, whether at work or in personal projects. Use any time this week to your advantage to attend social events.
CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22),
Put your long-term goals in focus this week, Cancer. Start thinking about where you would like your career to go. You’ll certainly feel driven to make progress.
LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23), Adventure is the name of the game for you right now, Leo. Whether it is travel, higher learning or other new experiences, you just may soon break free of your routine.
VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22),
This is a week when practicality and organization will be your friends, Virgo. You will likely feel a need to get things in order. If you have any outstanding debts, tackle them now.
LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23), Libra, the spotlight is on you for the time being. You are feeling more confident and ready to take charge of your destiny. Personal growth may come by way of a job promotion.
SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22), Scorpio, you may be drawn to more quiet, intimate moments with your partner this week. This is a great time for reflection and connection for the both of you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21), Sagittarius, expect to meet new people or form bonds with others who share similar interests and goals this week. Community-based projects may draw your attention.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20), This week the focus will be on your career, Capricorn. You’ll feel more motivated than ever to achieve your goals, but it will take a lot of hard work to get there.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18), Aquarius, you might feel more connected to your spiritual side right now and want to seek knowledge or inspiration in areas like philosophy. Take every opportunity to learn and grow.
PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20), Pisces, now is a good time to focus on your financial situation and make some changes for your security and personal growth. Your intuition will guide you.
Express Yourself
Technology is great, when it works
We have come a long way since we used typewriters, lead casting machines and photographic film to produce a newspaper. So it is frustrating when your Internet stops working and you try to phone someone for help on a Friday.
After a few hours on the phone, and two trips to Best Buy in Vacaville to buy a new modem and router, the WiFi wanted to work but still would not connect to the outside world. I did what most people would do on a Friday afternoon; I went home for the weekend, and poured myself a cold one.
Not having Internet service gets your attention. It is amazing how reliant we are on technology to do the simplest tasks. I’m not sure if the outside lights on the building are still working as they are on a timer connected to the Internet. The air conditioner thermostat is also computer-based, but you can just push a few buttons and it works. I’m afraid to check the security cameras, but they can wait until I get my column and yesteryear to the Express I am the eternal optimist and was expecting something different when I got to the office on Monday morning. I turned
on my computer and nothing had changed. I tried the Netgear app on my phone and made a little progress. I was hoping that Rob Coman, museum curator and computer expert, would have spent Mother’s Day weekend working on my problem, but no such luck.
The app walked me through a setup program that restored my Internet connection and Rob got the museum’s up and running, too. I still can’t use my wireless printers, but maybe they will start talking to each other, soon.
I email my column to Crystal each week, along with a yesteryear photo, and over the weekend I was coming up with a plan B. I can write from home but sending in an old photo would be a challenge. I guess I could have copied everything onto a thumb drive and temporarily solved the problem, but I need a permanent solution. I have placed a few more calls for help and I’m not too worried about not being fully up and running.
It might be a good time for a vacation.
A few years ago there was a survey that asked, “Would you rather lose your phone or wallet?”
Most people picked their wallets. I don’t want to have to make that decision, but for now, I would rather lose my phone. I would think that it is easier to get a new phone than replace everything that is in my wallet.
Maybe we should all take a break from technology and see how long we last.
My guess would be, not long at all. Have a good week.
LETTERS
Continued from Page 3
supporting so many other amazing causes and establishments. The library was a safe space and a catalyst for my growth as a child. I lived in Tracy and Davis as a youth but it is a similar environment. A place where I could go and expand my mind in a safe and supportive space. I want to thank Ashleigh and the team from the library for all the hard work they do to make the library in Winters just that. A safe place for learning and coming together in community. I would also like to thank Olivia and the team from WHS, the WFoL group, Yolo County Master Gardeners and the City of Winters for all that they do as well. Another group of people to mention is the people who share their work and knowl-
NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO 2025-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Ayes: Council Members Casavecchia, Loren, Scianna, Mayor Pro Tem Biasi, Mayor Vallecillo Noes: None
Abstain: None Absent: None
Please
of
Gas Station) and to determine whether public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance of the Liquor License Winters Municipal Code Section 17 96 010 states that existing onsale and off-sale establishments not exempt from the provisions of this title must obtain a use per-
consumption The subject parcel is assigned Assessor s Parcel Number of 038-050-080 pursuant to the Official Records of Yolo County California The proposed conditional use permit is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15321 15301 and 15061(b)(3)
At the public hearing of the Planning Commission the Planning Commission shall consider all evidence and testimony for and against the proposed conditional use permit At any time prior to the public hearing, any person may file in writing with the City a statement of his or her objections to the proposed conditional use permit If you are unable to attend the public hearing you may dire
Street, Winters, CA 95694 or to kelly mumper@cityofwinters org The staff report will be available on the City s website at https://www cityofwinters org/194/Meetings at least 72 hours before the hearings
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act if you need a disability related modification or accommodation to participate in the hearing, please contact the Deputy City Clerk at (530) 79 54910 at least one full business day before the start of the hearing For more information regarding this proposed conditional use permit, please contact Kelly Mumper Contract Planner at (530)795-4233 (Ext 114) or at kelly mumper@cityofwinters org 5/14/25 #81213
amazing events each month (please see the library website for more information) that cater to different likes and hobbies.
Kimberly Unger offers a free Yoga class every month (this month she is at the Davis Library, on Saturday, May 17, Saturday, 4 to 5 p.m.) for the community. Kimberly and I have collaborated several times over the past few years and I know she is all about giving back to our community.
There is also the Dance Fitness/ Baile Fitness that is put on by Mayra Loza. It will be held on Sunday, May 18, at the Winters Library.
I will be hosting two events this month as well. I am excited to share that I will be offering a free event called the Circle of Connection this Thursday, May 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at
the event. It will be held monthly and I hope we can bring our community together to join in the conversation.
I am honored to have been asked to join in the Catfulness event the library is hosting on Saturday, May 17 from 3 to 4 p.m. I will be sharing information about mindfulness and meditation and even talking about it through the lens of Cats and their behaviors. There will also be the opportunity to adopt cats and kittens at this event. I love our community and I respect everyone who puts in the energy to make it a wonderful place to live, grow and connect. Please take a look at the calendar and come out and support the events so the Winters Library can continue to share all of these wonderful offerings.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: CV2025-1257
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: LINDA MAE EBBERTS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name LINDA MAE EBBERTS to Proposed name LINDA MAE GONZALES THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause if any why the petition for change of name should not be granted Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: 6/25/2025 Time: 9:00 a m Dept : 11 Room: The address of the court is Yolo Superior Court 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this
Baseball seals perfect league season,
By Sydney Andrade Express staff writer
The Winters High School varsity baseball team is heading to the playoffs after going undefeated throughout the entire league season, which consisted of 13 games.
The varsity baseball team concluded its perfect league season with two victories against the Paradise High School Bobcats.
On Tuesday, May 6, the varsity team won its game against Paradise by a score of 11–5.
Jordan Calvert started the Warriors off on the mound and delivered an impressive performance. He threw four strikeouts over five innings, allowing only three hits and five runs while walking only one batter. Julian Herrera stepped in as a reliever, pitching two innings and allowing the Bobcats just two hits and striking out two to maintain their lead.
The Warriors showcased their offensive strength throughout the game, racking up a total of 13 hits.
Boston Jones led at the
Action Commission, the Winters Joint Unified School District, and the office of Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
For those with a bike in need of a little TLC, Winston from Davis Bikes & Skateboards partnered with the Winters Climate Action Commission to make free repairs — getting several unused bikes back in working condition.
plate, contributing three hits and driving in three runs. Herrera added two hits and an RBI, while Everett Beason also made a significant impact with one hit and two RBIs. Calvert, Lane Brown and Derrick Collins rounded out a powerful lineup, each contributing one hit and one RBI to secure the win.
On Thursday, May 8, the varsity team went up against Paradise again and won by a score of 8–1.
This time Jones took the mound as the starting pitcher. Jones delivered a remarkable performance, striking out 12 batters and allowing just one hit and one run while walking five.
The Warriors had their fans in suspense throughout the majority of the game. Despite the incredible performance on the mound by Jones the Warriors were behind the Bobcats 1–0 going into the sixth inning when their at-bats finally came alive.
Sebastian Rodriguez was the standout at bat during this game, collecting three hits in four at-bats. Jones
In recognition of the month-long efforts, the city of Winters presented an official proclamation celebrating Bike Month and reaffirming its commitment to promoting safe and active transportation in the community.
“Bike Month was a true team effort,” said Rodriguez. “We had help from every corner of the community — schools, city agencies, local businesses, and individual volunteers. It was inspiring to see Winters come together in such a meaningful way.”
followed closely behind with two hits and an RBI. Herrera, Jordan Wojan and Collins each contributed to the score with one hit and one RBI. Miles Mariani also made contact at the plate with one hit and two RBI, positioning the Warriors to finally take the lead in the sixth inning and finish off the season with yet another win.
With their perfect league season complete, the Warriors are now preparing for the playoffs set to take place this Friday, May 16. The game will take place at 4 p.m. at the WHS varsity baseball field.
Their opponent is yet to be determined, but excitement is building as fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be an exhilarating game.
In addition to this great accomplishment by the Winters High School varsity baseball team, the WHS junior varsity baseball team also has great reason to celebrate as they also went undefeated throughout the league season.
The junior varsity War-
With smiles, repaired bikes, new helmets, and lasting memories, Winters Bike Month proved to be more than just an event — it was a celebration of community at its best. For more information or to get involved in future events, contact the Winters Combined PTA at winterspta@gmail. com or attend a Winters Climate Action Commission meeting. Meeting dates and details are online at www.cityofwinters. org/182/Climate-Ac-
system with chemotherapy improved response rates to the inhaled IL-15 drugs.
“The previous trials we conducted found that inhaled IL-15 is well tolerated and resulted in durable responses in a subset of dogs with metastatic melanoma or osteosarcoma,” said Dr. Rebhun. “We were excited to see if modulating the immune system with chemotherapy might improve response rates in patients with metastatic tumors to the lung.”
Prior to the trial, X-rays showed many spots on Lola’s lungs. She did not tolerate the single dose of chemotherapy well to begin the trial, and X-rays following the IL-15 inhalation treatments (twice per day for two weeks) were no better. The hope was for the X-rays to show either the same as pre-treatment (meaning no growth) or an elimination of some tumors. Lola’s X-rays showed even more tumor growth.
“She had failed
“All her tumors were gone. No one could believe it. Essentially, Lola had experienced a delayed response to the IL-15 trial.”
Dr. Michael Kent, veterinarian
out of the trial at that point,” said Roth, who decided to move on to palliative radiation treatments.
In May and June 2023, Lola received six treatments of radiation therapy — twice per week for three weeks.
“It appeared that we weren’t going to be able to cure Lola’s cancer at that point,” said Dr. Kent. “But our goal was to keep the tumor growth in her mouth under control, extend her time with her family, and make her as comfortable as possible.”
While the radiation was able to shrink the tumor in her mouth completely, following the radiation, another X-ray showed continued tumor growth in her lungs.
“We thought we were going to lose her that summer,” Roth said. “But she hung
on all summer, and we did another X-ray in September. All her tumors were gone. No one could believe it. Essentially, Lola had experienced a delayed response to the IL-15 trial.”
“In people, immunotherapies can sometimes result in inflammation of tumors, making them appear larger before they shrink,” said Dr. Rebhun. “This is termed ‘pseudoprogression,’ and it appears to have happened with Lola.” Now almost two years later, Lola appears to be cancer-free. She continues to receive regular check-ups at UC Davis, and none of her tumors have returned.
“I don’t know how to express how grateful we are for allowing Lola to be in the trial and for all the care she’s received at UC Davis,” said Roth.
Eric Reyes, a Winters High School senior, is the Winters Express Athlete of the Week. Track head coach Matt Baker said Reyes is “One of the hardestworking members of the track team” this season and leads by example as a senior athlete. “He is constantly pushing himself in practice and this has paid off in competitions where he has lowered his personal best times throughout the season,” Baker said. “Perhaps the most impressive thing is Eric’s willingness to learn the hurdles this year having had no prior experience.”
riors also concluded their perfect season against Paradise with the final scores of 10–0 and 16–2.
Nohea Kanani Goforth/Courtesy photo
Varsity baseball athlete Boston Jones drove in three runs over the Bobcats on May 6.
Courtesy photo
Students learned the “Rule of 2” for ensuring a bike helmet fits correctly.
Honoring 150 years of Winters businesses, agriculture
The spark for this sesquicentennial tribute to the City of Winters began — fittingly enough — inside the Winters Museum, and with a few well-placed words from Charley Wallace.
As the Publisher Emeritus of the Winters Express and son of longtime publishers Ida and Newt Wallace, Charley quite literally grew up in the newsroom. While visiting the museum, he casually mentioned that the city’s 150th anniversary was approaching in May and asked, “What’s anyone doing about it?”
He didn’t say I should do something — but I felt the invitation in his tone. And I knew I had to do something. The challenge was clear and as editor of the Express, I decided to take it on and I jumped right into the archives.
I dove into past special editions curated by Newt and Charley — fascinating time capsules full of reprinted articles reaching back to the 1800s. The project quickly became both inspiring and daunting. Winters may be young compared to East Coast cities or ancient global civilizations, but our 150 years are
packed with stories worth telling. Narrowing down what to highlight, reprint, and assign to writers was no easy task.
My brainstorming turned from a list to a flowchart — then had to be scaled down again. But the result is three special editions published weekly throughout the month, honoring our sesquicentennial by reflecting on where we’ve been and where we are now. Each issue blends archive material from the Express with fresh contributions from local experts and residents.
This week’s focus is on the evolution of Winters’ agricultural roots and the businesses that have sustained our community across generations.
The current Winters Museum exhibit on local businesses proved a perfect starting point. I visited on a Friday, hoping for inspiration — and was lucky enough to run into Al Graf.
At first, I assumed he’d been invited by Gloria or Rob Coman, but it turned out that Al and his wife Kay had simply stopped by.
If you don’t know Al, you should. He’s the architect behind many of the buildings that still define our town’s landscape — from Waggoner Elementary School to what’s now Anytime Fitness. He grew up right here on Main Street, in a house built by his grandparents — a home that’s still in the family more than 90 years later.
One of my greatest joys in this job — outside the deadlines and meetings — is listening to
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
This chair is from the movie theater that used to be in Winters. Visit the Winters Museum to see the photo of the theater resting on it and more.
Express file photo
Crystal Apilado, Express Editor-in-Chief
longtime residents tell their stories. Sitting with Al that day, hearing him share memories of buildings he designed and the families and businesses who brought them to life — it reminded me why I love this town.
Even more special was hearing a mix of voices — people from different generations — swap stories about the businesses that shaped their childhoods, first jobs and family outings. I even got to add a few memories of my own. It felt like sitting around a hometown campfire, listening to stories. It was just missing the s’mores, but John Wallace’s cookies were there.
I also would love for an A&W or Dean’s Frosties to come back to town. Speaking of, Gloria and Al said that it used to be called Frostie’s and when Doyle Pinkston acquired it the business became Dean’s Frostie. None of us know who Dean is, but we’d like to know. If you know anything about it, please let us know.
Winters is a generational town — where roots run deep and stories are passed down like recipes or heirlooms. Even as new families move in and old storefronts change hands, we find common ground in shared traditions, collective memory, and a sense of belonging that can’t be manufactured. We may
come from different decades, but we walk the same streets, celebrate the same festivals, and care about the same future. That’s the beauty of a place like Winters — we change, but we grow together.
Whether or not this edition inspires nostalgia, I encourage everyone to visit the Winters Museum and see the business exhibit, on display through the fall. You can find details at wintersmuseum.org.
I hope, above all, that you learn something new about our town — and maybe even see Winters through a fresh lens. Here’s to 150 years of Winters — and here’s to the stories still waiting to be told.
—Crystal Apilado, Editor-in-Chief
CPA, Dr. Daniel G. Mazza, DDS, Dawn McGhie, RDA, Norma Munoz, DA
Courtesy photos
Al Graf said he built the building, where Anytime Fitness is now, for the California Market to move into from across Main Street.The photo is from 1974. It was originally in the building where Pizza Factory is now located. The California Market sign can still be seen on the left side of the building. Many other businesses have since occupied them.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Many local business hats from the past are on display at the Winters Museum.
Rewind & Revisit
Dispatches from the Express archives.
Joe Young came to build a bridge
Reprinted from the May 22, 1975, Centennial Edition published by the Winters Express
By Susanne Rockwell Winters Express
Joseph G. Young not only engineered the historic first railroad bridge across Putah Creek in 1875 which stimulated the founding of Winters, but stayed on to become a community leader, staunch church supporter and family man in town.
The young railroad engineer had originally immigrated from Scotland to Canada with his family when he was four years old. He was one of nine children in a family with strong Presbyterian leanings.
As a young man, he traveled from Canada to California where he found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad as a bridge builder and constructionist, a job which eventual-
BUSINESSES
Continued from Page 4
Monticello Stage Lines office and Bill Young’s bicycle repair and saw filing business, while P. G. and E. leased the rear part of the building for storage.
There was a vacant lot where J. J.’s Saloon is now located.
Lindy House ran the Shell Station where Juan Barbosa has his auto repair.
Just south of the old Winters Creamery Building at Railroad Avenue and Edwards, Elmer Bruhn had his plumbing shop, and his son, Meredith Bruhn, had his radio and appliance business.
Dick Frisbee owned the Creamery Building, which housed his Plymouth and DeSoto automobile agency, along with Dodge trucks. The building is occupied by Jack Cooper’s AAA Agency.
ly brought him to the banks of the Putah Creek in the early 1870’s. Young stayed in the area working for the railroad, and in 1881 married Nellie Brunson, a daughter of what the Winters Express in 1926 describes as a “prominent resident” in Winters. Some three years later Young and his bride moved into the Russell Street house where his grandson Bob and his wife Lavinia Young now live.
Nellie and Joseph reared two sons, Herbert A. and Walter B. Young. He had five surviving grandchildren at the time of his death in 1926; Vivian, Dorothy, Janet, Robert and John Young. The early Winters resident gave up his job as a railroad engineer a few years after his marriage to devote his time to farming. He raised fruit crops in the Apricot District for 30 years.
Chris Rojo had his hardware store where True Value Hardware is now located. That spring of 1947 he, Joe Ramos and John Martinez, Jr., converted the building into a grocery store, Winters Food Center.
Charles Cody owned the tourist court where Tortosa’s minimall and Lester Farms Bakery are located, and managed Cody’s Store just across the creek in Solano County.
As mentioned earlier, Pop Streeter had a service station where Pisani’s is now located.J. R. Chapman ran the Standard Oil station where the Winters Store is now located.
Lyle Gravink operated the Winters Dairy from the old Ice House where the Post Office parking lot is now located, and Lloyd “Tubby” Islip had an ice house across the street from where
As a community supporter, Young joined the Masonic Lodge in Winters, the I.O. O. F. in Vacaville and the Knight Templar Lodge in Woodland. He was also a brother of the Masonic Lodge of his hometown in Canada.
Joining the church of his parents when a boy, Young later became a member of the Presbyterian Church in Winters in 1895.
Joseph Young died February 28, 1926 at the age of 77. Dr. H. C.Culton, the pastor who had officiated 45 years earlier in the marriage of Joseph to Nellie, performed the burial service for the Young family in the 202 Russell Street home. The casket was carried by Youngs’ friends: A. C. Sullivan, W. D. Overhouse, J. W. Chapman, A. A. Graham, J. W. Lamme and V. S.Johnston. Interment was made in the Masonic cemetery.
Lester Farms Bakery is now located.
M. M. Wilson and E. K.Crueger had the blacksmith shop at First and Abbey, now owned by Ralph Anderson.
W I. Baker had his insurance agency behind the post office, on First Street, and Herb Smith was next door with his electrical shop.
The American Legion Hall was at First and Abbey, where the City Hall parking lot is located, and Judge Rod Degener ran the Winters Theatre in that building.
Rupert Snodgrass was fixing cars and farming equipment in the Economy Garage at the west end of Abbey Street at Emery Street.
Alex Klimes managed the Diamond Match Lumber Company on Edwards Street and was referred to as the “The Knothole Peddler”.
Early Winters business woman Elizabeth Jane DeVilbiss Clark
Reprinted from the Oct. 8, 1998, Centennial Edition published by the Winters Express Express staff
Elizabeth Jane Clark moved to Winters with her six children following the murder of her husband, Sidney Clark, in Monticello, in 1886.
She conducted the Clark Boarding House in the Cradwick Building, at 17 Main Street and at the stone house on the corner of Main and Second streets for over ten years.
A clipping from the Winters Express, April 23, 1892, after the 1892 earthquake told of her work ethic:
Pluck and Push
Mrs. E. J. Clark is driven out of the front end of the Cradwick building by the falling of the back end Thursday morning, and had supper for a hundred patrons in T. Downey’s blacksmith shop at night.
She then operated a boarding house in Oakland at a medical institution, in 1898, according to the Winters Express:
Mrs. Clark went to Oakland Wednesday to examine a proposition she has had to conduct a boarding house at a medical institution. She found the proposition a good one and will move there in a few days.
Printed in the Winters Express, April 22, 1898
In 1903, she addressed the town trustees:
Mrs. Clark appeared before the board to ask a readjustment of the license for keeping boarders. She said that there were several persons keeping one border and pay- ing no li-
cense. Without a hotel the town would not amount to anything and if every man should take a border or roomer the hotels might as well close up. It was the unanimous opinion of the board that Mrs. Clark was right and that the present situation was unfair to the hotels. Relief was promised to the complainant.
Printed in the Winters Express, Oct. 9, 1903
Eliza came across the plains in 1864 with her parents, John and Margarite DeVilbiss and cousin John Andy DeVilbiss. She was married to Sidney Clark of Solano County in 1869 and they settled in Monticello, owning ranches there. They had eight children, two of whom died at a young age.
Two of those children associated with Winters were Annie Bertholet and Lulu M. Snodgrass. Mrs. Clark passed away in 1915.
Next door, Sale and Ruggles had their drayage business.
Bob Streeter had a photo studio upstairs in the Maywood Building, and Leroy Harrington and Phil Latona were operating the Winters Nursery at East Street and East Edwards.
Vernon Jeffery and his father, George, had the Jeffery Milling Company on both sides of Grant Avenue at Railroad Avenue.
C.P. McDowell had his blacksmith shop on East Baker Street, next door to Bondee Low’s auto body shop.
Carl Franke was operating the Standard Oil bulk plant across the bridge in Solano County and Howard Hansen had the Union Oil plant on Railroad Avenue at the north city limits. Shell Oil Company had a plant next to Standard Oil’s, but I can’t remember who the agent was. It was before Walter Jorgensen took over.
Among the fruit industry people, Carl Holmes, Harold Hansel, Tony Martinez, Craig Niemann’s Winters Dried Fruit, Clem Hartley at Mendelssohn-Zeller California
Fruit Exchange with Bill Brinck as manager and Winters Growers, headed by Allen Martin, all occupied space along the railroad track or its spurs. The Southern Pacific Railroad station was east of Railroad Avenue and south of Edwards Street. I think Fred Carll was the agent, with Harry Timmons arriving several years later. I probably have missed some businesses, and bored Express readers, but in these two weeks I have revisited a lot of wonderful people.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
The Ireland Agency still has an older sign today.
Ron Cassel/Courtesy photo Elizabeth Clark came to Winters with her children after her husband was murdered. She later became a businesswoman and even addressed the town council on business matters.
Courtesy photo
Sabe Carrion and Bill Biasi in front of Standard Pil Products. A larger print of this photo is on display at the Winters Museum.
Clear Lake railroad reaching Winters in 1875.
“Once that railroad crossed Putah Creek, all the land the train crossed (over) became really valuable as the farmers that began to live around Winters came because the railroad was the first place they could get their crops onto the train,” Fridae said.
Soon, Yolo County and Winters gained reputations for abundant fruit production.
Up until the 1960s, Winters was called by the Encyclopedia Britannica the “deciduous fruit capital of the United States.”
Spanish immigrants, new crops
Another important development of agriculture in Winters was the arrival of Spanish laborers in the late 1800s. Beginning around 1890 and continuing through until the 1950s, large numbers of laborers from southern Spain began settling around northern California, with many settling in Winters and across Yolo County.
Lopez, whose family is from southern Spain and whose journey to Winters is told in her book “An American Paella,” described the process of Spanish settlement in Winters. Though some came earlier, the first big wave of immigrants arrived “sometime in the neighborhood of around 1910 when 8,000 Spanish immigrants from southern Spain went to Hawaii for jobs because of poor economic conditions in early 20th century Spain and ended up in California.” They worked as laborers on pioneer farms.
A second wave came from relatives of those already established here between 1918 and the 1930s, before the Spanish Civil War. The last wave came after the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Though they arrived in smaller numbers, they continued to arrive through the 1950s.
An important thing these laborers and immigrants brought with them was knowledge and experience with a new type of crop — nuts.
Griffin said that Spanish immigrants “came with knowledge of growing almonds, and to some degree walnuts, as they were coming from a place in southern Spain with a very similar Mediterranean
climate to Yolo County, and so really I think a lot of that — the nut orchard business — began with them.”
Soon, the Spanish laborers were able to become full-fledged members of the community.
“They were able to eventually buy some parcels of land, and they did it as families by pooling their money, and they became major landowners, but they came with nothing as farm laborers,” Lopez said.
Japanese, Mexican agricultural impact
Along with these European immigrants came settlers from other parts of the world, including the Japanese community of Winters. The “Japanese started coming about the same time (as the Spanish) beginning in 1907,” Lopez noted. “There was a lot of discrimination there with the laws and where the Japanese could live and have businesses” even though “they were a hardworking and important part of the Winters community.”
Fridae, who helped develop an extensively-researched exhibit at the Winters Museum about the lost Japanese community, added that “the Japanese and their experience with horticulture was valuable as well … when they were interned, we lost their contributions to the workforce.”
Another important population was the Mexican immigrants and laborers.
Regarding Mexican and Latin American residents of Winters, Griffin said that “primarily, they were the labor force that started during World War II when soldiers were away. Obviously, there were Mexicans across California before us,” he noted though this area of northern California was sparsely populated while the area was part of Mexico, and many Mexican residents in Winters can trace their roots back to the 1940s with the greater need for labor and the Bracero program.
“Were it not for Mexican labor, there wouldn’t be any labor at that time,” Griffin said.
“The Mexican population started coming from the 30s and 40s,” Lopez explained “but mainly in the 50s and 60s. So some families have been here for decades and they came as working-class
See ROOTS, Page 8
Winters JUSD marks 60 years of serving students
The school district began serving Winters students in 1964
By Abigail Hofland Winters Express
Winters Joint Unified School District is celebrating its 60th anniversary this fall.
The district was first established on Oct. 8, 1964, a consolidation of area schools prompted by a population boom within Winters city limits.
By April the following year, grounds were already expanding. Construction soon began for two new buildings: a gymnasium and the hexagonal library, both of which were completed in the late 60s.
Course offerings were expanded during this time through the Regional Occupation Program, with classes on equipment operation and maintenance. By the mid-1970s, about 30 students took part in ROP courses ranging from cosmetology to medical office training, landscaping, and animal health science. The 1976 purchase of land on Road 33 provided a site for
the building of the Agricultural Building, later named for teacher Joe Aguiar.
Almost 50 years later, Winters JUSD continues to grow — one of few in the state that is expanding. Superintendent Rody Boonchouy attributes this in part to tourism in the area and developments that have placed Winters on the map.
“As the world continues to change, we must ensure our schools keep up so students are ready for the future,” Boonchouy said.
A foundational offering of the school district is its career and technical education, or CTE, which is grounded in agriculture
but also includes culinary and computer science pathways. Boonchouy also noted the district’s dual language immersion program and vibrant after-school program.
Lisa Brown, whose three sons have graduated or are currently attending Winters JUSD schools, remembers a time when the dual immersion program was on its way out. One of her sons started kindergarten in 2011.
“In a couple years time, there was a school board decision made to get rid of the dual immersion program, and a lot of families left town. We weren’t involved in that program but
The outlook for fruit
Reprinted from the April 22, 1898, of the Winters Express
What is the extent of the damage by frosts to orchards? That is the question asked everywhere and answered very unsatisfactorily.
A.J. Heichman, vice president of Porter Brothers Company, in an article in the Sacramento Bee, says the actual damage has been greatly overestimated. Yet in a resume of the condition of the crop throughout the state, he gives little reason for saying it, the damage according to his showing being general and very extensive.
A representative of the Express has spent several days in making a personal investigation of the orchards of this locality and feels confident that he knows the truth. While almost all the orchards were examined, only a few in each locality can be specifically mentioned and those will be of a character to indicate the conditions of the others, except in unusual cases.
On the DeVilbiss tract, west of Winters, the Reynolds place has nothing whatever — apricots and peaches being entirely gone, and there is scarcely anything on the place where the Smith children live.
John Thissell may have 25 percent of a plum crop but nothing else. A. C. Sullivan has half a crop of tragedies.
J.A. DeVilbiss, one of the largest orchardists, has on the main orchard perhaps ten percent of apricots, no peach- es, but a fine pear crop. Over by the hills he has a small apricot orchard that carries all it ought to.
East of the line, Joe Paul has nothing at all and J.G. Young, half a crop of pears and plums.
One of the finest orchards is A.L. Stinson’s of one hundred acres, and it may be said that the frost was but little felt; apricots nearly half a crop, pears and peaches very heavy. The orchard is well cared for and the owner hopes to withstand the dry weather by so doing.
Another big orchard is the William Brinck place, which none are kept in better condition no matter what the weather. Frost took the apricots on the low lands, but about thirty percent of a crop remains; peaches about half a crop and plums and pears heavy.
August Brinck’s orchard is in about the same condition.
George Thissell, not twenty percent apricots, but nearly a full crop of plums; his entire output ought to be 75 percent of normal.
James Martin is one of the fortunate ones. His apricots are scarcely hurt, he has full half a crop of peaches and the grapes are in find condition. He also farms the Rippey place, where not a bit of dam-
age was done, and the Humphrey place, east of town, where there is full half a crop of cots.
Farther up Putah Creek, some six miles away, is the Sackett Brothers Company ranch, one of the largest and best in this entire locality. It is full of fruit from the gooseberry bush to the giant fig trees and it is A1. Jack Frost didn’t find it at all and they are preparing to irrigate if necessary to keep the dry weather from doing any damage.
G.W. Thissell has a heavy crop of plums, that being the bulk of his fruit. His is one of the oldest fruit ranches in this part of the state, but he devotes almost his entire attention to one variety.
G.W. Hinclay at Sky High has a splendid crop of everything. He is above the frost line and suffered no damage at all. He expects, also, better quality of fruit this year than usual.
The Henry Brinck fruit farm reaches from the hills adjoining Sky High across the end of Pleasants Valley to the hills on the south side. The high land fruit is practically unhurt; on the low lands there are no apricots and very few peaches; plums are fine. Here is one of the finest pear orchards in California and it gives magnificent promises-couldn’t be better. Thorough care and attention also has put the orchard in fine shape for a dry season.
saw a lot of frustrated parents leave,” Brown said.
She got together with a handful of others to shed light on the strengths of the district while encouraging improvement where possible
“At the time it felt like the schools were separate from each other, despite being under the same district,” Brown said.
Her efforts were met with support and results — a stronger PTA and the first school bond passed in 2014. In the years that followed, parental communication and involvement remained strong.
Post-COVID, Boonchouy has noticed a broader trend
in education — schools becoming the go-to place for addressing all needs of the whole child.
“Our responsibility as educators extends beyond academics. While academic support is essential, it is not enough on its own — we must also address the social and emotional needs of our students,” Boonchouy said.
With increased state mandates and expectations, Winters JUSD can easily end up buried in compliance mode. Addressing student needs more holistically is a noble yet monumental task — one that
See SCHOOLS, Page 11
Rewind & Revisit
Dispatches from the Express archives.
Just south of Brinck’s the Buck place on the hillside hasn’t any frost, not the H.P. Austin place, which W.D. Snodgrass is working. The cots are particularly fine and the trees more than usually full. The orchard is in fine condition and the soil carries sufficient moisture to mature the fruit without any more rain.
W.J. Pleasants lost the bulk of his apricots and peaches, but pears are all right. He has a splendid orchard, and says that it is a good thing for it that the frost took the fruit, as in a dry season the trees are better off and will not be hurt for next year. His estimate is that twothirds of the entire fruit crop, aside from pears, is lost.
E. R. Thurber has a big fruit ranch and it was expected that over half the fruit was taken, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. His peaches will yield half a crop, apricots not more than 25 percent, plums 75 or more and pears big. The latter are very full and if the weather gets too dry for them he intends to irrigate. Taking the entire orchard, a fair estimate will be at least 75 percent of the usual crop and of good quality.
On the hills east of Pleasants Valley no frost was felt and the orchards are full. The Valley also had more rain than out on the prairie and the ground is in good condition, so that dry weather effects will be little felt. East and south of Winters there are very few apricots. Col. Sam Taylor has only about 10 percent of a crop, nor has he any peaches; he has half a crop of plums, pears and prunes; almonds all
gone. Ed. Udell, crop of full peaches, prunes normal, apricots about 50 percent.
Dr. S.K. Baker hasn’t an apricot and few peaches, pears half a crop. Wm. Baker has a fine crop of peaches, but only 25 percent of apricots.
S.D. Day, some muir peaches, no apricots. Peter Johnson, half crop peaches, no apricots.
The Goodyear ranch is a failure on apricots, almost so as to peaches but pears are all right. There is lots of second bloom fruit on the apricot trees but Mr. Gregory does not think it will mature. This is the largest fruit orchard in this section, containing over 16,000 trees.
F. J. Bonny’s orchard has not an apricot and few peaches, but the pear orchard, and a large one it is, has a big a load of fruit as it can carry.
The Bondurant orchard has little if anything, and the Bowman orchard is in about the same fix.
Clay Settle’s peaches are good, but no apricots, and Sam Fenley’s orchard is about the same.
S. J. Sills ranch of over 70 acres, the larger part of which is apricots, was badly nipped by frost, but no pears at least 25 percent of a crop of cots, and over 50 percent of a peach crop. The apricots are what is called second bloom, though in this case the orchard was not in full bloom when the frost came, and they are maturing as well as any orchard we have seen.
E.Ireland hasn’t anything, nor has Peter Larsen, at least the latter’s crop is too light to figure on.
Ben Griffin’s orchard was reported totally wrecked after the frost; the truth is he will have half a crop of apricots, and good ones too; pears are fine as are the tragedys and French prunes. The orchard is probably in better bearing than last year. While these are not nearly all the orchards, they cover a wide scope of country and give a fair idea of the condition of the fruit crop. Of the apricot crop there remains about 35 percent. Peaches are more than half good, probably 70 percent of a crop.
Pears are in better bearing than last year and will yield on the present showing, 90 percent. Prunes have dropped considerably since attaining the size of a pea or larger; there is now 65 percent of a crop.
Plums are hurt in spots more than even apricots, but not nearly so much, in fact the plum crop on the whole is up to 80 percent of normal. Grapes everywhere are in fine condition-couldn’t be better.
It is the judgment of well-informed growers and others in a position to know something about the situation, that the shipping fruit will reach 65 to 80 percent of normal; dried fruit has suffered to a greater extent and will not be over 35 or 40 percent. This statement is made on a careful and conservative estimate. As prices promise to be better than last year, the net gain to the grower may be as large or larger than with a normal crop. This article was edited for space.
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Winters Middle School students stepped into the shoes of Winters Joint Unified School District staff and trustees during the district’s inaugural Youth Civic Engagement Day — a leadership program held in partnership with the Winters Youth Day Council to give students firsthand insight into how the district operates. They ended the day running a Youth Board of Trustees meeting.
Mrs. Harry Day/Courtesy photo
The apricot dry yard at the Brinck Ranch, 1916.
Rewind & Revisit
Dispatches from the Express archives.
Pinegrove School began in 1864
Reprinted from the May 22, 1975, Centennial Edition published by the Winters
The first public school in the Winters area, according to Russell’s History of Yolo County was the Pinegrove School about two miles west of Winters. Classes began in that school in 1864. The first teacher was Master McCall, followed by Master Rogers and Master Bruce Pendegast. Pendegast was the schoolmaster when Winters was founded in 1875 and a new two room school was built in the town. The classes were moved into Winters, with the district retaining the name of Pine Grove until 1887 when it was changed to “The Win-
ters District.”
By 1892 there were school districts in Buckeye and Apricot districts, as well as Winters, and voters of the three districts approved the formation of the first high school district in Yolo County.
The first classes assembled on September 19 of that year in a room of the grammar school building, which had been built that year. Twenty-three students enrolled that fall, and four of the original first class graduated in 1895. By 1896 the school had outgrown its cramped quarters. Two teachers were already employed and the town’s first grammar school building, idle since the con-
struction of the 1892 building, was converted into a high school. In 1909 lots were purchased on the north side of Grant Avenue and the old building was moved to the new site, enlarged and remodeled. This building was destroyed by fire on August 21, 1914 and a new building was completed in January 1916, which served the high school district until the fire of Januray, 1943, destroyed that structure.
Wolfskill School
A. R. Gale and Sons were the successful bidders on the construction of the new Wolfskill School, in 1957, with a bid of $55,304. The school is now used as a kindergarten center.
Florals By Chris
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Over 45 Years Serving The Winters Community 106 ORCHARD LANE, WINTERS 530-795-3279 / 530-681-8623 CELL
SCHOOLS
Continued from Page 9
that the school district lacks resources to independently tackle.
“Caring best for our students and families involves asking the questions ‘How do we redefine the school experience to meet the full range of student needs? And how do we ensure schools have the capacity — and community partnership — to support that work?’”
Boonchouy said.
He noted that Winters has a long history of collaboration between the school district and the community. The shared pool is one example of this, retired high school teacher and local historian Tom Crisp pointed out in his book “Rooted in Excellence: The History of the Winters Joint Unified School District.” The 2007 swimming pool is used by the high school as well as the town’s summer swimming program.
A more recent collaboration is the creation of Winters JUSD’s Graduate Profile, a joint effort by students, teachers, and several community organizations in Winters. Over the course of several meetings and with careful deliberation, Winters JUSD established content and competency goals in six categories for use across the district.
State funding has also been a boon to Winters JUSD. In recent years especially, the school district has received several grants. Thanks to a recent one, plans are in place for an apprenticeship program that will build practical skills training for Winters JUSD students while involving the community. Other upcoming efforts include an ethnic studies program to kick
off next fall and further development of AVID (college readiness) and SEAL (multilingual support) methodologies.
Regarding the politicized nature of education in recent years, Boonchouy said national tensions are reflected in Winters to some degree, despite it being insulated from much of the noise.
ELIAS IRELAND 1833-1919
Some community members have concerns about the direction of school policies. For example, local members of Moms for Liberty, a group that lobbies for parental rights in schools, have expressed concern to trustees and Winters JUSD staff over issues such as social transitioning policies without parent notification, gender identity curricula in science and health classes, and placement of menstrual products in boys’ bathrooms.
Others view these concerns as manufactured. Brown is satisfied with the school district’s handling of hot-button topics.
“Any issue that has arisen over the years from lockdowns to safety to the dual immersion program, it seems that the district has at least hit it head on. They jump in to try to over-communicate. My kids are involved in the school, and they don’t see or feel a lot of the things that are publicized,” Brown said.
Here too, the tight-knit nature of the Winters community comes into play. “It’s such a small district that things can be identified fairly quickly and have a conversation to communicate it out,” Brown said.
Boonchouy is optimistic that as issues or new challenges arise, the Winters community will continue to solve them together.
As for the school district, “At the end of the day, we’re here for our kids,” Boonchouy said.
Wheelwright, blacksmith, inventor of the Eureka Fruit Car. In business here from 1875 to 1910.
CHARLES DAYTON IRELAND 1868-1929
Wheelwright, grover, teamster.
LESTER MERRIATT IRELAND 1891-1955
Grocer, insurance. Served as mayor of Winters and was first recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award.
WAYNE SIDWELL IRELAND 1915-1993
Real estate and insurance. Recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award.
TIMOTHY WAYNE IRELAND & YVONNE IRELAND Insurance. Third generation ownership of Ireland Agency.
MAEGAN D. IRELAND Insurance agent since 2003. Sixth generation resident.
•Crown & Bridge
•Dental Implants
•Nightguards and Sportsguards
•Nitrous Oxide Sedation
•Onlays, Inlays & 3/4 Crowns
•Sealants
•Teeth Whitening •Digital Imaging (x-rays) •Partial & Full Dentures •Periodontal (Gum) Evaluation •Regular & Deep Teeth Cleaning
Monday 8:30am-5:00pm | Tuesday 8:30am-5:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am-5:00pm | Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-4:00pm | Saturday by appointment only
This picture, taken about 1893, shows four generations of the Ireland family. At left is Elias Ireland, one of the founders of Winters and a wheelwright; his grandson, Lester M. Ireland, who was later mayor of Winters; and Joseph F. Stille, Lester’s great grandfather. Standing
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
This year, eighth-graders and high school seniors participated in a hands-on financial literacy workshop through a partnership with Travis Credit Union. Students gained insight into budgeting and having to make financial life choices in a safe environment.
The Mariani family came to California in 1906. Looking for new farming opportunities outside of the burgeoning Santa Clara Valley, they found a very similar micro-climate 60 miles northeast of San Francisco in the town of Winters. The family began farming in Winters in 1958. Mariani Nut Company was founded in 1972 by two cousins, Jack and Dennis Mariani. Initially the company started off as a very small processor that mainly handled the walnuts from their own orchards.
Over the course of five decades, Mariani Nut has grown steadily, due in large part to the quality-conscious growers whose product we process. In addition, a highly dedicated and skilled employee base has allowed us to continuously improve our manufacturing processes and quality controls, consistently meeting our customers’ specifications and expectations for more than 50 years.
Today, Mariani Nut Company has grown to be one of the largest, privately held, almond and walnut processors in the world. To the same extent, our farming operation has also grown to several thousand acres. Mariani Nut Company still supplies almonds and walnuts from our own orchards, but we also have a very large number of growers positioned statewide who supply nuts to us as well.
Over the years, Mariani Nut Company has developed strong partnerships with customers who demand the highest quality and insist on continuous improvement. These partnerships with companies in a variety of sectors including confectionery, manufacturing, cereal and ice cream have pushed us to implement an aggressive investment strategy when it comes to manufacturing. This strategy has allowed us to obtain a position of leadership regarding quality in the industry.
Mariani almonds and walnuts reach virtually all regions of the world. Our products find a home not only here in the U.S., but also in Europe, Asia and Australia.
We are proud of being part of Winters’ past and look forward to being part of Winters’ future.
