On Tuesday, June 21, around 10:15 AM, members of the Windsor Police Department will participate in the 2022 Law Enforcement “Torch Run,” a significant fundraising event for the Special Olympics. 

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the torch run, in which more than 3,500 law enforcement officers and professional staff from 50+ first-responder agencies carry the Flame of Hope across Northern California to the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games, which will be held June 24-26 at Santa Clara University.

After the Sheriff Office’s Detention Division team passes the torch to our team, composed of Chief Michael Raasch, Deputy K-9 Handler Alan Collier and K-9 Duke, our runners will leg the 3-mile route from the Windsor Police Department to Esposti Park via Old Redwood Highway. Please come out and cheer on the athletes, who will be out in the hot summer sun between roughly 10:15-11:45. If you see them running, please give them a supportive honk and thumbs-up!

Additionally, this is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. If you’re interested in donating to this worthy cause, please go here: https://p2p.onecause.com/sonctorchrun. The team name is “Sonoma County Sheriff Office.”

July 3: Independence Day Fireworks  

For the first time since 2019, Windsor will host a fireworks show to celebrate the independence of our nation. The Town of Windsor will host the Independence Day fireworks on Sunday, July 3, at Keiser Park; the show will begin at approximately 9:30 PM.
Please note that this free community event will be fireworks only --- no live bands will play and no food or beverages will be sold.

Parking: The park will be completely closed to vehicles and there will be no loading/unloading in the park. Free parking will be available at Windsor High School and on the streets surrounding the park. Since entrance is “walk in” only, please pack light!

Not allowed: Fireworks of any kind (including sparklers) will not be allowed. They are illegal in Sonoma County. Also, portable BBQ’s, tents, and pop-up canopies won’t be allowed. Please remember to pick up after yourself to keep our park clean.

For more information about the fireworks show, please call (707) 838-1260.

We've updated the Town of Windsor mobile app to make it more visually appealing and user-friendly. You can register for summer Parks & Recreation classes, search available jobs, view meeting agendas from Town Council and commissions, read homepage Windsor News articles, and much more while you're on the go or just browsing on your mobile device. 

Download the new version of the app using one of the links below or search "Town of Windsor" in your mobile device's app store:

Apple iTunes 
Google Play Store

Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The abuse of older people, also known as elder abuse, has been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Elder abuse is a violation of human rights and includes emotional, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse; financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.

On Wednesday, the Windsor Senior Recreation Center and Windsor Police Department recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by placing 229 purple flags in front of the center and police department. Each flag represents one report of elder abuse in Windsor last year.

For more information and resources, check out the Elder Justice Initiative at www.senioradvocacyservices.org/elderjustice or call (707) 565-INFO. You may also be interested in reading the WHO report, World Report on Ageing and Health, which provides an action framework to foster healthy ageing built on the concept of functional ability. 

Help Us Improve Keiser Park

The Town is updating our parks master plan -- a strategic document that provides a framework for future park and facility improvements. Most major development takes years to complete – and it all starts with a roadmap developed with help by the community! 

If you haven't already, please take a brief survey (open until the end of June) to help us update community needs in regard to Keiser Park. Go to www.keiserparkmasterplan.org to take the survey and learn more about the project. Whether it is picnicking with the family, strolling through the oak grove or watching a baseball or softball game – Keiser Park has something for everyone! 

Interested in Running for Town Council?

If you want to serve your community, consider running for a seat on the Windsor Town Council. There will be four available seats at the Town of Windsor’s General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 8:

• One (1) seat for District 1 Councilmember – Four-year Term
• One (1) seat for District 2 Councilmember – Two-year Term
• One (1) seat for District 4 Councilmember – Four-year Term
• One (1) at-large Mayor seat – Two-year Term

If you do run, please file your nomination papers with the Town Clerk in the nomination period of July 18 – August 12. The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday through Thursday, 8 AM – 5 PM and Friday, August 12 from 8 AM – 5 PM. Appointments are encouraged.

For more information, please visit https://www.townofwindsor.com/1353/November-2022-General-Municipal-Election. 

Developer Withdraws from Civic Center Project

On June 1, Town Staff informed the Town Council that the Robert Green Company had terminated its exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) to develop the Civic Center properties. The developer’s decision stops the Civic Center project – which included a new town hall, police station, public library, hotel and residential units -- from moving forward. The Town Council has the option to direct Staff to explore other options.

The ENA not only established a time in which the Town negotiated exclusively with the Robert Green Company but also allows both the developer and the Town to end the agreement without cause. 

Check Out the New Water Quality Report

The Town of Windsor Annual Water Quality Report for 2021 is now available on the Town’s website. This yearly report provides important information on the Town’s drinking water system, the quality of the water provided to residents, and other water-related topics.

If you would like a hard copy of the report, please contact Public Works at (707) 838-1006.

June 28: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

Zero Waste Sonoma will hold a free household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event in Windsor on Tuesday, June 28, from 3-8 PM.  You need to make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance to take part. Click here to schedule your appointment. You will be notified of the location once you’ve scheduled your appointment.

Here is a list of common HHWs that will be accepted at the event. Examples of HHW include batteries, medications, LED bulbs, paint, weed killer, oil and filters, and nail polish. This event will not accept electronics (e-waste).

If you can’t make it on June 28, sign up for other free HHW collection events in Sonoma County. See the full calendar here. Or, check the times you can drop off your household hazardous waste at the HHW Facility at the Central Disposal Site (500 Mecham Road, Petaluma). Thank you for properly disposing your household hazardous waste!

New Requirements for Turf Removal Rebate

We recently updated our water-efficient landscape (WEL) rebate requirements, otherwise known as the turf removal rebate, to increase environmental sustainability. Our previous guidelines had no specification on the area that needed to be covered in gravel or rock, and had no minimum planting requirements.

The rebate is $1 per square foot, up to $1,500. The new requirements include:

- No more than 50% of the area to be rebated can be gravel or rock;
- The area that qualifies for the rebate must be planted with at least three plants per 100 square feet, and;
- At least 50% of the area must be covered with organic mulch. In other words, if there isn’t rock or gravel on the ground, there should be organic mulch.

These amended guidelines will help you conserve water and your landscape will be more ecologically viable than just turf or rock gardens, which trap heat and can make your home very hot in the summer. We encourage using rocks and gravel sparingly and functionally, such as in a walkway or firebreak. These materials also do not help soil health since they don’t break down into nutrients, unlike mulch.  For fire safety, we recommend that residents avoid using shredded bark (Gorilla hair mulch) and rubber mulch.

For more information on the Town’s water-efficient landscape rebate, visit: https://www.townofwindsor.com/103/Windsor-Rebates

Milkweed Plant Sale a Success

On Saturday, June 4, the Windsor Garden Club (a Town of Windsor partner), sold 180 milkweed plants in just a few hours at its milkweed sale. This plant is important because it is the only one that monarch caterpillars can eat. Monarch butterflies are facing extinction: Only 247,000 butterflies were counted in California last year, compared to 1.2 million butterflies in 1997.

Milkweed and many other flowers loved by pollinators require minimal irrigation. To help conserve water, consider planting a monarch butterfly waystation and pollinator garden in your yard. By planting at least nine milkweed plants in a cluster, along with other nectar flowers, you can support monarch butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

Other plants that pollinators love include the California poppy, western redbud, Frikart’s aster, blanket flower, Goodwin Creek lavender, catmint, Russian sage, Germander sage, and Cascade Creek goldenrod. Visit https://www.townofwindsor.com/1345/Monarch-Waystations for more information and a template to help you plan your garden.

Grilling Safety

It’s outdoor grilling season! Follow these simple tips to ensure you're grilling safely.

• Only use propane and charcoal BBQ grills outdoors.
• Place the grill well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and trays below the grill.
• Never leave your grill unattended!
• Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.

• There are several ways to get the charcoal ready. Charcoal chimney starters allow you to start the charcoal using newspaper as a fuel.
• If you use a starter fluid, use only charcoal-starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
• Keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children and away from heat sources.
• There are also electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. Be sure to use an extension cord for outdoor use.
• When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.

• Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year: Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off both the gas tank and the grill.
• If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
• If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
• If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
• If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 5 minutes before re-lighting it.