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Volume 142, Number 26 — Locally-owned since 1884
The hometown paper of Shannon Martinez
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Laughter appointed as director of special education, student services By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief The Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Adriane Laughter as the school district’s new director of special education and student services at a special board meeting held Thursday, July 24. Laughter succeeds Jenny Pinedo, who recently departed the role. Lisa Dennis, the school district’s director of human resources, presented the recruitment and selection process to the board. The position was posted in May, and the district received 24 applications. After a screening process, four candidates were invited to interview with a panel made up of special education staff, site leaders, and dis-
Courtesy photo
Winters native Adriane Laughter was appointed as the school district’s new director of special education and student services. trict administrators. Laughter was identified as the top candidate on July 2. “Adriane brings a wealth of experience in education, spanning classroom teaching and both site and district-level leader-
ship,” Dennis said. “She has served as an assistant principal, principal, pupil services coordinator, and mental health coordinator in Dixon Unified School
See LAUGHTER, Page 6
City adjusts pool schedule as new school year nears Express staff
EXPRESS
The city of Winters has announced changes to its lap swim schedule at the city pool (Bobbie Greenwood Swim Center) to accommodate staffing transitions and preparations for the upcoming school year. According to City Manager Jeremy Craig, lap swim will be available from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. from July 28 through July 31. This temporary shift departs from the regular weekday lap swim hours of 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Additional schedule adjustments will
take effect Aug. 4 to 10, including modified lap and open swim times and the introduction of high school swim practices in the afternoons.
New schedule The updated schedule for Aug. 4 to 10 is as follows: Monday through Thursday • Lap swim: 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. • Open swim: 12 to 3:15 p.m.** • High school swim: 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. • Lap swim: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday • Open swim: 12 to 3:15 p.m.** • High school swim: 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. • Lap swim: 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. • Family swim: 7 to 9 p.m.** Saturday • Lap swim: 9:30 to
11:30 a.m. • Open swim: 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday • Lap swim: 8:30 to 11 a.m. • Open swim: 1 to 5 p.m.
Open swim lane During all open swim sessions marked with “**,” a single lap lane (Lane 1) will be available for lap swimming. The lane is open to any participant of open swim on a firstcome, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. A $2 open swim fee or open swim punch card is required. For the full swim schedule and updates, visit www.cityofwinters.org/169/ Swim or the lap swim information page at www.cityofwinters. org/209/Lap-Swim.
Index Features ........................ B-1
We at he r Date
Rain
High
July 23
.00
85˚
57˚
July 24
.00
89˚
56˚
July 25
.00
92˚
58˚
July 26
.00
92˚
57˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-5
July 27
.00
90˚
56˚
July 28
.00
90˚
58˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
July 29
.00
96˚
59˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 0.00 in. Last sn. to date: 0.00 in.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-6
Low
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
Courtesy photo
A map of the updated version of the Farmstead development was on display at the Winters Planning Commission meeting on July 22. The public hearing discussion will be continued at a specail planning commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission approves vet clinic, hears public input on Farmstead By Sonora Slater Express staff writer At its July 22 meeting, the Winters Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit for a new veterinary care business in the city of Winters. The practice, located at 15 E. Baker Street and set to be called “Winters Veterinary Care,” will be run by local resident Danielle Fusco. Former Winters city manager John Donlevy attended the meeting to speak on behalf of the project. “This is super important for our community,” Donlevy said. “Anyone who has a pet in Winters knows that if you need to take them to the vet, you often can’t do it here because all the vets are full.” After the project was introduced, the commissioners clarified various details of the conditional use permit, including a variance that allows for one fewer parking space than is typically required due to space limitations on the lot, and a variance that allowed for modifications to the trash enclosure requirements. There is an existing residence on the property that was constructed in 1867, but it is beyond repair and
will be demolished to make way for the new structure. Commissioner Ramon Altamirano asked if the building had any special historical significance or designation, and planners confirmed that it does not. The conditional use permit passed unanimously, and the project will now move forward with the next steps in design and eventually construction.
Farmstead development public input
The Farmstead development, a large-scale, 61.9 acre project with commercial and residential areas located north of Grant Avenue and east of Morgan Street, has been in the works since fall 2018. Since then, a multitude of discussions among city officials and the general public have shifted the plans to include less commercial space and more diverse housing options. The current plan, the newest version presented to commissioners, includes a park, a commercial area, entry-level townhomes, single-family homes, and apartments, as well as designating a certain portion of the land to be used for low-income housing.
See PLANNING, Page 6
Winters resident hosts Red Cross blood drive Aug. 4 Express staff Winters resident Amanda Ellis will partner with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive on Monday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave. All presenting donors will receive a $15 e-gift card as a thankyou from the Red Cross. “As a nurse in the emergency department, I see firsthand how much blood is administered each day. Just today, I gave a patient two bags of blood,” Ellis said. Appointments are
highly recommended to assist with planning and to help minimize wait times, though walk-ins will be accepted. Donors can register online at https://bit.ly/Aug4blooddrive using the sponsor code “Winters,” or by visiting www.redcrossblood. org and searching zip code “95694.” Prospective donors can view eligibility guidelines and complete a RapidPass health history questionnaire on the morning of their appointment to streamline the donation process. More information is available at redcrossblood.org.
Ellis said this is the first American Red Cross blood drive held in Winters, and community support is encouraged. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives. Red Cross volunteers will assist at the event. Those interested in volunteering with the Red Cross can learn more and register at redcross.org/volunteer. Spanish translation services can be requested in advance. For questions or to request accommodations, contact the Red Cross through the event registration site.
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