Whats Up in Windsor by Lorene Romero and Gayle Walz - July 2019

SHARP TONGUED CONSULTING

June 26, 2019

As we move into the summer it is a time of vacations, mild weather and more wonderful Windsor events. The Town of Windsor Parks & Recreation Department Summer 2019 Recreation Guide has a great lineup of activities for families and kids of all ages. The Tuesday night Family Movies on the Green will run through July, and the Friday night family swim at the Senior Recreation Center looks pretty enticing as the temperatures rise. The Recreation Guide has a complete listing of summer camps, activities, and lessons available for kids.

The Town of Windsor and the Active 20-30 Club partner to present “KaBoom” Fireworks and Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday, July 3rd at Keiser Park. It’s always a fun time for children at the kid zone, and adults will like the food & drink and live music.

Another Town of Windsor project that brings families together is our AMAZING Thursday night concerts on the Green. The concerts take place every week (except July 4) until September 5th. On July 11th The Purple Ones, an Insatiable Tribute to Prince is expected to be very well-attended, and on July 18th Coco Montoya will likely draw an equally large crowd of attendees.

A Latin Rock Santana tribute band, Caravanserai will perform. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce will be at the concerts in the middle kiosk selling beer and wine and supporting the Waste Less Windsor (WLW) program.

WLW is a community group that is focused on reducing waste. Each Thursday the WLW team can be found on the Green selling reusable metal cups to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated at the concert. Attendees can buy a cup for $5 and get $1 off drinks each time they reuse their cup! WLW members work with volunteers to help educate and direct concert goers to utilize the correct receptacles when discarding their items. They have been able to keep over 70% of the waste out of the landfill through recycling and composting. Join the effort and the future as a Waste Less Windsor volunteer! Simply sign up online at https://bit.ly/2IldGTD. See you on the Town Green!

The 6th Annual Windsor Chili Cook-Off on Saturday July 13th on the Windsor Town Green. It will be an exceptional day of killer CHILI with Master of Ceremonies Ricky Michaels of The WOLF, celebrity judges, great live music by the Twice As Good band, and circling throughout will be members of the deadly Resurrection Roller Girls! Opportunities abound to compete in the cook-off, sponsor the event, or just come eat some chili and cast your vote for the people’s choice award! Beneficiaries are the Vineyard Academy at Windsor High School, the Windsor Fire Foundation and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

Event Tickets are only $25 for adults ($10 for kids over age 10) and includes tastings of all chilis competing for People's Choice. You will have a chance to win a FABULOUS DOOR PRIZE, a Traeger BBQ from Johnson Pool & Spa, and to participate in a HUGE Wine Country raffle. Follow the link to get cook-off tickets through Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-windsor-chili-cook-off-tickets-63311530492

Windsor is where my heart is and It's very sad when our little Windsor has HATE crimes. Since late 2016 someone spray painted "Build the wall higher" at Cali Calmecac Language Academy (a grade school), damage to the Menorah at the Charlie Brown Christmas Grove and now another hate crime yesterday on the Town Green. Meredith Rennie (a GLBTQ friend) and I (an open Lesbian, resident and business owner) hung a PRIDE flag on the Town Green. The Town Council and Town Manager knew about it and gave permission to have there until they were using the kiosk for the Thursday concert. The next morning the flag was cut down.

This is not a "childish act", this was a deliberate HATE CRIME. We are better than this. With that said I am a believer that you can turn lemons into lemonade. When I posted about this on the Windsor Locals FB page there were over 140 likes and 53 comments. All were positive and supportive.

After every fire there will be a phoenix rising. I am confident that our Windsor Town Manager, Mayor and Town Council members will bring more attention to PRIDE month next year. In fact Council Woman Lemus on June 26th made a Proclamation in behalf, solidarity, and support to our LGBTQ community and families. With this we will rise higher and be stronger.

If you have any comments or questions, please email me at lorene@mac.com I am always happy to hear from my fellow Windsorites- Lorene

Lorene Romero is a highly skilled travel consultant. She founded Sharp Tongued Consulting in 2008 to deliver the benefits only a travel CONSULTANT can offer, over those of a traditional AGENT. In addition to uncovering the best prices and making reservations, her approach is primarily focused on expert research and advice. With her home-based business, she is able to dedicate the quality time necessary to ensure that no client ever wastes a penny on a trip they won't completely love. She is an expert on Alaska, Hawaii and European River Cruises but loves crafting the perfect dream vacation for nearly any destination.

Until recently, Lorene was the Windsor Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. She was a Chamber member for 15 years and being on the Board of Directors for 10. During the COVID-19 pandemic she gave it her all to help support Windsor small businesses to remain open and help over 400 people and 50 Windsor businesses get vaccinated. She works tirelessly being as the Co-Vice President of the People4Parks Committee making magic Charlie Brown Christmas Grove. Lorene understand Windsor like the back of her hand and makes herself available to everyone to feel loved and welcomed. Over the years she was seen at the Windsor Certified Farmers Market “Donate Life” booth talking about the importance of organ donation (speaking as a Living Donor after donating her kidney to a stranger). She can be reached at lorene@mac.com.