Harvesting family fun - Winters Express

-2 — Winters (CA) Express, Thursday, October 21, 2010SchoolsStudents meet ‘Devil’s Highway’ authorBy ILENE REYNOSOWinters High juniorWinters school boardto meet ThursdayThis year, students atWinters High School arereading “The Devil’sHighway” by Luis AlbertoUrrea. His novelbrings the complicatedand controversial subjectof illegal immigrationto life. On Tuesday,Oct. 12, a group of WintersHigh students wereable to meet Urrea anddiscuss the book and thetopics it stresses.Soon after arriving atSacramento State’s StudentUnion, the studentsand the WHS facultythat accompaniedthem met Urrea. Duringthis first encounter, studentswere able to askUrrea some questionsthat came to mind.When the lecture began,any concerns of a boringcliché discussion disappearedwithin seconds.Urrea was funny, interestingand engaging.The combination of funnyand serious jargonperfectly fit in with thebook and the subject.Those in attendancelearned more aboutUrrea’s background andhis personal connectionto the novel. Having previouslywritten multiplestories on illegal immigrationas well as havingemigrated from Mexicoto the United States himself,Urrea was alreadywell informed on immigration.During the questionportion of the lecture,he told peopleabout how researchingfor the novel had openedand changed his mindabout the Border Patrol.Throughout the questionsegment, Urrea patientlyand happily answeredquestions that rangedCourtesy photoMembers of the Teen Read Club at Winters High School display their copies of LuisUrreaʼs true story, “The Devilʼs Highway.” They will join other high school studentsand members of the community for the Community Forum One Read on Oct. 25 at theWinters Community Library beginning at 6:30 p.m. From left are (back) VincentDuran, Tyler Tufts and Nathan DuCharme; (front) Alonsa Nunez, Mariah Warner,Katie Clark and Lupita Montiel.from what was going onwith Mendez to how tomake an opera version ofthe book funny withoutdiminishing its seriousness.Several studentsfrom Winters HighSchool asked questionsand it was obvious they’ddone their homework.The lecture and questionsegment had to becut off because of thetime schedule. After thelecture and questions,Urrea took some time tosign books and take pictureswith people whowere there. The line neverseemed to die down.This wasn’t an everydayexperience. Smalltown high schoolstudents were able tomeet and talk to anPreschool Halloweenparade planned Oct. 29Winters Parent Nursery School will host apreschool Halloween parade at 10 a.m. Oct. 29.If your preschooler would like to participate,bring them dressed in costume and meet on thesidewalk in front of the Pizza Factory, 108 Main St.The parade participants will be trick-or-treatingat the businesses along Main Street in downtownWinters.For more information, call the nursery school at795-4659.Shriners to host medicalscreening clinic for childrenaward-winning author.Urrea made some jokes,told a funny anecdoteand described anencounter with Don Moibefore the Wellington 26started their journey.Attendees also learnedwhat happened whenDon Moi tried to collectdebts from the familiesof the Wellington 26.Let’s just say it didn’tturn out well for DonMoi. People were havingsuch a good time, theyalmost forgot the story,which brought them tothat room.One look at “The Devil’sHighway” and seriousnessreentered theroom. The sympathy inthe novel for theWellington 26, theReady to danceBorder Patrol, and evenMendez, who is at timesportrayed as a villain, isapparent. Urrea alsooffered attendees a nicestory. A relative of oneof the Wellington 26 whodidn’t survive wroteUrrea to thank him fortelling his uncle’s storybecause no one elsehad. The relative, whoalso journeyed to theUnited States, let Urreaknow he was studyingfor his Ph.D. at OxfordUniversity in England.Often in school, authorsof the books studentsread have long beendeceased. On that day,students were able tomeet the man whobrought to life a tale ofimmigration.The Winters SchoolBoard will meet onThursday, Oct. 21, at6:30 p.m. in the WalnutRoom at the schooldistrict office, 909 W.Grant Ave. The agendaincludes:~ Recognition ofWaggoner ElementarySchool studentsJennifer Silva, KennedyRivera, JaxsonDavis and ChristianSponsler.~ Recognition ofWaggoner ElementarySchool parentAmy Shaw.~ Public hearingregarding the District’sGeneral WaiverRequest of CaliforniaCode of Regulations,Title 5, Section 1032(d)(5): 85 percentrequirement of the2009/10 test-takers ineighth grade USHistory to the CaliforniaDepartment ofEducation regardingWinters MiddleSchool API score forthe Spring 2009 STARtesting.~ Communicationand reports.~ Public input onnon-agenda items.~ Action on District’sGeneral WaiverRequest of CaliforniaCode of Regulations(CCR), Title 5, Section1032(d)(5): 85 percentrequirement of 2009/10 test-takers in eighthGrade US History.~ Consent agenda(minutes, warrants,etc.)~ Closed session toconfer with legalcounsel regarding significantexposure tolitigation — non-personnel(one case).~ Reconvene toopen session reportingaction taken, if any,during closed session.Ben Ali Shrinershave scheduled a freescreening clinic forchildren from 9 a.m. to1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23,at the Shriners Hospitalfor Children, 2425Stockton Blvd. inSacramento.During a free clinic,physicians will examinechildren under theage of 18 to decidetheir eligibility forfree treatment and serviceat Sacramento’sNorthern CaliforniaShriners Hospital forChildren.Shriners Hospitalsspecialize in orthoaedicproblems suchs scoliosis, curvatureDavis offersgymnastics,dance classesThe city of Davis Gymnasticsand Dance Centeroffers classes for childrenages 1 to 18 years.Participants will havethe opportunity to meetnew friends, learn newskills and develop increasedconfidence.Classes are offered atvarious times and days.A new session starts Oct.25. The gym is at 23 RussellBlvd. Call 757-5627.of the spine, limb deficiencies,growth problems,club feet, etc.They also handleburn-related problemsand spinal cordinjuries, as well asplastic surgery.Participants in theclinics include physiciansand nurses fromthe local area.Members of localShrine Clubs willassist at the clinic.Entertainment for thechildren will be providedby the Ben AliShrine Clowns and theKeystone Cops.For more informationabout the event,call (925) 766-9960.Courtesy photoRosendo Garcia and Hannah Long are ready todance the night away at The St. Anthony YouthGroupʼs Masquerade Ball from 7 to 10:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 30, at the St. Anthony Parish Hall,511 Main St., Winters. This is a family event opento the community. Wear your best masqueradegown or costume for the costume contest. Gamesand prizes will be available for children. Tickets atthe door are $10; $7 for ages 13 and under.Desserts, soda and water will be sold.