$1
Winters JUSD launches online survey in search for its next leader News, Page 3
including tax
Landscaping business supports dream yards Features, Page 1
Volume 139, Number 30 — Locally-owned since 1884
Trustee area candidates set for ballot, board will appoint for Area Four By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Trustee Area Two is the only election appearing on the ballot in November. Incumbent Board President Carrie Green is being challenged by former Trustee Rob Warren. Green was first elected to her seat in November 2014, and has served as the Area Two Trustee since December 2014. Warren previously served as the Winters JUSD Area 4 Trustee for 10 years before his resignation on Dec. 14, 2020 over concerns of transparency. Warren’s residence is now in Trustee Area Two following the approval of the Trustee Area Redistricting Map at the Feb. 3 meeting. Trustee Joedy Michael is running uncontested for his Trustee Area Three
seat. No candidates filed for the Trustee Area Four seat. Trustee Candi Ochoa is currently serving in the Area Four seat. Her term expires December 2022. In accordance with the Winters Joint Unified School Board Bylaw 9223 – Filling Vacancies, when a vacancy occurs due to lack of candidates, a district-wide election is not held. Instead, the Trustees appoint a qualified individual to the seat at a meeting prior to the day of the regularly scheduled election. Acting Superintendent Phoebe Girimonte said the latest date the board could appoint is Nov. 3. She said the Trustees will receive information of the process at the upcoming Winters JUSD school board meeting on Sept. 1.
The hometown paper of George Griffin
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Council approves road closures for fall festival By Angela Underwood Express staff writer
Courtesy graphic
The approved road closures for the Harvest Festival span across two blocks of Main Street.
It’s never too early to plan a big street party, especially when it comes to road closures that affect traffic and public safety. That is why Aug. 2, the Winters City Council approved all road closures for the upcoming Winters Downtown Business Association and Holden Events Downtown Winters Harvest Fest scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28–29. The Main Street closure for the upcoming festival is essential to public safety, according to Winters Police Chief John P. Miller. “Any road closures of Main, Abbey, Railroad, and a couple of others do go in front of the city council for review and approval per the municipal code,” Miller said. The chief said the “city’s team,” including the police, fire, public works departments, and administrative services work
with event coordinators, including Holden, for the good of all concerned. “Our primary goal in supporting road closures for these types of events is to ensure the safety of the people attending the event,” Miller noted. The city team often recommends using water barricades, especially when the events last several hours and potentially involve large street crowds. “We have all seen horrific tragedies that could have been prevented if greater precautions were taken,” Miller said. “This added layer of safety also enhances the overall enjoyment for those attending the event.” Successfully throwing the big fall event takes a lot of little endof-summer planning to work out, according to Delaney Holden, the event organizer. “We do all the gritty work behind the scenes,” Holden said. Some of that “gritty”
See ROADS, Page 7
Festival de la Comunidad returns Sept. 24 Winters Community Corazón Special to the Express
EXPRESS
Winters Community Corazón is proud to announce the return of the Festival de la Comunidad, aka “Carnitas Festival”. Bring the whole family out for our Community Festival at Winters Community Center and Rotary Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 4:30–10:30 p.m. Over the past decade, members of the Winters Hispanic Advisory Committee have worked together with city staff and community volunteers to foster open communication, outreach and understanding between the City of Winters staff
and the Latinx Community. The Festival de la Comunidad has been one of their greatest successes and it is now being co-organized by the Winters Community Corazón, a new non-profit foundation in Winters. Their goal is to continue to create an event that celebrates our community and the rich cultural diversity that makes Winters such a special place. Past donations have gone to support the Munchkin Summer Camp program that enriches academic success for Winters students in first through eighth grades, U.S. Citizenship forums to help residents become citizens, sponsorship of Summer Internships with Putah Creek Council for Winters High School graduates to provide STEM experience to young
people, and so much more. At this year’s event, there will be live music and dancing, featuring Bonanza Kings, Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko Group, Mariachi Puente, Folklorico and more. The children’s area features free activities including bounce houses, face painting and other activities. A large selection of booths will offer their goods and provide information to the community. There is no cost to attend the event. Six carnitas teams will compete to win First, Second, and Third place. All booths are eligible to compete for the Best Booth Award. Delicious carnitas plates, which include our featured Festival Carnitas from our cooks, and El Pueblo’s famous
See CARNITAS, Page 7
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Low
Aug. 17
.00
106˚
70˚
Aug. 18
.00
102˚
65˚
Aug. 19
.00
105˚
59˚
Aug. 20
.00
103˚
60˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-6
Aug. 21
.00
105˚
62˚
Aug. 22
.00
97˚
59˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
Aug. 23
.00
99˚
63˚
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Real Estate ................... B-2 Athlete of the Week...... A-3
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: TRACE Last sn. to date: TRACE Winters rainfall season began 7/1/22. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m.
Express File Photo
Waggoner Elementary School is the next facility to receive updates. A community forum to provide feedback to the school on the plans is set for Sept. 7
Trustees hear updates on school facility projects, 2022-23 budget By Angela Underwood Express staff writer The first Winters Joint Unified School District (Winters JUSD) meeting of the 2022-23 school year kept officials busy for almost three hours with new employee introductions, the annual budget, a superintendent update, and other business. The Board of Trustees got right to business Thursday night, sharing their stories on the first day of school send-off with their children and the back-to-school staff kickoff. “The first day was obviously spectacular, but I am at that spot where my boys would rather die of embarrassment than
have me walk them near any perimeter of a campus,” Carrie Green, Board President, said. “But, I was able to drive around and see all the smiles and excitement at Rominger and Waggoner.” Trustees Everardo Zaragoza and Kristin Trott also shared heartfelt first-day send-offs with their children and appreciation for the staff kickoff. “I think it is great that we all have kids in the schools, so we see firsthand everything that goes on,” said Zaragoza. “It was a great breakfast, and the whole event was really fun,” Trott said, adding she is happy to get back to post-pandemic per-
WINTERS AGGREGATE
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503 buckhornsteakhouse.com
27990 County Road 90 Winters, CA 95694 www.pearcehvac.com State Contractor Lic# 864483
1 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.2682 putahcreekcafe.com
We deliver friendly hometown service!
Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated
116 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-798-5500
www.smith-funerals.com FD-992
• Fruit Tree Soil • Moss Rock • Bulk Bagged Perlite • Blended Planting Soil • Large Selection of Flagstone
4499 Putah Creek Rd.
(530) 795-2994
sonal acquaintances. “It was great to put some names to faces now that everyone is here.” Acting Superintendent Phoebe Girimonte said she was excited to welcome back old staff while getting to know new employees, adding the common thread between all personnel is their love for children and dedication to teaching. Girimonte commended Waggoner Elementary’s expansion to universal prekindergarten under the direction of principal Travis Nelson-Oritz. “They are working hard to make the first week and a half special, and they have navigated a few
See SCHOOLS, Page 7
C U ST O M CLEANERS · Dry Cleaning · Laundry · Alterations 184 E. Grant Avenue, Winters (530) 795-1938