Unofficial results for the April 12 special election show that Mike Wall will become the newest member of the Windsor Town Council.

With 100% of precincts counted, Wall scored 2,711 votes (58.31%) while Stephanie Ahmad received 1,806 votes (38.85%), according to the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. Evan Kubota, who withdrew from the race but whose name remained on the ballot, got 132 votes (2.84%). There are still some mailed-in and dropped-off ballots to be counted; to date, 4,668 ballots were cast in the April 12 election. That’s 27.62% of the 16,903 registered voters in Windsor.

The County has 30 days to certify the results and provide them to the Town. Wall is scheduled to be sworn in as a Councilmember at the May 18 Town Council meeting. 

Windsor Day Parade Canceled  

Due to planning challenges because of the COVID-19 Omicron surge earlier this year, the Kiwanis Club of Windsor has canceled the May 7 Windsor Day Parade. The Town of Windsor, a Kiwanis Club partner for this event, will help the organization as it plans to hold the parade in May 2023. In past years, Windsor's annual parade featured bands, school groups, equestrians, parade floats, drill teams, first responders, and more.
 
“The Windsor community's optimistic and resilient nature and attitude will prevail," said Kiwanis Club of Windsor President Sherry Rubin. "Plans have begun in earnest toward continuing a 35-plus year tradition."

For more information, please contact parade@kiwaniswindsor.org

Outdoor Irrigation Restrictions Still in Place 

Despite the recent cool weather, we're still in a drought, so the three-day per week outdoor watering schedule and dusk-to-dawn irrigation hours remain in effect in Windsor. Please see the above chart for irrigation days based on your location. And, please remember that the overall goal is to use less water, not to water as much as you can in the allotted times.

Watering before dawn or after dusk, when temperatures are cooler, means the water doesn’t get wasted to evaporation. Gardening tip: Apply at least three inches of mulch to maintain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, protect the irrigation system from the sun, and give the garden a finished look. Organic mulch (wood bark or compost) will also amend the soil as it decomposes. If you do need to give your plants or trees a quick drink, please hand water with a hose nozzle.

For more information about water-use limitations and the ongoing drought, please visit our water-conservation page.

April 16: Earth Day at Robbins Park Food Forest

Enjoy the Food Forest at Robbins Park (100 Billington Lane) with walks, talks and hands-on activities for both children and adults on Saturday, April 16, from 1-3 PM.
 
In this fun and educational event, you’ll learn about food forests, which are composed of a “diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out,” according to the nonprofit group Project Food Forest.

This Earth Day event is sponsored by Windsor Wellness Partnership, the Town of Windsor and the Windsor Garden Club. 

April 18-22: Tree Work in Keiser Park Oak Grove

The Town will prune away dead wood, reduce branch weight, clean up the tree canopy, and remove one dead tree from the Keiser Park Oak Grove between April 18 – 22.

All Windsor oak groves are monitored regularly by a certified arborist. This work will help to increase the health and longevity of the trees as well as the safety of the public.

April 19: Open House on Flood Mitigation

Drop by between 4:30-6 PM on Tuesday, April 19, at Michael Hall Park (431 Jane Drive) to preview the proposed plan for a detention basin at the park. The project goal is to help mitigate flooding in downstream parts of Windsor.

The planned detention basin is part of a set of project solutions to address flooding in the Starr Creek Tributary watershed. The park's proximity to the storm drainage network and its location upstream of areas prone to flooding make it an ideal location for a detention basin. The Public Works Department has been working closely with the Parks and Recreation Department to convert Hall Park into a multi-benefit detention basin that will store water during high-flow storm events as well as serve as a recreational space. In addition to an open lawn, the park features pathways, a play structure, picnic tables and an oak tree preserve.  

At the April 19 open house, we're also seeking feedback on design elements that could enhance the park, such as a paved path network and landscaping. We would love our community members to review the design, offer comments and ask questions before we open the project to construction bidding and Town Council approval. 
 
More information about this project will be posted on the Town's Storm Water Quality and Management webpage. You may also contact Town of Windsor Senior Civil Engineer Garrett Broughton at (707) 838-1211 or gbroughton@townofwindsor.com.

April 21: First Annual Spring Fling

The Windsor Chamber of Commerce will host its first annual Spring Fling “sipping, shopping, and dining” event in downtown Windsor on Thursday, April 21, from 6-9 PM. Stroll from store to store while relaxing with wine tastings poured by local wineries and enjoy food from local restaurants.

Tickets are $75 per person and include a wine-tasting glass, swag bag, and map of locations. A portion of proceeds will go to Windsor Soroptimist to support the Live Your Dream Awards program. Aimed at women who are the primary breadwinners for their families, this education award provides resources to help them improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. Go here for more information and tickets.

April 23: Road Closures for GranFondo;
Public Invited to Festival

At 7:30 AM on Saturday, April 23, as many as 2,000 bicyclists will depart from the Windsor Town Green to start Levi’s GranFondo bike ride, a premiere cycling event for all cyclists. The bike ride will start and end in Windsor. With five routes to choose from, including the 32-mile “Piccolo” and the 138-mile “Growler,” cyclists will enjoy the breadth and natural beauty of Sonoma County.

Temporary Road Closures: Some roads in downtown Windsor will be impacted as the cyclists leave the Windsor Town Green. However, the event organizers and the Town of Windsor have worked with public safety and traffic specialists to ensure the safety of the cyclists as well as the reduction of impacts to vehicle drivers and residents. 
 
McClelland Drive between Duvander Lane and Windsor Road will be closed starting on Friday, April 22, at 4 PM until Saturday, April 23, at 9 AM. In addition, portions of Market Street, Windsor Road, Windsor River Road, and Starr Road will be closed from one to three hours in the early morning of April 23. Note that vehicles leaving the neighborhoods along Windsor River Road and Starr Road may not be able to access the roads between 7:30 – 8:15 AM. For more information on road closures, restricted access, and delays, visit www.levisgranfondo.com/roads.
 
Post-Ride Festival Open to Public: The community is invited to enjoy the GranFondo’s free post-ride festival on the Windsor Town Green, 11 AM to 6 PM. The festival will feature sports-related vendors, live music, food, and beer for purchase by Windsor-based Barrel Brothers Brewing Company and Best Day Brewing. The first band, Whiskerman, will start at 2 PM followed by King Dream at 3:10 PM and Sebastian St. James and the Highway Poets at 4:20 PM. For more information about the event, visit www.levisgranfondo.com. 

April 24: Volunteer for Community Trash Clean-Up

Please join us on Sunday, April 24, from 1-3 PM, to clean up Windsor streets and help prevent pollution from reaching our waterways. All participants will receive a gift and snacks. The Town will provide safety vests, pickers, gloves and bags.

The Town's Storm Water Quality Program is organizing this community trash cleanup event In honor of Earth Day. Meet us at the corner of Hembree Lane and  Victory Lane for this important work. Before you do, be sure to register on Eventbrite prior to the event so we have enough supplies for all volunteers. 

For more information, call (707) 838-5385 or email us at stormwater@townofwindsor.com.

April 24: Take a Tour of the Town Community Garden

The Windsor Garden Club, Town Green Community Garden Committee and the Town of Windsor invite you to tour the community garden on Sunday, April 24, from 10 AM – 2 PM. The community garden is located at Windsor Road at Joe Rodota Way, adjacent to Town Hall. Enjoy the garden's healthy ecosystems, which include fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and learn about pollinators such as bees, ants, and beetles.

Would you like to start gardening? The garden offers raised beds in a variety of sizes for a nominal annual rental fee. Anyone living in the Town of Windsor can apply to rent a garden bed in exchange for the rental fee and six volunteer hours per year to maintain the garden's common areas. 

Town to Strengthen Hiram Lewis Wisteria Arbor 

Due to extensive dry rot in the wisteria arbor at the Hiram Lewis Park playground, the top trusses of the arbor will be replaced with steel. This work, scheduled for the week of April 25, will also require pruning the well-established wisteria plants. However, the main trunk and root stock will remain.

The new steel structure will be hardy enough to support the wisteria long into the future. The park's playground will remain open during the repair work, but the picnic area will be temporarily closed. Please see the boundaries of the closure above. 

April 28: Groundbreaking Ceremony
for Vintage Oaks on the Town Green

On Thursday, April 28, at 12 PM, join the Chamber of Commerce, councilmembers, and other local leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Vintage Oaks on the Town Green residential development project (formerly known as Bell Village). located just north of the Oliver’s shopping center. The developer, Pebble Creek Development, will host the ceremony at the construction site, located just north of the Oliver's shopping center.

This event will celebrate Phase 1 of the development project, which includes 120 rental units and a community building. Once finished, Vintage Oaks on the Town Green will feature 387 units (townhomes and apartments) on 18.35 acres, one- and two-car garages, parking spaces, a central open space, and some oak trees.

Applications Open for Town’s Non-Profit Grant Program

The Town of Windsor Parks and Recreation Department is accepting applications until April 28 at 6 PM for funding requests from non-profit organizations that benefit the Windsor community. Applicants may only apply for projects that directly serve Windsor residents in these areas: housing and shelter, food distribution, and support services such as counseling. The Town will not fund promotional events, facility rentals, or fundraising programs. 

Financial commitment will be on a one-year basis for programs or projects completed during the fiscal year of July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. The requesting organization must possess a current IRS Not-for-Profit determination letter (IRS Form 501(c).3). Go here to learn more and to apply.

April 30: Drug Take-Back Day

A message from the Windsor Police Department: If you have old, unused medication (both prescription and over-the-counter), pet medication, inhalers, vape pens, and e-cigarette devices (no batteries), you can dispose them safely on Saturday, April 30, from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Windsor Police Department (9291 Old Redwood Hwy). This event is part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Pharmaceutical Drug Take Back Day. Watch this short video or click the image above to learn more.

Not accepted: empty medication containers, needles/syringes (used or unused), hydrogen peroxide, thermometers, non-medical beauty products, infectious waste (sharps, blades, or other items that may cause injury in handling).

If you miss Take Back Day, the police department has a medicine disposal bin in its lobby, open Mondays – Thursdays from 8 AM – 5 PM. The year-round bin is limited to over-the-counter and prescription medication, veterinary medication, and inhalers. Before you dispose, empty pills into a plastic bag as pill containers will not be accepted. Leave liquid medication in their original containers and secure in a leak- proof plastic bag.  

Learn About Energy-Saving Upgrades

We know that conserving energy and water are important ways to live more sustainably. It can be as easy as flipping off a light switch, or turning off the tap. But how do you get started when you want to make your whole home, multifamily property, or business more energy efficient?

The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) offers community events such as “Ask an Energy Expert” (5:30 PM on Thursday April 21), in which PG&E and other local electricity providers answer your energy questions. See the full calendar here.

BayREN also offers these opportunities:

• Homeowners: Learn about energy-saving upgrades such as heat-pump water heaters and induction stovetops, identify certified contractors, and learn how to take advantage of rebates. Sign up for a free consultation.
• Own a multifamily property? Request a free assessment to examine energy upgrades for your building.
• BayREN Business helps small and medium businesses evaluate HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting upgrades.

A message from your Sonoma County Fire District: Did you know that oily rags cause an average of 900 home fires a year? Now that it’s spring, home-improvement projects are on the top of many residents’ lists. Oil-based paints, stains, and varnishes are often used in these projects and it’s common to use rags to wipe up spills or clean brushes. But wet, oily rags can ignite fires.

Why are oily rags dangerous? Oils commonly used in oil-based paints and stains release heat as they dry. If the heat is not released in the air, the rags can ignite. An average of 1,700 home fires per year are caused by spontaneous combustion or chemical reaction. This reaction does not happen with water-based finishes.

Please use these safety tips when handling wet, oily rags:

• Never leave cleaning rags in a pile. At the end of the day, take the rags outside to dry.
• Hang the rags outside or spread them on the ground. Weigh them down so they do not blow away. Keep them away from buildings.

• Put dried rags in a metal container. Make sure the cover is tight. Fill the container with a water and detergent solution. This will break down the oils.

• Keep containers of oily rags in a cool place, out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources.

• Check with Sonoma County Resource Recover (SCRR) before disposing the rags.