On Dec. 2, the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters certified the county results of the Nov. 8 General Election and last night (Dec. 7), the newly elected Windsor Councilmembers were sworn in. The members of the Town Council are:

• Rosa Reynoza, At-large Mayor
• Mike Wall, Councilmember District 1
• Sam Salmon, Councilmember District 2
• Debora Fudge, Councilmember District 3
• Tanya Potter, Councilmember District 4

A video of the meeting can be watched on the Town of Windsor’s website: https://www.townofwindsor.com/721/Agendas-Minutes-Videos .

Toy Drive Open Until Dec. 14 

The Windsor Police Department is still collecting new unwrapped toys, gift cards, and cash donations to help support children in Windsor. Donations can be dropped off at the Police Department, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, until Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

New Parks & Recreation Director

The Town of Windsor has named Olivia Lemen as the new Parks & Recreation Department Director. She previously served as the Town’s Parks and Facilities Division Manager and begins her new tenure immediately. 

Town Manager Jon Davis cited her leadership on many projects and initiatives in the Parks & Recreation Department and her development of positive working relationships in the community.

“The pride Olivia takes in her work and in the quality of our parks, facilities and programs has contributed to the success and reputation of the Town,” he said. “Olivia is a terrific addition to our strong and capable executive team.”

Ms. Lemen’s key priorities include finishing the Keiser Park Master Plan, developing a strategy for funding implementation and continuing to offer a broad and diverse level of programs and events in Windsor. Read the full press release here.

Volunteer as a Town Commissioner

If you’d like to volunteer in your community, please consider serving as a Town Commissioner. There are several vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Public Art Advisory Commission, and the Senior Citizen Advisory Commission.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Dec. 19. Go here for more information on requirements and how to apply: https://www.townofwindsor.com/64/Committees-and-Commissions.

Where Do We Get Our Drinking Water?

As we continue to face the drought, it is important to understand where our water comes from and why it is so important to conserve water.

All of Windsor’s drinking water comes from the Russian River, most of which is stored in Lake Sonoma. The current water supply at Lake Sonoma is at its lowest since its construction in 1984 -- less than 40% of storage capacity. In contrast, the average level for this time of year is over 73%.

While we’re happy for the recent rainfall, it wasn’t enough to get us out of this drought. Now, it’s more important than ever to work together to conserve water and avoid further critical cutbacks. To learn more about the current water supply levels, visit https://www.sonomawater.org/current-water-supply-levels. And learn how you can save water by going to https://www.townofwindsor.com/100/Water-Conservation

Seeking July 3 Fireworks Event Proposals

The Town of Windsor Parks & Recreation Department is seeking event proposals from local non-profits and organizations for the annual July 3 fireworks event.

For proposal guidelines, important dates, and other information, please go to:  https://www.townofwindsor.com/1019/July-3rd-Fireworks.

Park Benches Renovated

Thanks to a generous donation from a local Windsor business, all 14 wooden benches at Lakewood Meadows Park were renovated by the Parks crew. This upgrade provides an overall enhancement throughout the park and will be enjoyed for many years to come.

Open Sundays: Windsor Regional Library

The Windsor Regional Library, as well as all regional Sonoma County Library branches, are now open on Sundays from 1-5 PM. In addition to Sundays, the Windsor Regional Library is open Mondays – Tuesdays and Thursdays – Saturdays from 10 AM to 6 PM and Wednesdays from 10 AM – 8 PM.

Expanded Sunday hours are made possible by the Measure Y sales tax, the community’s investment in free public libraries. The Measure Y Sales tax, a 1/8 of one-cent sales tax, was approved in November 2016 to increase revenue for Sonoma County’s historically underfunded library system.

Sonoma County Library has been increasing library services every year since, such as expanding hours, hiring staff, and offering new classes, events, and programs. For more information on Sonoma County Library’s new Sunday hours, visit sonomalibrary.org/sundays.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

A message from the Sonoma County Fire District:

Picking the Tree
• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing the Tree
• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least 3’ away from any heat source, like fireplaces, heaters, or candles.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Lighting the Tree
• Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, read the labels.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords.  Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.