You may not have seen much activity in recent weeks at the roundabout construction site (intersection of Windsor Road and Windsor River Road), but we continue to make progress. Construction work slowed about a month ago when we found old utility and telecommunications lines underground that weren’t clearly marked on any current maps or drawings.

We had to figure out how to lower or relocate some gas lines to keep moving forward or redesign our proposed storm drain system. After much discussion between our roundabout design consultant and Public Works staff, we have a viable solution that will avoid the utility conflicts and get the project back on schedule. Look to see construction activity starting up again next week (February 14).

In addition, to help with traffic flow, we changed the lights at the intersection to a flashing red signal, which seems to have eased traffic congestion, especially during school drop-off and pick-up hours.

Applications Open for Community Academy

A message from the Windsor Police Department: We are now accepting applications for the 2022 Sheriff’s Office Community Academy. This is a great opportunity if you want to learn more about the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and meet the women and men who work for the Sheriff’s Office and Windsor and Sonoma police departments.

The 2022 academy will be held on four Saturdays this spring: April 2, April 9, May 7, and May 14. Find the application and complete details at www.sonomasheriff.org/community-academy. Applications are due by February 23. The academy fills up fast and always has a waiting list, so submit your application soon. All COVID-19 protocols will be followed. We may have to cancel if a new Health Order comes out, but we remain optimistic!
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COVID-19 Update: Masks, Outdoor
Gatherings, and Clinics

With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations starting to decline, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase has confirmed that a local health order restricting the size of large gatherings will expire tonight (February 10) at 11:59 p.m. 

However, she noted that the omicron surge is not over. She strongly encouraged residents, particularly those over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions and people who have not yet been boosted or vaccinated, to avoid large gatherings and continue wearing masks indoors around people outside their household. For more information, read the press release here.

“While COVID-19 case rates have declined over the last three weeks, transmission levels remain substantial,” said Dr. Mase. “Omicron is not harmless, and new infections are still occurring at levels that are nearly 400 percent higher than the county experienced during the worst days of the Delta surge. And it’s our oldest residents who are most at risk.”

Masks: On Wednesday, February 16, Sonoma County will join other Bay Area counties on in lifting universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings. Unvaccinated people over age 2 will still be required to wear masks in indoor public settings. Businesses can determine how best to protect their staff and patrons and may choose to require all patrons to wear masks. Read the County’s press release for more details. 

Vaccination and Testing: If you need to get tested for COVID-19 or still need to get vaccinated or boosted, check out Sonoma County’s COVID-19 online resources: The vaccine clinics page is continually updated and the pop-up calendar shows what clinics are operating each day. Use the county’s testing page to book an appointment.

The County urges anyone who tests positive using an at-home antigen test to report the result by using a new online form available in English and Spanish. You can also call the county’s COVID hotline at (707) 565-4667.

Please Keep Irrigation Turned Off

Please keep your irrigation off to help conserve water in this drought: Most plants are in their slow-growth or dormant phase in the winter and cooler weather also means the soil is less prone to evaporation.

Since we’ve had no rain recently, it’s fine to water more sensitive plants by hand. But there’s no need to irrigate your whole yard. For resources on how to manage your landscape in a drought, please see this handy resource from the UC Master Gardeners Program of Sonoma County. In addition, to help care for your trees in a drought, check out this infographic from the California Urban Forests Council.

Feb. 16: What Should Windsor’s New
District Map Look Like?

The Town Council will hold a public hearing next Wednesday, February 16, to hear community input on redistricting and review draft maps for redrawn Town Council electoral districts. The meeting will start at 6 PM.

The Town is doing this because when the U.S. Census Bureau revises its population and related data every 10 years, local governments must use the new data to redraw their district lines to reflect how their local populations have changed.

Submit your own map: Do you have ideas on how Windsor's electoral districts should be redrawn? You’re invited to submit a map with new district boundaries. There are two ways you can do this – through a paper mapping kit or an online mapping tool. You can find both methods here: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1300/2022-Redistricting.

Please submit copies of your map to Town Hall at 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400, Windsor or mail it to the Town's consultant: Best, Best & Krieger, 18101 Von Karman, Suite 1000, Irvine, CA 92612. You may also email the map to stephanie.smith@bbklaw.com. 

Laundry to Landscape Graywater Program

We are excited to announce a new Laundry to Landscape graywater program that diverts your washing machine’s wastewater to your home’s landscape instead of the sewer. We have partnered with the local non-profit organization Daily Acts to offer Windsor water customers a free kit ($150 value) with the parts to install a graywater system.

What is graywater? It's the gently used water that launders clothes in a washing machine. It has traces of dirt and soap, making it unsafe to drink – but it’s just fine for outdoor use. Graywater is a drought-smart and cost-effective way to nourish your garden.

Learn more about the Laundry to Landscape program by visiting www.townofwindsor.com/101/Residential or emailing wc@townofwindsor.com.

2022 Family Movie Series: What Films to Show?

Here's your chance to help us choose which movies to show at this summer’s Family Movie Series. Take our online survey by February 16 to vote for your nine favorites: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FamilyMovies22

The next Family Movie Series begins Tuesday, June 7, and ends Tuesday, August 9 (no movie will be shown on July 5). All films will start 15 minutes after sunset on the Town Green. Last year’s films included Coco, The Parent Trap, and Toy Story 4. Thanks for voting on this year’s movies!

Sponsor Summer Nights on the Green’s 20^th Season

Market your business or organization to over 60,000 enthusiastic concert goers on the beloved Windsor Town Green by becoming a sponsor of Summer Nights on the Green. The concert dates are set for Wednesday nights, from June 2 through September 8.

The 20^th anniversary of our annual live music series is coming back in its historical format – an entire 14-week season -- brought to you by the Town of Windsor, the Windsor Certified Farmers Market and made possible in part by our generous sponsors.

Visit www.bit.ly/SNOGsponsor for sponsor benefit levels and the pledge form. Please submit the sponsorship pledge form by March 31. For questions, please call (707) 838-1260 or email Nelle Herman at nherman@townofwindsor.com. 

Vote in the April 12 Special Election

Remember that voting opens on March 14 for the April 12 Town of Windsor special election to fill one at-large Town Council seat. The candidates are Stephanie Ahmad, Evan K. Kubota, and Michael Wall. For more information on the Town Council candidates, go to: https://www.townofwindsor.com/874/Candidates-for-Town-Council
 
Registered voters will get their ballots in the mail soon from the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters. You can drop off your filled-in ballot at a Vote Center, secure ballot drop box, or send it by USPS mail. Note that ballot drop boxes will open on March 15.
 
Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office (voting center and 24-hour ballot drop box)
435 Fiscal Dr., Santa Rosa
March 14 - April 1 (8 AM -5 PM, weekdays only)
Early Voting: April 2 – April 11 (8 AM -5 PM, Mon-Fri; 9 AM to 5 PM, Sat & Sun)
Election Day: April 12 (7 AM – 8 PM)
 
Bluebird Center (voting center and 24-hour ballot drop box)
25 Bluebird Dr., Windsor
Early Voting: April 2 - April 11 (9 AM - 5 PM)
Election Day: April 12, (7 AM - 8 PM)
 
Windsor Council Chamber (voting center)
9291 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor
Early Voting: April 9 - April 11 (9 AM - 5 PM)
Election Day: April 12 (7 AM – 8 PM)
 
Oliver’s Market (ballot drop box, 7 AM – 10 PM)
9230 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor
 
The last day to register to vote in this special election is March 28 and the deadline to request a ballot by mail is April 5. For more information on voting, go to: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/