The following is the June 3 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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Hey, it’s Daniel! Let’s dive in.
It was a big night in Yolo County, with polls closing in multiple consequential races across the region. It’s still too early to make any definitive calls, but we’re following along as the numbers come in on Measure V and the District 3 supervisors race.
➡️Here’s the latest on Measure V.
➡️Here’s the latest on District 3.
The truth about Election Night in a newsroom is that it’s 80% waiting, interspersed with brief bouts of harried activity.
The first results didn’t start coming in until about 8:15 p.m., so most of my day was spent trying to focus on other things. For me, that meant checking in on the board of supervisors and reading through staff reports for the various city council meetings around the county.
Luckily, all my colleagues here at Abridged were in the same boat. To stave off the anticipation, we ate dinner together, then settled into our desks to wait for the first numbers to roll in.
When they did, pretty much all you could hear was keyboards clacking and reporters chattering.
For a closer look at who is voting how when it comes to Measure V in Davis, take a look at this map from contributor Phillip Reese.
With all of the election related coverage going on, it feels like months since region leaders announced West Sacramento’s bid for a major league expansion team. But in fact, it was only last week. Here’s more.
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
The votes for and against Village Farms throughout pockets of Davis
Use our interactive map to see how voters throughout Davis decided on Measure V.
BY PHILLIP REESE | Contributor
In short: A majority of voters opposed the ballot measure that would approve or deny the Village Farms housing development. But there are more ballots left to count. This Abridged by PBS KVIE map shows how voters in different pockets of Davis leaned on the issue, according to early returns released Election Night.
A bit more: Voters in precincts closest to UC Davis favored the project, while those on the eastern side of the city opposed it.
NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Davis voters opposing Village Farms with more ballots to count
Dolly Pritchard leads Yolo County’s lone contested supervisors race
Where would West Sacramento put an MLB stadium — and the River Cats?
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, we have an update from David Schaad in Dunnigan about a groundwater recharge project that was implemented by the Dunnigan Water District.
- As part of its broader effort to divert wet season water into local aquifers to increase groundwater supply, the Dunnigan Water District built a project called a reverse tile drain underneath an actively farmed field.
- The project sends water to perforated pipes buried 10 feet below the soil’s surface. Because of that, there is no evaporation and the crops on the soil surface are not affected.
- David said the system was very efficient and worked as designed this winter. Based on that and more landowner interest, the water district is planning on installing another reverse tile drain on a nearby property this summer.
- That is in addition to other recharge projects in Dunnigan, including diversion of water into Buckeye Creek so that it can be absorbed by the creek bed and filter down to the aquifer.
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!
This week, Jim Durst pointed us in the direction of Sunberry Marketplace and Solano Mushroom in Esparto.
“This small enterprise hosts a retail outlet with an excellent supply of local produce and healthy options at very affordable pricing. Also on the site are two mushroom houses where the best mushrooms in mid-California are grown. These mushrooms find their way into regional retail and food service venues (restaurants). They also retail them in their store.”
Thanks for the tip, Jim!
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.
- Two Woodland art exhibitions are opening June 11 at The Barn Gallery and The Gibson House at 512 Gibson Road. There will be a reception from 5:30-8 p.m. where attendees can view a variety of pieces all using glass as a medium. At the Gibson house, the Yolo County Historical Collection is offering visitors a chance to view historic glass pieces, while Yolo Arts is displaying modern pieces at The Barn Gallery. Exhibitions will be running for months and more information can be found here.
- Yolo County is hosting an in-person job fair June 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Woodland Community and Senior Center. Fifty employers will be in attendance. More information can be found here.
- The Yolo County Library’s summer reading program began June 1 and will last through Aug. 15. Participants up to 17 years old can register and track their reading for the chance to win prizes at the end of the summer. More information can be found here.
- Kids in West Sacramento and Woodland who are entering kindergarten this fall and have not attended preschool are eligible to apply for United Way California Capital Region’s KinderCamp school-readiness program this summer. The program provides learning opportunities in math, literacy, social interactions, problem solving and cause and effect. The programs start as early as next week. More information can be found here.
Want to discover more events across the Sacramento region, in Yolo County and beyond? Check out Abridged by PBS KVIE’s new searchable events calendar with things to do across the four-county area.
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