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City facilities holiday closures News, Page 2
Messages of peace take root Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 47 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, December 24, 2025
City council backs next step for I-505 overpass project
Standing for peace
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Second-grade students sang along with Woody Fridae (back) on guitar during the Peace Pole dedication at Rotary Park on Dec. 15. Students, staff, Rotarians and Veterans for Peace took part in a daylong tour to dedicate five peace poles, each featuring the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. Read more on Page B1.
Trustees retain leadership, approve independent audit By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer On Thursday, Dec. 18, the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to keep President Joedy Michael and Clerk Everado Zaragoza in their longtime leadership roles. With the board’s top positions secured, Superintendent Rody Boonchouy will continue serving as secretary, a role traditionally held by the district superintendent. Trustees also approved meeting dates for 2026 and discussed possible adjustments in April due to the scheduled spring break.
Audit highlights strong oversight
EXPRESS
As required by the education code, the school district invited an independent auditor to review its financial statements. Spencer Blanda of James Marta & Co.
presented the results, reporting an “unmodified” opinion, which indicates the statements were fairly presented and free of material misstatements. Blanda highlighted the issuance of roughly $12 million in Measure W Bond Series B funds, which contributed to an increase in total assets. He also noted a decline in revenues compared to the prior year, attributing the change in part to the end of federal COVID-19 stimulus funding. “Back when they issued it, a lot of it was unearned revenue, and even through close to 2024, we were still earning that because we were spending money,” Blanda said. “But now in 2025 that’s gone. So that’s what’s kind of causing that fluctuation.” The board also approved bond audits for four measures — 2014 Measure R, 2016 Measure D, 2018 Measure P, and 2020 Measure W — with Blanda noting, “We encountered no issues during our testing for each measure… there’s strong
oversight over bonds as well.”
First interim budget shows positive certification Russ Barrington, assistant superintendent of business services, presented the first interim 2025–26 financial report, describing it as a snapshot after Oct. 31 that must be submitted to the county office. The report showed a positive certification, indicating the district can meet its financial obligations for the current year and the next two fiscal years. Enrollment fell slightly short of projections, with the district certified at 1,668 students compared with a projected 1,692. Michael said assumptions about future enrollment should be reassessed in the absence of new housing development. “The demographers took that into account, but we may want to be slightly more conservative with future budgets
See BUDGET, Page 5
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r
See PROJECT, Page 5
Editor-in-Chief Community members have a few weeks remaining to provide feedback through the Winters Fire Department’s Community-Driven Strategic Plan Survey, an effort officials say will help guide the department’s priorities and services over the next several years. The anonymous survey is designed to gather public input as the department develops its formal strategic plan, a longterm document that will shape operations, staffing, training and resource allocation. The survey is open to residents in the city of Winters and the Winters Fire District. Winters Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III
See SURVEY, Page 5
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
The Winters Fire Department demonstrated an aerial rescue operation, lifting a practice dummy from atop the water tower for high school students in April.
Yolo County waste services shift for holiday schedule
Rain
High 52˚
41˚
Dec. 18
.00
70˚
48˚
Dec. 19
.00
60˚
49˚
Express staff
Dec. 20
0.13”
57˚
51˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
Dec. 21
0.17”
61˚
50˚
Dec. 22
0.75”
62˚
54˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
Dec. 23
0.07”
60˚
52˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 1.14 in. Season’s total: 7.03 in. Last sn. to date: 8.26 in.
Yolo County officials are advising Winters and Capay Valley residents to plan ahead for holiday-related waste service changes and to take advantage of seasonal recycling and disposal programs available through early January. The Esparto Conve-
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Caltrans is unlikely to select the first option. “I think there’s little to no risk that Option 1 is coming back,” said Paul Gervacio, the project manager for the overpass. “It’s more of a formality.” Mayor Albert Vallecillo asked whether the city could request compliance with Winters’ street lighting policy in support of its dark-skies goals. Gervacio said Caltrans’ standard fixtures are already downward-facing to meet dark-sky requirements, so changes should not be necessary. Although the project will soon be overseen by the county and Caltrans, city leaders will continue to have opportunities for input, including through
By Crystal Apilado
0.02”
Sports ........................... B-5
members expressed enthusiasm about the project’s forward momentum but emphasized their preference for the second alternative concept. That option would construct a new multi-use path and a new pedestrian bridge along the south side of the existing I-505 overpass, rather than widening the current bridge to add a Class II bicycle lane and sidewalk. The existing bridge has a steep grade, making any bike lane or sidewalk built onto it less suitable for ADA compliance. While the project report going before Caltrans already reflects strong community support for the new multi-use path, it still includes the other alternatives. Given that stated preference, however,
Winters Fire seeks community input for strategic plan
Dec. 17
Community .................. A-2
Low
The Dec. 16 Winters City Council meeting centered on the next step in the long-awaited I-505 overpass project — a joint effort by the city, Yolo County and Caltrans aimed at making it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the freeway into Winters from nearby communities, particularly El Rio Villas. Before the council was adoption of the initial California Environmental Quality Act environmental study and a recommendation to Caltrans to approve the project report. Although the pathway will serve as a gateway to Winters, it lies outside city limits, necessitating a collaborative approach. Community members and council
Date
Classifieds ................... B-4
The hometown paper of Lorrie White
nience Center will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 31. The Yolo County Central Landfill in Woodland will remain open those days to accept waste from county residents. In observance of the holidays, the Yolo County Central Landfill will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1.
The Esparto facility will be open for normal business hours on Saturday, Dec. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 3. Because of the landfill closures on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, curbside collection services provided by Waste Management
See WASTE, Page 5
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