It is a great honor to serve the people of District 2 in Yolo County. During my time as county supervisor, it’s been a privilege to become more embedded in the life of the community of Winters.
Winters is a true gem in Yolo County! Below are some highlights of the past year and upcoming community-focused events:
New Meals on Wheels Kitchen in Winters!
Thanks in part to Yolo County’s investment of American Rescue Plan funding, Meals on Wheels Yolo County last year leased an additional 5,300 square feet of commercial kitchen space in Winters. The new kitchen has enabled MOW Yolo to double the number of food-insecure senior citizens they serve, dramatically improving support for seniors in western Yolo County.
The location of the new MOW kitchen at 111 Main St. in Winters previously was home to the Buckhorn Restaurant’s catering business for more than 25 years. While the use of this space was repurposed, it will continue to nourish the Greater Winters community.
New Playground at El Rio Villa – Coming Soon!
Last year I learned that the El Rio Villa affordable housing community, just east of I-505, has been without a playground for about five years due to safety issues with the previous playground. (It had deteriorated beyond repair.) I’m so grateful we have been able to piece together $150,000 in funds so far from Yolo County Housing, Yolo County American Rescue Plan funds, Winters Joint Unified School District, and PG&E to support installing a new play structure in the El Rio Villa Community this summer. The El Rio Villas residents are a vital part of the Winters community, and this new playground structure will benefit the health and wellness of these valued community members.
Winters Participation Gallery Kate Humphrey Historical Mural Project
I’m thrilled that Yolo County American Rescue Plan funds are supporting the upcoming Winters Participation Gallery for the Arts 2024 summer youth mural project. Through the annual Kate Humphrey Historical Mural Project, professional artists guide youth from 6th – 12th grades to design and paint a mural on a local building. To date they have completed six murals, each reflecting aspects of Winters’ history that the students incorporate into the design. The summer mural project supports youth by promoting individual well-being and skill development, but also by contributing to the vitality of the Winters community.
Winters Youth Day
Winters Youth Day is an annual tradition that began in 1933 to teach young people about city government. Each year, youth engage in a week of hands-on experiences with city officials and conclude the week with the Duck Derby on Friday night, and Youth Day on the last Saturday of April. Youth Day started bright and early this year with a pancake breakfast, followed by two parades, and a food and craft fair.
Winters Farm to School
One of the aspects of Winters that I adore, is the problem-solving spirit of the community. Community members noticed that despite being in the heart of agriculture, many students didn’t understand where their food came from, or have the taste of fresh locally grown produce. And sadly, some local children are experiencing food insecurity and their only meal a day is at school.
Community members stepped into action in 2011 when the Winters Farm to School program was founded with the goals of raising funds to provide locally grown produce for the school lunch program, educate Winters youth about the health benefits of healthy foods and to reconnect youth to their community’s agricultural heritage. The outcome of their work is outstanding. 97% of the foods served to Winters students are purchased locally, and over 50% of those purchases are directly from Yolo County farmers. The Winters Farm to School Summer Feast Fundraiser is Saturday, June 8, and a great opportunity to give back to an organization that gives so much to the youth in Winters.
Japantown Monument Dedication Ceremony – May 4
Prior to World War II, nearly 300 people of Japanese ancestry lived in the Winters area and comprised nearly a quarter of the local population. They created a Japantown near the railroad bridge. In the months after the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese population in Winters was forcibly removed from their homes and placed in incarceration camps. After Victory over Japan Day on Aug. 14, 1945, while Winters celebrated the end of the War, Japantown was burned to the ground. Only 15% of the pre-war Winters Japanese population returned to live in Winters after World War II.
The internment of Japanese residents during World War II was a dark chapter in our nation’s history, driven by discrimination and baseless fears. I look forward to joining residents of the City of Winters in celebrating and honoring the Winters Japanese American community at the Japantown Monument Dedication Ceremony, hosted by the Historical Society of Winters on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. Rotary Park in the City of Winters.
While our work together continues on important projects such as improving County Road 31 between Winters and Davis, and developing a safer pedestrian crossing over I-505 to Winters from El Rio Villa, I remain steadfast in my work to serve the people of Yolo County and make our community better for future generations.
By Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs
