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Volume 143, Number 12 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, April 22, 2026
The hometown paper of Greg Drummond
ANNUAL YOUTH DAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Sponsored By Rotary Club of Winters Community Foundation Benefits Community Services Projects, Winters Senior Foundation, and Winters Fire Department Volunteers
Saturday, April 25, 2026 • 7am - 9:30am WINTERS COMMUNITY CENTER $20 Adults • $10 Children under 10
Free for children under 6 or who don’t eat very much
Road closures set for Youth Day Express staff In preparation for the annual Youth Day celebration, the city of Winters has approved a series of street closures to accommodate the traditional parade and festival activities. Now in its 88th year, Youth Day honors the city’s youth and their civic engagement, drawing residents and visitors alike for a day of community festivities.
Youth Day is traditionally held on the last Saturday in April, with the parade along Main Street serving as the signature event. The Kiddie Parade, held prior to the main event, and the Kiddie Faire at Rotary Park will also be part of the day’s activities. Post-parade festivities will take place in Rotary Park and on select blocks of
See ROADS, Page 8
Early check-in offered for Memorial Fun Run Express staff
EXPRESS
Participants in the third annual Michael Bazan Jimenez & Noah Lichwa Memorial Fun Run can check in early and pick up their T-shirts on Friday, April 24, during the Youth Day cornhole tournament at Hooby’s Brewing, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The 5K fun run/ walk begins Saturday, April 25, at 7 a.m. Participants who registered by April
2 are guaranteed a commemorative T-shirt. Later registrations will receive shirts as supplies last. The event raises funds for the Noah Lichwa & Michael Bazan Jimenez Memorial Scholarships, honoring the two Winters teens who died in June 2022. Community members can support the memorial scholarships through donations made on the Memorial Fun Run registration page ont https://runsignup. com or by clicking the Memorial Fun Run link at linktr.ee/ wintersyouthday.
Martinez is Youth of the Year By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Camila Martinez, a Winters High School sophomore, has been named the 2026 Youth of the Year after being selected by a vote of students across the Winters Joint Unified School District. The honor recognizes a student who demonstrates leadership, service, resilience and a commitment to positive impact in school and community life. The Youth of the Year award highlights young people who serve as role models, showing integrity, responsibility and compassion while inspiring others through action. Martinez was chosen for her leadership roles, community involvement and consistent effort to uplift her peers. Martinez has been active in student leadership since middle school and currently serves as class president, a role she has held for two years as a
Express staff In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Winters Fire Department will host a Sensory-Friendly Fire Station Tour on Wednesday, April 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Winters Fire Station. The event is designed
We at he r Date
Rain
High
Apr. 15
.00
75˚
45˚
Apr. 16
.00
76˚
49˚
Apr. 17
.00
70˚
53˚
Apr. 18
.00
80˚
40˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Apr. 19
.00
79˚
44˚
Apr. 20 TRACE
80˚
51˚
Opinion ......................... B-4
Apr. 21
65˚
50˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 1.03 in. Season’s total: 18.82 in. Last sn. to date: 19.04 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-6
Camila Martinez, a Winters High School sophomore, was named the 2026 Youth of the Year by a vote of students across the Winters Joint Unified School District. Martinez was recognized for her leadership, community service and involvement in school activities. class representative. She is also involved in Interact, Friday Night Live, and the Student Ethics Club, while balancing three sports — cheer, soccer and track. In competitive soccer, she serves as a captain for Dixon Leon Soccer Club. Her involvement in Friday Night Live (FNL) was driven by what she sees as a growing concern among students. “I think that is a very
big issue with kids our age now. A lot of people use vapes and e-cigarettes, and they don’t realize the consequences of it later on in life,” she said. Martinez said a personal family experience also shaped her motivation. “My Grandpa died from lung cancer. He told me he wished someone had said something to him about not smoking before he got addict-
1.03”
Low
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
to welcome individuals and families in a calm, inclusive environment. The open house will allow community members to meet firefighters, explore the fire station and see equipment in a setting intentionally structured to reduce sensory stimulation. The tour features include no sirens or loud noises, opportunities to meet firefighters, hands-on interaction with fire trucks and designated quiet spaces for those who may need them. Winters Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III said he wanted to ensure all children in the community have the opportunity to experience the firehouse, noting the sensory-friendly tour was developed as one way to create a more inclusive experience.
The tour reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and community connection during Autism Awareness Month. The Winters Fire Department also shared a related message on its official social media accounts outlining its commitment to serving individuals on the autism spectrum and strengthening inclusive emergency response practices. “Every day, the men and women of the Winters Fire Department respond to calls across our community, a community made up of individuals and families with unique strengths, perspectives and needs,” the social media post stated. “Among those we are honored to serve are individuals on the autism spectrum, and we take that responsi-
Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated
2 Main Street Winters, CA 530.795.4503
1 Main Street Winters, CA 530.795.2682
See YOUTH, Page 8
Winters Fire to host sensory-friendly tour April 29
Index Features ........................ B-1
Courtesy photo
ed,” she said and added that experience helped guide her involvement in prevention efforts. “That definitely motivated me to want ot join FNL because we try to inform students of the risks and causes of vaping, cigarettes, and other drugs.” Service to others, she said, is central to her identity. “I think helping the community out in any way, especially because we’re such a small town, is important. Even if it’s just one simple thing,” Martinez said. She has helped with local events, including setting up the Dinner on the Bridge, and said even small contributions matter. “Even if you show up for an hour or two, it helps the people who are organizing events a lot, even if you don’t realize it,” Martinez said. She has also taken on leadership roles
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bility seriously.” The post noted that first responder awareness extends beyond symbolic recognition. “For first responders, awareness goes beyond a ribbon or a color,” the post continued. “It means understanding how we communicate, how we approach a scene and how we show up for every individual, especially in high-stress moments when it matters most.” The fire department reaffirmed its commitment to compassionate, informed emergency response, ongoing training and fostering a community where all residents feel safe, seen and supported. For more information, contact the Winters Fire Department at 530-795-4131 or visit wintersfire.org.
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