Winters Express: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Council weighs Senior Center options, Entertainment Zone

By Sonora Slater Express staff writer

The March 17 Winters City Council meeting featured — in addition to many community members enthusiastically dressed in green — continued conversations about the city’s grant application for the Senior Center project, a new weed abatement ordinance standardizing regulations, and the possibility of establishing an “Entertainment Zone” in downtown Winters.

At their previous meeting, the council, after hearing feedback from the

public, established that there was a need for a Senior Center in Winters, allowing the city to move forward with its application for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of approximately $3.3 million. At the March 17 meeting — the last one before the grant application was due — the council discussed whether to put forward the original separate Senior Center construction project on E. Baker Street, or the more recently conceptualized combined community center renovation and expansion, for the

application. Council favored the second choice for practical, financial reasons, as well as recognizing other benefits of the combined construction plan. The original build plan had an estimated cost of more than $6 million, and if the CDBG funds are earned, the city would be responsible for coming up with the remainder of the funds to complete the project.

Estimated costs for the renovation and expansion project

See CITY, Page 2

Oakdale Fire claims rejected, criminal probe continues

By Lauren Keene McNaughton Media

As the criminal investigation continues into the Esparto fireworks warehouse explosion that killed seven workers last year, Yolo County has delivered rejection letters to 18 parties

that filed multimillion-dollar claims for damages in connection with the July 1, 2025, incident.

The claimants, including families of the deceased victims and owners of properties neighboring the explosion and 78acre fire site at County Roads 23 and 86A, received letters saying their claims were rejected between Feb. 5 and 11.

“Subject to certain exceptions, you have

only six (6) months from the date this notice was personally delivered or deposited in the mail to file a State court action on this claim. Your time for filing an action in Federal court may be less than six months,” the letters say. “Please also be advised that, pursuant to Sections 128.5 and 1038 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, the

See CLAIMS, Page 3

Weather

Youth Ahoy! New parade categories make waves

The 88th Annual Youth Day Parade is set to march down Main Street on Saturday, April 25, with new parade categories, including decorated Golf Carts among the highlights.

The Youth Day Committee is now accepting parade entries, applications for the children’s activities area, volunteers, and event sponsors. Cash prizes, trophies, and ribbons will be awarded to winners in multiple parade categories, which have been revamped this year to make registration easier and more inclusive.

There is no entry fee to participate, and forms are available online at wintersyouthday.com on the Main Parade page.

Kiddie Parade entrants will register at 8:45 a.m. on Youth Day at Fourth and Main streets. Pre-judging begins at 9:15 a.m., with the Kiddie Parade rolling down Main Street at 9:45 a.m.

The 2026 Youth Day theme, “Youth Ahoy,” will be celebrated across all parade entries and festivities. Opening Ceremonies

The celebration kicks off Friday, April 24, with Opening Ceremonies honoring the Educator of the Year, Youth of the Year, Youth Day Grand Marshals, and the new Youth Grand Marshal. That evening, Winters Youth Day and the Kiwanis Club of Winters will host the Youth Day Cornhole

match after last year’s nail-biter, joined by new contenders Winters High School Principal Justin Young, Winters AYSO referee administrator Eric Jepsen and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. Details for the Rotary Club of Winters Pancake and Sausage Breakfast will be releasedsoon.

Register for Memorial Fun Run

Tournament at Hooby’s Brewing to raise funds for high school scholarships. The competitive tournament will offer cash prizes, while the social tournament will feature local gift prizes. Bags fly at 6:15 p.m., just down the street from the Opening Ceremonies.

Youth Day

Saturday’s festivities continue with family-friendly entertainment and activities at Rotary Park. Alongside the traditional Kiddie Faire, a new Play Patch for children ages 1–5 will offer age-appropriate activities free of charge. Food trucks and vendors will add to the festive atmosphere — but the real splash comes from the return of the Dunk Tank! The roster is heating up as Winters Middle School Principal Jose Bermudez defends his Dunk Tank crown. Winters Express Editor Crystal Apilado is ready for a re-

The 3rd Annual Michael Bazan Jimenez & Noah Lichwa Memorial Fun Run also returns Saturday morning. The 5K fun run/walk begins at 7 a.m. Participants who register 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 two young teens who died June 9, 2022.

Duck Derby

The 12th annual Duck Derby will follow on Saturday, June 30, with ducks available for sale in April and on Youth Day itself. A Duck adoption booth and Memorial Fun Run registration and t-shirt pick-up table will be available at the Youth Day Cornhole Tournament on Friday, April 24. For more information or to register for the parade, Fun Run, volunteer opportunities, or sponsorships, visit https://linktr.ee/ wintersyouthday.

Plants, music and community at MG Yolo Plant Sale at Winters Library

Special to the Express

It is time for spring planting! Find your gardener’s heart’s desire at the UC Master Gardeners-Yolo plant sale on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Winters Community Library Teaching Garden (708 Railroad Ave). This event is a collaboration of three community organizations: The Master Gardeners of Yolo County, Winters Friends of the Library, and Winters High School FAA chapter. This annual plant sale is a great opportunity to find new plants for your garden and

haven’t yet been determined, but contract city engineer Alan Mitchell indicated that it’s likely to be significantly less. Funds previously set aside by the council for an eventual renovation of the more than 50-year-old community center could also be used concurrently to make needed updates to the existing portion of the building.

The grant funds, meanwhile, would be directed toward adding on a multipurpose room and a lobby/ lounge area, as well as some new, ADA-compliant bathrooms.

“I wasn’t sure about (the new idea) at first, but now I think it’s realistic,” Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi said. “It’s our best

support community organizations.

The sale will feature plants from Morningstar Herb Farms of Vacaville in addition to plants propagated by UC Master Gardeners-Yolo and community volunteers The proceeds from the sale benefit the maintenance of the garden cared for by Master Gardeners and community volunteers. The plants offered for sale provide habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and will include a variety of dwarf butterfly bushes, lavenders, ornamental sages, culinary

bet at actually getting something built.”

Karen May, a community member who has been active with the Senior Center project for almost 10 years, said that she’s similarly come around on the idea.

“We need a place to meet,” May said. “This feels like our last chance to have a Senior Center.”

The seniors have been hosting regular gatherings at the community center for quite some time now, so the council also pointed out that this may be a good location to avoid confusion and people getting lost — and it has much more parking available than the E. Baker Street location.

The new, combined building would also include a double door that could be closed, dividing the old and new portions, allow-

herbs, and various California native plants. And for succulent aficionados, Sharon Bloom, “The Succulent Lady”, will have boxed succulents by the dozen and individual plants for sale in addition to her handmade ceramic planters.

The Winters High School Agriculture Class and the FFA will sell vegetable starts and hanging baskets filled with flowers. The proceeds from their sale provides funds for additional greenhouse projects. Don’t forget to bring cash or a check to purchase from these dedicated students.

ing two events to take place at once — a Community Center event and a Senior Center event, making the space more functional for the whole community, and possibly providing more revenue to the city.

There was some discussion about the potential of adding solar to the roof, incorporating better signage pointing visitors toward the Putah Creek Nature Park, and other design details, but since the exact design of the project can be modified even after approval of grant funds, the council largely focused on the choice between the two locations for the time being.

The Community Center/Senior Center combo plan was approved unanimously, and it will now be submitted with the city’s grant package for

CELEBRATING WINTERS’ 88TH ANNUAL YOUTH DAY

Saturday, April 25 Duck Derby, Parade, Food & More!

Celebrating our community's youth from the past to the present, “Youth Around the World” special tabloid will be published on Wednesday, April 22nd. It will be mailed to all Winters’ households and distributed throughout the community with 5,000 printed copies and on-line edition. Festivities begin on Saturday, April 26th with fun for the whole family. Be a part of this community wide section with your advertising message.

Recently, the Winters Community Library Teaching Garden was selected as a location for the 2026 garden tour of the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS Sacramento Valley) for their Gardens Got Natives Tour. This year’s plant sale will coincide with the Gardens Got Natives Tour on April 18th and Sunday, April 19th. Go to https:// sacvalleycnps.org/gardens-gone- -tour/https:// sacvalleycnps.org/gardensgone-native-tour/ for more information about the tour and free registration.

Join us! Enjoy plant shopping and a tour of the Winters Community Library Teaching Garden accompanied by the music of the band Squirrels in the Attic. And don’t forget to bring your gardening questions, Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions about the plants you wish to purchase or other gardening questions. If you are unable to attend the plant sale and find you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at 530 666-8736 or email mgyolo@ucdavis. edu.

consideration.

Entertainment Zone consideration

The council hosted a public hearing to gather feedback about the possibility of creating an entertainment zone in downtown Winters. If established, residents or visitors in downtown Winters ages 21 and older with a valid ID would be able to purchase alcohol from licensed participating local businesses and drink it within a designated outdoor portion of the downtown area.

They introduced the item at the March 3 meeting, and local business owners, as well as the council, were fairly supportive of the concept — albeit with a few recommended changes, including an emphasis on clear signage demarcating the boundaries.

At this meeting, enthusiasm remained, but some new concerns were raised about the area selected to be the entertainment zone.

Specifically, Mayor Albert Vallecillo expressed concern for a few residents who live within the proposed zone, who might not appreciate having inebriated, noisy people outside their

homes. He suggested shrinking the zone to exclude the residents for now, and expanding it later if there is interest from the public and more direct consent from the residents.

Council member Jesse Loren agreed, saying that more direct communication with the residents should take place before approval of the current map for the sake of transparency. However, council member Richard Casavecchia pointed out that even if the zone ends just before the residents’ homes, the noise will likely still carry over, and inebriated people may still walk by, albeit without open containers of alcohol — so a minor redraw of the zone may not be effective.

Additionally, Loren had some concern about the potential of people congregating with drinks in the empty Napa Autoparts space, which is also within the zone — technically, the zone only applies to public spaces, meaning the private property of a resident or business would not be open, but without someone to consistently enforce those rules after hours, loitering could

still occur.

A couple of alternative zone maps were suggested along these lines. The item will return to the council during the next meeting.

Officer honored Winters Police Chief John P. Miller introduced the department’s Officer of the Year: Trinidad Batad. Batad joined the Winter Police Department in April 2024, and was selected by his peers for this honor.

“Batad’s exceptionally positive attitude is truly what set him apart this last year,” Miller said. “It’s been a difficult year for the department, but Batad worked whenever he was asked, juggling an often chaotic schedule to patch holes in the schedule, and always with a positive attitude.”

Batad said that he’s very proud of the work that he was able to do in his first full calendar year with the department.

“When I came on, I remember saying that I wanted to do a good job keeping everyone safe,“ he said. “And I feel like with the work I’ve done in the past year, I kept my own word on that.“

A weed abatement ordinance that would standardize the regulations and enforcement system for the Winters Fire Department’s annual fire safety weed mitigation process passed its second reading without much new discussion or many new questions from the public.

Regional News

Solano County navigates tight budget, rising expenses

By Todd R. Hansen McNaughton Media

Solano County expects to have $32.4 million at the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

That total includes $14 million in contingencies, but does not include a host of possible expenses, including employee contracts that have been – or will be – approved after the midyear review was completed.

It was that review that was presented Tuesday to the Board of Supervisors, which approved all the staff recommendations.

“We face difficult financial times ahead,” County Administrator Ian Goldberg said as part of an introduction to the discussion.

He said that is why it is critical to track revenues and expenditures as the year progresses, and thanked the department for the “heavy lift” to get the mid-year review completed.

“This year was even more complicated,” said Goldberg, noting that the county is using a new software system that everyone had to learn.

The three major county funds were broken down by changes in revenue and expenditures since the adopted budget was approved.

The General Fund was $405.2 million.

The mid-year review reflects an increase of $16.2 million, in large part to property taxes, and a $2 million decrease in expenditures.

County of Yolo will seek to recover all costs of defense in the event an action is filed in the matter and it is determined that the action was not brought in good faith and with reasonable cause.”

County officials sent the letters several days after Cal Fire-Office of the State Fire Marshal announced the discovery of “evidence of illegal activities” during its investigation into the cause of the explosion, dubbed the Oakdale Fire.

Their findings, which were not further specified, were handed over to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office as part of its ongoing criminal investigation into the deadly blast.

District Attorney Jeff Reisig had no update Thursday regarding the timeline of the probe.

“This is the largest and most complex investigation that Yolo County has ever had,” said Reisig, whose request for the state Attorney General’s Office to handle the criminal angle was turned down. “It’s been an incredible challenge for us, but we’ve been working on it nonstop, and we’re going to do it right.”

Reisig said his office has had three full-time attorneys and two investigators assigned to the investigation “essentially

The Public Safety Fund was $298.5 million. The mid-year review reflects a revenue decrease of $9.8 million; of which $7.1 million is the General Fund contribution. Expenditures also were down halfway through the year, by $9.8 million.

The largest of the county’s funds, the Health & Social Services Fund, at $519.5 million, reflects a revenue decrease of $20.5 million and a decrease in expenditures by $17.8 million. There was no change in the General Fund contribution to H&SS.

The presentation was broken down into six areas: mid-year assumptions; mid-year projections; employee positions; capital projects; exposures and pending issues; and 2026-27 budget assumptions.

Of those areas, it was the exposure and pending issues facing the county due to state and federal pressures that received most of the attention. That included the surging costs for supplies and services due to inflation – most notably fuel costs, which have climbed significantly with the start of the Iran war.

“Fuel prices are significantly higher than what we could have anticipated in December,” Goldberg said.

General Services Director Anthony Tave, responding to the Daily Republic, reported that fuel expenditures in December was about $133,773. Fuel pur-

since it happened. In a county of our size, that’s a big allocation of resources.”

The claims filed on behalf of the Oakdale Fire victims sought as much as $35 million in damages for lost earnings and general damages for causes of action including negligence, public nuisance, infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices.

Some of them alleged the existence of a “county coverup” in which the involved parties were “allowed to violate state and county law and regulations because of the close relationship between the owners of the property and county officials.”

“These deaths were unnecessary had government officials performed their mandatory duties as required by law. These entities and individuals. allowed fireworks to be stored at a facility which was not permitted and that was operating illegally,” attorneys from four law firms representing the victims’ families said in a December news release. “This was known by state and county employees who instead turned a blind eye due to a culture where friends are not subjected to the same oversight as the rest of us, this was the true cause of this tragedy.”

In addition to Yolo County, the claims placed blame on Cal Fire, which had grant-

chases through March 24 have reached $167,037. “Based on current pricing and purchasing patterns, the projected total for March is expected to fall between $180,000 and $190,000,” Tave reported.

The board was told that 30,000 Solano County residents could be kicked off the Medi-Cal rolls due to changes created by the Trump administrations Big Beautiful bill, according to a recent UCLA study cited by Assistant County Administrator Debbie Vaughn. As many as 8,000 could lose CalFresh access.

Supervisor Mitch Mashburn noted that those people will still be able to get services, but in other places, and that will add costs onto the county. The county is already in discussions with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano about preparing for possible impacts from food insecurity.

Vaughn said part of the problem in making plans for the impacts – such as county tracking of work hours to qualify for Medi-Cal – is Solano is waiting on guidance from the state, which in turn is waiting for guidance from the federal government.

In the meantime, the county is laying the groundwork for volunteerism to meet the work eligibility issues, too, but is in a waiting pattern there, too.

One of the big concerns are the county’s

family clinics. Solano is trying to improve the reimbursement rate from the state, but it will take time to know. It is going through the audit steps now.

“If we are successful, we are talking about millions of dollars,” Vaughn said.

As many as 11,300 individuals who use the family clinics could be subject to the new H.R. 1 work-for-benefits rule. A few thousand more could lose out completely because of their immigration status, the board was told.

Tami Lukens, the county budget officer, said departments are seeking approval of changes in operations, fixed assets and position allocations.

Fixed asset requests includes $453,345 for the Library, $151,287 for Probation, $23,463 for the Sheriff, and $178,332 for Fleet Management. She also noted that $5.9 million will be drawn from the Capital Renewal Reserves for new and ongoing projects – mainly for cashflow needs.

The mid-year review shows a slight decrease in the county employee numbers. Lukens also noted additional pressures headed into the new fiscal year are coming from labor costs, $7 million in increased costs from CalPers retirement rates, and an increase of $1.8 million in liability insurance premiums.

Yolo seeks community input on Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan

Special to the Express

Yolo County is inviting residents, community members, and local stakeholders to participate in two upcoming public engagement opportunities to help shape the Yolo County Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan.

The ZEV Action Plan will identify priority locations and strategies for expanding electric vehicle charging and related mobility infrastructure to better serve residents, businesses, and visitors throughout Yolo County. Community input will help ensure the plan reflects local priorities and improves access to clean transportation options, particularly in rural communities and historically underserved areas. Community members are encouraged to attend an in-person pop-up workshop on Thursday, April 9, from 3:30 to 6:30p.m. at TANA, Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer located at 1224 Lemen Avenue in Woodland. Attendees are welcome to stop by at any time

during the event to provide their feedback. Free food and childcare will be provided, and the Woodland Library’s Bookmobile will be on site to provide free books and activities for children.

A virtual workshop is also be held on Tuesday, April 14, from 12 to 1 p.m.

During the workshops, participants will be able to review proposed locations for electric vehicle charging and mobility hubs, learn how earlier community surveys and mapping tools helped shape the project’s recommendations, share feedback on priorities such as cost, safety, access, parking, and reliability, and help confirm whether the project team’s findings reflect real-world community experiences. Event details below: In-Person Pop-Up Workshop Thursday, April 9 3:30 – 6:30p.m.

TANA – Taller Arte del Nuevo Amancer 1224 Lemen Ave. in Woodland

Virtual Community Workshop link: https://yolocounty.zoom. us/j/81207016766

ties and conducting “site visits” but no formal safety inspections, the claims say.

Other individuals named in the documents include the property’s owners, Yolo County Sheriff’s Lt. Sam Machado and his wife Tammy Machado, a legal secretary for the agency, and Reiko Matsumura, Tammy’s sister and recently retired sheriff’s deputy. The Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Tom Lopez are also listed in the claims.

Although Yolo County officials initially claimed they had no knowledge of the fireworks operations, emails released in August in response to media Public Records Act requests revealed that several county building division employees became aware of the pyrotechnics activity years ago but took no enforcement action.

and surrounding areas more senior

WELCOME TO WINTERS: New teachers in the Winters School district in 1993 were, from left, (back row) Christopher Novello, high school English; Oakly Risser, high school math; Tom Davies, sixth grade CORE and P.E.; Theresa Morales, first grade bilingual; Clare Bawden, fourth grade; Jennifer Samuels, middle and high school music; Tawni Johnson, fifth grade; Heather Merodio, kindergarten; Carol Maki, sixth grade CORE and newspaper; (front row, from left) Barbara Borzymowski, seventh grade CORE, yearbook and skills; Greg Barge, high school business; Jennifer Pimentel, first grade; Rosemary Martinez, third grade bilingual; Shelly Wickwire Carlson, kindergarten; Jill Nevius, Kindergarten; and Jennifer Jones, middle school resource specialist. Not many are still teaching today.

Public Safety Report

~E. Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 11: Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 12: E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 13: Graf Way, False alarm or false call (other)

~Pleasants Valley Road (Vacaville), Mutual Aid Grass Fire

~Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~Baker Street and Railroad Avenue, Motor Vehicle Accident

~Northbound Interstate 505 and County Road 31, Motor Vehicle Accident

~Russell Boulevard, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 14: E. Main Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~Carrion Circle, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

~Hiramatsu Lane, Person in distress (other)

Mar. 15: Myrtle Drive, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 17: East Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

Mar. 18: E. Baker Street, EMS call – excluding vehicle accident with injury

View the Winters Fire Activity and Call Log at https://cityofwinters. org/157/Fire.

Police Report Log

Mar. 11: 12 a.m., 100 block of E. Baker Street, Trespassing/ occupying property without consent (misdemeanor)

Mar. 13: 2:54 p.m., Railroad Avenue and E. Baker Street, Traffic collision with injury (violation)

~2:54 p.m., Railroad Avenue and E. Baker Street, Child abuse with possible great bodily injury (felony)

View the Winters Police Department Arrest and Report Logs, visit www.cityofwinters. org/289/Report-Arrest-Log

130 Years Ago

March 28, 1896

W. T. Francis has sold his lot in the Wolfskill 1000-acre tract to P. Johnson, who is already an owner on the same tract.

Winters’ F. W. Penn, strawberry grower, informs us that he has picked ripe strawberries from his vines this week, and that he will have the fruit in sufficient quantity to ship in a few days.

The Express has long and earnestly advocated the establishment of a cannery here and at last its labors have been regarded. An establishment of this kind was started here last Monday night, and to see how it worked a number of dogs were canned as a starter. We were informed Tuesday that the canning was a success.

J. F. Griffin shipped on Monday last to William Grant, at Biggs, Butte County, one of his fine Poland-China hogs. Mr. Griffin’s hogs are getting a wide reputation and he has calls for them from all sections of the State.

Judy Bros. have been purchasing some new horses for their livery stable this week, and

YESTERYEAR

Lake Berryessa water levels down

Express staff

The water level of Lake Berryessa decreased by 0.1 feet over the past week, resulting in a difference of 1,881 acre-feet of water storage, according to Eric Johnson, Operations at Solano Irrigation District – Putah Diversion Office. On the morning of Tuesday, March 24, he reported that the lake elevation was 439.27 feet above sea level, with the water storage behind the Monticello Dam calculated at 1,537,537 acre-feet. The SID released 280 cubic feet per second into the Putah South Canal, with 51 cubic feet flowing into lower Putah Creek at the Diversion Dam. Evaporation from the lake averaged 159 acre-feet of water per day. For more information about services from the Solano Irrigation District or to view the latest updates, visit https:// www.sidwater.org.

Years Ago

Dispatches from the Express archives.

Wednesday evening invited the editor to try a team of them. We did so, and found them to be a fine carriage team. Miss Sallie Baker returned on Thursday morning’s train from a three-week visit with friends in Oakland and Napa.

95 Years Ago

March 27, 1931

Pouring the concrete foundation began this week on the new E. J. Graf garage which is being built on Main Street between the Winters Express Office and the Skaggs Store building.

F. M. Wyatt, representing the Winters National, and Frank Nissen from the Bank of Esparto left Tuesday afternoon to attend the bank managers’ conference held this week at Salt Lake City.

M. Chulick is carrying his arm in a

cast as the result of a fracture of both bones near the wrist, received while cranking his truck Tuesday evening.

Miss Patty Baker of Stanford visited her father W. S. Baker last weekend. She was accompanied by two college students.

80 Years Ago

March 29, 1946

Youth Day officials were elected at the high school last Monday. Henry Church will serve as mayor, while Albert Koolhof, Donald Rominger, Marilyn Vasey and Keith Farnsworth comprise the remainder of the councilmen.

Wayne Ireland plans to engage in the insurance business with his father, Lester Ireland, representing the California Western States Life Insurance Company. Walter Jorgensen will succeed Ireland at the Shell Oil company plant here. Miss Colleen Baker received a telephone call Wednesday from her fiancé, Master Sergeant George Duke, stationed in Tokyo, Japan, stating he hoped to be home sometime between the 5th and 15th of May.

Clarence Wyatt and E. E. Zimmerman spent Monday touring Yolo and Solano counties, contacting various civic organizations on behalf of the Youth Day parade.

45 Years Ago

March 26, 1981

This year’s Youth Day officials are Mike Sebastian, treasurer; Drew Benson, Mike Eldridge and Tracy Stinson, Andra Sawyer, Nikki Rojo and David Lowrie, city council; Matt Brickey, mayor; John Singh, clerk; Mickey Johnston, Jim Borba, Alan Norman, and Scott Petersen, secret service; and Danielle Falkenberg, John Graf, Leslie Egbert, Annette Ramos, Heather Konkle and Brad Graf, planning commission.

Winters High School English teacher Germaine Hupe was selected as Winters Area Education Association’s second “Teacher of Merit” for the year. She received a plaque from the association and a complimentary dinner for two donated by the Buckhorn Restaurant. Germaine is currently in her 10th year at WHS, where she teaches five periods of English and one period of Western Civilization.

Warren G. Tufts, of the Tufts ranch in Winters, has been chosen as one of 38 members and alternates on fruit committees formed by Secretary of Agriculture John Block. Tufts was appointed to the Peach Commodity Committee.

On March 21, the FFA judging teams attended the Chico State Field Day. In the farm power contest were George Carrasco, Cory Lovingier and Mike Carter. The farm records team composed of Larry Pisani, Bruce Laughlin and Joseph Gray placed fourth high in the contest. Kelly Crowe judged in the livestock contest.

Eventos hispanos

El Ayuntamiento aborda la seguridad contra incendios y el Centro para Envejecientes

Por Sonora Slater

Traducido por Carol Alfonso

La edad promedio de los asistentes a la sesión del pasado 3 de Marzo en la sala del Ayuntamiento fue notablemente menor de lo habitual, con tres grupos de Girl Scouts ocupando los asientos para recibir una proclamación que reconoce Marzo como el Mes de la Historia de la Mujer.

La concejala Jesse Loren presentó la proclamación y compartió una lista de varias mujeres que viven o han vivido en Winters y que han contribuido al desarrollo de la ciudad. Luego leyó la proclamación en la sala, relatando la historia de esta celebración mensual y la importancia del liderazgo femenino para el desarrollo de Winters.

“En Winters, tenemos una larga historia de mujeres líderes en diferentes ámbitos, incluyendo alcaldesas, concejalas, presidentas y miembros de juntas escolares, presidentas de la Cámara de Comercio, mujeres en la asamblea y muchas más,” leyó Loren.

Crystal Apilado, editora encargada del Winters Express y líder de una tropa de Girl Scouts, aceptó el premio en nombre de la organización, reconociendo a las numerosas mujeres de Winters que ha visto organizarse, defender causas, guiar, recaudar fondos y tomar la iniciativa cuando hay algo que necesita hacerse.

“El Mes de la Historia de la Mujer nos recuerda que la historia no se hace solo con grandes gestos, sino también en las salas de estar, en las reuniones escolares y en los Ayuntamientos, en eventos comunitarios y en las mesas donde las mujeres alzan la voz,” dijo Apilado. “Por eso significa tanto que las Girl Scouts estén aquí conmigo esta noche. No son solo futuras líderes. Son líderes ahora mismo, ganando insignias para servir a sus vecindarios, expresando sus opiniones y aprendiendo que sus ideas importan y que hay todo un mundo de posibilidades a su alrededor.”

Actualizaciones y orientación sobre seguros de vivienda

Durriya Syed, especialista en divulgación del Departamento de Seguros de California, informó

a la ciudad sobre las novedades en materia de seguros de vivienda, ofreciendo comentarios sobre la situación actual y consejos para quienes buscan cobertura. “Sé que es un momento difícil para los seguros de vivienda,” dijo Syed. “Hay muchos factores que influyen: la inflación, los fenómenos climáticos, entre otros.”

Parte de su presentación abordó los problemas actuales del sector asegurador, incluyendo su opinión sobre el Plan FAIR, un programa establecido hace más de 50 años para proporcionar cobertura básica de seguro contra incendios para propiedades de alto riesgo cuando las aseguradoras tradicionales no la ofrecen. No es una entidad pública ni se financia con los impuestos de los contribuyentes. En cambio, funciona como un fondo común de todas las aseguradoras de propiedad con licencia en California, que participan en las ganancias y pérdidas del plan en proporción a su cuota de mercado en el estado. Su objetivo es ser una aseguradora de último recurso, pero Syed señaló que, en el contexto actual de riesgos cada vez mayores, se está convirtiendo en la primera opción para muchas personas. La póliza tiene una prima más alta que muchos otros planes y presenta limitaciones, por lo que no funciona como una póliza integral.

“Hay muchas personas que no deberían estar en el Plan FAIR y lo están, y la idea principal es cómo reintegrarlas (al mercado tradicional),” dijo Syed. Una forma en que el Departamento de Seguros de California busca lograr esto, explicó Syed, es incentivando a los propietarios a mitigar el riesgo de incendios para que sus propiedades sean más atractivas para las aseguradoras tradicionales.

“¿Cómo podemos reducir el riesgo que la aseguradora percibe?,” explicó Syed. “¿Y cómo podemos incentivar a las personas a mitigarlo?.”

La respuesta: descuentos en las primas de seguro a cambio de ciertas medidas de mitigación. Syed también brindó información actualizada sobre la legislación reciente

relacionada con seguros en California. Esto incluye la “Ley para Eliminar la Lista,” vigente a partir del 1 de Enero del 2026, que exige a las aseguradoras pagar el 60 por ciento de los límites de cobertura de bienes personales, cubriendo pertenencias dañadas, robadas o destruidas incluso sin una lista detallada de los artículos. Anteriormente, se requería una lista detallada de todos los bienes destruidos para obtener un reembolso. Los clientes que mantengan una lista de sus pertenencias y su valor seguirán recibiendo el reembolso completo, y Syed recomendó grabar un recorrido en video de su casa y enviárselo por correo electrónico para facilitar las reclamaciones después de un desastre.

Otra legislación reciente crea subvenciones para propietarios de bajos ingresos en zonas de alto riesgo de incendio para ayudarlos económicamente a mitigar el riesgo.

Syed reconoció que encontrar un buen seguro a un precio razonable puede ser difícil, especialmente en zonas rurales como Winters, que pueden considerarse de mayor riesgo de incendio. Exhorto a la gente a comparar precios, hablar con agentes de seguros sobre las opciones disponibles o contactar con su departamento para obtener orientación.

El alcalde Albert Vallecillo dijo que actualmente está buscando una nueva póliza de seguro de vivienda después de que su póliza anterior duplicara su costo y señaló que los descuentos por mitigación no fueron de mucha ayuda.

“Antes habló de cómo conseguimos la lista de pequeños descuentos por mitigación,” dijo Vallecillo. “Esos descuentos son como centavos, centavos por dólar. Revisé la lista y apliqué todos los descuen-

tos, y una vez que cumplí con los requisitos, me ahorré $18, lo cual fue como un insulto por parte de las compañías de seguros.”

Syed reconoció que el descuento puede resultar decepcionante, pero afirmó que otro beneficio de realizar las tareas de mitigación es saber que su propiedad corre menos riesgo.

“Si contrato un seguro médico, no quiero tener que usarlo,” dijo Syed. “Así que, si he tomado medidas de mitigación en mi propiedad, al menos corro menos riesgo que antes.”

Primera lectura de la ordenanza sobre control de malezas

El jefe de bomberos, Jack S. Snyder III, presentó la primera lectura de una ordenanza que estandariza las políticas de control de malezas en Winters durante la reunión, tras haberla propuesto el 17 de Febrero. La ordenanza busca permitir que el departamento de bomberos controle las malezas durante todo el año, atendiendo a las quejas recibidas y de acuerdo con el cumplimiento del código, y aclarar las expectativas para los propietarios, ayudándoles a planificar el control anual. Snyder indicó que el objetivo de estas medidas es mejorar la preparación de la comunidad ante incendios, incluyendo la relación con las tarifas de los seguros.

Señaló que una de las principales dudas sobre la normativa ha sido el requisito relativo a los árboles, que incluye una altura libre de seis pies (aproximadamente 1.8 metros) desde el suelo, sin ramas ni maleza, para evitar que se incendien en caso de un incendio de pastos bajos. Esta normativa se elaboró tras investigar las medidas que están tomando los municipios vecinos para reducir el riesgo de incendios y mejorar la calificación de riesgo de la ciudad para las aseguradoras.

“Todos nuestros hermosos árboles pueden mantener su altura,” afirmó Snyder. “Tendremos una altura libre de entre cero y seis pies del suelo para ayudar a mitigar el riesgo de incendios forestales y, con suerte, mantener bajas las primas de los seguros.” El departamento llevará a cabo sus evaluaciones habituales de las zonas de alto riesgo, pero también trabajará en función de las quejas para garantizar el cumplimiento durante todo el año.

“No se tratará solo de rumores,” dijo Snyder. “Saldremos, verificaremos las quejas e intentaremos colaborar con los propietarios. Tendremos la capacidad de mitigar mucho más, mucho más rápido.” La residente Kate Laddish preguntó cómo se gestionarán los árboles jóvenes de menos de seis pies y cómo se notificará a los residentes sobre la temporada de mitigación. Snyder dijo que los árboles jóvenes se evaluarán caso por caso y que los plazos anuales de mitigación se compartirán en las redes sociales. Las parcelas con un historial de problemas de control de malezas recibirán recordatorios del departamento de bomberos. Se enviarán avisos a los propietarios, incluso si no residen actualmente en la dirección de Winters. El consejo acordó pasar a una segunda lectura, que tuvo lugar el 17 de Marzo y se tratará en una edición futura del Winters Express

Solicitud de subvención para el centro de envejecientes

A continuación, la ciudad presentó su solicitud de subvención

para el proyecto del centro de envejecientes, que lleva varios años en desarrollo. El año pasado, la ciudad solicitó fondos del Programa de Subvenciones para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG) del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos, pero los fondos se agotaron antes de que se revisara la solicitud de Winters. La fecha límite para presentar la solicitud este año es el 3 de Abril. De ser aprobada, la ciudad podría recibir 3.3 millones de dólares en subvenciones. El objetivo de la reunión del 3 de Marzo era obtener el apoyo público como parte del proceso oficial de solicitud de subvención.

La residente Tina Lowden habló en nombre de ella y de su esposo para expresar su apoyo al centro de envejecientes.

“Creo que tenemos más de 3000 adultos mayores aquí en Winters, y la cifra sigue creciendo, así que sí,” dijo Lowden. “Lo necesitamos.”

Laddish también se pronunció a favor del proyecto. Se confirmó oficialmente la necesidad del centro de envejecientes y el personal municipal presentará la solicitud final de subvención.

El consejo también presentó una ordenanza para crear una zona de entretenimiento en el centro de Winters durante ciertos días y horas, permitiendo a los residentes mayores de edad llevar bebidas alcohólicas en envases abiertos, compradas en establecimientos con licencia dentro del área designada. La propuesta de la zona de entretenimiento se publicó en la edición del 11 de Marzo del Winters Express.

How to make a laundry room a more functional space

Metro

Special to the Express

Functionality is important when designing the interior spaces in a home.

Homeowners who redesign their interior spaces can emphasize functionality to help reduce clutter and create a more efficient and even calming space.

Laundry rooms may not be the most glamorous rooms in a home, but they do get lots of usage, particularly in homes with children. Because laundry rooms tend to be well trafficked areas, it makes sense for homeowners to make them as functional and user-friendly as possible. With that in mind, homeowners can consider these tips to make laundry rooms more functional spaces.

• Purchase laundry pedestals with storage capacity. Laundry pedestals make useful additions to a laundry room. Many homeowners place their washing machines and dryers on

top of pedestals with storage drawers, which can be used to store everything from dryer sheets to clothes irons to stain removal kits. Pedestals can be partic-

plumbing, venting or electrical work is necessary.

• Add a countertop work space. If you already have ample storage and won’t be placing the washer or dry-

“Because laundry rooms tend to be well trafficked areas, it makes sense for homeowners to make them as functional and user-friendly as possible.”

ularly useful in cramped laundry rooms where the only means to adding storage is to go up and not out.

• Install a freestanding laundry sink. A laundry sink also adds function to a laundry room by enabling homeowners to hand wash certain clothes and apply stain removal products in the same space where the rest of their clothes are being cleaned. Installing a laundry sink is a relatively inexpensive job, but the cost may go up if new

er atop a laundry pedestal, then installing some countertop above the appliances can add function and aesthetic appeal. A countertop workspace above a dryer provides an accessible space to fold laundry the moment it dries, reducing the likelihood that clothes will become wrinkled and ensuring you won’t put off folding.

• Install floating shelves. Floating shelves won’t cost a lot of money, but they can be ideal in cramped laun-

dry rooms. Shelves provide a space to store detergent and other items that may not fit inside laundry pedestals, including baskets.

• Add hanging storage. Some articles of clothing should not be dried in a dryer for fear of shrinking the fabric or destroying the item. In such instances, some readily accessible hanging storage capacity can make the laundry room more functional. Items can be hung on hangers or over a hanging rack suspended from the ceiling if space is minimal. Laundry rooms are heavily used spaces in a home, so it makes sense to take steps to make these areas as functional as possible.

Things to consider before building a sunroom

Special to the Express

There is no denying the appeal of a sunroom. Sunrooms bring more of the outdoors inside by bridging the gap between home and yard. Demand is shifting, with more than 61 percent of homeowners now preferring four-season insulated rooms for year-round use, according to Market Reports World. A sunroom has the potential to offer a roughly 50 percent return on investment and can cost anywhere from $22,000 to $72,000 on average.

A sunroom addition is a significant investment and a decision not to take lightly, as it changes both the interior floor plan and backyard space.

To decide if a sunroom really is a worthwhile endeavor, it’s important for homeowners to consider the footprint of their homes and yards, how they plan to use the space, the amount of sun the home receives, and the local climate.

Home footprint

Professionals with the National Association of Realtors say that a sunroom should not consume more than 30 percent of the remaining backyard and urge homeowners to avoid over-developing a lot. If installing

a sunroom will leave a homeowner with only a small patch of yard afterwards, the result can feel heavy and unbalanced. It also won’t match the neighborhood. Another consideration is local zoning ordinances. Many towns, including areas in

Yolo County, require a setback between the sunroom structure and the property line. It’s also important to look at the home’s roof and whether the sunroom will fall under the eaves or require an expensive tie-in to the existing roof.

Utility

It is vital that homeowners determine how they will use the space and when. This will dictate the type of sunroom that should be built. A three-season room is typically uninsulated with only single-pane glass. This is ideal for a screened-in retreat without all of the bugs and a little weather protection. Four-season rooms are fully insulated and tie into a home’s HVAC system. This space will be functional all year long, but it is a more expensive undertaking.

Light and climate evaluation

The purpose of a sunroom is to benefit from the sun, but in Winters, Yolo Coun-

ty, homeowners must also consider extreme summer heat. Summers often reach triple-digit temperatures, making sunrooms uncomfortably hot without proper design. North-facing sunrooms offer soft light and minimal heat or glare, usable all day. East-facing rooms are perfect for morning coffee or reading and will cool in the afternoon. South-facing rooms stay bright most of the day and may require high-end HVAC systems, shades, or reflective coatings to stay comfortable even in cooler months. West-facing sunrooms offer beautiful sunsets but must contend with the intense late afternoon sun. UV-rated and heat-reflective glass is strongly recommended to prevent floor fading, sunburn, and overheating.

Material considerations

Material choice is crucial in hot climates. Insulated glass, UV-resistant coatings, and thermally efficient frames can

make a sunroom more comfortable and reduce energy costs. Overhangs, retractable shades, or even exterior awnings can provide additional relief from the scorching summer sun. While wood frames offer natural beauty, aluminum or vinyl frames may better withstand prolonged sun exposure without warping or fading. It is important to work with a company that specializes in sunrooms. Such firms are experienced in helping homeowners design and ultimately build these spaces to avoid common pitfalls, advises Champion, a window, sunroom, and home exterior company. In general, a sunroom is not a DIY project since it typically involves a major structural change. When designed to account for climate, orientation, and materials, a sunroom can be a comfortable, functional, and durable addition to a home year-round — even in the hot Summers of Yolo County.

Small renovations that can make a big impact

Metro

Special to the Express

Home renovations provide a host of benefits. Such projects can increase resale value and improve on the safety, aesthetics and functionality of a home.

Some homeowners may employ the mantra “go big or go home” when they embark on home improvements, thinking that only the largest renovations produce noticeable change. But that’s not the case. Various smaller renovations can provide a lot of bang for homeowners’ bucks as well.

• Countertops (and hardware): A complete kitchen overhaul may stretch some homeowners’ budgets. However, changing an older countertop for a new material can provide the facelift a kitchen needs. And while changing the cabinets may be homeowners’ ultimate goal, swapping hardware in dated finishes for newer handles and pulls can provide low-cost appeal.

• Paint: Painting a

space is an inexpensive improvement that adds maximum impact. Paint can transform dark and drab rooms into bright and airy oases. Paint also can be used to create an accent wall or cozy nooks. Homeowners also can showcase their personalities with their choice of paint colors.

• Lighting: Homeowners should not underestimate what a change in lighting can do. When rooms or exterior spaces are illuminated, they take on entirely new looks. It’s worth it to invest in new lighting, whether it’s a dramatic hanging light over the dining room table or task lighting in dim spaces.

• Weatherproofing: Improving windows, doors, weatherstripping, and insulation in a home can offer visual appeal and help homeowners save money. The initial investment may be significant, but those costs will pay off in energy savings. According to One Main Financial, space heating is the largest energy expense the

average American homeowner has, accounting for around 45 percent of all energy costs.

• Mudroom: Turn an entryway into a more functional space with the addition of cabinets, benches or custom-designed storage options that perfectly fit the area. Cubbies and cabinets can corral shoes, umbrellas, hats, bags, and much more.

• Accent updates: Any space, whether it’s inside or outside a home, can get a fresh look with new decorative accents. Invest in new throw pillows and even slipcovers for living room sofas. Use new tile or paint the brick on a fireplace in a den, then update the mantel with decorative displays. Purchase wall art that can bring different colors into a room. Change the cushions on deck furniture and buy color-coordinated planters.

These subtle changes will not cost as much as full-scale renovations, but they can still help homeowners transform their homes.

Refresh your yard this spring

Special to the Express

New growth is a hallmark of spring, whether it plays out in the birth of birds and bunnies or with the returned buds on trees and plant stalks. While most greenery rebounds naturally, lawns may need a little extra TLC in order to return to their once lush, green glory.

Revitalizing a lawn in spring is a multifaceted process but can be well worth the reward when green grass adds to a beautiful landscape and functional yard. Here is how to get started when the weather warms, courtesy of The Farmer’s Almanac and The Home Depot.

• Clean up debris. Spend a few hours raking up leaves from the lawn and removing any other winter debris like twigs so that air can reach the grass below. Also remove any thatch that has developed.

• Test the soil. Take a sample of the soil to determine its pH level and nutrient needs. Then you can make adjustments to set a strong foundation for the lawn to grow.

• Do some weeding. Pull out any weeds that have poked through early on and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent

additional weeds from taking over.

• Start the aeration process. A core aerator punches holes into the soil. This enables air and water to penetrate through to the roots.

• Overseed the lawn. Apply grass seeds over the lawn, paying special attention to any bare or thin areas so that the seed will fill in the lawn.

• Water consistently. It is important to water the lawn deeply and consistently, especially when the weather is dry, to help promote strong root development.

• Time fertilizer correctly. Apply a spring fertilizer around three weeks after the lawn starts to turn green or after the first two or three mowings. If fertilizer is applied too early it can feed weeds instead of the grass and result in fertilizer runoff.

• Mow to an appropriate height. Begin to mow when the ground is dry enough and the grass is long enough to need cutting. Leave some length to the lawn; otherwise, sunlight will reach the soil and encourage weed seeds to germinate.

Homeowners in Winters, should also consider local weather patterns when planning spring yard

work. Temperatures in the region can rise quickly in late spring, sometimes reaching the 80s or 90s before summer sets in. While early mornings and late afternoons are ideal for watering and outdoor labor, hot afternoons can stress newly sprouted grass and plants. Preparing irrigation systems and scheduling work around cooler parts of the day can help protect lawns and reduce water evaporation. For those looking to lower maintenance or add resilience against hot, dry spells, incorporating native plants into the landscape is an excellent alternative or complement to traditional turf. California native plants such as California poppy, purple sage, and creeping mahonia are well-adapted to Yolo County’s climate, requiring less water once established and providing habitat for local pollinators. Grouping these plants in garden beds or along borders can reduce lawn area, conserve water, and add seasonal color to the yard.

By combining proper lawn care with climate-conscious choices like native plants, homeowners can create a vibrant, sustainable landscape at the start of spring.

Senior News

Banks are becoming bulwarks against scams for vulnerable seniors

By Paula Span KFF Health News

The first call came just before Thanksgiving last year. She didn’t recognize the phone number, but she answered anyway.

“The person said he was an officer of the Department of Criminal Investigations looking into drug trafficking and money laundering,” the woman recalled. He seemed to know a lot about her: the states where she and her late husband had lived; his name and occupation; and her current address in Washington County, Rhode Island.

On her phone, he showed her a convincing badge and a photo ID with his name (“‘Frank’ something”), plus an article describing the supposed investigation. The woman, a 76-year-old retiree, denied any involvement.

“You can hire a very expensive criminal defense attorney, or you can cooperate with me,” Frank told her.

“Now, when you think about it, it doesn’t make any sense,” the woman acknowledged recently. But persuaded by the badge and ID, she agreed to cooperate. Otherwise, “I thought they were going to come and arrest me.”

Frank called each morning to learn where she was going, what she was doing. His team would be watching, he warned.

The woman, feeling “petrified,” started looking around as she drove to garden club meetings. Was somebody following her?

It was all a scam.

Because victims’ sense of shame often leaves them reluctant to report such crimes, the extent of elder financial exploitation is hard to calculate.

The Federal Trade Commission reported losses of $2.4 billion in 2024, largely driven by investment and romance scams and impersonations, with total losses much higher.

Americans age 60 and older lose more than $28 billion annually to financial exploitation, AARP estimated in 2023.

As those numbers rise, because the population is aging and predators are growing increasingly resourceful, banks and investment firms are becoming the first line of defense.

Frank’s initial target: her account at Fidelity Investments. He instructed her to shift about $250,000 into her checking account, telling the financial adviser at her local office that she and her family intended to buy real estate.

That scheme fizzled when the adviser said Fidelity could not approve the transaction

The New Old Age

without more information on the property.

So Frank sent her to her local branch of Washington Trust Company to take $70,000 in cash from a home-equity line of credit. “We don’t give out that much in cash,” the teller said, quietly messaging the branch manager, who had known the woman and her husband for years.

The manager ushered the woman into her office to talk, and the scam stopped there, with a call to the local police. The woman’s assets remained intact, but the experience proved so mortifying that she has not told even her family how close she came to losing much of her life savings. The New York Times is withholding her name to spare her embarrassment.

“I felt so stupid,” she said. “I felt like a fool.”

Financial predators targeting older adults represent “a heightened focus for us now,” said Mary Noons, president and chief operating officer of Washington Trust.

A regional community bank, Washington Trust cranked up its efforts last fall to advise older customers and their families about finances, including the dangers of elder fraud and exploitation. It published and distributed a booklet called “Age With Wisdom” and brought in an expert on dementia to speak with staff members.

And it became one of the 1,500 financial institutions to date to use BankSafe, a free AARP video program that trains front-line employees to spot the red flags indicating possible elder exploitation and to intervene. Everyone at the branch where the 76-year-old banked had taken the training.

“Some older customers visit their bank far more frequently than they see their health care providers,” Noons pointed out.

Until recent years, financial institutions placed “more of an emphasis on the autonomy of the client,” said Pamela Teaster, director of the Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology and an el-

der abuse researcher. Their approach was, “an adult has the capacity to make poor choices, and we’re going to let them make them,” she added.

But changes in government and industry policies and practices have encouraged greater vigilance. Congress passed the Senior Safe Act in 2018, protecting banks and financial firms from liability if they reported suspected exploitation to authorities.

That year, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority began requiring member firms to ask for a trusted contact person when investors open or update accounts. (The account holder isn’t obliged to provide one, however.)

And since 2022, it has allowed firms to place holds on older investors’ transactions if they suspect exploitation is involved.

About half of states have enacted laws that permit financial institutions to deny suspicious transactions or impose holds for specified periods to allow investigations, said Jilenne Gunther, the director of BankSafe.

“It adds friction,” she explained. “With space and time, the criminal gets worried and might move on. And the potential mark has time to stop and think.”

Teaster’s analysis of data from BankSafe, during a six-month pilot in 82 financial institutions, found that participants were much more likely to

report suspected cases and save customers money than a control group was.

Not all of older adults’ losses result from predators, however. They can, on their own, get caught up in investment fads, take on too much debt, or make otherwise unwise decisions, even without criminals pulling the strings or relatives looting their accounts.

Managing finances presents complex cognitive challenges, said Mark Lachs, cochief of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. “It requires a lot of brain,” he said, including: “Memory, remembering that a bill is due. Executive function, the ability to manage your time. Abstraction, hypoth-

esizing about your future.” He added, “Financial errors are not infrequently the first sign of impending dementia or a neurocognitive disorder.”

A 2024 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for instance, found an increased probability of delinquent payments and deteriorating credit ratings in the five years before a dementia diagnosis. Those errors can reduce seniors’ access to credit and raise their interest rates on loans at the very point when caregiving expenses are likely to soar.

Lachs has called on fellow doctors to recognize what he calls Age-Associated Financial Vulnerability, a syndrome that can affect even older people with normal cognition, especially if they contend with medical illnesses, sensory deficits, or social isolation. And he remains skeptical about the financial industry’s claims of heightened attention to its oldest customers. “I still see concerning financial transactions executed that should have received far greater scrutiny,” he said. Training more frontline staff members and increasing emphasis on establishing trusted contacts for older customers would help, Gunther said, because “once the money leaves the account, it’s near impossible to ever retrieve it.” More states could enact laws allowing financial institutions to deny suspi-

cious transactions or impose holds.

Several related bills with bipartisan support are working their way through Congress. The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would require the FBI to coordinate efforts to protect seniors. A bill that restores an IRS deduction would at least provide the consolation of excusing scam victims from paying taxes on money they no longer have.

However, new weapons like artificial-intelligence voice cloning — in which the supposed grandson four states away who urgently needs $5,000 in gift cards actually sounds like the victim’s grandson — keep advocates and bankers awake at night.

In the Washington Trust branch where the Rhode Island woman didn’t lose her money, employees just days earlier had stopped a scam similar to the one that had targeted her.

But more recently, nobody spotted any danger signs when an older woman withdrew $9,000 for a kitchen renovation, until it went to a scammer instead of a contractor.

The New Old Age is produced through a partnership with The New York Times.

—KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

Nationwide home

Thursdays

Eat Well Yolo Food Distribution, first and third Thursdays, 10 a.m. As supplies last, RISE, Inc., 417 Haven St., 530-668-0690, https://yolofoodbank.org/find-food

Friday, March 27

Library Event: Movie Matinee - Y2K Hits 3 p.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/

Saturday, March 28

Eat Well Yolo Drive – Through Food Distribution Saturdays, 11 a.m. As supplies last, Winters High student parking lot, off Railroad Avenue, https://yolofoodbank.org/find-food

Monday, March 30

Library Event: Women's History Month Talk: The Farm-to-Fashion Movement with Robyn Rominger 6 p.m., Winters Community Library, yolocountylibrary.org/locations/winters/

Spring Open Events

Friday, March 27

Fourth Friday Downtown Block Party

5–9 p.m., Downtown Main Street

Saturday, March 28

Easter Egg Hunt, Rotary Park

10 a.m., children ages 1 to 4 11 a.m., children ages 5 to 10 Downtown Street Fair and Live Music, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Downtown Main Street

Upcoming

Tuesday, April 7

Winters City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council chamber (318 First St.), Zoom Meeting info, check www.cityofwinters.org/ city-council-meetings_/

Library Services

Winters Library Open to Public (School in Session), Winters Community Library, Mon/Wed: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Tue/Thu: 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. , Sat: 1–5 p.m. Teen Tuesday (ages 12-18), Second Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Winters Community Library

Bilingual Storytime (ages 0-5), Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Winters Community Library

Virtual English Conversation Group, Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m., One time registration required: Contact Nancy Pacheco 530-666-8019 or nancy.pacheco@yolocounty.org

Mangonada Monday (ages 6-12), fourth Monday, 3:30 p.m. Tech Thursdays, Thursdays, 2-7:30 p.m., call 530-6668005 to schedule an appointment. Bilingual sessions available upon request.

Movie Matinee, Fourth Friday, 2-4 p.m., Winters Community Library All You Need is Love Romance Book Club, Second Saturday, 4 p.m., Hooby’s Brewing

Older Adult Programs

Winters Senior Foundation Chair Yoga Class for Seniors, Wednesdays, 9:30-11 a.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall (511 W. Main St.)

Cafe Yolo Social Dining, Thurdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.), Reservations required 24 hours in advance at 530-662-7035 or welcome@mowyolo.org

Winters Senior Foundation Social Gathering, Thurdays, 12:30-3 p.m., Winters Community Center (201 Railroad Ave.)

Ongoing

View the Winters community events calendar at https://bit.ly/WintersCommunityEvents

Winters Friends of the Library meeting, first Monday, 7 p.m., Winters Community Library, Margaret Parsons Room, wfol.org

Winters Fortnightly meeting, second Tuesdays (September thru May), 1 p.m., St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 W. Main St. Rotary Club of Winters meeting, Thursdays, Noon, The Buckhorn

Winters Museum public hours, Thursday thru Sunday, 1-5 p.m., 13 Russell St., historicalsocietyofwinters.org Saved & Sober program, Thursdays, 7p.m., The Rock Church West, 201 Main St. Winters Open Mic, third Saturday, 6 p.m. (sign-ups begin at 5:30 p.m.), Winters Opera House (13 Main St.), Visit wintersopenmic.org

12-Step Bonfire meeting, third Friday, 6:30 p.m. fellowship, 7 p.m. meeting, LuNita Ranch, 8189 Olive School Ln, Winters, Bring a camp chair.

Kiwanis Club of Winters meeting, fourth Wednesday, 6 p.m., Turkovich Family Wines - Boss Lounge, kiwanisclubofwinters@gmail.com

Democracy Winters meeting, third Saturdays, 10 a.m.Noon, Meeting details in newsletter, contact info@ democracywinters.org

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: » St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 Main St. (back entrance) Tuesdays, 7-8 a.m. and Fridays, 7-8 a.m.

» Yolo Housing office building, 62 Shams Way: Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. and Sundays, 9 a.m.

Yocha Dehe Fire Department earns fourth international accreditation

By Jacob Hoffman Express correspondent

On March 11, for the fourth time in a row, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Fire Department stood before the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and unanimously received Accredited Agency status.

This recognition represents the culmination of years of work, self-improvement, and community engagement for the YDFD. It also makes the department the only Native American fire agency in the United States to hold international accreditation and places it among only 334 agencies worldwide.

In a statement celebrating the reaccreditation, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation lauded the fire department for “reflecting the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s enduring commitment to excellence, accountability and nationally recognized best practices in fire and emergency services.”

“The Yocha Dehe Fire Department’s reaccreditation reflects our Nation’s long-standing commitment to stewardship, safety and caring for future generations,” Yocha Dehe

Chairman Anthony Roberts said in the statement. “This recognition affirms that our fire and emergency services meet the highest national standards, ensuring our citizens, employees and surrounding communities receive exceptional care and protection.”

YDFD Chief Shawn Kinney spoke with the Express about what the accreditation means, why the department pursued it, and what the future holds.

Accreditation with CFAI is a rigorous self- and peer-assessment program that enables fire and emergency agencies to evaluate and improve their capabilities, Kinney explained. The process involves working with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, collaborating with peer assessors, and serving as an assessor for other agencies, always looking for areas to improve.

“To be an accredited agency, you need to live and breathe it,” Kinney said.

Agencies seeking accreditation undertake an exhaustive self-assessment evaluating operational performance, administrative effectiveness, and community risk-reduction efforts, followed by a strict peer review from other fire

service professionals.

According to Kinney, the evaluation covers some 250 metrics across 11 categories, including tribal governance, finance, human resources, safety and wellness, physical fitness, cancer screenings, and firefighter behavioral health.

A large part of the evaluation is tied to community engagement.

“When you discuss what being accredited means, it means the community decided we want to do this…You have to determine what their vision is for the community, and then set forth a path for the fire department, enabling them, encouraging them, demanding that they meet these metrics. You need a strong strategic plan.”

That includes working with community leaders to create a risk assessment identifying local dangers—like the fireprone hills surrounding the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation— as well as developing emergency response plans.

From the start, Kinney said, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation envisioned an accredited fire

Growing tomatoes, choosing shade trees

Special to the Express

This column is written by the UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County each month. It provides answers to selected questions recently asked by Yolo County gardeners.

Tips for planting tomatoes

Q: I would like to plant tomatoes in my garden this year. What tips do you have? What varieties should I try?

A: Growing tomatoes in your own garden can be very rewarding. Our long, sunny summers and warm evenings create excellent conditions for tomatoes. While it can sometimes get too hot for both tomatoes and gardeners, there are ways to minimize the negative effects. With careful timing, soil preparation, proper care, and selecting varieties suited to our climate, you should be able to grow a good crop of vine-ripened tomatoes. Once the rain stops and the soil has dried sufficiently, start by adding a couple of inches of compost to your bed and working it in. If you are using an organic tomato and vegetable fertilizer, work it in according

Ask a Master Gardener

to the package directions. Organic fertilizers need time for soil bacteria to break them down.

If you are starting from seed, early March is a good time to plant indoors under lights for the best results.

If you buy starts from a nursery, keep in mind they often appear before the soil is ready for planting. Tomatoes planted when the soil is still cold and nights are cool will grow slowly and may not fully recover. Using a soil thermometer, wait until the soil consistently reaches 60 degrees and nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees. Another often-cited technique is to wait until you can comfortably sit on bare ground in your underwear for 30 minutes — let us know if that works for you! If you prefer a calendar guideline, mid- to late April usually meets these conditions. If you buy plants earlier, you can grow them in one-gallon pots until the soil is ready. Plant tomatoes where they will receive at least six hours of sun daily; more is better. Afternoon shade is acceptable and can even be beneficial. When transplanting, bury plants deeper than they were in their pots — tomatoes grow roots along buried stems, which makes them stronger.

Pending home sales rise nationwide in February

National Association of

Special to the

Pending home sales in February increased by 1.8 percent from the prior month and declined 0.8 percent year over year, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales report. The report provides the real estate ecosystem—including agents, homebuyers and sellers— with data on the level of home sales under contract.

Month over month, pending home sales rose in the Midwest, South and West, and declined in the Northeast. Year over year, pending home sales rose in the South and West, and declined in the Northeast and Midwest.

“The slight gain in pending contracts appears to be driven by improved affordability conditions. However, those conditions could reverse if higher oil prices lead to an uptick in mortgage rates,” said NAR

Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun. “The Midwest—the most affordable region of the country—was the strongest performer

in February. But the Northeast was held back by a combination of higher home prices and a shortage of supply.”

“For first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home is not a snap decision,” Yun added. “It takes time to build credit, save for a down payment and fulfill existing rental lease agreements. Still, there is sizable pentup demand that could be released into the market. Although job gains have been sluggish in recent months, there are still 6 million more jobs in the country than in the pre-COVID period.”

February 2026

National Pending Home Sales

• 1.8 percent increase month over month

• 0.8 percent decrease year over year

February 2026

Regional Pending Home Sales

Northeast

• 3.6 percent decrease month over month

• 12.1 percent decrease year over year

Midwest

• 4.6 percent increase month over month

• 0.1 percent decrease year over year

Want to publish a listing?

Contact David DeLeon today at david@wintersexpress.com

South

• 2.7 percent increase month over month

• 1.2 percent increase year over year

West

• 0.9 percent increase month over month

• 3.2 percent increase year over year

City snapshots At the local level, several markets posted notable year-over-

year gains in pending home sales. Among the 50 largest metro areas, the following 10 markets posted the biggest annual gains in pending home sales, according to data from Realtor.com

Economics:

• San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, California (13.5 percent increase)

• Jacksonville, Flor-

ida (12.1 percent increase)

• San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, California (10.6 percent increase)

• Denver–Aurora–Centennial, Colorado (10.5 percent increase)

• Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, Florida (10.0 percent increase)

• Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, Arizona (9.8

percent increase)

• Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, California (9.3 percent increase)

• Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas (8.7 percent increase)

• Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, Texas (8.1 percent increase)

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (8.7 percent increase)

Take steps to prevent pest problems

Metro Special to the Express Pests can be problematic for homeowners. Pests can be frightening, and an infestation can result in property damage if it is not discovered or

treated promptly. According to Green Pest Management, termites can hollow out beams, beetles can tunnel through hardwood, and rodents can chew through wiring and insulation. It doesn’t take long for damage

Phone: (530) 795-4531 * irelandagency.com

to escalate. And homeowners may not know issues are building until problems have become visible. To address pests effectively, both inside and outside of the home, homeowners should prioritize prevention and physical barriers first. Chemicals and professional pest treatment services may be necessary if initial efforts are not enough. Here are some strategies homeowners can try.

windows and doors. Use silicone caulk around windows and stuff steel wool in gaps around plumbing pipes.

• Address moisture issues. Many insects are attracted to dampness. It’s important to fix leaky faucets immediately and use a dehumidifier in basements or crawl spaces to make the environment less hospitable to pests.

• Check the perimeter. Pests can enter a home through small gaps in the foundation, as well as around

• Manage crumbs and trash. Pests like an easy food source, so move dry goods into glass or sealed

Horoscopes

ARIES (Mar 21/Apr 20)

A project you have been working on some time finally reaches a successful conclusion, Aries. Enjoy the benefits that comes from it and take a well-earned bow.

TAURUS (Apr 21/May 21)

Taurus, sensory delights might fill your week. Good food, music and company are your rewards. Enjoy everything and savor each moment.

GEMINI (May 22/Jun 21)

A long-awaited response brings a smile to your face, Gemini. It is just the news you were hoping for, and maybe even better than you expected. Now you can move forward with confidence.

CANCER (Jun 22/Jul 22)

Cancer, when you meet a new group of people in the days to come, you might feel a profound sense of belonging. Your heart will be full and you’ll be encouraged to socialize more.

LEO (Jul 23/Aug 23)

Leo, the spotlight may find you this week. Enjoy the praise that is bestowed on you. You have earned it through your consistent effort. Someone with influence may come into your circle.

VIRGO (Aug 24/Sept 22)

Clarity about your life’s direction brings a sense of calm, Virgo. While you once were floundering, now you know exactly where you are going and the steps necessary to get there.

LIBRA (Sept 23/Oct 23)

Libra, your social life may be buzzing right now. It will prove to be a week of laughter, reunions and shared memories if this social energy manifests fully.

SCORPIO (Oct 24/Nov 22)

A personal mystery that has been bugging you may be solved this week, Scorpio. The truth might bring you freedom and a sense of empowerment. It also will free up your mind.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23/Dec 21)

You don’t have to travel too far from home to satisfy your wanderlust, Sagittarius. A weekend getaway or midweek escape might be all that’s needed to bring refreshment.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22/Jan 20)

This week you likely will meet a professional or personal milestone that you’ve been working toward for some time, Capricorn. Celebrate the steady climb you have made.

AQUARIUS (Jan 21/Feb 18)

Authenticity is the key to driving more people into your social circle, Aquarius. It also will attract new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to be “you.”

PISCES (Feb 19/Mar 20)

Pisces, this week you will settle a debt of some kind, freeing you up for new opportunities. It will leave you feeling lighter and ready for any new chapters ahead.

To submit a Letter to the Editor, visit the “Submission Forms” page and click the link under “Online Services”

plastic containers. Clean up crumbs around the kitchen, empty catches in the sink drain readily, and be sure to take out the garbage before it gets full and malodorous; otherwise, you might be luring pests indoors.

• Create a buffer zone outside. Try not

to plant vegetation too close to the home. While mulch is coveted for its use in landscaping, it can act as a highway for termites and ants. Gravel or bare dirt may be better against the house.

• Eliminate standing water. Clear gutters and address low-lying areas of the landscape. Turlock Mosquito Abatement District says mosquitoes grow in standing wa-

ter, and they can develop into biting mosquitoes in amounts of water as small as that needed to fill a bottle cap. Tip and toss out any water to prevent mosquito breeding.

• Use natural repellents. Peppermint oil might deter spiders and rodents near entry points. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from fossilized, microscopic remains of hardshelled aquatic organisms. While used primarily in some pool filtration systems, DE also can dehydrate insects with exoskeletons, like ants or roaches.

and Community Development each year

The City of Winters will report on the types of housing development completed in 2023-2025 The purpose of this hearing is to review our progress on our Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and collect residents views on housing and community development needs (which includes services facilities and/or infrastructure that will improve livability within the

At the public hearing of the Planning Commission the Planning Commission shall consider

evidence and testimony for and against the physical development of the incorporated city and

outside its boundaries within its Sphere of Influence that bears a relationship to its

BUCKHORN CAFE INC 2 MAIN STREET, WINTERS CA 95694

BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION: CORPORATION

Starting Date of Business: 11/21/1979 /S/ EMARIE C, VANGALIO If Corporation or LLC - Title of Officer Signing: COO

Jesse Salinas County Clerk/Recorder State of California County of Yolo MARCH 4, 11, 18 25, 2026 #87562

18 25 2026 #87563

If pests become problematic and firstline treatments are not working, consult with a professional pest company to see what might be the answer.

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK S OFFICE Jesse Salinas Yolo County Clerk/Recorder Filed: 2/23/2026 FBN Number: F20260173

The person(s) or entity listed below are abandoning the use of the following fictitious business name(s): Name of Business(es): TIRES 4 LESS Business Physical Address: 172 W MAIN ST WOODLAND CA 95695 The fictitious business name was filed in Yolo County on 10/12/2025 and is being ABANDONED by the registrant(s) listed below 1 ABDUL GHAFFAR, 172 W MAIN ST, WOODLAND CA 95695 If a Corporation or Limited Liability Company, please provide the Corporation or

FILED IN YOLO COUNTY CLERK S OFFICE Jesse Salinas Yolo County Clerk/Recorder

Who wants a new puppy?

Growing up, we had dachshunds, and one of the first things Sherri and I bought together was a dog. He was a mutt that looked like a miniature lab-terrier mix. We brought him with us when we moved back to Winters in 1977. He was an escape artist and would be gone for weeks at a time. The last time he escaped, I checked and the pound didn’t have him, so at some point, he must have found a new home.

I can’t count the number of dogs that we have had over the years, but it is a lot. The most we have had at one time was three, but most of the time we have two. They are usually about five or six years apart, so we have continuous turnover.

Years ago, we ended up taking in two dogs when Sherri’s mother could no longer care for them. The last one died a few months ago and it was heartbreaking, as she was Sherri’s last connection to her parents. Annie was healthy to the

Continued from Page 1

“The fire department was always going to become accredited, from the beginning. Tribal leadership wanted a world-class fire department to not only serve their community but what we call the greater community,” Kinney explained.

“And there’s one way to actually prove that, and that’s going through the accreditation process.”

end, and one day just didn’t wake up from her nap. The way we all want to go.

The worst part of owning a dog is when they die; no matter how you rationalize their passing, it is still painfully sad.

We have now rescued a 7-month-old yellow doodle, Ginger, to go along with our 5-year-old chocolate Labradoodle, Willy. They seem to be getting along very well, but we may have ruined Willy’s life. Willy’s goal in life is to play catch, but Ginger has decided that it is fun to take his ball away from him and run around the yard with it.

I always considered myself a little hyper, but Willy made me look calm. With the new puppy, Willy is looking better and better. He seems calmer, doesn’t chew on my

“We were better than last time, and next year we’ll be better than we were this year as we work toward our fifth accreditation in 2031.”

Shawn Kinney,

YDFD fire chief

clothing and is housebroken.

We have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, shots and made an appointment to get her spade.

A few years ago, Sherri and I had a talk about not having dogs so we could travel and not have to worry about dog sitters. Then we got Willy, and now the new puppy.

I must have left my hearing aids on the dresser when we had that conversation, because I clearly misunderstood.

I’m not sure what life would be without a dog, and maybe I’ll never have to find out.

I like to joke that these are Sherri’s dogs, but sometimes they switch sides and become my best friend. Some dogs are better than others, and so far, Ginger looks like a keeper.

Have a good week.

Continued from Page 1 department.

Yocha Dehe leadership has been involved and supportive every step of the way. “We have a fire commission that we report to, and they’re very engaged. To a detail that I’ve never heard of or even seen anywhere else, they’ve seen every bit of what we do.”

“I would like to emphasize that it’s the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation as a people that have created this, and it’s been our opportunity and our honor to go forward within their mandate.”

The dedication of Yocha Dehe leadership has benefited both the tribe and the surrounding areas. “We’re their clearest expression of ‘we want to give back to the community,’” Kinney said, “and the community is bigger than just the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.”

For that “greater community,” Kinney said, “it means they’re going to get medics from the Yocha Dehe Wintun

Nation any time they need medical aid.

We are the only paramedic fire agency within Yolo County.”

A third of YDFD’s calls are outside the Nation. The department also hosts a youth fire academy program and allows its sites to serve as a training area for regional partners.

“That’s part of being different. Part of our accreditation drive is to be the best we can be,” Kinney said.

He expressed pride in his team’s dedication to continuous improvement.

“We received accreditation last week for the fourth time, and honestly, we killed it. We spent all of our time every day. And it’s ongoing—the model is about continuous improvement. We were better than last time, and next year we’ll be better than we were this year as we work toward our fifth accreditation in 2031.”

Your voice matters, and our community is stronger when it’s heard. Visit the “Submission Forms” page and click the “Online Services” link. Look for “Submit Content” to send it in. Not sure where to start? Email the editor for help getting your idea off the ground.

St. Anthony Parish announces Holy Week, Easter services

St. Anthony Parish wishes to invite the community to the Masses for Holy Week and Easter. The schedule is as follows:

St. Anthony Parish, Winters

• Tuesday, March 31: Confessions 7:30 a.m. followed by Mass at 8:30 a.m.

• Thursday, April 2: Holy Thursday: Mass of the Last Supper, 6 p.m. Bilingual Mass followed by adoration in the Parish Hall until midnight

• Friday, April 3: Good Friday, Noon Bilingual Service followed by Stations of the Cross

• Saturday, April 4: Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil, 8 p.m. Bilingual Mass

• Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday ~10:30 a.m. Mass English ~12:30 p.m. Mass Spanish

St. Martin Mission, Esparto

• Tuesday, March 31: Confessions, 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 6 p.m.

• Thursday, April 2: Holy Thursday: Mass of the Last Supper, 6 p.m. Bilingual Mass followed by adoration in the Hall until 10 p.m.

• Friday, April 3: Good Friday, 1 p.m. Bilingual Service followed by Stations of the Cross

• Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday ~7 a.m. Mass Spanish ~8:30 a.m. Mass English

Fr. Lito and the staff at St. Anthony Parish wish everyone a very Blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter.

FR. LITO DE LA CRUZ

St. Anthony PAriSh

LWVYC opposes voting law

The League of Women Voters of Yolo County strongly opposes the federal SAVE America Act currently in the U.S. Senate and hopes local voters will contact their state senators to share their opposition.

The League’s position follows a century of nonpartisan support for ballot access and voting rights. National League CEO, Celina Stewart, issued this statement: “Make no mistake: the SAVE America Act is one of the most brazen attacks on women’s voting rights in the League’s 106year history. This bill doesn’t secure our elections: it architects exclusion. Democracy must invite voters in, not lock them out. Reject this legislation.”

If signed into law, the SAVE America Act will have significant, immediate voter suppression consequences for voter registration and election participation, impacting all voters in California’s 2026 elections. Voting rights supporters can act now to stop its passage. The Yolo County League urges contacting our Senators today to oppose the SAVE America Act.

To learn more and contact our Senators, go to https://www.lwv. org/save-act or write directly to California Senator Adam Schiff at: https://www.schiff.senate.gov/ contact/ or Senator Alex Padilla at: https://www.padilla.senate. gov/contact/

MICHELLE FAMULA

PreSident, LeAgue of Women VoterS of yoLo County

GARDENS

including peppers, eggplants, and potatoes, in the same spot.

Water deeply and regularly once plants are established, avoiding wetting foliage to reduce disease. Typically, one weekly watering of about five gallons per full-sized plant is sufficient. In extreme heat, approaching 100 degrees, or on sandy soil, an extra watering day with two to three gallons may be necessary. Mulch with straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds. When temperatures climb above 90 degrees, tomatoes may struggle to set fruit. Providing afternoon shade with a shade cloth can help. There are dozens of tomato varieties that can succeed in our area, but not all are equal. Large varieties, especially heirlooms, often struggle in our heat. Concentrate on proven performers and consider adding one or two experimental varieties. Cherry tomatoes are generally the most successful and earliest to ripen. Medium-sized tomatoes fare better than large “beefsteak” types. Also consider resistance to nematodes and soil-borne diseases, which is usually found only in hybrids.

Recommended varieties:

• Cherry: Sungold, Sun Sugar, Sweet 100, Juliet (grape tomato)

• Medium: Early Girl, Celebrity, Lemon Boy, Berkeley Tie

Dye

• Large: Hawaiian Pineapple, Costoluto Genovese, Cosmic Burst, Carmello, Genuwine (suggested by Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery)

With careful planning and attention, our long, warm growing season can yield tomatoes from early summer into fall. The right timing and varieties will help ensure a successful garden.

More information: https:// ipm.ucanr.edu/home-andlandscape/tomato/cultural-tips/index.html

Selecting the right shade tree

Q: I want to plant a shade tree in my front yard. What do you recommend?

A: Trees add beauty to yards and neighborhoods and provide a cooling offset to the heat reflected by sidewalks and streets. But they offer more than aesthetics.

“Trees are investments,” notes the UC Master Gardeners of Marin website. Asking and answering key questions in advance will help you narrow down the best options for your front yard.

First, consider a tree suited to the local climate with low water requirements. California landscaping trends continue to emphasize drought-tolerant, water-wise plants, whether native or non-native species that thrive under the same conditions.

If you water your current landscaping regularly, select a tree compatible with that schedule. If your front yard

is designed to be water-wise, choose a tree that can tolerate low water use once mature. Consider the mature size of the tree. Is there enough space? Are there overhead power lines? Could roots damage underground wires, pipes, or nearby sidewalks?

Also, think about maintenance, such as pruning and leaf litter management. Aesthetic features — canopy shape, foliage color, and whether you want summer shade but winter light — are important. For seasonal light variation, a deciduous tree may be preferable to an evergreen. Addressing these questions will help you choose a tree that fits your yard and the local environment. “The ultimate goal,” says the UC Master Gardeners of Marin, “is for the tree to fit its intended location, provide benefits such as shade and screening, and not cause unintended problems years later.”

The city of Davis Urban Forestry Division offers information on street trees and can assist with tree selection. Reputable local nurseries and UC Davis resources can also help once you know your specific requirements.

More information: https:// ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/trees-howchoose Have a gardening question?

Send it to jmbaumbach@ucanr. edu, with “Ask MGs” in the subject line. Include as much detail as possible and pictures if you have them.

Sports

Warriors’ bats heat up at the plate

By Sydney Andrade Express staff writer

The Winters High School varsity baseball team found its groove this week, winning three of four games. The Warriors opened the week Tuesday, March 17, with a 3-1 loss to St. Helena High School.

Batting was the Warriors’ downfall against St. Helena, with just four hits in 25 at-bats. While contact at the plate wasn’t what the Warriors had worked for, Cole Jordling’s home run in the first inning was the highlight of the game.

Jordan Calvert, Carson Alvarado and Aidan Baylor each battled at the plate, collecting one hit apiece for the Warriors.

The Warriors may have struggled to make contact but stayed competitive with a strong defensive effort, committing just one error in 27 total chances.

Jake Woods led the way defensively, recording 10 putouts without an error in a perfect performance in the field.

Jordling, Alvarado, Kai Carrion, Baylor, Everett Beason, AJ Zaragoza and Calvert also played error-free defensively.

Despite the loss, the Warriors came back strong

Wednesday, March 18, with a 9-0 shutout victory against Gridley High School. Calvert earned the win on the mound, striking out 10 while allowing three hits and no runs over seven innings, with two walks. Tracy Kalish led the Warriors at the plate, collecting three hits in four at-bats with three RBIs. Beason also had a strong day, finishing with two hits in four at-bats and one RBI. Jordling, Alvarado and Baylor each added a hit, while Calvert contributed an RBI. Joe Hawkins had the only double of the day and drove in a run.

On Friday, March 20, Winters carried that momentum into a 4-0 win against Napa High School. Baylor earned the win, striking out six while allowing four hits and no runs, with two walks. After a slow start at the plate, Zaragoza opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a double that drove in two runs. Kalish, Jordling, Beason and Calvert each added a hit. Jordling also recorded a double. Runs were scored by Jordling, Alvarado, Kalish and Calvert.

The Warriors closed out the week Saturday, March 21, with a 12-8 win against

Buckingham Charter High School.

The game had Warrior fans on the edge of their seats, as Winters trailed by six runs at one point.

The Warriors mounted a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on two hits, then tied the game in the seventh. In the top of the eighth, Winters pulled ahead with singles from Carrion and Beason and doubles from Kalish and Jordling. Combined with disciplined at-bats and smart baserunning, the Warriors completed the comeback.

Woods, Carrion and Beason all pitched for the Warriors against Buckingham.

Woods threw three innings, striking out six while allowing three hits and four runs, with two walks. Beason pitched three innings, striking out eight while allowing one hit and one run, with one walk. Carrion pitched one inning, striking out one while allowing one hit and three runs, with three walks.

The Warriors have another busy week ahead and will open league play March 31 against Colusa at the Winters High School baseball field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Track competes at Vern Regier Invitational

On Friday, the Winters High School track and field team headed north to Pleasant Valley High School in Chico to compete in the Vern Regier Invitational, where many athletes brought home medals, new personal and season records, and more.

Running events

100 meters

For varsity boys, Jayden Clifford led the way, placing 19th in 12.35 seconds, followed by Cameron DelRio in 51st (14.16), a season best.

For varsity girls, Alexys Penenuri placed 11th in 14.04, followed by Idaly Lopez Sanchez (19th, 14.42) and Kourtnei Hampton (20th, 14.43, personal best).

In junior varsity boys, Isaiah Redmond led with an 11th-place

finish in 12.61 (personal best). Kennedy Brown (16th), Brandon Herrera (24th, personal best), and Levi Reyes (37th) also competed.

Andrea Reyes led the junior varsity girls with a sixth-place finish in 14.45, followed by Camila Martinez (15th) and Natalie Saunders (35th, personal best).

200 meters

All four varsity girls recorded personal bests, led by Violet Tuel (16th, 31.04) and Hampton (19th, 31.90). Nayelli Serrano placed 28th (33.40), followed by Carolyne Ocampo (29th, 34.83). In junior varsity

boys, Brown placed 17th and Jacob Valadez 26th (season best). Isabella Banuelos competed for the junior varsity girls, placing 23rd (season best).

400 meters

Gavin Pisani led the varsity boys (23rd, 1:03.75), followed by Jonah Gibbs (25th).

For varsity girls, Stephanie Campos placed 10th with a personal best 1:12.41, while Serrano followed in 16th (personal best).

In junior varsity girls, Angie Polk won the event in 1:05.55 (personal best), while Guzman placed eighth.

800 meters

Gibbs was the only varsity boys runner, earning a personal best 2:53.19 and placing 22nd. Passantino placed sixth for varsity girls in 2:45.48.

In junior varsity, Jacob Arce led the boys with a 10th-place finish and personal best time of 2:38.90. Polk placed fifth in the girls race (2:56.69).

1600 meters

Alice Wales won the junior varsity girls race in 6:14.98, while Campuzano also competed and set a personal best.

100-meter hurdles

Saunders competed and set a personal best time of 21.10. 110-meter hurdles

Clifford placed sixth in varsity, while Reyes took second in junior varsity with a season-best 17.74.

Relays

rey and Penenuri) placed fifth with a personal best 53.71.

The junior varsity girls A team (Guzman, Andrea Reyes, Martinez and Miranda Guzman Haro) also placed fifth with a personal best 56.72.

Field events

Shot put

Ramon Lopez led the varsity boys with a third-place finish and a season-best throw of 44’ 11”. Moore placed eighth with 39’ 3.75”.

Discus

Moore won the varsity boys event with a throw of 141’ 7”, while Lopez placed fifth at 129’ 5”.

High jump

Muir-Vickrey placed third for varsity girls, clearing 5’ 0” for a season best.

ing 19th with a mark of 7’ 2.5”.

Triple jump

Muir-Vickrey won the varsity girls event with a mark of 32’ 5.5”.

For junior varsity boys, Noah Thach earned a personal best mark of 26’ 3”, placing 20th.

Team scores

The varsity boys placed ninth with 19 points, while the varsity girls were 10th with 19 points. The junior varsity boys placed 13th with 8 points, and the junior varsity girls placed sixth with 25.33 points.

Winters will compete next at the Durham Invitational at Butte College, with field events starting at 10 a.m. and running events at 11 a.m.

Go Warriors!

4x100 relay

The varsity girls A team (Hampton, Lopez Sanchez, Muir-Vick-

In junior varsity boys, Ezequiel Guerrero tied for 10th with a personal best of 4’ 10”.

Long jump

Clifford competed for varsity boys, plac-

—Hawk Selleck is a senior at Winters High School. He’s a sports enthusiast and participates in the school band, and many other things on campus. He enjoys music, baseball, and track and field.

Arts & Entertainment

YoloFest celebrates food, wine and community

Regionwide weekend celebration packed with experiences, tastes, live music and more

Special to the Express

Visit Yolo County announces the debut of YoloFest, Yolo County’s three-day celebration of food, wine, and local growers and businesses. From March 27 to March 29, visitors will find events, experiences and lodging specials — a perfect reason to celebrate spring with a weekend getaway.

Yolo County offers something for everyone: food and wine pairings, events, art exhibits, live music, downtown street fairs, immersive experiences, farm tours, discounts and more. Visitors can take a self-guided, activity-packed tour of the region, including Winters, Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland and Yolo Countryside (Capay Valley, Clarksburg, Esparto and Zamora), to experience Yolo County firsthand.

YoloFest is a three-day celebration of food, wine, and local growers and businesses from March 27-29 across all of the Yolo County communities.

“YoloFest invites both visitors and locals to savor the very best of Yolo County at their own pace, with a full weekend of experiences featuring live music, unique shopping, wine and spirits tasting, and local farm-to-table restaurants,” said Guysell Geter, president of Visit Yolo and general manager of Hotel Winters and Carboni’s Ristorante Bar and Market. “Spring is the perfect season for a weekend escape — time to reset, explore and enjoy a refreshing breath of fresh air.”

Local events include:

Winters:

• Spirits of Yolo County at Patio29 Spirits Co (March 2729): March 27, 2 to 9 p.m.; March 28, 3 to 8 p.m.; March 29, 1 to 5 p.m. Sample cocktail and tasting specials highlighting Patio29’s award-winning, grainto-glass spirits crafted from Yolo County grains and fruit.

• Sip Yolo: Roots to Wine at Berryessa Gap Vineyards (March 28): 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about grapevine rootstock grafting during a demonstration and tour at Martinez Orchards, followed by a tasting at Berryessa Gap Vineyards featuring Winters Highlands AVA wines and petite sirah.

• Lamb Education Day at Turkovich Family Wines (March 28): 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about lamb and its connection to local agriculture at Turkovich Family Wines’ Lamb Education Day, set among the vines and rolling hills just outside downtown Winters.

• Morgan’s of California Open House (March 27-28): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a Gator

tour of this 15-acre organic pick-your-own fruit farm, with complimentary samples, cookies to feed the goats and a small playground for kids.

• Winters Spring Open Saturday Streetside Fair (March 28): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Main Street shops step outdoors for a streetside sale, joined by local vendors and organizations showcasing products grown and made in Winters and the surrounding area. Enjoy live music, an Easter egg hunt, a balloon artist, a face painter, a floral truck, an ice cream truck and more.

• Brewed for YoloFest at Steady Eddy’s (March 27-29): 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fuel YoloFest explorations with fresh-roasted coffee at Steady Eddy’s. On Friday, enjoy an all-day coffee tasting featuring multiple roasts.

Capay Valley:

• Full Belly Farm Tour: 40 Years of Organic Farming (March 27-29): Guinda, 10 a.m. Join a seasoned farmer for an hour-long tractor tour of Full Belly Farm, a pioneering organic farm in the Capay Valley.

• Sip Yolo: Live Music at Taber Ranch (March 29): Capay, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cap off YoloFest with live music, woodfired pizzas and wine at Taber Ranch’s hillside estate. Events run throughout the weekend.

• Farm Tours and Distillation Demonstrations at Capay Valley Lavender (March 27-29): Capay, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; guided tours at 10 a.m. Tour the lavender farm and watch essential oil distillation demonstrations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Guests may roam the farm between activities.

• Experience a Taste of the Capay Valley at Séka Hills Olive Mill and Tasting Room (March 28-29): Brooks, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience at the Native-owned olive mill. Guided tours showcase how estate-grown olives become extra virgin olive oils, followed by tastings.

• Open Farm Stand and Farm Tours at Polestar Farm (March 27-29): Esparto, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit this Capay Valley farm for an open farm stand and guided tours highlighting seasonal crops and on-farm practices.

• Girl’s Day at Grindstone Wines (March 28): Esparto, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate women-owned small businesses with a day of mimosas, wine specials, local vendors, street eats and live music.

Nearby cities include: Davis: • Line Dancing at Hooby’s Brewing Farm (March 27): 4 to 9:30 p.m. Dust off dancing boots for an evening of line dancing, food and craft brews. Lessons begin at 5:30 p.m. Donations benefit a local charity.

• Sip Yolo: Vegan

Tapas Class at Great Bear Vineyards (March 28): 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Take a plantbased culinary trip to Spain during this hands-on vegan tapas class. Guests prepare and enjoy their creations for lunch, paired with estate wines.

• Sip Yolo: Sausage Fest at Great Bear Vineyards (March 28): noon to 5 p.m. Savor estate wines alongside a spread of British, German and local artisan sausages, rustic bread, sauerkraut, fried onions and specialty mustards, with an optional barrel tasting.

• Pence Gallery Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt (March 2829): 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Explore the gallery’s exhibits with a self-guided, artthemed scavenger hunt.

Woodland:

• A Day at Center for Land-Based Learning (March 27-28): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spend the day at The Maples, headquarters of the Center for Land-Based Learning. Explore the working farm, meet staff and program leaders, and learn about youth education, workforce development and climate-smart agriculture.

• Free Honey Facility Tour at The HIVE (March 28): 1 to 2 p.m. Go behind the scenes with Nectar Director Josh Zeldner to see how honey is produced from blossom to bottle.

Northern Yolo community locations include:

Dunnigan Hills:

• Sip Yolo: Wine Tasting at Matchbook (March 27-29): 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tasting room will be open for guests to enjoy wine tasting on the patio while taking in views of the Dunnigan Hills. Southeast Yolo locations include: Clarksburg:

• Sip Yolo: Wine Tasting and Live Music at Elevation Ten — The Old Sugar Mill (March 27-29): Enjoy wine tasting offers, live music on Saturday and Sunday, and happy hour on Friday until 7 p.m.

• Sip Yolo: Home Ranch Tasting Experience at Bogle Family Vineyards (March 27-29): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy wine tasting featuring Clarksburg selections all weekend, plus live music and food trucks on Saturday and Sunday. West Sacramento:

• Yolo Explorer (March 27-29): Climb aboard for a scenic train ride through Yolo County’s agricultural landscape, passing working farms, open fields and seasonal crops with views of the Sacramento Valley and Coast Range.

• Railbikes at River Fox Train (March 27-29): Pedal through the Yolo countryside on a guided railbike adventure along the tracks, offering a scenic way to explore the river corridor and surrounding farmland.

For more information about YoloFest, lodging specials and a full schedule of events, visit visityolo. com/yolo-fest.

Spring Open brings two-day event to downtown Winters

Special to the Express

Downtown Winters will welcome the spring season with a two-day community celebration March 27-28, featuring live music, local vendors, food, and family-friendly activities.

Friday:

Fourth Friday Block Party

The Downtown Winters Spring Open begins Friday with the city’s long-running Fourth Friday Downtown Block Party from 5 to 9 p.m. along Main Street.

The event will include live music, a classic car show, balloon art, face painting, and activities for children.

A kids and juniors fashion show presented by The Winters Collective is also scheduled.

Local restaurants and beverage vendors will offer food and drinks throughout the evening.

March’s Fourth Friday also marks the start of seasonal Main Street closures,

which will take place monthly from 3 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Sunday, continuing through the October Harvest Festival.

Saturday: Street fair and family fun Festivities continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a downtown street fair. Main Street businesses will extend onto sidewalks and be joined by local vendors offering a variety of goods, including art, crafts, clothing and food.

Shoppers can expect to find items from painters, potters, woodworkers and other regional makers, along with Yolo County products.

Live music and a family-friendly atmosphere will accompany the street fair.

An Easter egg hunt is also planned Saturday at Rotary Park. The hunt will begin at 10 a.m. for children ages 1 to 4 and at 11 a.m. for

a twoday family-friendly event from March 27–28, on downtown Main Street in Winters.

ages 5 to 10.

Organizers encourage residents and visitors to attend both days of the event to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment while supporting local businesses. For more information, visit www.discoverwinters. com/spring-open.

Robyn Rominger highlights farm-to-fashion movement

Local author to discuss sustainable agriculture, ethical fashion

Special to the Express

The Winters Community Library will host a special Women’s History Month presentation exploring the intersection of agriculture and sustainable fashion.

Award-winning author, agricultural journalist and local historian Robyn Rominger will present “Sustainable Agriculture: The Farm-to-Fashion Movement” at 6 p.m. Monday, March 30, in the library’s Margaret Parsons Room.

The program will examine how the farm-tofashion movement seeks to reduce environmental impacts by prioritizing

sustainable agricultural practices, local sourcing and ethical labor in the production of clothing and textiles.

Rominger brings more than three decades of experience writing about agriculture, livestock production and rural life, and has contributed to numerous regional and national publications. She is also known for her work documenting local history and farming traditions in Yolo County.

Her presentation will conclude with a brief fashion show featuring natural-fiber clothing, offering attendees a visual example of how agricultural products can be transformed into wearable goods.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit yolocountylibrary. org/locations/winters.

$25M gift propels UC Davis’ leadership in ag tech

By Clémentine Sicard

UC Davis News

UC Davis has received a gift of more than $25 million that will transform the advancement of agricultural technology and innovation for generations to come, made possible by a bequest from late philanthropist and local businessman Dan G. Best II.

The gift honors the enduring legacy of his grandfather, C.L. Best, an agricultural innovator and founding leader of Caterpillar Tractor Co., whose design of his first track-type tractor in 1912 still forms the basis for all current tracktype machines used across the world today.

The two-part gift provides foundational support for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. First, $12 million is creating three endowed chairs named for C.L. Best in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. An additional $12.5 million establishes the C.L. Best Innovation in Agriculture Fund to support student scholarships, faculty and staff research, and facility improvements.

“We are deeply grateful to Dan Best for this extraordinary gift, which allows UC Davis to carry forward the legacy of C.L. Best by continuing to invent and respond to the evolving needs of the agriculture industry,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “This game-changing investment strengthens the university’s leadership in innovation while helping educate future leaders who will address critical challenges around food, water and sustainability.”

UC Davis is widely recognized as a world leader in agricultural sciences, ranking first in the nation and second in the world for agriculture and forestry by the QS World University Rankings and as well as first in the nation in biological and agricultural engineering by U.S. News & World Report.

The gift is driving growth during a significant time for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which is opening the Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation in fall 2026. The facility, located in the heart of campus along Hutchinson Drive, will provide state-of-theart spaces for advanced work in robotics and sensing, AI and big data, plant breeding, sustainability and student success. The robotics and sensing suite in the new facility will be named the C.L. Best Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite in his honor.

“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Dan Best, our college will build

on our first-rate programming and support for students, accelerate the interdisciplinary research of our faculty and staff, and continue advancing agricultural technology on a global level,” said Ashley M. Stokes, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Endowed chairs

The three endowed chairs created by the gift are the first for the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. These prestigious positions provide funds in perpetuity to support distinguished faculty members in research, teaching and service. The new positions are the C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Agricultural Big Data Analytics; the C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Robotics and Cyber-physical Farming Systems; and the C.L. Best Endowed Chair in Controlled Environmental Engineering.

“These three chairs will help translate agricultural research and innovation into deployable products

and tangible solutions, supporting ag-tech startups and companies as they bring new technologies to the field,” said Fadi Fathallah, chair of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Together, the positions address critical challenges facing agriculture today — from food security and climate resilience to energy efficiency and workforce issues — while drawing from different disciplines across engineering like robotics and artificial intelligence.

“The roles are designed to be symbiotic; they will work collaboratively with each other and across departments within the college and the university, bringing together the expertise needed to move cutting-edge research into practical farming and agricultural practices,” said Fathallah.

These resources, along with the Resnick Center’s new equipment and infrastructure, together act as a catalyst bolstering an already top-tier program to go farther and faster than ever before, accelerating UC Davis’ impact and leadership in ag innovation and food systems sustainability.

Fittingly, the Agricultural Innovation Robotics and Sensing Suite within the center will be named in honor of the gift.

Honoring a legacy

A farmer and long-serving leader in Yolo County, Dan G. Best II was a member of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, who named him Agribusiness Person of the Year in 2013, and served on the Woodland Health-

care Foundation Board. He was part of a long line of agricultural innovators. His great-grandfather, Daniel Best, worked to improve early grain harvesters and steam tractors in the late 1800s in San Leandro, California — and received 41 patents over his lifetime.

“Dan was a tremendously generous yet modest man, who was incredibly proud of his grandfather’s legacy and contributions to agricultural innovation. He was adamant that his pioneering work be celebrated, and that UC Davis’s strength in this area made it a fitting tribute for lasting dedication and impact,” said Shaun B. Keister, vice chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations.

C.L. Best was also an inventor and businessman who changed how land is worked around the world. He perfected the track assembly of the track-type tractor — a machine that moves on continuous steel tracks instead of wheels — making it more durable in difficult ground conditions. His designs became the foundation for nearly all modern tracked machines still in use today. In 1925, C.L. Best helped form the Caterpillar Tractor Co. and served as its chairman until his death in 1951. Best’s work supported major advances in agriculture through irrigation, flood control and land development. The machines built on his ideas helped shape farms, infrastructure and communities worldwide, creating a legacy that continues to influence modern-day agriculture and industry.