Part two of our annual news roundup covers a selection of events from July through December. Part one, covering January through June, appeared last week.
July
The Town of Windsor issued its annual Water Quality Consumer Confidence Report, which detailed the presence of contaminants in local drinking water. The report for 2013 found Windsor’s water supply to be high quality, exceeding state and federal standards.
The Windsor Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a three-year plan to spend district funding on improved counseling, intervention programs for struggling students, facilities maintenance and implementation of Common Core State Standards in local schools.
On July 1, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe announced that it would merge with Lolli and Pops, a small chain of high-end candy stores with a similarly whimsical brand. Going forward, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe will retain its name and the bulk of its established identity.
Windsor’s Relay for Life team, “Hoofin’ for a Cure” hit a milestone, raising a cumulative $100,000 for the American Cancer Society since being founded in 2008. As part of a large brood of longtime locals, team co-captain and melanoma survivor Diane McDowell formed “Hoofin’ for a Cure” with her husband, a three-time cancer survivor.
At a meeting held on July 16, the Town Council approved plans and specifications and awarded a construction contract for a project that would expand bicycle and pedestrian accessibility along Old Redwood Highway between Conde Lane and 4th Street.
In an effort to expand the scope and prominence of its creative economy, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted an Arts Action Plan developed through the Sonoma County Economic Development Board. The central recommendation of the plan is to develop a county-wide arts agency called Creative Sonoma, which would provide support and oversight to local art-centered organizations for such concerns as business training and effective marketing.
At their July 29 meeting, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that would provide zoning code amendments to allow for an expedited and less cost-prohibitive permitting process for small agricultural processing facilities and farm retail sales. The move boosts support for small-scale farmers and start-up organizations that wish to produce manufactured products such as cheese, jam or olive oil, or to engage in year-round sales of agricultural products produced onsite.
August
Windsor Town Councilmember Sam Salmon collected his paperwork from the Town clerk and said he was planning to run for another term. Salmon has served on the council since 1994. His seat was up this fall along with incumbents Robin Goble and Steve Allen.
Nationally acclaimed comic Will Durst brought his show, “BoomerAging: From LSD to OMG,” to the Raven Theater Windsor from Aug. 22 to 24. Durst is a five-time Emmy nominee, has written three books, shared jokes in 14 countries, made more than 800 appearances on television and released five CDs.
Water shortage provisions ramped up, and in a meeting held on Aug. 6, the Windsor Town Council adopted a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency. As a part of the three-stage Water Shortage Contingency Plan, Stage 2 required a mandatory, as opposed to voluntary, 20 percent reduction in water use.
The Windsor Certified Farmers Market held their 12th Annual Zucchini Festival & seventh Annual Antique Collectible Show together on the Town Green, Sunday, Aug. 10. Congrats to Xander Gruggett the first place winner of the ‘Zuke Car Races’ and to Chris “Big T” Trechter, winner of the largest zucchini the market has ever seen, weighing in at 23.83 pounds.
The Windsor High School community grieved the death of incoming senior Karla Guzman just days before school started. Guzman took her own life at her home in Windsor on Monday, Aug. 11.
The final rosters for the November elections came in and both the Windsor Town Council and the Windsor Unified School District sent voters to the polls this November after years without elections.
The annual grape harvest began for early ripening varietals like sangiovese, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. Grapegrowers reported that vines were stressed due to a lack of water. Karissa Kruse, executive director of Sonoma County Winegrowers, said some growers were predicting a better than average yield, but as early blocks are picked, the weight is lighter than expected, “not as juicy,” she said.
The Boys and Girls Club did not get their federal grant renewed for the programs at Cali Calmécac Language Academy in Windsor and Jefferson Elementary School in Cloverdale, and the loss had a drastic impact. The absence of the federal grant means a loss in half the finances needed to run the before and after-school programs.
September
On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Windsor Historical Society paid tribute to hops: a cash crop that predates winegrapes and prunes and has held sway over the local landscape for 100 years. At the fourth annual Hop Harvest and Heritage Day Celebration, guests were given the opportunity to pick Sonoma County hops grown on the Historical Society’s property and add history to their home brew.
The Windsor Certified Farmers’ Market held its annual “Tomato and Pepper Fest,” which featured over 40 varieties of tomato, in addition to peppers, salsas and sauces.
Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services, Environmental Health and Safety proposed a new grading system to encourage food safety at local restaurants, catering services and other local retail food facilities. As of July 1, 2015, the system would place color-coded placards at all retail food facilities in Sonoma County, displaying the results of the facility’s most recent inspection.
Barbara Brown, director of the Windsor Service Alliance and an instrumental coordinator for Windsor’s feed the hungry programs, died of metastatic melanoma cancer on Sept. 27, 2014. She was 66 years old. Barbara was the heart and soul of the Windsor Service Alliance, the local food pantry, which provides food and services for the entire Windsor community.
As of early September, a new children’s librarian began overseeing materials and programs for Windsor Regional Library’s youngest patrons. Tiffany Bronzan, a Windsor resident, was hired to create a learning environment that appeals to children.
October
Victor Archangel Pozzi, known to the Windsor community as Vic, died on Saturday, Oct. 4 as the result of a massive stroke he suffered back in July. He was 83 years old. Pozzi, a lifelong dairyman, owned his own herd of 47 cattle. He was the first person at his school to be awarded the Distinguished American Farmer Degree, the Future Farmers of America’s highest award. He was a member of the Farm Bureau for more than 60 years and dedicated his life to raising and caring for livestock.
Three suspects were arrested for the murder of Nathaniel Torres of Windsor and the attempted murder of three others late last June. Flavio Ramos Caballero, 17 years old, Duane Darcell Morgan, 16 years old and Oscar Gustavo Aguilar, 17 years old, were arrested in the state of Sonora, Mexico on Monday morning, Oct. 20.
In a 3 to 1 decision, the Windsor Unified School District school board voted to conditionally approve a petition to establish Manzanita Montessori, a public Montessori charter school in Windsor lending some solidity to a two-year effort to anchor the proposed school in a community.
The Charles M. Schultz Sonoma County Airport completed its expansion project bringing Sonoma County airport into compliance with FAA standards and enhancing operational safety.
Authorities at the Windsor Police Department wrapped up a summer-long search for marijuana cultivation in neighborhoods across the Town, an effort they said helps keep Windsor’s crime down. Last year the department received numerous complaints from residents reporting odor of marijuana gardens in their neighborhoods, an indicator that led to many of the busts.
November
Dominic Foppoli, Mark Millan and Sam Salmon were elected to Windsor’s Town Council after months of campaigning. In other local races, the Windsor Unified School District Board welcomed Eric Heitz, Incumbent Sandra Dobbins and William Forrest. Mike McGuire and Jim Wood won spots on the California State Senate and State Assembly, respectively, and James Gore secured the position for Fourth District Supervisor.
The Oakmont Senior Living group held their official Bell Village ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 5, to celebrate the beginning of the project. Construction is currently underway on the grading, utilities and foundation for its commercial center. Mayor Bruce Okrepkie was the first to place his prints in the cement. The commercial portion of the project, which includes an Oliver’s Market, is scheduled for completion in fall of 2015.
The discussion between the Lytton Rancheria Tribe of California and the Town of Windsor surrounding the extension of water and sewer connections outside of the districts boundaries came to an end with the approval of new codes that will allow the tribe to connect its proposed 147-unit housing project to Windsor’s Water District hook-ups.
The Molsberry family celebrated its 55th anniversary of Molsberry’s Market in Larkfield.
Windsor Fire officials worked hard battling three separate structure fires, one that claimed the residence of a care home for special needs adults. The fire broke out in a plastic shed behind a home at Christine Way. It moved to an adjacent shed before claiming the home and catching the neighboring home on fire. Just over 24 hours later, another house fire broke out on Skylark Street.
December
The Mortensen family transformed their home on Melva Court into a life-size gingerbread house with the hopes of bringing joy to all those who visit. This year, the family spread holiday cheer a bit further when their home was featured on the national television show, “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”
At a meeting held on Dec. 3, Town Council authorized the creation of a development impact fee program, which would allow hotel projects to pay development fees over a period of five years, rather than upfront. Payments would begin the month after a certificate of occupancy is issued for the project.
A strong winter storm on Dec. 10. produced significant rain overnight and continued for two days, causing flooded roadways, power outages and roaring winds across Sonoma County. The Town of Windsor weathered the storm with nothing more than a few closed roads and the Windsor Unified School District School closed schools for a day. Rainfall was calculated at 6.39 inches between Wednesday and Friday.
