The following is a sampling of news stories covering the first
six months of 2009 as chosen by The Windsor Times. Visit our online
archive at www.wdsrtimes.com
for full text of these and other stories anytime.
January:
Alliance Medical Center expanded its Windsor clinic to a 2,100
square foot facility that doubled its capacity. The facility
originally opened in June of 2008 and expanded to help meet the
demand by local patients.
The Windsor Town Council voted to suspend collection of fees
connected with the Business Improvement District. While the removal
of government funding for the group effectively ended the
organization, a group of local merchants eventually reformed the
group as a voluntary business association.
America’s ongoing financial crisis began to impact local
organizations. The Town Council had a shortfall of more than $2
million and local school districts began preparing for massive
funding cuts triggered by the action at the State level.Â
A letter by school board member Heather Cullen discussing the
potential for a private school in Windsor caused controversy on the
board and eventually led to Cullen being replaced as vice president
of the board.
February:
Windsor resident Branden Van Der Boon, then 16, suffered serious
injuries when he fell from his skateboard and struck his head. He
spent two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit before being discharged
to face ongoing rehabilitation and recovery.
The Hembree House Cultural Center opened its doors to the public
after almost two decades of anticipation by local residents. The
former home of Windsor’s founding family is now shared by the
Windsor Historical Society and Windsor Arts Council. It houses
permanent historical displays and rotating art exhibits.
Several Windsor residents including Michael Powell and
organizers of the Windsor Farmers’ Market were recognized by the
California Park’s and Recreation Society for their contributions to
the town.
March:
A group of Windsor High School students organized a Cultural
Anatomy Festival that brought a diverse group of performers to the
Green. The event was designed to help break down racial barriers
and stereotypes among students.
The Town Council chose to hold its popular Cinco de Mayo
celebration after the Windsor Day Parade on May 2. While organizers
had tried several different types of post-parade festival, the
decision to move up Cinco proved controversial as parade organizers
said they didn’t want the early Cinco celebration to upstage the
Parade’s focus on Windsor.
The Bank of America branch on Brooks Road was robbed by an
elderly man who went on to commit several heists around Northern
California.
A group of local residents led by Debora Fudge formed the
Tuesday Night Dinner Club to help support local restaurants. The
group, which meets every Tuesday at a local eatery, provides an
opportunity for locals to socialize while providing a boost on what
is traditionally the slowest day of the week for restaurants.
The Rincon Valley Fire Protection District received new
defibrillator equipment thanks to a grant from the Fireman’s Fund
Insurance Company.
Sonoma County established the Energy Independent Program to
provide a financial incentive for residents to install energy or
water saving equipment in their homes.
April:
Windsor Middle School was recognized as a 2009 Distinguished
School. The award is the highest honor that can be given out to a
public school and is based on a strict set of criteria. Only 11
percent of schools state wide were deemed eligible this year.
Community leaders from around the county came together to
support iWalk, a program to encourage residents to improve their
health through physical exercise. The group eventually helped
organize several walks around the county including a historical
walk in Downtown Windsor and nature walk at Riverfront park.
The Kiwanis Club of Windsor held another successful Easter Egg
hunt with thousands of residents scooping up 10,000 eggs in under
ten minutes.
The Town began discussing installation of a community garden
near Town Hall. The first phase of the project installed a small
demonstration garden with several planters and a full scale garden
will be located on the vacant property bordering Windsor Road.
Windsor hosted a pair of emergency service training programs.
Rincon Valley firefighters oversaw an emergency drill at the Sonoma
County Airport that simulated a mass casualty event. Windsor’s Pick
N Pull hosted the annual Fire Explorer Academy that brought 167
students to town for lessons in demolition and vehicle rescue.
Windsor Police Chief Steve Freitas announced his candidacy for
County Sheriff. Current Sheriff Bill Cogbill is resigning and is
endorsing Freitas as his successor.
George Greeott celebrated his 99th birthday at the Hembree
House. Greeott has been a prominent supporter of local history and
several of his carvings are on display in the cultural center.
May:
Despite a downpour, residents gathered to participate in and
watch the annual Windsor Day parade. Spirits remained high during
the event although Cinco de Mayo celebrations scheduled to follow
the parade had to be canceled.
The Town Council announced that Windsor would be unable to pay
for it’s annual fireworks show due to budget cuts. Private citizens
and businesses, including Harkey Construction, Mary’s Pizza Shack
and the Boosters Club, rallied around the event and were able to
raise enough money to pay for a show by July.
A single engine plane overturned while landing at Sonoma County
Airport. No-one was seriously hurt in the crash.
Windsor High School’s Class of 1999, the first to graduate from
WHS, returned to town for their 10 year reunion. The first class
described an experience very different from those graduating today.
Students initially took classes at several satellite campuses
before graduating on what is now the Windsor Middle School
campus.
Windsor resident and Gateway 4-H member J.D. Ferrero took home
the Supreme Showman award from the Healdsburg Future Farmers
Country Fair. It was his second consecutive win for the Supreme
Showman.
Pohley’s Market began a campaign to help fund a new mural for
the side of their building. The store has commissioned a design for
a new painting that reflects the Town’s history and is actively
soliciting for donations to fund the project.
Longtime Windsor resident RADM Bennett S “Bud” Sparks died.
Sparks was one of the country’s most decorated Coast Guard veterans
and helped found the Town. He served on the committee that helped
form the Windsor Police Department and donated the stage for the
Town Green.
June:
Windsor schools graduated another batch of students with
ceremonies at Windsor High School, Windsor Middle School and Cali
Calmécac Language Academy.
Windsor hosted the always popular Hot Air Balloon Classic at
Keiser Park. Thousands of visitors watched a host of colorful
balloons take flight and were able to take rides in the craft.
Construction began on a new field for Windsor High School. The
state of the art field uses artificial turf and was opened in time
for Windsor’s Homecoming game.
Mitch Wood and His Rocket 88’s opened the 2009 Summer Nights on
the Green series with a performance that packed the Town Green.
Thousands of visitors flocked to town over the next few months to
enjoy the weekly concerts.
Wine pioneer and longtime area resident Robert Young died at age
90. Young was a third generation farmer who was the first to plant
Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley.
Part 2 covering July through December will appear in next
week’s Windsor Times
