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Local teens’ art in the spotlight A&E, Page 7
Volume 143, Number 09 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters JUSD names 2026 Hall of Fame inductees
The hometown paper of Ray Boone
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Olive School Lane wins State FFA Talent Contest
Express staff The Winters Joint Unified School District has announced the inductees for the 2026 Winters JUSD Hall of Fame, honoring alumni, former employees and community members for their exceptional contributions. Community members participated in the nomination process, selecting individuals who have made a lasting impact on the school district and the broader Winters community. The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes: Alumni • Karen Lynne Benson Neil, Class of 1985 • Rudy Baylor, Class of 1995 Employee Woody Fridae (Employed 1983–2016) Distinguished Service • Vicki Tufts Jacobs • Sandy Tufts Vickrey These honorees have demonstrated a commitment to education, service and excellence, leaving a lasting legacy in Winters JUSD. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in April to formally recognize the Class of 2026. In celebration of these inductees, The Express will publish feature articles highlighting their contributions and the impact they have had on students, colleagues and the community.
California FFA/Courtesy photo
Olive School Lane — Winters High School students and FFA members Derek Green, Jack Jordling, Henry Girimonte and Cole Coker — perform on stage at the California FFA State Conference in Ontario, where they became the first four-person band to win the state talent title. The band formed just a few months earlier. Read more on Page B1.
Hundreds gather at ‘No Kings Rally’ Express staff
EXPRESS
About 400 people gathered in Winters over the weekend for the second local “No Kings Rally,” part of a nationwide series of protests spanning more than 3,100 events, mostly across the United States. Every U.S. congressional district hosted some form of a rally this past weekend. Local organizers said they wanted to provide a space for community members who wished to participate but might not have the
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ability or desire to leave town. Some of the featured speakers included Will Duncan on behalf of Congressman Mike Thompson, former Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. Frerichs told the Express that he appreciated the chance to speak at the event. “My comments focused on the impacts various Trump administration decisions are having on all counties, including Yolo County, and my concern for how these impacts will affect vulnerable populations, right here at home,” he said.
Index Features ........................ B-1
Rain
High
Low
Mar. 25
.00
90˚
52˚
Mar. 26
.00
82˚
55˚
Mar. 27
.00
79˚
58˚
Mar. 28
.00
88˚
49˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-6
Mar. 29
.00
85˚
52˚
Mar. 30
.00
90˚
53˚
Opinion ......................... B-5
Mar. 31
0.01”
79˚
58˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.01 in. Season’s total: 16.45 in. Last sn. to date: 18.93 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-6
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The March 24 Winters Planning Commission meeting focused on one item — design review considerations for the Olive Grove subdivision, a development that intersects with Apricot Ave. near the cemetery and high school. The project has been in the works for several years after COVID-19 derailed the original plans. The current proposal covers 1.42 acres and would include 18 single-family residences, most single-story, with a couple of two-story homes. The tentative map for the subdivision was recommended for approval by the commission on Nov. 19, 2025, and the city council subsequently approved it after a public hearing. One of the commission’s responsibilities is to ensure new projects meet the city’s design review criteria, which evaluate factors such as building mass and scale, ma-
terial and aesthetic quality, architectural quality, and regulatory compliance. These standards are intended to preserve the neighborhood’s visual appeal, ensure designs fit the character of surrounding homes, and encourage interesting architecture without large, blank or unbroken wall planes. Staff recommendations for design additions included: • For two-story home models proposed on lots 11 and 13, one of the two side elevations and the rear elevation shall match the front elevation. Enhanced windows shall include shutters on at least one window. • Stone veneers shall wrap around to the corner fencing, where applicable, to maintain continuity in design.
Public comment Kate Laddish requested warm lighting for outdoor areas and sparse streetlights concentrated around corners to reduce
Morgan Jane Gonzalez of Vacaville announces the birth of her daughter, Milah Jane Gonzalez. Milah arrived at 3:35 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026, at a hospital in Davis, California. She weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and measured 20 1/4 inches at birth. She joins her 10-month-old sister Elianah Gonzalez. Milah’s maternal grandparents are Ralph and Tammy Anderson.
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light pollution. Don Jordan, who lives just south of the development, noted concerns about fence lines but said discussions with the applicant had been productive. “The area has been an eyesore for the last five years, and it looks like something might happen now, so we’re happy about that,” Jordan said. Taylor Jenkins, the project applicant, said that any lots backing up to existing homes will be single-story, reflecting feedback from neighbors. Commission Chair Lisa A. Baker asked about ADA visitability and requested that future projects consider this goal, as the city aims to increase accessible homes. City planner Kelly Mumper said it was not specifically addressed for this project, but the single-story homes have no more than three steps to any entryway. The commissioners unanimously approved the design review.
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Frerichs highlighted recent federal legislation, saying, “The recently passed HR1 is cutting funding for food benefits, making it more difficult for low-income people to access these programs, while instituting new requirements for Medicaid eligibility. The claim from the Trump administration is that there is not enough money to fund these programs; yet we are spending an estimated $1 billion per day in a war against Iran, so perhaps we need to reassess our priorities.” Music at the event was provided by The Winters Ramblers and The Hopeful Singers.
Olive Grove Subdivision design review approved
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