The following is the April 22 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Yolo County email newsletter, by reporter Daniel Hennessy and the team at Yolo Local. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
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Stay in-the-know on all things Yolo! Weekly email with stories and insights from Yolo County reporter Daniel Hennessy.
Hey, it’s Daniel! Let’s dive in.
Before I got into the journalism business, I spent years working in housing. My roles changed a handful of times, but I was drawn to the subject because I understood it to be a fundamental and complicated challenge that we deal with as Californians.
Cities, towns and counties across the state are taking different approaches to solving what sounds like a straightforward problem — California doesn’t have enough housing.
But people who follow the Davis City Council know it’s not that simple.
This week, we bring you an update on the Willowgrove project, which the Davis City Council discussed at its meeting Tuesday night.
Also, Capay Valley’s Rustic Ramble event is this weekend, and we spoke with a few of the farmers who are opening their doors to visitors.
Finally, bids for construction of the I Street Bridge came in way higher than Sacramento was expecting. What’s next for the connector between Yolo County and Sacramento?
We’ve teamed up with Yolo Local, a civic media initiative of Davis Media Access, to bring you this weekly newsletter. Here’s what you need to know today:
STORY OF THE WEEK
Another housing development is moving along in Davis. If approved, it will go to voters
The project still has a couple of hurdles to overcome before it gets the green light.
BY DANIEL HENNESSY | dhennessy@kvie.org
In short: The Willowgrove housing project, which would bring 1,250 new units to Davis, is moving toward approval in the Davis City Council. At their meeting on Tuesday, members and residents expressed support for the project.
A bit more: If approved by the council on May 5, the project will go to Davis voters in November.
NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Capay Valley small farmers want more people to make the drive — so they joined forces
I Street Bridge bids come in millions over budget, delaying new Sacramento-Yolo connector
Woodland leaders consider sales tax hike in another tough budget year
DISPATCHES FROM THE FARM
Agriculture is a central part of life in Yolo County, so I’ll be checking in each week with a farmer, rancher or other industry player for the latest ag updates. What are the people who help produce our food thinking about?
This week, Sherri Wood from the Capay Valley is keeping us in the loop.
- The lavender on Sherri’s farm is just starting to green up, meaning it will be ready to bloom by late May or early June. Even though it’s not blooming, the plants are fragrant.
- The olive trees on Sherri’s farm are budding, and the iris patches are blooming.
- These days, Sherri spends a lot of time mowing the grass around the lavender farm. With the recent rain, the grass has been growing quickly and keeping it at bay has become a time-consuming effort.
- Sherri’s farm will be open this weekend during the Rustic Ramble and visitors can spend time walking through the lavender fields.
HEARING FROM YOU
The best way to learn about a place is to listen to the people who know and love it. Each week, we’ll feature a quote or tip from a community member that captures a slice of life in our county. Write to me with something interesting or ask a question about Yolo County!
Thank you to Jim Barrett for this week’s highlight!
| “Currently my interest is Cache Creek. Amazing history and the fact that it is one of the flashiest streams on the West Coast and it has the best gravel on the West Coast. But what of the future? Can there be more habitat? Can it be an amazing wildlife corridor? Will it have clear, wonderful water?”
Want to answer Jim or share your own Yolo County insights? Email me!
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
It can be hard to keep up with local government and community events, so we’ll continuously feature a few below. Have something you think we should highlight? Email me.
- TANA (Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer) is hosting a free hands-on mural workshop on April 25 from noon to 3 p.m. “The session begins with a brief introduction to mural history, followed by an overview of traditional techniques used by generations of Xicanx muralists. The workshop includes a hands-on component with participants mixing and painting with acrylic paint, learning basic mural painting techniques, and contributing to a collaborative group mural exercise.” More information can be found here.
- The Loopalooza community bike ride is set for May 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The loop is 12 miles through Davis and has activity stations along the way. More information can be found here.
- Hope Café will host a “community shindig” at International House Davis on May 6 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. The event will feature live music, poetry, creative activities and community-building conversations. The event is intended to “energize and inspire.” More information can be found here.
- The Davis Art Studio Tour will take place on May 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The self-guided tour is free and will highlight 48 local artists. More information can be found here.
BEFORE I GO,
Thanks for coming back (and signing up) for this newsletter. Remember: I’m accountable to you. If you read a story and think there’s an angle I’m missing, I want to hear about it! Please reach out with your feedback and know that I take it seriously.
See you next week!
Daniel Hennessy joins Abridged from the California Local News Fellowship. He’s a reporter covering Yolo County.