Friday Update for April 8 2016

Friday Update for April 8 2016

All,

 A couple items for the week:

 ·         Overall, a good City Council Meeting on a number of fronts. Fire Grants, another discussion on fountains and the Comprehensive Financial Report.

·         To read the City’s Comprehensive Financial Report, click HERE . This literally tells you everything about the financial situation for the City and provides some interesting statistical data on the City. Great reading for nerds and interested people alike.

·         The Downtown Hotel is off and running again with the finish grading happening now. Look for construction to start in May. Really good news!!

·         On Thursday, the City hosted a group of capital investors seeking information on opportunities within Winters. The momentum of the many projects happening in town is getting a ton of attention amongst those with money. Good News!!

·         Staff is working with the Yolo Habitat Conservancy on a number of issues as they move toward adoption of the Habitat Plan later in 2016. To view their plan, go to their website by clicking HERE.

·         The Winters Combined PTA is getting ready for their “Spring Into Action” Fundraiser in the coming weeks. They have a concept of virtual activities to get everyone active and a chance for people to sponsor activities for the schools. Go to their website by clicking HERE.

·         Munchkin Summer Camp registration is still going, so please encourage your students to sign up!!  We currently have 9 students in 1^st grade, 16 in 2^nd, 12 in 3^rd,4 in 4^th, 15 in 5^th and 6 in 6^th.  Come to City Hall for sign ups before the classes fill for summer. Click HERE for more information.

·         This Saturday is an Autism Awareness Event /walk starting at 8:00 behind the Community Center. The walk with be along Putah Creek and will benefit Logan Kruen’s Capstone Project for her senior year.

·         My hot tip on beer is “Rain Dog” which has just been released by Berryessa Brewing. Think Separation Anxiety and Double Tap have a love child and you get Rain Dog. Chris Miller is such an incredible brewer and I guarantee that this will be one of his master pieces! Also, they still have Station 26 which is an incredible drinking beer and is Chris’ homage to Winters Fire!

·         Winters AYSO has 3 teams in the AYSO Section Tournament this weekend! Go Warriors!

Finally, today I had an opportunity to participate in Woody Fridae’s 5^th grade Civil War Program as a “Visitor from the Past” (I play General Ullyses Grant). The visitors also include Abraham Lincoln (played by Rich Rominger) and Michael Barbour who plays General Robert E. Lee.  If you have never seen Rich as Lincoln, you need too, it is absolutely incredible!!! Woody is Lt Fridae.

 The performance is a part of the Angel Island Civil War Program where 5^th grade students learn about life as a soldier, the mid 1800’s and the program culminates in a two day trip to Angel Island.

 At Angel Island, the students live a couple days in the life of a soldier. They learn a variety of skills, do marching, bread making, signaling, rifle work,  with the day ending with a hike to the top of Mt Livermore and the view of the San Francisco Skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. The program also includes a number of parent chaperones who accompany the various squads of soldiers.

 The evening culminates with Lt Fridae playing guitar, peach cobbler, popcorn and singing songs from the past. The soldiers then take turns “on watch”(protecting the barracks and the gold) which means none of them really sleep for the two days.

 It is truly an experience which these students will remember for their entire lives. It is that good!!

 Woody and Rebecca Fridae were honored as Citizens of the Year for many reasons, but their school programs are incredible (Rebecca spearheads the 6^th grade Camp Loma Mar Outdoor Program). As a community, the impacts we have on the lives of children will set the framework for their entire lives. Programs like Angel Island and Camp Loma Mar are two of the most special programs I have ever personally seen (in Winters we have the Center for Land Base Learning which does similar programs for the inner city). To watch the joy and learning in the eyes of the students is absolutely magical.

 Kudo’s to Lt Fridae and his troops as they get ready to head to Angel Island to protect the nations gold supply for a couple of days!

 I’m headed to Berryessa Brewing for a Rain Dog and to buy my wife a favorite glass of wine!

 Have a nice weekend.

 John