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Residents honored for local impact News, Page 2
Discovering local Spanish heritage Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 33 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, September 17, 2025
The hometown paper of Nancy Redfield
Residents speak out on fireworks, council delays decision By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The Sept. 2 Winters City Council meeting focused on an extensive discussion about fireworks in Winters, with some suggesting a complete ban on all private fireworks sales, and the cancellation of the city’s July 3rd professional fireworks show. The council agendaized the item after receiving several letters and comments from the community requesting that it host a discussion on the topic and consider a ban. Multiple petitions created by community members both for and against a fireworks ban were also being circulated, in part as a response to the explosion at a fireworks storage facility in Esparto in late June of this year. No formal ordinance was brought before the council at this meeting — instead, it was purely a discussion item, meant to inform the council on the concerns of their constituents. Currently, the city of Winters
allows the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks for a brief period of time each year surrounding the July 4 celebration. These include groundbased, non-aerial, and non-explosive items like fountains and sparklers. In nearby cities Davis and Vacaville, safe and sane fireworks have been banned, while West Sacramento, Woodland and Dixon allow them. Fireworks that do not fall within these guidelines are banned within the city of Winters. The more dramatic, more dangerous aerial fireworks can only be set off by professionals as part of the annual July 3rd Fireworks Show at the high school football field, where the fire department is present to help coordinate safety. There have been no incidents from this professional show, and all five nearby cities continue to host their own professional fireworks shows each year. One major point raised by those who
See CITY, Page 5
Downtown street closures planned for Homecoming Rally
Express staff
EXPRESS
Winters High School Homecoming Week is set for Sept. 22–26, featuring a lineup of student
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
Winters Fire and Police Department members stand side-by-side and salute during a bell-ringing ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 11, honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Winters first responders pay tribute By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief Local public safety officials gathered Thursday, Sept. 11, to honor the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Members of the Winters Police Department and Winters Fire Department participated in a bell-ringing ceremony to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in New York, at the Pentagon, and on United Airlines Flight 93. The ceremony, a longstanding tradition among firefighters and first responders, honors fallen colleagues. Fire Chief Jack S. Snyder III reflected on the personal significance of the day for those in the fire service.
By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
See SPIRIT, Page 4
Index
We at he r
Downtown rally, road closure The annual Downtown Rally returns to Main Street on Friday, Sept. 26.
Features ........................ B-1
Date
Rain
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Sept. 10
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Sept. 11
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84˚
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Sept. 12
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Sept. 13
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Eventos hispanos ....... A-3
Sept. 14
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Sept. 15
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Opinion ......................... B-1
Sept. 16
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Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
Real Estate ................... B-2 Sports ........................... B-5
See TRIBUTE, Page 5
Crystal Apilado/Winters Express
At the Winters Public Safety Facility, the bell rang at the exact moment the first plane struck the North Tower, while the flag was raised and lowered to half-staff, a solemn tribute to those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001.
Student artists sign new downtown mural Student muralists and community members gathered on Monday, Sept. 8, outside the Masonic building on First Street to celebrate the latest Winters history mural. Members of the Winters Participation Gallery of the Arts and local muralists who supported the students shared insights about the significance of the mural projects and
traditions, spirited competitions, and a downtown rally that will close Main Street.
“As we observe the anniversary of Sept. 11, the Winters Fire Department joins the nation in solemn remembrance of one of the most pivotal and tragic days in American history,” Snyder said. “The events of that day, and the profound loss of nearly 3,000 lives, including 343 firefighters and more first responders, forever reshaped our collective understanding of sacrifice, courage, and public service. For those of us in the fire service, Sept. 11 is not just a historical event. It is a deeply personal reminder of the risks our profession entails and the profound responsibility we carry
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 0.01 in. Last sn. to date: TRACE Winters rainfall season began 7/1/25. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
the experience of working with young artists. Student muralists reflected on the project, sharing their favorite parts of the process. Many highlighted the opportunity to meet new people and collaborate on a design that resulted in a beautiful piece of artwork for the community. Other students who served on the design team noted that they gained valuable expeCrystal Apilado/Winters Express rience working Student muralists signed the latest Winters history mural. with clients and enjoyed creating a “At that first design input and thoughtful concept that reflected meeting I came in with questions, the stuthe client’s vision for my ideas of my vision, dent design team and the mural. but I had never been Ogando developed a Meika Ogando, own- a part of the mural shared understanding er of the Winters Col- project before and of the mural concepts. lective, served as this that meant that I had Ogando said what the year’s client. Ogando to really learn to trust said the experience of the process of the stu- students created was working with the mu- dents and their grow- “so much more than ral team was special ing talents while they what I could have and that she wanted designed this mural, imagined.” “This isn’t just paint to bring value to a and trust the artists on the wall. It’s histodowntown wall that and the spirit of the ry, it’s community, and showcases local histo- whole mural society,” ry and adds “colorful Ogando said. new life to it.” See MURAL, Page 5 Through creative YOUR
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