Dear Reader,Unfortunately our comment platform isn\'t available at the moment due to issues with our paywall and authentication vendor A spacious house located at 1166 Meadowcreek Circle in St The $1,550,000 purchase price works out to $581 per square foot The layout of this two-story home consists of three bedrooms and one bath The lot of the property covers an area of 8,513 square feet Other houses have recently been purchased nearby: This automated story was produced for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat using artificial intelligence and data science. Property information is compiled from municipal assessors in Sonoma County. For any errors email info@pressdemocrat.com Helena Parish inmate was found dead in his cell early Saturday morning Deputies said the man was found dead at the St While an investigation is underway into his death they said it appears to have been a medical episode "I have asked other agencies to assist in the investigation," Sheriff Clay Chutz said The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin Join us monthly for spirited get-togethers with live music 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Salvia Terrace & Bar kicks off the summer with Salvia Social Sessions— a lively monthly series fusing live music Held on the first Thursday of each month from May through October and community members can enjoy featured musicians and an exclusive cocktail pairing crafted for each evening "Salvia Social Sessions represents everything we love about Napa—artistry Salvia brings these elements to life with thoughtfully crafted dishes that capture the true essence of Napa Valley We're excited to launch this series together with our music and beverage partners," says Zachary Dortenzio Director of Food & Beverage at Alila Napa Valley "Pairing musical talent with local partners is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the dynamic spirit of our community through music and meaningful moments," said Heidi Miersemann Salvia Social Sessions: A Monthly Soirée of Live Music Meet up for live vineyard view performances and bites every first Thursday from 5 - 7 p.m. Book your tickets: bit.ly/SalviaSocialSessionsTickets Ticket per person: $20 // Includes one Signature cocktail + Salvia seasonal bite upon entry Priority RSVP access will be given to existing local fans of the resort To launch Salvia Social Sessions, musician Roseanna will set the tone with her signature blend of cinematic pop-folk and a voice that's impossible to ignore she earned three Top 20 and three Top 40 Billboard hits in the U.S. Her live performance marks the beginning of a vibrant new season—full of energy "Pairing musical talent with local partners is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the dynamic spirit of our community through music and meaningful moments," said Heidi Miersemann "We're proud to create experiences that bring people together in such a serene and inspiring setting." Discover Salvia: Where Napa's Spirit Comes Alive Salvia is a breezy indoor-outdoor lounge that pairs laid-back charm with vibrant energy—perfect for unwinding and basking in the California sunshine Merging Napa's culinary traditions with a modern Salvia offers a welcoming space for handcrafted cocktails on the sun-drenched veranda or farm-to-table dining in a relaxed yet lively setting Salvia's menu features highlights like The Smash Burger—layered with roasted tomato and special sauce on a brioche bun—alongside farm-fresh shareable salads Bar bites include a spring onion–avocado dip with garden herbs and trout roe Each dish is inspired by seasonal finds from local farmers' markets and Salvia's on-site garden About Alila Napa Valley Food & Beverage Program: Salvia is a vibrant gathering place where seasonal inspiration Designed as a space to connect over delicious bites With its laid-back charm and deep roots in Napa's cultural fabric Violetto and Salvia are located at 1915 Main St Do not sell or share my personal information: The Industry's Leading Publication for Wineries and Growers Napa Valley – More than 200 people attended Appellation St Helena’s 14th Annual bASH event on April 5 at The Culinary Institute of America Greystone bASH is an annual wine and food pairing competition where the wines from nineteen ASH member wineries are paired with savory bites prepared by teams of ‘rising star’ students at the CIA.  Judges included respected professional chefs Attendees voted for their favorites in several categories.  Participating wineries were Anomaly Vineyards One highlight of the event is how meticulously the food ‘bites’ are presented ‘smoke’ (from dry ice!) and deep spoons with long handles “Our students look forward to bASH every year,” said Chef Daniel Kedan “It is an amazing opportunity for them to challenge themselves This year was one of the best yet,” he added Helena area wines and tomorrow's star chefs draws guests from all over the U.S as well as neighbors from our own community,” commented Lesley Russell “It's one of the most entertaining delicious and inspiring wine and food events I've experienced The CIA students are incredible to work with,” she added CIA Chef Lars Kronmark was the founding chef of the event when it began in 2012 and 2025 is his final bASH The Professional Judges selected these entries as winners: Braised Oxtail with Curtido and Tomato Caviar prepared by Adriel Maravilla (hometown Pinole CA) Brenda Mendina Ruiz (John’s Creek GA) and Emma Rosinski (Gig Harbor WA) The wine was 2012 Young Inglewood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  Sophia Faucett (Las Vegas NV) and Jose Avila (San Diego CA) The wine was Hall Winery’s 2020 Coeur.  Ana Jimenez-Nava (Burlington WA) and Ayden O’Brien (Ft Jed Anezil (Petaluma CA) and Leah Madrigal (Sacramento CA) The wine was Spottswoode Estate 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Syriana Davis (Tacoma WA) and Hannah Howard (Beavercreek OR) Rosalie Sackett (Benicia CA) and Damariye Daniels (Fairfield CA) The wine was Titus 2022 Cabernet Franc.  ASH partnered with the Culinary Institute of America and the St ASH thanks Sunshine Market and Le Creuset for their generous donations and support Proceeds from the evening go to Appellation St Helena and the scholarship fund of the Culinary Institute of America Helena has the distinction of being the birthplace of Napa Valley’s commercial wine industry with Dr David Fulton’s in 1860 and Charles Krug’s in 1861 was officially approved in 1995 and in 2004 the vintners who had worked together to get the AVA approved established a group to promote the growing region The group focuses on promoting the quality of grapes grown and wines produced in the St Helena is comprised of roughly 12,000 acres of which approximately 6,800 are planted to grapes more than any other AVA in the Napa Valley More than 400 different vineyards are located within the appellation and the Association has 64 members and the middle section represents the narrowest width in the Napa Valley where the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountain ranges nearly meet The AVA is a mosaic of alluvial fans and 21 different soil types The soils here are created from centuries of erosion of run-off from mountain hillsides and the Napa River and its ancient tributaries Helena appellation dates back to the Mexican land grants in the 1840s when General Vallejo gave Edward Bale a wedding gift of property Bale and his bride promptly planted vineyard on their property the most frequently cultivated are Cabernet Sauvignon Meridian Mining SE ( (TSE:MNO) ) just unveiled an update Meridian Mining SE has announced significant drilling results at the Santa Helena deposit The discovery of a new Cu-Au-Zn anomaly at Santa Fé further enhances the potential for Santa Helena to become a second mining hub within the Cabaçal belt These developments indicate a stronger and more open mineral system than previously modeled necessitating additional drilling to fully assess the resource potential According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst Meridian Mining SE faces critical financial challenges with no revenue and significant cash flow issues Despite positive technical indicators and promising corporate developments these strengths are overshadowed by the company’s fundamental financial weaknesses To see Spark’s full report on TSE:MNO stock, click here Meridian Mining SE is a company operating in the mining industry focusing on the exploration and development of mineral resources with a market focus on the Cabaçal belt in Brazil known for its prospective Cu-Au VMS deposits For a thorough assessment of MNO stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Meridian Mining SE ( (TSE:MNO) ) just unveiled an update According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue 2025-05-02T09:39:58-07:00May 2 2025-05-02T08:40:53-07:00May 2 2025-05-04T09:32:06-07:00April 30 2025-04-30T17:06:48-07:00April 30 2025-04-29T15:03:00-07:00April 29 Customers line up for coffee at Wednesday's soft opening of Sam's General Store in St Former regulars at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company wasted no time visiting Sam's General Store on its first day in business Baristas prepare drinks at the new Sam's General Store in St Merchandise for sale at Sam's General Store in St Sam's General Store began a soft opening Wednesday morning at the corner of Adams Street and Oak Avenue Helena spinoff of a successful coffee shop at Calistoga's Brannan Cottage Inn Sam's replaces the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company which closed in August after 33 years in business NO|MA House Café & Collective announced its closure on Monday after just over a year in business Friends and family of Berryessa's Turtle Rock bar collected the money pined to the ceiling of the cafe to donate to UCSF and celebrate the 15-year 'cancerversary' of Elijah Leung Take a ride around Napa on these motorized ADA-compliant scooters made to look like various critters and creatures Most of Napa’s River Park Shopping Center tenants cater to locals Now a handful of tenants have left the center The sheriff's office reported seizing 13 roosters from a Carneros site where it said the birds were altered and trained to fight other male birds Take a good look at Napa’s Kohl’s building Developers have asked the city of Napa for permission to demolish the building at 1116 First St Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Meridian drills into a VMS pile hosting massive to semi-massive Cu-Au-Zn & Ag sulphides on the western edge of Santa Helena: CD-651: 33.4m @ 2.0g/t AuEq (1.4% CuEq) from 151.0m; 13.1m @ 4.2g/t AuEq (2.8% CuEq) from 151.4m; 4.4m @ 6.5g/t AuEq (4.4% CuEq) from 214.0m; Santa Helena mine area infill drilling returns more shallow high-grade mineralization; CD-655: 9.9m @ 5.6g/t AuEq (3.7% CuEq) from 3.8m; Meridian announces discovery of "open" 2,200m copper-gold soil anomaly at Santa Fé; and Potential for Santa Helena to be a second hub within the Cabaçal belt strengthens 2025 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO) (Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM) (OTCQX:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has drilled laterally into a VMS pile hosting Cu-Au-Zn & Ag massive to semi-massive sulphides on the western limit of the Santa Helena Au-Cu-Ag & Zn deposit "Santa Helena" CD-651 returned 33.4m @ 2.0g/t AuEq (1.4% CuEq) including 13.1m @ 4.2g/t AuEq (2.8% CuEq) Potential exists for further Cu-Zn-Au rich domains to the west Drilling continues and further results are pending The Company is also announcing that its exploration team has defined a new Cu-Au and Zn discovery at Santa Fé ("Santa Fé") Santa Fé hosts an open Cu-Au-Zn soil geochemical anomaly extending over 2,200m with a coincident Induced Polarization ("IP") anomaly Further geophysical and surface mapping is ongoing with Santa Fé projected to be drill ready by late in Q2 comments: "CD-651 returned multiple shallow layers of massive to semi-massive hosting high-grades of Au-Cu-Ag & Zn mineralization starting at only 26m below surface it now makes the whole of the Santa Helena system resemble a string of precious and base metal pearls just like the black smokers that create VMS deposits The mineralization at both ends of Santa Helena remains open for extensions and more drilling is needed to close-off and in-fill this system I believe that by combining this growth at Santa Helena with the exciting Santa Fé discovery the potential for a future second mining Hub centred on Santa Helena is apparent This growth potential builds on the exceptional PFS results for Cabaçal[1] and this is why Meridian's Cabaçal project is Brazil's and South America's most prospective Cu-Au VMS belt." The Santa Helena drill program continues to build the resource potential of the western sector of the exploration target area New mineralization has been defined in areas where the VMS sheet had not previously been projected CD-651's success in intercepting shallow semi-massive to massive high-grade VMS mineralization confirms that this western extension of Santa Helena's system is open and more continuous than originally modelled ("Table 1") Drilling from the 2024 campaign in this western extension had outlined a gold-rich shallow zone and CD-612[2] outlining a mineralized position considered to be up to 15-17m thick CD-651's further western extensions of this Au-Cu-Ag & Zn mineralization importantly indicates that some of the historical holes stopped short of the mineralization or failed to fully assay the VMS horizon It is apparent after reviewing the Company's recent drill results that the previous interpretation of the Santa Helena western edge limited the size of the deposit due to historical drill holes being too shallow (PM-26A) or being partially un-assayed (PM-25A) ("Figure 2") Meridian's field validation checks suggested that one mineralized hole Meridian's continued success in intercepting high-grade Au-Cu-Ag & Zn mineralization indicates a far stronger and open system than historically modelled additional drilling is needed to close off this western zone of Santa Helena's mineralization before a mineral resource can be estimated; this will now be later in H2 Figure 1: Santa Helena drilling highlights Lateral drilling has continued at a low angle while the Company evaluates options to establish alternative platforms CD-651 extended further west than the Company's previous limits of drilling The recent results of CD-651 have returned multiple zones of semi-massive to massive VMS mineralization: 41.2m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.6% CuEq) from 78.0m; Including: 5.1m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (1.1% CuEq) from 102.7m; 33.4m @ 2.0g/t AuEq (1.4% CuEq) from 151.0m; Including: 13.1m @ 4.2g/t AuEq (2.8% CuEq) from 151.4m; Figure 2: Section showing Meridian drilling along CD-651 projection in relation to historical drilling and historical mineralization envelope model Black drill traces are un-assayed intervals coloured traces indicate assayed intervals new results from drill holes in this western position include: CD-624: 73.7m @ 1.0g/t AuEq (0.7% CuEq) from 22.6m; Including: 22.4m @ 1.5g/t AuEq (1.0% CuEq) from 22.6m; CD-643: 30.3m @ 1.2g/t AuEq (0.8% CuEq ) from 66.4m; Including: 7.6m @ 2.5g/t AuEq (1.7% CuEq ) from 66.4m; CD-661: 46m @ 1.5g/t AuEq (1% CuEq ) from 2.0m Including 7.6m @ 2.6g/t AuEq (1.7% CuEq ) from 2.0m And 41.7m @ 0.9g/t AuEq (0.6% CuEq ) from 54.0m Metallurgical studies continue assessment of optimizing metal recovery from this and other geometallurgical domains Drilling over the main sheet includes a combination of infill and verification drilling where incomplete historical data has created uncertainty in the modelling approach was drilled where hole PM-10A terminated at 27.5m having been sampled to 27.1m with some doubt as to whether it traversed the full layer CD-618 intersected 2.9m @ 3.7g/t AuEq from 40.8m in the VMS position with additional mineralization intercepted in the footwall positions including 4.8m @ 1.6g/t AuEq (1.0% CuEq) from 54.4m These may represent multiple exhalative positions or possibly sub-seafloor replacement Two historical holes were twinned (JUCHD-100 JUCHD-112) where composites had been recorded but for which individual assays were lost making the holes unsuitable for resource estimation Including: 6.7m @ 7.5g/t AuEq (5.1% CuEq) from 6.0m; and CD-652: 7.0m @ 1.8g/t AuEq (1.2% CuEq) from 10.3m The more complete data enables better modelling of the VMS horizon where the partial data implied a more restricted extent Through the Company's regional exploration programs a new target area in the southeast of the Cabaçal Belt (" Figure 3") has returned multiple strong surface geochemical anomalies ("Figure 4") in a position not defined by historical exploration campaigns A soil survey grid extending over 2.2km has returned peak values of 547 ppm Cu Alluvial cover constrains the geochemical effectiveness of the grid extensions The area has limited exposure but subcrop and float characteristic of the chlorite-altered mine sequence succession were observed 0.36% Pb & 47 ppm Bi (a strong pathfinder element for gold at Cabaçal) The Company has completed 3 trenches for 292m to gather initial information on the basement structure in the central and southern sector of the area The anomalous corridors align with west-dipping contacts between meta-volcanic and sedimentary rocks considered correlative with the mine sequence at Cabaçal and Santa Helena Geophysical programs have been ongoing to refine drill targets Santa Fé is located ~ 5km southeast of Santa Helena Figure 3: Newly located soil anomaly at Santa Fé marking a potential fold-repeat of the VMS stratigraphic horizon Background image is RTP tilt-derivative magnetics Figure 4: Copper-in soil geochemical response over Santa Fé Samples have been analysed at ALS laboratory in Lima crushed with 70% passing 85% passing 200µm Routine gold analyses have been conducted by Au‐AA24 (fire assay of a 50g charge with AAS finish) High‐grade samples (>10g/t Au) are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au‐GRA22) and base metal analysis by methods ME-ICP61 and OG62 (four acid digest with ICP-AES finish) Visible gold intervals are sampled by metallic screen fire assay method Au‐SCR21 Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory Pulps and coarse rejects are retained and returned to the Company for storage The Company submits a range of quality control samples including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by Rocklabs supplementing laboratory quality control procedures Approximately 5% of archived samples are sent for umpire laboratory analysis including any lots exhibiting QAQC outliers after discussion with the laboratory gold was analysed historically by fire assay and base metals by three acid digest and ICP finish at the Nomos laboratory in Rio de Janeiro Silver was analysed by aqua regia digest with an atomic absorption finish True width is considered to be 70-90% of intersection width CD-651 and CD-661 which are considered to be ~20% of true width Assay figures and intervals are rounded to 1 decimal place Gold equivalents for Santa Helena are based on metallurgical recoveries from the historical resource calculation updated with pricing forecasts aligned with the Cabaçal PEA AuEq (g/t) = (Au(g/t) * 65%Recovery) + (1.492*Cu(%) * 89%Recovery) + (0.474*Zn% * 89%Recovery)) + (0.013*Ag(g/t) * 61%Recovery)) CuEq (%) = (Cu(%) * 89%Recovery) + (0.318*Zn% * 89%Recovery)) + (0.67*Au(g/t) * 65%Recovery) + (0.0087*Ag(g/t) * 61%Recovery)) Metallurgical testwork is currently in progress to evaluate recoveries in primary lithologies and saprolite with formulas to be updated based on revised recoveries pricing Induced polarization surveys have been conducted by the Company's in-house team utilizing its GDD GRx8-16c receiver and 5000W-2400-15A transmitter Results are sent daily for processing and quality control to the Company's consultancy Modelling of conductivity response is undertaken using industry-standard Maxwell software Geophysical and geochemical exploration targets are preliminary in nature and not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit Chief Geologist of Meridian Mining and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 verified and approved the technical information in this news release • The development and exploration of the advanced stage Cabaçal VMS gold‐copper project; • The initial resource definition at the second higher-grade VMS asset at Santa Helena as the first stage of the Cabaçal Hub development strategy; • Regional scale exploration of the Cabaçal VMS belt to expand the Cabaçal Hub strategy; and • Exploration in the Jaurú & Araputanga Greenstone belts (the above all located in the State of Mato Grosso The Pre-feasibility Study technical report (the "PFS Technical Report") dated March 31 entitled: "Cabaçal Gold-Copper Project NI 43-101 Technical Report and Pre-feasibility Study" outlines a base case after-tax NPV5 of USD 984 million and 61.2% IRR from a pre-production capital cost of USD 248 million leading to capital repayment in 17 months (assuming metals price scenario of USD 2,119 per ounces of gold Cabaçal has a low All-in-Sustaining-Cost of USD 742 per ounce gold equivalent & production profile of 141,000 ounce gold equivalent life of mine and the low operating cost environment of Brazil The Cabaçal Mineral Reserve estimate consists of Proven and Probable reserves of 41.7 million tonnes at 0.63g/t gold 0.44% copper and 1.64g/t silver (at a 0.25 g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade) Readers are encouraged to read the PFS Technical Report in its entirety. The PFS Technical Report may be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.meridianmining.co The PFS Technical Report was prepared for the Company by Tommaso Roberto Raponi (P Principal Metallurgist with Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC; Scott Elfen (P Global Lead Geotechnical and Civil Services with Ausenco Engineering Canada ULC; John Anthony McCartney Ausenco Chile Ltda.; Porfirio Cabaleiro Rodriguez (Engineer Geologist FAIG) of GE21 Consultoria Mineral; Leonardo Soares (PGeo Senior Geological Consultant of GE21 Consultoria Mineral; Norman Lotter (Mineral Processing Engineer; P.Eng.) of Flowsheets Metallurgical Consulting Inc.; and Juliano Felix de Lima (Engineer Geologist MAIG) On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/contact/Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMiningFurther information can be found at: www.meridianmining.co Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedarplus.ca While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and except as may be required by applicable securities laws Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement Table 1: Assay Results from Santa Helena Drilling [1] Meridian Mining news release of March 10 2025.[2]Meridian Mining news release of November 20th and December 16 District Metals is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The company's Viken property covers 100% of the Viken deposit, which is amongst the largest deposits by total historic mineral... LEARN MORE (WCIV) — The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two shootings that occurred Thursday night in the Lands End Road and Scott Hill Road areas of St the Beaufort County Communications Center received a report of a possible gunshot wound Deputies responded to Peaches Hill Circle and discovered a victim inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound The incident was later determined to have occurred near Lands End Road and Scott Hill Road they heard gunfire from the Scott Hill Road area They found a residence that had been shot multiple times Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Sgt Kline at 843-255-3430 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777 2024 at 7:08 am MT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Santa Claus is coming to town (Shutterstock)Santa Claus is coming to Helena and be on your best behavior — Santa’s watching Here are some opportunities to catch the man in red in and around Helena this season Please note: Event dates are subject to change or cancellation We recommend contacting the venue ahead of time to confirm details as you may be required to purchase a ticket in advance When: Dec. 5 and 12 (5:00-6:30 p.m.)Where: Upper Campus Center, Carroll College, 1601 N Benton Ave, Helena, MTWebsite: Click herePhone: 406-447-4300 When: Dec. 7-8 (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)Where: Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena, MTWebsite: Click herePhone: 406-442-7920 When: Dec. 8 (1:00-4:00 p.m.)Where: Murdoch’s Helena, 3050 N Montana Ave, Helena, MTWebsite: Click herePhone: 406-457-1700 When: Dec. 14 (9:00 a.m., reservations recommended)Where: Algeria Shrine Temple, 15 N Jackson St, Helena, MTWebsite: Click herePhone: 406-219-3438 When: Dec. 14-15 (see website for appointment times)Where: PetSmart Helena, 3341 N Montana Ave, Helena, MTWebsite: Click herePhone: 406-437-9040 This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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TimesLIVE© are registered trademarks of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions and privacy policy Smiths Pharmacy owners Jeff Hansen and Debbie Hansen with their longtime pharmacy manager Patty Guijosa Smiths Pharmacy owners Jeff and Debbie Hansen pose after Smiths was named Business of the Year in 2021 Arighi's Drug Store and Smiths Pharmacy placed this ad in the St Vasconi’s Pharmacy was the successor to Arighi’s and Smiths Pharmacy still serves St A book at Smiths Pharmacy contains prescriptions from the 1890s Jeff and Debbie Hansen are selling Smiths Pharmacy HELENA — Smiths Pharmacy has been serving St making it one of the city’s oldest businesses Owners Jeff and Debbie Hansen don’t take that history lightly On Thursday they sold the business and retired although they’re confident it will remain in good — and independent — hands The new owners are Bay Area resident and pharmacist Sahini Chidipotu Chidipotu finds Smiths’ rich history “very exciting,” Debbie Hansen said “She wants to be part of a small community,” Hansen said “She very much looks forward to meeting people and serving them.” The Hansens bought Smiths in 1994 after running NuWay Drug from 1988 to 1994 NuWay was in the Main Street building now occupied by Market which had also been home to Smiths before Smiths moved to the Safeway plaza in 1968 Bussenius opened a “Druggist & Apothecary” shop who in 1895 sold it to William Henry Harrison Smith Like Steves Hardware — another historic St Helena business — Smiths has been confounding spell-checkers ever since with its lack of an apostrophe Helena community that at one point supported four drugstores Jeff Hansen remembers what locals call “old St Helena,” when people primarily walked instead of drove and bought their meat from Ernie Navone at Keller’s NuWay had an old-fashioned soda fountain in the back where the Rotary Club met Mayor John Aquila held court a few times a week and Sheana Rombauer picked up a coffee milkshake at 2 p.m Consumers had a direct relationship with drug manufacturers which gave the companies an incentive to keep prices down middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers and vertically integrated companies that no longer bothered to keep prices consumer-friendly The new distribution model squeezed the profit margins of small pharmacies like NuWay Jeff Hansen said he had no choice but to close NuWay offer higher-margin merchandise on the front end “You had to become leaner and meaner,” he said By that point you couldn’t do 80 scrips a day and make any money.” The Hansens say they’ve succeeded thanks to their customers While some locals have chosen the convenience and low prices of online shopping there are still plenty of loyal customers who are willing to pay a bit extra to support a local business “I’ve always felt a deep responsibility to my base of customers because they’ve shown immense loyalty,” Jeff Hansen said “When they can,” Debbie Hansen interjected “Those are the people who can afford to tell the insurance (companies) we’re willing to pay more at the brick-and-mortar.’ People have done that and gone to bat for us.” So did the city when it fought Safeway’s plan to expand and establish a pharmacy that would have put Smiths and Vasconi’s out of business “One of the reasons we’re still here is that the nearest major chain is 20 miles away,” he said Smiths had a somewhat friendly competition with Vasconi’s Hap Vasconi and Jeff Hansen were good friends and would even sell each other drugs when one of the pharmacies was running low on something The rivalry was fiercer on the front end with the non-drug merchandise but Hansen said Chidipotu is better equipped than him to truly bring Smiths “into the 21st century and expand the services offered.” For example she’s talked about offering vaccinations and flu shots whereas Hansen can’t stand the sight of needles Giving shots wasn’t taught in pharmacy school in his day so it’s time for me to go,” he said with a laugh but they plan to travel nationally and abroad and spend more time with their adult daughters in San Diego which is also home to their infant grandchild You can reach Jesse Duarte at 707-967-6803 or jesse.duarte@sthelenastar.com One week after retiring and closing Vasconi's Pharmacy Hap and Patty Vasconi are looking back on 70 years in business Email notifications are only sent once a day Helena with an immersive Julia Child exhibit as its first course (closed major holidays); Under-Study cafe opening soon How much: Admission to the museum is $25 for adults; $15 for youth (6-17) and free for children (5 and younger); admission is 20% off for Napa Valley Museum members Now on view: Exhibit “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life” through March 8 Julia Child was no stranger to Napa Valley in her later years author and television personality — whose culinary awakening in France helped spark a nationwide passion for food and wine — fit right in among the valley’s chefs and vintners who shared her adventurous spirit in the kitchen Her bond with Napa was as natural as Cabernet with a steak sauteed in butter At one of her final public appearances here before her death in 2004 offering critiques and encouragement to rising stars like Thomas Keller — who earned her approval that day someone asked if she had advice for cooking with less butter Now, more than two decades later, Child returns to Napa Valley in spirit — and in full size — as the centerpiece of “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life,” the debut exhibition at St. Helena’s new Museum of Art and Culture The MAC occupies a reimagined space on Highway 29 2,000 square feet of retail space and Under-Study a new cafe from Michelin-starred neighbor Press restaurant The project is the brainchild of Laura Rafaty who took over as executive director of the Napa Valley Museum Yountville in 2017 the museum quietly operated on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California often overlooked by both locals and tourists the museum had been tucked away since its 1998 move to Yountville — known mostly to loyal patrons as a hidden gem Rafaty brought bold new energy to the institution curating unexpected hits — from “Tiki Dreams” to “Dangerous Games: Treacherous Toys We loved as Children.” When a show on Picasso printmaking drew crowds Drawing on a background in law and a deep love of the arts a nonprofit that brought London’s Globe Theatre actors to the valley while maintaining the Yountville location for exhibits and events it had already been leased to New Jersey-based Gary’s Wine & Marketplace But after Gary’s shuttered during the pandemic Rafaty signed the lease in 2023 and launched a grassroots effort to transform the space into a cultural destination With two major grants and significant community support Rafaty not only rebuilt the space — she raised nearly half a million dollars more to bring the traveling “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life” exhibit to California — the state where Child was born — for the first time all that remains of the grocery stores is a sweeping curved wine bar — now serving as the museum’s entrance The retail wing includes a gift shop featuring limited-edition prints by “All the Restaurants” illustrator John Donohue giclees by beloved Napa Valley artist Lowell Herrero and exclusive Julia Child-themed merchandise original designs and curated decor from Dave Allen of Artefact Design & Salvage a longtime local go-to for designers and architects seeking unique pieces the new exhibition expands on “France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul and Julia Child.” It dives into Child’s culinary and personal evolution — from her early years in France with husband Paul to her rise as America’s French Chef Visitors can walk through a replica of La Couronne the French restaurant where the Childs had their first meal abroad They can recreate the couple’s quirky tradition of sending Valentine’s photos from a bathtub A mock TV studio invites aspiring chefs to try their hand at cooking on camera A special addition for Napa is the demonstration kitchen Child designed, on loan from the family of the late Warren Winiarski of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life” runs through March 8 will be “The Wyeths: Three Generations,” a retrospective on the famed American illustration and painting dynasty — N.C. including moderation,’” Rafaty said with a smile while giving The Press Democrat a preview tour That same unrestrained enthusiasm seems to guide her vision for The MAC a $500-per-year membership that offers behind-the-scenes access special events and collaborations with Under-Study which will feature a culinary marketplace and demo kitchen alongside its counter-service cafe “Sophie Alstrom Mitchell: Wildflowers of the Napa Valley,” showcases 19th-century botanical watercolors by the St rediscovered in a New England attic and returned home through museum efforts “It’s doing so well it even surprised me,” she said And despite the challenges many arts institutions face nationwide — from funding cuts to closures — Rafaty remains unfazed “We’ve always been too small for federal funding,” she said A ballot measure to allow a proposed 56-room resort at Charles Krug Winery in St Helena to bypass the standard city review process has failed by just 32 votes dealing a blow to proponents of winery-related development in the heart of Napa Valley In the final Napa County election results released Tuesday equating to nearly 84% turnout among St.Helena’s registered voters The resort project was proposed for a 8 ½-acre parcel at the winery Critics of the measure argued that bypassing the city’s standard review process would make it so the project isn’t properly evaluated on environmental and other grounds But supporters pointed to the economic and financial benefits of bringing the hotel to the city particularly because the city currently has a $7 million budget deficit And bypassing the city’s normal review process would have allowed that resort to have been built sooner Washington-based Noble House Hotels & Resorts owners of the Napa Valley Wine Train since 2017 and the River Terrace Inn in Napa The project was crafted with input from the Peter Mondavi Sr Noble House in March opted to pursue the ballot measure to fast-track the project. Supporters in May submitted a petition with 775 signatures to qualify the ballot measure which forced the City Council to either approve the project outright or send it to a public vote who ultimately supported Measure B after early skepticism said he was disappointed it didn’t receive more support from the community The city and council members will need to continue educating the community about the city’s financial situation how there’s a need for more revenue to meet high community expectations Helena ballot measures — A1 and A2 — that would have added a real estate transfer tax in the city also failed in the election Helena City Council member Anna Chouteau previously said that should both measures fail the city will need to make budget cuts and continue to search for additional revenue sources Dohring added city staff and council also need to listen to residents so they can better understand both what level of services and programs are expected and how willing the community is to pay for that “I am optimistic that we can reach community consensus and then return to the ballot with a more modest package of revenue options,” Dohring said Dohring encouraged the resort project’s proponents to submit an application through the city’s standard review process He said he’s optimistic that process would yield a positive outcome for the community the project would be subject to review by city staff and ultimately come before the city’s planning commission and City Council for approval It would also go through a full environmental review and be subject to a development agreement through which the city would be able to negotiate for community benefits You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward.booth@pressdemocrat.com The median price per square foot for a home in St That’s $406 more than the Napa County median the most expensive community in Napa County is Yountville where the median price per square foot in the past four weeks was $752 The best deal can be found in American Canyon where the median price per square foot of a home sold was $344 a 2,485-square-foot home on Arrowhead Drive in St The figures in this text are based on sales registered during the week of Apr A map of the proposed Spring Grove housing proposal in St James Drive just out of frame to the right This is a preliminary rendering that could change depending on public feedback Opposition is mounting to a high-density housing project on Spring Street Helena officials are sending the message that their hands are tied by recent state legislation but city officials are sending the message that their hands are tied by recent state legislation Bay Area housing developer City Ventures plans to build 41 townhomes in three-story buildings on 2.5 acres which is at the low end of what the city allows under the property’s high-density zoning But neighbors say the density and scale of the project are unacceptable and they’re raising concerns about previous complaints against City Ventures involving water pollution and poor workmanship Opponents are circulating a petition urging the Planning Commission to reject the project citing insufficient affordable housing (only eight units) But city officials have said their hands are tied by recent state legislation that limits the ability of local governments to reject housing projects that comply with city code City Ventures has built housing projects around the Bay Area In 2020 City Ventures paid $199,000 and agreed to implement training to resolve a civil enforcement action by Sonoma County alleging water pollution in connection with the 22-acre Fox Hollow subdivision in Santa Rosa According to the news release issued by Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office City Ventures failed to cover disturbed soil and maintain a culvert at a construction site resulting in the pollution of Peterson Creek during a storm City Ventures has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau based on the company’s failure to respond to four complaints alleging leaky plumbing defects resulting from hasty construction and poor workmanship and a lack of security barriers to prevent unauthorized rooftop access Neighbors are also troubled by one-star customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website that allege substandard construction at other City Ventures homes “It seems like these guys like to cut corners,” said Spring Grove neighbor David Lattin “Why would the city just take the first developer that comes along Neighbor Susan Calcagno is troubled by City Ventures’ reputation and its proposed design for Spring Grove which looks similar to what the company is building near Interstate 80 in Richmond Calcagno is president of the homeowners’ association for St a subdivision next to the Spring Grove site consisting of 65 units on 29 acres Spring Grove would be eight times as dense they seem appropriate given the (location),” Calcagno said ‘What are you thinking?’ They seem clueless.” Neighbor Pat Friday is worried about drainage possible damage to the root system of a massive valley oak and the loss of privacy and sunlight from 38-foot-tall residential buildings that would loom over her house “The (proposed) units are three stories facing my two stories and my two stories are solid windows,” she said Lattin said a proposal during a Jan. 21 Planning Commission hearing to use landscaping to screen the development seemed “kind of laughable.” Debbie Cossi is concerned about construction-related pollution running off into Spring Creek She also questions whether fire trucks will be able to access the subdivision via the single entryway along Spring Street Nina McDonald said she and her husband lost a home to wildfire in Calistoga so they know firsthand the importance of fire safety plans would have great difficulty maneuvering and turning around on the projects' roads and would also have limited access into individual homes,” McDonald said “Speedy evacuations of a large and concentrated number of residents in such a small neighborhood would also prove extremely difficult.” with a little creek forming during heavy rains Dense construction will produce even more runoff She would prefer two-story apartment buildings to three-story townhomes but why do those have to be three stories?” she said “Three stories there would be heartbreaking “Under state density bonus law the site allows for up to 142 homes with no height limit,” he said “Our proposal includes the minimum density and we are 4 feet below the City’s allowable height limit for the high-density residential zone.” He said the project is designed to cater to young families in the “missing middle” of the real estate market Helena’s City Council and Planning Commission have highlighted this issue for years and we’re looking forward to collaborating with them to deliver the town’s housing goals,” Barnett said He said Spring Grove is consistent with St Helena’s housing element and objective design standards “We have heard a lot of thoughtful feedback but calling this site overly dense and overly tall or pointing to online ratings is manufacturing issues to distract from the reality that the project is not only fully compliant with local and state laws but a much smaller project than what was envisioned here including seven homes fewer than what the City counted toward its Regional Housing Needs Assessment,” Barnett said California laws intended to promote housing construction have significantly reduced the ability of local governments to judge housing projects based on subjective criteria such as neighborhood opposition Planning commissioners Autumn Anderson and Sue Furdek recently attended a Planning Commissioners Academy organized by the League of California Cities “one of the biggest takeaways was how the state is continuing to take a more active role in shaping local housing policy.” “New laws were designed to prevent local governments from rejecting compliant housing projects and to restrict cities’ ability to deny or delay projects based on subjective factors,” Anderson said “The priority is clear: increasing housing production.” “As the state continues tightening control over housing policy it is more important than ever for residents to understand what these laws require and where the city does and does not have discretion,” Anderson said Helena posted a Frequently Asked Questions document on its website explaining how the new legal constraints pertain to Spring Grove The city can’t downzone the Spring Grove site to medium-density residential due to a state law that prohibits governments from amending zoning and land-use designations in a way that would reduce the allowable density that was in place as of Jan The Spring Grove site is subject to that law because it’s been zoned high-density since the 1990s prevents local governments from rejecting projects that comply with the “objective standards” of local general plans and zoning ordinances That rules out personal or subjective judgments by public officials that aren’t based on an “external and uniform benchmark or criterion,” according to the city SB 330 does allow exceptions for projects that violate state or federal law or would impact public health and safety in a way that cannot be mitigated There’s also an exception for governments that have already met their Regional Housing Needs Allocation the state Department of Housing and Community Development has shown that it’s willing to use St Helena’s housing element as leverage to force the city to approve housing projects — especially on properties like Spring Grove that are listed as “housing opportunity sites.” In 2023 during hearings about the 87-unit Hunter project HCD linked the project’s fate with the agency’s consideration of St Based on a letter from HCD supporting the Hunter project city officials got the message that rejecting Hunter could jeopardize the housing element The City Council reluctantly approved the project’s tentative map and the state housing department approved the housing element In 2024 HCD revoked its certification of the housing element when the city missed a deadline to rezone various “housing opportunity sites.” The rezoning of a vineyard on Spring Street — just down the street from the Spring Grove site — sparked objections from neighbors who said it was unsuitable for high-density development but council members said it was the only way to appease the state housing agency Not having a certified housing element can expose the city to lawsuits and allow developers to use the “builder’s remedy” to push through projects that don’t conform to local regulations That “builder’s remedy” came into play in the Los Angeles County city of La Cañada Flintridge a court forced the city to process an application for a high-density housing project and hotel that had been filed before HCD had approved the city’s housing element Even cities that do have a certified housing element can find themselves in court the Housing Action Coalition and the law firm Farella Braun and Martel sued the East Bay city of Lafayette saying its state-approved housing element had proposed “misleading and unrealistic housing sites,” including a CVS pharmacy that was under a long-term lease Helena’s emphasis on the constraints posed by state law is frustrating some neighbors “It feels like there should something we should do,” Cossi said Neighbor Kendra Craven recalled how the city successfully fought Safeway’s plan to move to the Adams Street property in the 1990s “Right now I feel like City Council and planning are all just rolling over it’s only because the city zoned the land to high-density residential without considering the consequences “I’m not opposed to the property being developed for housing,” she said “I wish that (local housing nonprofit) Our Town were developing it This is just an inappropriate project for that location.” The city is still processing the Spring Grove application The project will go before the Planning Commission on a date to be determined Public comments can be sent to publiccomment@cityofsthelena.gov. Comments and questions also be sent to Barnett at kbarnett@cityventures.com Neighbors of a Spring Street housing proposal say it's too big and too dense but the city's hands might be tied by state law Helena council member Eric Hall the same day agents served a search warrant at the Upper Valley Disposal Service facility Read more stories about the federal investigation at pdne.ws/3wEIQko The FBI visited the home of St. Helena council member Eric Hall Aug according to a document obtained by The Press Democrat The visit came on the same day federal agents served a search warrant at the Upper Valley Disposal Service facility at 1285 Whitehall Lane Hall is married to former Upper Valley Disposal Service chief operating officer Christy Pestoni. Neither was immediately available for comment Hall had announced he would not be seeking reelection The document obtained by The Press Democrat is a “call for service” by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office recorded about 6:30 a.m based on communication from FBI agent Anne Hawkins Hawkins did not respond to requests for comment and questions sent to the FBI’s media office were not immediately answered an FBI spokesperson confirmed via email that there had been “court authorized law enforcement activity” at the two addresses but said they were unable to confirm further details The FBI is conducting a sprawling investigation in Napa County, which has targeted some of the elite and powerful names in the county. The Upper Valley Waste Management Agency a quasi-governmental agency that oversees waste services in upper Napa County was targeted by federal subpoenas received by Napa County in December 2023 The investigation had gone quiet in recent months The call for service document stated that “a search warrant will be conducted” at the Whitehall Lane location on Stockton Street in the western part of the St The address listed is the primary residence of Hall Pestoni is listed as the owner according to online property records Workers at Upper Valley Waste Disposal previously told The Press Democrat about the Whitehall Lane search saying investigators arrived in about half a dozen cars and spent about an hour and a half removing boxes from the upstairs of the site The Upper Valley Disposal Service company operated the Clover Flat Landfill and the Whitehall Lane Upper Valley Disposal Service dump sites until recently It was founded and owned by the Pestoni family which in 2022 sold the dump sites to Waste Connections one of the largest waste management companies in the United States Christy Pestoni is now director of government affairs for Waste Connections’ local operations team The sale to Waste Connections hasn’t stopped environmental advocates neighbors and former employees from repeatedly raising concerns and issuing complaints to state regulators about the Clover Flat Landfill with regard to contamination A coalition of environmental groups on Wednesday called on local regulators to decommission the dump sites and move operations “to a safer less environmentally sensitive location than the current Cal Fire High Fire Severity Zone at the top of the Napa River watershed.” and ranked first place among the candidates with 1,215 votes he lost a two-year mayoral bid by 204 votes Helena Star that he wouldn’t be running for reelection “freeing up my seat to allow another committed candidate an opportunity to serve in my place.” Read more stories about the federal investigation at pdne.ws/3wEIQko. underwater adventures and the chance to meet the world’s oldest living land animal Here are seven unmissable experiences to have in St Helena Islands don’t get much more remote than St Helena Adrift in the middle of the South Atlantic — 1,200 miles from Africa 1,800 miles from South America — this fortress island is about as far away as one can get from the outside world it’s a miracle anyone found it in the first place Portuguese sailors were the first to land here in 1502 but the island has been British since 1659 when the East India Company installed the first governor — a post that still exists today St Helena’s natural wonders continue to attract intrepid travellers crowned by mountains and cloaked by cloud forest Here are seven ways to savour every second and the island’s 21 post box walks offer an excuse to search out its remotest corners These boxes are tucked away around the island ­— on barren headlands secluded beaches and cloud-shrouded peaks ­— and each has a stamp to prove you’ve found it Ranging from just under one mile to 7.5 miles the walks are graded out of 10: for hikes hitting the mid-level mark it’s a good idea to employ a guide to lead the way Checking off one or two hikes is straightforward enough but only the hardiest hikers complete all 21 The Diana's Peak Post Box Walk in Peaks National Park is one of 21 trails located around the island.Photograph by Ed Thorpe2 Climb Jacob's Ladder from JamestownSt Helena’s capital lined with Georgian townhouses and shaded by jacaranda trees the staircase that climbs almost vertically to Ladder Hill Fort runners race up the staircase as part of the Ladder Challenge; the current record holder reached the top in an impressive five minutes and 4.19 seconds Following Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo, the British decided it was time to be rid of the French emperor once and for all. After a 10-week voyage, Napoleon landed on St Helena on 15 October 1815 and was installed at Longwood House where he remained in exile until his death in 1821 The house contains fascinating Napoleonic memorabilia too — although Boney’s remains were repatriated to France in 1840 Sunken wrecks off the coast of St Helena are home to some of the island's most impressive marine life.Photograph by St Helena Tourism5 Discover shipwrecks on a deep-sea diveSome of St Helena’s most memorable scenery exists below the surface and their sunken remains support a menagerie of submarine life from butterfly fish and blennies to devil rays and green turtles St Helena is also one of the few places in the world where it’s possible to spot whale sharks swimming just off the coast; the creatures take a detour past the island as they migrate across the Atlantic Off-road guides such as Aaron’s Adventure Tours explore difficult-to-reach parts of the island Travellers can find themselves steering up palm-filled jungle valleys juddering down rocky ravines and crawling along wild coastline populated by cacti and prickly pears explorers might even spot the island's endemic bird known locally as the wirebird due to its long Keep an eye out for the animal’s distinctive markings — a black band runs across its forecrown and around the eyes In the grounds of the governor’s official residence visitors may come across an elderly gentleman grazing on the grass he’s a Seychelles giant tortoise and he’s thought to have hatched in 1832 — which makes him not just St Helena’s most senior citizen but also the oldest living land animal on Earth Helena city leaders will decide Tuesday whether to bring back a traditional fireworks show for the Fourth of July or opt for a lower-risk alternative amid rising fire concerns and budget constraints Helena’s Fourth of July celebration is at a crossroads After years of uncertainty fueled by rising wildfire risks and environmental concerns city leaders on Tuesday will decide whether to bring back the traditional fireworks display — or embrace a different kind of show altogether Helena canceled its planned fireworks just two days before the event after the Toll Fire broke out near Calistoga The blaze burned 40 acres and prompted a swift regional response underscoring the fire danger that often shadows summer celebrations in Wine Country face painting and live music filled Crane Park the question isn’t just whether to light up the night sky — it’s whether the cost risk and symbolism of fireworks still fit St that question has prompted a range of responses American Canyon was the only city to go forward with fireworks Yountville skipped nighttime festivities entirely the price tag for a fireworks show — including the pyrotechnics contract security and other essentials — comes to about $55,000 The city has $46,000 in its Fourth of July fund Two council members said they would back fireworks — but only if the community raises the difference but I think I would like to leave it to the community to come up with the remaining funds to have it actually happen,” said Council member Kate Spadarotto A recent city survey found that 61% of 195 total respondents said fireworks were an important part of the celebration Food trucks and local vendors were the only element that ranked higher Mayor Paul Dohring and Council member Michelle Deasy opposed the fireworks “I’m open to all the suggestions in the world I just think we need to move away from fireworks,” Dohring said at the meeting “And as painful as it is for our community that’s just my gut level sense of the whole thing.” A laser light show would cost between $20,000 and $25,000 family-friendly format used last year would come in around $15,000 to $20,000 The City Council is expected to take up the matter Tuesday evening Helena Cyclery after it was closed in early July by bike maker Trek keeping the 45-year-old community business running St. Helena Cyclery was closed for just over three weeks as it changed hands between a bicycle manufacturer and longtime owner Jake Scheideman who had sold the store just over two years ago Scheideman in 2022 sold the 45-year-old shop to Trek along with Napa Valley Vello (now Trek Bicycle Napa) When Trek announced June 20 it was closing St Helena Cyclery and consolidating business to the 145 Gasser Drive location in Napa Scheideman saw an opportunity to revive the business and keep it in the community "I called them up and asked if they were interested in me making an offer to keep the assets here and they were receptive to it," Scheideman said Scheideman purchased the shop's assets and inventory Trek helped him get the computer systems and other infrastructure back up and running Helena Cyclery started in 1979 and relocated to a few locations before its current spot at 1156 Main St but it also will be carrying some other upper-end brands but the brand of upscale mountain bikes remains to be determined The timing of the reopening aligns with the upcoming completion later this month of the Calistoga–St Helena segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail a 47-mile pedestrian and cycling path ultimately connecting Calistoga to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal who has been involved with the Vine Trail project since its inception over a decade ago sees the new trail as a boon for his business and the local community "A lot of people are talking about it from a rental or tourist visitor perspective who have quit riding on the road because they're worried about traffic are just elated and can't wait to kind of use the trail for themselves," Scheideman said The bike shop owner noted that industry conditions have changed dramatically since he sold the business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic Bikes were just flying out the door as fast as we could buy and build them and then the whiplash effect of COVID affected the bike industry pretty hard." Scheideman is optimistic about the shop's future "I can't imagine how difficult this would be if I was starting from scratch with no knowledge of anything Reach him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256 according to a note posted at the entrance on Monday Helena announced its closure on Monday after just over a year in business “The original vision and current focus have changed,” according to a note posted at the entrance and on social media “We thank our loyal customers and dedicated employees who contributed to making NO|MA House so special and sometimes life’s circumstances lead us in new directions We promise to keep you updated on whatever comes next.” Ann Backen opened NO|MA House in September 2023 Its concept of food and retail was unique in St Helena: a coffee shop and café combined with artisan goods When NO|MA House – the name is an abbreviation of North Main – opened at 1429 Main St Backen described it as a “living lab” offering “food for nourishment education for knowledge and thoughtful design.” “We’ve mixed all of these things that you generally see siloed,” she told the St “You go to a restaurant and it’s just a restaurant You go to a design store and it’s just a design store You go to the movies and it’s just the movies NO|MA House’s closing coincided with Wednesday’s soft opening of a new coffee shop around the corner at the former location of the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co A Napa Valley 10 Questions: She created a café and retail collective in St Protests will take place in Napa and across the Bay Area on Thursday as part of what are expected to be over 900 nationwide demonstrations for May Day The measure would enable a 56-room resort planned for the Charles Krug Winery to move forward and essentially circumvent the city’s standard review process as voters remain sharply divided over the proposal to allow a 56-room resort at Charles Krug Winery to bypass the typical city review process results from the Napa County Elections Division show 83.7% of the vote counted with 50.5% opposing the measure — just 32 votes more than those in favor The Press Democrat will rely on information from election officials before determining if the measure passes or fails as not everyone who received a ballot will have voted certified election results are scheduled to be released Dec The project — from Noble House Hotels & Resort the owners of the Napa Valley Wine Train — is proposed for an 8 1/2-acre parcel at the winery Supporters of the measure have said that the city would be able to reap the economic and financial benefits — the city currently has a $7 million budget deficit — from the project sooner should the measure pass That’s because the standard city review process can take years to complete those opposed to the measure have argued the normal process is needed to properly evaluate the project on environmental and other grounds and other supporters of Measure B look at early returns on his phone during a Yes on B party at Ana's Cantina Measure B trailed by 17 votes and was still too close to call A rendering of the proposed Noble House hotel at Charles Krug Winery Ballot measure proposing a real property transfer tax and a hotel in St Helena ballot measures proposing a hotel at Charles Krug Winery and a real property transfer tax each trailed in early returns trailed with 687 no votes (51.2%) and 656 yes votes (48.8%) according to early returns posted by the Napa County Election Division after 12:30 a.m A1 had 702 no votes (53.0%) and 623 yes votes (47.0%) A2 had 760 no votes (57.1%) and 571 yes votes (42.9%) Becoming a charter city is a prerequisite to St noted that both measures are trailing by a gap that seems insurmountable but confident that as the new City Council is seated and gets to work on the budget that fiscal realities will be addressed in a responsible fashion," Hardy said The next results will be released Friday afternoon according to Registrar of Voters John Tuteur They will include several thousand vote-by-mail ballots returned in the final days via mail and at drop boxes and vote center the company that owns the Napa Valley Wine Train and proposed Measure B hosted an election night party at Ana’s Cantina CEO Jamie Colee and other supporters anxiously checked their phones as they waited for results to be posted “It's early,” Colee said shortly after 8 p.m We had great momentum toward the end of this and we're going to remain positive." The outlook for Measure B got worse as election night continued with the gap growing from 17 votes at 8:01 p.m Colee said the campaign helped him learn "what makes people tick" in St "Sometimes we didn't get our message across the right way," he said "Sometimes our words were twisted we didn't intend In some cases maybe we could have said our message in a different way so it wasn't misunderstood." He said he tried to give people accurate information about a "smart project." "This project is a win-win for so many people and the city itself," Marquez said before the results were announced Helena’s most controversial ballot initiative in recent memory It would approve Noble House’s plan to build a roughly 56-room luxury resort on fallow land at Charles Krug Winery Supporters said the hotel would provide a new revenue stream for a city that faces a substantial structural deficit attract more customers to local stores and restaurants Helena catch up to neighboring cities like Calistoga Yountville and Napa that have experienced the economic benefits of new lodging The hotel would generate $1.8 million a year in transient occupancy taxes for the city during its first five years and the unusual process by which the hotel came before voters The applicants propose using on-site wells to serve the hotel but an impartial analysis by the city questioned whether that was compatible with the county’s groundwater policies Some supporters of Measure B suggested that the hotel should try to hook up to the city’s water system instead Noble House proposes to build at least 50 workforce housing units on land it owns along the railroad tracks at Fulton Lane The city’s analysis questioned the feasibility of housing on that site but Noble House representatives said workforce housing is essential to their business plan The company has built workforce housing near its other resorts in environmentally sensitive places like the Florida Keys and Jackson Hole Noble House collected enough signatures to get Measure B on the ballot instead of going through the traditional city planning process which would require hearings in front of the Planning Commission and City Council Noble House supplied its own environmental reports but opponents said the project should have gone through the city’s usual vetting process That usually involves environmental reports paid for by the applicant but directed by city staff concessions to offset a project’s impact on city services and a development agreement approved by the City Council All five members of the City Council endorsed Measure B Measure A2 would impose a real property transfer tax of 1.5% on transactions between $1 million and $5 million and 3% on transactions over $5 million Transactions of under $1 million would be exempt Helena into a charter city and grant it the ability to impose the transfer tax the city estimated the tax would generate about $4.8 million a year although the amount would fluctuate based on the real estate market The tax would help close what city officials say is a $7 million structural deficit in St Supporters sometimes called it the “least worst” of the various revenue options available to the city Critics questioned the city’s revenue estimate and said the tax would put a heavy burden on a small sliver of the population although the cost could be shifted to the buyer when the sale is negotiated The National Association of Realtors funded a campaign against A1 and A2 Sue Furdek worked on the pro-A1/A2 campaign we'll all have to come together to address the issues and address our budget shortfalls," she said on election night before the first results were announced It will be super-incumbent on the new council to address those quickly and make some tough decisions." You can reach Jesse Duarte at 707-967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com The junior topped her breakout season with a fourth-place finish at the state championships Helena High School is quietly building a wrestling powerhouse in northern Napa County who put together one of the best seasons in both school and North Bay history this season who also plays football and softball for the Saints compiled an impressive record of 41-4 on the year She topped her season with a fourth-place finish at the state championships in Bakersfield last month as the sixth seed in her 145-pound weight class It was a dramatic improvement from the previous year when she didn’t make it past day two at the state meet For her standout season that ended with a podium finish at state Hernandez is the 2024-2025 Press Democrat girls wrestler of the year “It’s really exciting,” Hernandez said of the recognition I didn’t think I would be here freshman year It’s a pretty big difference to be winning a majority of my matches when as a sophomore I won two-thirds of my matches and as a freshman only a half.” finishing first at six tournaments that included the Goddess of War Dennis Solis Invitational and Brittany David events She also finished fourth at the always-tough Napa Valley Girls Classic Hernandez went undefeated in the 145-pound category She followed that up with a North Central league I championship before running through her North Coast Section tournament bracket with three straight pins and a majority decision Hernandez said her favorite match came as part of the team competition in the duals season “We had a home dual against Kelseyville,” Hernandez recalled “I was able to wrestle in front of all my friends who is now in the middle of softball season for the Saints will spend her time doing weight training over the summer for the fall football season while also participating in club wrestling she’ll be back wrestling one final season for St You can reach Staff Writer Kienan O’Doherty at 415-887-8650 or kienan.odoherty@pressdemocrat.com Helena voters will elect two new City Council members in Tuesday’s election and decide whether to reelect the current mayor For The Press Democrat’s Voter Guide, including links to stories and endorsements, go to election.pressdemocrat.com/guide Helena voters will determine two new City Council members in Tuesday’s election with no incumbents running for those seats The city’s voters will also decide on whether to reelect its current mayor Aaron Barak and Hector Marroquin are the three newcomers seeking council seats — and none have prior experience as an elected official Voters have been asked to select two candidates and the top two vote-getters will be elected to the City Council for four-year terms He said he’s focused on improving the city’s financial stability as well as supporting local businesses and families Helena Masonic Temple Association nonprofit and has a working background in food and wine He said he thinks his professional background and history in the city would help him make informed judgments about issues facing the city “Challenges and issues that face our community tend to be circular in nature,” he said Marroquin added that building affordable housing in the city is a major goal of his He would like the city to give city-owned vacant land to Our Town St to facilitate new affordable rental housing in the city “That is an immediate first step toward positive progress,” Marroquin said in an email we need a ‘housing strategy’ put down on paper with achievable goals and deadlines We need to work with local property owners who own land within the city limits to be a part of this team and vision.” said she is running for the council because she’s interested in the various problems facing the city and she’d like to contribute to the place where she’s raising her three children Helena Striders walking group and volunteer coaching local youth sports she currently serves as president of the city’s library board and previously served on the city’s parks and recreation commission Deasy identified the city’s financial issues — the city currently has a structural general fund budget deficit of about $7 million — and water quality cost and sustainability as pressing problems that need to be tackled She said she’d like to see the city explore regional water partnerships to secure sustainable water resources in the long-term along with reducing the high local cost of water Deasy said revenue generation is important but she wants to see more attention paid to delivering city services efficiently Deasy also said she feels strongly that St Helena needs to look beyond its current problems and think about the future — including how the community and school district will remain vibrant given the city’s declining population Deasy — who is executive director of QA Commons a nonprofit that works to prepare students for workforce employment — said she is in favor of attracting jobs and industries to the city that are “future-focused,” allow residents to earn a living wage and provide youth opportunities for upward mobility but we are losing residents and we’re losing school enrollment and those are threats to our community” Deasy said at an Oct said he thinks the city is at a point where the bar needs to be raised on local government particularly when it comes to fiscal responsibility and transparency “We kind of have a bit of a general malaise where we feel a little defeated here in town,” Barak said “We’ve seen Yountville and Calistoga kind of zoom past us and secure their revenue future and their water future we’ve got a problem and we need to get serious about it.” Barak is currently the chief technology officer for Solano County and he previously worked for Silicon Valley Bank he said he’s already well-versed in how modern governments maximize value without imposing additional taxes Barak estimates the council could work to reduce city spending by $1 million through operational improvements and more efficient staffing But he’s proposed a means of “sharing the burden” to raise millions in additional funding Barak also is proposing a reduction in the real estate transfer tax the St expected to raise about $4.8 million annually which he estimated would reduce revenues by about half Barak said he’d like the city to join a countywide water agency an idea being explored by the Local Agency Formation Commission of Napa County to help reduce costs the high cost of water is pushing middle class people out of St which is causing an impact on the community and school district Helena’s mayoral race is between the city’s current mayor who is seeking reelection at the end of his first two-year term and a current council member who is still in his first four-year term served eight years on the City Council prior to being elected mayor in 2022 when he won with 54.16% of the vote against fellow council member Eric Hall — a margin of 132 votes won his first term on the City Council in that 2022 race He received the second-most votes of three candidates with 25.55% well below the 1,269 votes — about 55% of the vote — won by then-incumbent Anna Chouteau but 130 votes above candidate Amy Beaudine a land use and real estate attorney for 36 years and a Napa Valley resident for about 34 years describes himself as an “old-school” politician with public service as one of his core values “The sense of giving back to your community especially folks who come from more humble circumstances.” Dohring added that he believes the city has a “fairly cohesive” City Council that’s been committed to working toward eight set goals — including strengthening the city’s fiscal resilience isn’t long enough to see the work that’s gone into those goals pay off given the extent of services it provides for its population of about 5,000 people But maintaining economic sustainability while continuing to provide the service demanded by the community is difficult and has led to the budget issues the city’s currently facing “I don’t think folks want to let go of what they have,” Dohring said “And so then the burden falls back on government leaders to try and figure out a way to do that.” Dohring said he thinks the City Council probably underserved the community in the past by underinvesting in areas like water infrastructure that have emerged as major problems in recent years Infrastructure problems tend to be hidden from plain view Helena is certainly not alone in discovering such problems and then needing funds to make repairs or upgrades But there’s a need to rebuild trust in the community “I think I can help bridge that gap in our community,” Dohring said “I’m sure there are folks who look at me and go ‘hey but they know what they’re going to get with me I’m not an empty suit and I don’t make empty promises.” cinematographer and former professional snowboarder who has been a St He also co-founded The Herbivore cannabis dispensary in Napa — his LinkedIn profile identifies him as a “Dream Leader” for the company since 2018 Summers said his campaign is largely focused on a need for more transparency an issue he said connects with the city’s various other problems “We’ve got financial and budgetary issues that are just beyond what’s been held and grasped and watched,” Summers said Summers — who also previously served on the city’s parks and recreation commission — said he’s still new to politics but he’s a fast learner and public service has become his passion To help improve transparency — and counterbalance what he sees as the council’s overreliance on city staff — he’s advocated for the creation of a citizen-led financial oversight committee and a water and wastewater committee “We have to be transparent and honest about what’s going on so that we can fix the problem as a community,” Summers said “We can’t hide behind the old closed doors of governance.” The mayoral seat and two city council seats were up for grabs in St Click here for The Press Democrat’s full voter guide for the 2024 general election Incumbent Paul Dohring has defeated challenger and fellow city council member Billy Summers to retain his position as the mayor of St With 76.7% of the total potential vote counted by Monday afternoon The final certified count will be released Dec Dohring listed the priority areas for his next term: managing city costs advancing wildfire preparedness and creating more workforce housing “and giving me this opportunity to serve.” Dohring was first elected mayor for a two-year term in 2022 after being on the City Council for eight years won his first four-year term on the City Council in 2022 Helena City Council also had two seats up for grabs this election and three new candidates none of whom have prior experience as elected officials With 76.7% of the total potential vote counted Aaron Barak had 36.65% and Hector Marroquin was at 25.34% “I’m thrilled with the results,” said Deasy “and very honored to have received those votes I'm just preparing myself to work hard and listen hard and make good decisions.” has a five-member City Council that is elected at-large A land use and real estate attorney and a longtime Napa Valley resident 63-year-old Dohring describes himself as an “old-school” politician with public service as one of his core values Dohring beat fellow council member Eric Hall by 132 votes to become mayor he wants to see the work he and the rest of the City Council put in over the last two years pay off the council has been working toward eight set goals — including strengthening the city’s fiscal resilience improving infrastructure and pursuing water security But maintaining economic sustainability while continuing to provide the services demanded by the community is difficult he said there’s a need to rebuild trust in the community and not overpromise cinematographer and former professional snowboarder He also co-founded The Herbivore cannabis dispensary in Napa Summers’ campaign was largely focused on a need for more transparency To help improve transparency — and counterbalance what he sees as the council’s overreliance on city staff — he advocated for the creation of a citizen-led financial oversight committee and a water and wastewater committee Summers served on the city’s parks and recreation commission Currently the chief technology officer for Solano County he previously worked for Silicon Valley Bank His major campaign planks included working toward greater fiscal responsibility and tackling the city’s water problems he proposed greater operational efficiency and an elaborate means of “sharing the burden” to raise millions in additional funding This included a parcel tax to fund the library 0.25% increments for the city’s sales and business license taxes and a 1% local increase in Transient Occupancy Tax assessed on hotel rooms Barak said in his campaign that he’d like the city to join a countywide water agency to help reduce costs a nonprofit that works to prepare students for workforce employment she is big on attracting jobs and industries to the city that are “future-focused” and provide youth opportunities for upward mobility the city’s budget deficit and water quality cost and sustainability are the most pressing problems that need to be tackled she feels the city needs to be thinking about its declining population His election planks included improving the city’s financial stability supporting local businesses and families and building affordable housing in the city You can reach Tarini Mehta at 707-521-5337 or tarini.mehta@pressdemocrat.com A Bay Area development company wants to build 41 townhomes on near Spring Street in St A Bay Area development company wants to build 41 townhomes on a 2.5-acre site near Spring Street City Ventures submitted a preliminary application to the city in November The Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to hold a study session about the project in late January so the proponents can get early feedback from commissioners and the public Community Development Director Maya DeRosa said the so-called Spring Grove project will require public hearings in front of the Planning Commission and the City Council because it requests a tentative subdivision map The project site is made up of three parcels bordered by Spring Street Saint James Drive and the Wallis Court subdivision far below the minimum required by the zoning (The site isn’t visible from the street; the existing houses fronting Spring Street are on their own lots and aren't part of the project.) The site is split between high-density residential and medium-density residential zoning City Ventures plans to build the townhomes on the high-density lot and use the medium-density lot for a new road connecting the site to Spring Street The density of 16.2 units per acre is at the low end of the high-density range of 16.1 to 28 units per acre Eight of the proposed townhouses would be deed-restricted affordable housing for households with moderate incomes The 41 townhomes would be distributed among six buildings with each unit ranging from 1,480 to 1,810 square feet Helena's Housing Element lists the property as "underutilized" and one of nine privately owned sites in town that could accommodate more housing This is the biggest housing project proposed in St The council grudgingly approved that project’s tentative map in 2023 citing unprecedented pressure from state housing authorities and new California laws that limit local restrictions on housing Those factors also came into play in April when neighbors objected to the high-density rezoning of a vineyard property on Spring Street City officials said not doing so would jeopardize the certification of St Helena’s Housing Element and expose the city to lawsuits and the “builder’s remedy,” which gives developers broad latitude to exceed local development standards which is owned by a Yountville-based trust City Ventures specializes in market-rate housing for the “missing middle,” including young families and first-time home buyers All public hearings on the project will be announced via legal advertisements in the St Helena Star and by letters to property owners within 300 feet of the site This story has been corrected since the original posting to reflect that City Ventures' office is in San Francisco 2025 at 5:40 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Dr Helena is leaving for the same role at the city of Healdsburg Helena made an announcement Thursday about the departure of April Mitts who served with "dedication and distinction for 10.5 years." Mitts started as finance director in November 2014 advanced to administrative services director in June 2021 and was appointed to the position of assistant city manager in June 2022 Mitts was "instrumental in numerous important projects and initiatives that significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for residents and ensuring that all city staff have the training support and organizational leadership they need to succeed in their roles." administrative services and city operations has been "exemplary earning her the respect and admiration of colleagues and community members alike," city officials said and unmatched work ethic have greatly benefited our community,” said Mayor Paul Dohring “She has been a key player in many of our initiatives and her departure is a significant loss for St Having worked with April for over 10 years I know first-hand that she has been an invaluable member of our City’s leadership team I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to April for her many years of dedicated loyal service to our City and wish her success in her new position.” City Manager Anil Comelo said Mitts has been a vital member of the team "contributing significantly to the effectiveness of staff and externally in her work with the City’s boards and commissions." "Her leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact we wish her all the best in her new role," Conilo said "Her ability to navigate the complexities of local government and drive positive change has been invaluable “It has been an honor to serve the residents and staff of City of St “I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had here and I look forward to bringing my knowledge and passion to the City of Healdsburg I will always cherish my time in City of St The support and collaboration from my colleagues and the many residents I have worked with informally and on various committees has been invaluable I am proud of what we have accomplished together and I look forward to continuing to visit St walking along Main Street and enjoying some of my favorite shops Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The new figure for the 8-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail segment represents a 28% increase over original projections including a $420,000 bump approved in December The cost to construct the 8.2-mile segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail from Calistoga to St owing in part to an inaccurate forecast of funding needs by the Napa Valley Transportation Authority The total cost of the trail segment, which opened to the public in August has jumped 28% over roughly the past two years from an original projection of $13.2 million to now $16.96 million Reasons given by the authority for the increases include construction delays related to work on a Pacific Gas & Electric Co previously said much of the work to replace the gas pipeline had been completed by June 2022 before the Vine Trail project broke ground in July 2022 The most significant increase, $1.9 million approved by the transportation authority’s board in September went to settle a claim about time-related compensation costs with Santa Rosa-based Ghilotti Construction Co. and to close out the construction contract 18 board meeting of the transportation authority was needed to repair recent storm damage and pay Ghilotti for carrying out an “extensive punch list of items” at the end of construction that were beyond the original scope of the contract He said staff had underestimated in September the additional costs of the extra did not accurately forecast the budget needs,” Bailey said at the December meeting The increase also covers disputed extra work items carried out by Ghilotti which Bailey said have partial merit for payment The latest funding allocation is covered by money from Regional Measure 3 — an increase to Bay Area bridge tolls that voters approved in 2018 to raise funds for highway and transit improvements Past increases were split between project stakeholders Calistoga and the nonprofit Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition Much of the cost overrun could end up being filled by a roughly $3 million claim submitted by the transportation authority to PG&E in September that contends the utility company is responsible for causing delays and cost overruns on the trail project because of unforeseen underground utility conflicts and utility replacement work If the claim is successful — it’s expected to be in review for a year — the authority will reimburse stakeholders for their additional contributions The new $420,000 cost bump would also be backfilled by that possible funding should the claim succeed allowing for the bridge toll money to be used for other purposes who sits on the city council in American Canyon said at the December meeting that some bridge toll funding is set to go toward transportation projects for the city and the use of the funds for the Vine Trail could impact the funding that’s available for such projects But he added that the vine trail segment is “really important.” “Just everything that could go wrong went wrong Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInST (WAFB) - An elderly woman was killed in a house fire in St according to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office The fire happened on Pat Lane just outside of the Hillsdale community The body of the woman was located in a bedroom at the home The identity of the victim and her cause of death have not been released the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office said the victim is believed to have been an 86-year-old Officials said the home where the deadly fire happened did not have a working smoke alarm Click here to report a typo Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox A 2,235-square-foot house built in 1954 has changed hands The spacious property located at 116 Pratt Avenue in St The $1,875,000 purchase price works out to $839 per square foot This house offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths The property is equipped with a heating system and central A/C the home comes with an attached four-car garage allowing for convenient vehicle storage and additional storage space Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include: the school district has introduced a new program that will allow high schoolers to better prepare for post graduation the district says this will increase the chance for student’s success post graduation.  and transportation and logistics are all realms of the career world that learners at the St Helena College And Career Academy are getting a jump start on the school district is partnering with iCEV to enhance career and technical education says this is a game-changer for the district "The end goal is to basically minimize the access and opportunity gap here in St our learners can focus on career fields and opportunities so they're able to earn those work based opportunities and credentials that will help them succeed post secondary." The online program allows students to earn credentials in specific career areas giving them a competitive edge when entering the job market or applying for college programs.   Helena has 154 high schoolers enrolled in this course "Not all of our certifications will come from this program and our learners will be able to continue to minimize that access and opportunity gap with this program," Brown said Those other certifications will come from hands-on experience which is also provided by the school district with volunteers and paid internships Students can get job experience working at the St Helena Arts & Technology Academy and Early Learning Center as well as at a PJ's Coffee house set up on their high school campus that's able to get credit hours and work service hours and that way they're learning that day to day work based information," Brown said The district says the goal is to properly set up its learners for the real world.  "We want to make sure all of our learners are successful no matter what their post secondary opportunity is," Brown said The district said it will continue to take steps to ensure their students are prepared to compete on a global scale letting people know the department was no longer taking calls for service Fire officials said the department actually stopped taking calls on Oct Not being able to… hearing the tone go off and hearing them having to page another district… is nauseating,” St Helena Fire District Four Chief Bradley Graves said Graves said he was a part of building the fire district up more than 20 years ago adding the department started taking calls in 2001 "It was like 34 calls a year," Graves said with District Four now responding to between 1300 and 1400 calls for service each year Graves said District Four is the only department in the parish to have paid professional firefighters as well as medics and EMTs He said District Four had a deal with the parish to provide rescue and EMS services to the entire parish Graves said District Four's budget has largely remained the same over the years the district learned their insurance was to increase “Insurance rates doubled two years ago they went from $28,000 to $58,000 to $102,000,” he said Graves said he took his concerns to the St “This conversation started in April and it’s been going on until now,” Graves said “We’re trying to work on a couple grants through the parish and we’re working through OEP on a couple grants but we haven’t gotten the final word and that’s kind of the hold up.” Graves said he need around $30,000 to make it to the end of the year and would be able to pay the money back in February Graves has had to get rid of employees and District Four cannot operate without insuring their equipment and vehicles “The big ticket item in the insurance package that we had was the vehicle insurance and it was a 600-percent odd increase,” Graves said “When you’re dealing with a 300-thousand dollar truck the liability insurance on a 300-thousand dollar truck the consequences are more than just longer call response times They could see an increase in the cost of homeowner's insurance if District Four shuts down indefinitely Some of Graves' nightmares are coming true. Earlier this month, there was a fire less than seven minutes from his station in another district Graves could not take a firetruck out to help “I was literally standing next to a running fire truck get in the Tahoe and go and then sit for five minutes before one of their trucks showed up I’m still having nightmares,” Graves said Helena Parish Police Jury have not responded to requests for comment Other fire districts in the parish have also made posts about District Four's situation "Good afternoon residents of Hillsdale Fire Dept As many of you may have heard that Dist 4 is not running any calls at this time due to lack of insurance coverage I want our residents to know we are fully covered and responding to calls in our dist We will also be helping if there is a fire in dist 4 area if we can and or have personnel available Remember we are all volunteers and work full time jobs in this dept was unanimously appointed this week to fill a vacant seat on the St where she will help address the city’s $7 million budget deficit who is also a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty will serve the remaining two years of the term previously held by Anna Chouteau Her appointment comes as the city explores solutions to its structural budget shortfall including potential revenue measures following the failure of last year’s transfer tax ballot initiative Spadarotto highlighted her leadership experience including serving as president of the North Bay Association of Realtors in 2024 and as a director of the California Association of Realtors since 2020 The North Bay association opposed last year’s unsuccessful ballot measure that would have created a tax on transfers of real estate Spadarotto was selected over two other applicants: Hector Marroquin who ran unsuccessfully for the council last year a former council member who served from 2008 to 2016 The three candidates were interviewed by the council Jan Council members cited Spadarotto’s financial expertise and collaborative approach as key factors in their decision and who’s the best player for this season that’s coming up financial financial,” council member Billy Summers said Mayor Paul Dohring expressed a preference for Crull due to her past experience on the council but voiced confidence in Spadarotto’s ability to succeed “I do not want to see this council in this city repeat the mistakes of the past,” Dohring said you have to learn and you have to live by experience.” New council members Michelle Deasy and Aaron Barak were strong advocates for Spadarotto’s appointment Her experience is “extremely impressive,” Deasy said noting Spadarotto’s “willingness to listen and work as a team.” Barak appreciated Spadarotto’s commitment to run for the seat in 2026 “I think what we’re going to be dealing with here is going to be extending beyond two years,” Barak said AMITE - A suspect was arrested after a triple homicide Thursday Deputies said they were dispatched to "an apparent triple homicide" around 4:39 p.m No information was given regarding regarding identities or the incident Remodeling is underway in the former Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co Last week Carl and Heather Dene posted a sign outside the former Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co announcing that the "new refreshed community coffee shop" would be opening in November The Denes bought and revitalized Calistoga's Brannan Cottage Inn and opened Sam's General Store on the same site Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. closed in August after 33 years in business at the corner of Oak Avenue and Adams Street The building is being remodeled inside and out Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley roasts coffee beans at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley performs a dry smell of ground coffee during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley tastes coffee during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley is seen roasting coffee beans at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Roast masters apprentice Michele Austin is seen working at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Coffee beans are seen cooling after being roasted at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Ohm Coffee Roasters lead barista Adriana Caldera scoops coffee beans to be weighed and bagged at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley prepares to taste coffee during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday and manager Peggy Lopez-LaCrosse perform a dry smell of ground coffee during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters assistant manager Zoe Bush labels bags of coffee beans at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday A coffee flavor profile wheel is seen at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday A cup filled with hot Ohm Coffee Roasters coffee that will be used during the cupping process is seen at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters owners Derek Bromley and Jennifer Knight pose for a photograph at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Coffee beans are seen being roasted at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley makes notes during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley smells coffee beans that are being roasted at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Cups filled with dry Ohm Coffee Roasters coffee that will be used during the cupping process is seen at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday Ohm Coffee Roasters assistant manager Zoe Bush and lead barista Adriana Caldera are seen working at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday A large sack of coffee beans are seen at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Ohm Coffee Roasters owner Derek Bromley performs a wet smell of ground coffee during the cupping process at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Tuesday bags of coffee beans are seen at the Ohm production facility and tasting lab in Napa on Monday Helena customers are disappointed by the closing of the town's oldest coffee shop the new assistant city manager in Healdsburg where she was also the assistant city manager Healdsburg has hired April Mitts as its new assistant city manager nationwide search to replace Andrew Sturmfels who moved to a role in Sonoma County government in January where she is currently serving in the same role .. Helena on April 23 and begin her job in Healdsburg on April 28 starting as the city’s financial director in November 2014 and administrative services director in June 2021 before becoming assistant city manager in June 2022 Mitts was selected as Healdsburg’s assistant city manager from a field of 70 candidates because of her “depth of experience in municipal operations in a city similar in size and demographics,” Healdsburg leaders noted in a press release “April brings an outstanding combination of experience technical expertise and leadership to this position,” Healdsburg City Manager Jeff Kay said “I have been particularly impressed with her community-focused approach to public service and I look forward to her making a very positive impact on the city and our organization.” Healdsburg has nearly three times as many residents as St says the cities are very similar in character and needs including having to focus on fire and drought resiliency “I hope to make a seamless transition this side of the hill.” Mitts also said Healdsburg’s projects are attractive describing the city’s development as “strategic,” adding “There’s a lot of momentum going on in Healdsburg.” Known for her institutional knowledge of St Helena Mayor Paul Dohring praised Mitts’ “strategic thinking I know firsthand that she has been an invaluable member of our city’s leadership team,” Dohring said While she’ll miss the executive team and staff too Mitts says she’s ready to hit the ground running in Healdsburg at the end of April “My goal is to make the city manager look good make the city council look good and to be a utility player.” She’s also ready to focus and bring city departments together for more strategic collaboration but also hold department heads accountable I really like to play that facilitation role,” Mitts said Mitts will start at the top step of the salary schedule the base salary for the assistant city manager position starts at $197,352 Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218 The spacious property located at 1582 Arrowhead Drive in St The $2,500,000 purchase price works out to $1,006 per square foot has an interior space of 2,485 square feet The layout of this single-story house includes three bedrooms and one bath The property is situated on a lot spanning 0.4-acre Other houses have recently been sold nearby: The property located at 1600 Adams Street in St The $1,790,000 purchase price works out to $1,534 per square foot has an interior space of 1,167 square feet The property is situated on a lot spanning 4,235 square feet Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include: Helena Drama presents "West Side Story" March 14-23 Helena Drama's production of 'West Side Story' March 14-23 Tickets are now on sale for Saint Helena Drama's production of "West Side Story" March 14-23 Helena High School cast and crew behind "The Play That Goes Wrong" and "Grease" will present "West Side Story" with music by Leonard Bernstein book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim "West Side Story" brings to life the iconic love story adapted from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and set against the backdrop of 1950s New York City The musical follows the passionate and tragic romance of Tony and Maria two young lovers caught between two rival gangs — the Jets and the Sharks Featuring songs like “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere,” "West Side Story" is an exhilarating musical experience that blends thrilling dance unforgettable music and powerful storytelling Thirty-two students star in a production featuring choreography by Reed Davis fight choreography by Bay Area actor and stage combat expert Richard Pallaziol and musical director Craig Bond conducting a live orchestra says she brings her heart to this show that she starred in early in her professional career For a complete list of showtimes, pricing and more information, visit https://shhs.sthelenaunified.org/drama Helena Drama's "West Side Story" 30 years after playing the lead role of Maria