A look back at 2002’s highlights

The year 2002 is now officially a memory, and so are the dozens
of stories that marked the year in the Town of Windsor. Looking
back on the year, it was filled with successes, controversies and
tragedy. What follows is a synopsis of the highlights that appeared
in The Windsor Times.
JANUARY
Gallo faces fines — The year 2002 started with
wine giant Gallo facing fines from state water quality regulators
over excessive soil runoff from several vineyard projects,
including one along Eastside Road just west of Windsor.
Fire damages home — A faulty vent caused
$30,000 worth of damage to an Old Redwood Highway home. Windsor
firefighters got an assist from Healdsburg in fighting the
blaze.
Council split of Shiloh Vision plan — The
Windsor Town Council disagreed over the level of detail needed, and
the timing, of the so-called Shiloh Vision plan, which will detail
the development of the town’s southern gateway. The $45,000 plan is
a blueprint for commercial and residential development in the
area.
First town attorney moves on — Steve Meyers,
Windsor’s first and only town attorney, stepped down from his post
after 10 years. His firm will still handle the town’s legal
affairs. An attorney from his office, Richard Rudnansky, taking
over his duties.
Council opposes Lytton Band’s plans — The Town
Council went on record as opposing plans by the Lytton Band of Pomo
Indians for a residential development of up to 50 homes on 50 acres
on property adjacent to the town limits on Windsor River Road. The
project, as planned, would not be in conformance with the county’s
general plan.
FEBRUARY
Expensive county supervisor race — Incumbent
Fourth District Supervisor Paul Kelley and challenger Fred Euphrat
will eventually spend more than $350,000 between them on the
campaign, easily the most costly campaign ever in the district.
Fire destroys trailer — A fast-moving fire in
the Windsorland Mobile Home Park destroyed a trailer, whose
residents were not at home, causing $25,000 in damage.
Town limits new woodstoves — The Town Council
approved an ordinance that puts tighter restrictions on
wood-burning devices, but still allows fireplaces in new home
construction.
Unbeaten freshman girls basketball team — The
Windsor High School freshman girls basketball team make school
history by becoming the first-ever unbeaten sports team, finishing
the season with a 20-0 record.
MARCH
Growth debate heats up — The debate over a
growth control initiative, Measure X, which is headed for the
November ballot, reached an emotional pitch when the Town Council
grilled the initiative’s proponents during a council meeting.
Kelley Re-elected by landslide — Supervisor
Paul Kelley was re-elected to a third term, defeating challenger
Fred Euphrat by a 17-percent margin.
Schools superintendent resigns — Windsor
Schools Superintendent Rick Brewer resigned, effective June 30,
after four years as head of the school district.
Fire kills man in mobile home — A man who was
staying in a mobile home that had been condemned and was slated for
demolition was killed in an early-morning fire on Windsor Road.
Council cool to work-force housing fee — A
proposal that would levy fees on new commercial development to
subsidize workforce housing received a lukewarm review by the Town
Council.
Parents say kids intimidated by gangs — A
group of parents appeared before the Town Council saying their
children are being intimidated by gang members on their way to
school and at Windsor High. The town later approves a special
officer to increase patrols and work with residents on gang
issues.
APRIL
Murder-suicide stuns mobile home park — A
71-year-old resident of the Royal Mobile Home Park on Old Redwood
Highway, shot his step-grandson and then killed himself with a
shotgun on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Carl Donohoe, who was a
greeter at Walmart, was known to his neighbors as a kind man, who
had a troubled relationship with his wife’s grandson.
Wastewater plant gets glowing review — The
town of Windsor’s wastewater treatment plant got a glowing review
from state water quality officials who toured the upgraded plant’s
new ultraviolet treatment system.
Play ball! – The Windsor Little League held its
opening day ceremonies at Keiser Park, signalling the start of the
baseball season for 700 players.
Growth control advocates confident — Backers
of a growth control initiative turned in 1,600 petition signatures
for the November measure and are confident that it will qualify for
the ballot.
Controversial hotel approved — A 75-unit
hotel, to be located adjacent to Windsor Creek Elementary School,
was approved by the town council over the vehement objections of
the Windsor PTA and other residents who fear for the safety of the
school children. The council required stringent safety conditions
for the hotel.
Cabinet shop fire — A late-night fire caused
more $500,000 win damage to a cabinet shop off Los Amigos Road
owned by Wayne Steindorf.
Officer appointed to counter gang activity—
Following complaints of increased gang activity in and around
schools, the Town Council approved a full-time officer to curb
crime and gang activity on the town’s east side.
Suspicious fire guts Windsor River Road
building— A fire that was called suspicious gutted an
abandoned gas station building on Windsor River Road in the
downtown area.
MAY
Man answers door and gets shot — A man in the
8600 block of Old Redwood Highway was shot by an unknown assailant
after he opened his door and was hit with a shotgun blast. The
victim was wounded, but survived. Police say later the shooting was
gang-related.
State bond largess — Windsor schools could be
in line for nearly $11 million in school bond funds if a bond
initiative is approved in November.
Geysers pipeline under way through town — The
$170-million Geysers pipeline that will take treated wastewater to
Lake County geothermal fields is snaking its way through Windsor.
Town officials are still considering tapping into the pipeline as
an alternative to transport treated wastewater for agricultural use
and disposal at the Geysers.
Council wants study of growth control measure
— The Town Council ordered a study of the impacts of the planned
growth control initiative on the November ballot. Town officials
fear it could hinder the redevelopment of the old downtown
area.
Wastewater in Lake Sonoma? — The possibility
of putting treated wastewater into Lake Sonoma, the county’s main
source of drinking water, was raised during a meeting on Santa
Rosa’s long-range wastewater disposal plans. The so-called “toilet
to tap” idea is later deleted from the city’s options.
Gravel pit purchased for county park —
Hundreds of acres of former gravel pits just west of Windsor, now
massive open water ponds, were purchased by the county from Hanson
Aggregates, (formerly Kaiser Sand & Gravel) for more than $6
million.
Skate park rolls closer to reality – The
long-awaited skate park at Lewis Park got closer to reality as the
Rotary Club handed over a check for $94,000 it had raised and the
town of Windsor awarded a bid for construction for $296,000.
Senior center leader leaves — Joanna
Forrester, the popular director at the Windsor Senior Center,
announced her resignation after five years on the job. She is
leaving to pursue a new career in alternative healing in Santa Rosa
and Eastern Europe.
Police Chief promoted — Windsor Police Chief
Dave Sederholm accepted a promotion to captain in the Sonoma County
Sheriff’s Department and will leave the Windsor position. Windsor
contracts with the Sheriff’s Department for police services.
JUNE
Windsor man killed on Oregon mountain —
Longtime Windsor resident John Biggs was killed in a freak mountain
climbing accident on Mt. Hood in Oregon. His climbing companion,
Rev. Tom Hillman of the Windsor Community United Methodist Church,
unsuccessfully tried to save Biggs and was hurt in the
accident.
New school superintendent hired — Dr. Robert
Carter, a long-time administrator who is currently a superintendent
in Daly City, was hired to fill the vacancy left by Rick Brewer’s
departure.
New police chief hired — Lt. Paul Day, a
20-year veteran with the Sheriff’s Department, was hired to fill
the vacancy left by Dave Sederholm’s promotion to captain.
Class of 2002 graduates — Windsor High
School’s class of 2002, along with the middle school graduates from
Windsor Middle School and Cali CalmŽcac Charter School, participate
in commencement exercises.
Town turns 10 — The town of Windsor marked its
10th birthday with an old-fashioned, small-town birthday party. On
the same weekend, the 13th annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon
Classic lifted off from Keiser Park.
JULY
Illegal hospital meetings alleged — The North
Sonoma County Hospital District board is accused of violating open
meeting laws.
Old downtown takes shape — Developer Orrin
Thiessens’ vision for old downtown Windsor is taking shape, as
construction is under way on seven buildings. Thiessen and his
investors have about $60 million tied up in the projects.
Grand jury blasts supervisors — The Sonoma
County Grand Jury criticized the board of supervisors for the way
they dismissed several members of the Airport Land Used Commission
amid a political dispute over a land use plan that would have
interfered with a hotel project.
Circuit Rider chief takes new job — Wes
Winter, head of the Windsor non-profit group, Circuit Rider
Productions, was hired as director of the Sonoma County Volunteer
Center.
AUGUST
Land swap with fire district OK’d — The Town
Council approved a land swap that will give the town the old fire
station property at Windsor River and Windsor roads in exchange for
town property on Windsor Road (across from the high) school for a
new fire house.
Keiser Park gets open space money — County
open space officials approved a $1.1 million matching grant for the
town for expansion of Keiser Park.
Boosters battle for field water — The Windsor
Boosters Club appeared before the Town Council in a high-profile
attempt to convince the town to relax its restriction on the use of
treated wastewater to allow the Boosters to finish the WHS stadium
project this year. A compromise was worked out.
SEPTEMBER
Town remembers Sept. 11 — A series of
ceremonies and events, including a town event on the Town Green,
marked the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks.
Hospital is ailing financially — The Northern
Sonoma County Hospital Hospital, approved by voters last year and
funded with public tax dollars, is in serious financial trouble and
is losing money each month.
OCTOBER
Downtown plan for housing and preschool — The
Town Council approved a plan for a $1-million transitional housing
and preschool project on town-owned property. The project would be
managed by a coalition of local churches.
Fire chief in hall of fame — Windsor Fire
Chief Ron Collier, a member of the fire department since 1968, was
elected to the California State Firefighters Association Hall of
Fame.
Measure X debated — The debate over growth
control heated up as the campaigns headed into the final weeks
before the election.
NOVEMBER
Windsor poet to head NEA — Windsor poet and
educator Dana Gioia was nominated by President Bush to chair the
National Endowment for the Arts.
Measure X loses by big margin — The
controversial growth control initiative, Measure X, is defeated by
a 60-40 margin. Town council incumbents Steve Allen, Lynn Morehouse
and Sam Salmon are re-elected.
Trail report wins support — A report on which
walking and biking trails need to be paved in Windsor won the
support of the Town Council.
DECEMBER
Recycling rates surge — Windsor’s recycling
rate has increased dramatically, about 80 percent more material is
being recycled, since the town approved a single-stream recycling
program.
Officer shoots man who says he has a gun — A
Windsor police officer shot a Santa Rosa gang member five times
after the man repeatedly told the officer he had a gun and made
threatening motions as if were concealing a weapon. Santa Rosa
police and the District Attorney’s office have taken over the
investigation.
Storm soaks Windsor, downs trees — A wild
winter storm dropped 10 inches of rain in four days, with high
winds knocking down trees and causing thousands to be without
power.
Volunteers make holidays a little brighter —
Dozens of volunteers participated in food and toy drives and the
Windsor Service Alliance gave out holiday food boxes to hundreds of
Windsor residents during its annual food giveaway.