News Worth Mentioning – March 12, 2026
Napa County Grand Jury recruitment
Applications are being accepted for the 2026-27 Napa County Civil Grand Jury. Successful applicants will serve from July 2026 to June 2027.
The Civil Grand Jury is responsible for investigating and reporting on the operations, accounts and records of local government agencies. Grand jurors also have the power to investigate citizen complaints about local government. Service is compensated at the rate of $15 for each general meeting attended and applicable mileage. Meetings are typically in the city of Napa, and virtually by video as appropriate.
Eligible individuals must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens and Napa County residents for at least one year prior to appointment.
To learn more, view the full list of requirements, or to apply, visit: http://www.napa.courts.ca.gov/general-info/grand-jury/. For questions, call the Napa County Superior Court Executive Office at 707-299-1110.
Overnight reverse one-way traffic on SR-29 near Rutherford and Oakville
Caltrans culvert replacement and road stabilization work continues on Highway 29 between Rutherford and Oakville, with reverse one-way traffic control remaining in effect through March on Monday through Saturday between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning. The emergency project is expected to be completed in spring, according to Caltrans.
Flaggers are present and signs are posted to help the traveling public. Construction is weather dependent. Drivers should expect delays and slow-downs in the construction area to help crews stay safe. For traffic updates, follow www.511.org/ or visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
‘Pawsport’ fundraiser benefits Napa Humane
Pawsport Napa Valley, a two-month celebration of Napa Valley wines and furry friends continues through April.
Pawsports are $75 and benefit Napa Humane. Each Pawsport unlocks access to a lineup of dog-friendly wineries and complimentary wine tastings at participating wineries. Be sure to check each winery’s hours and reservation requirements before visiting.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support Napa Humane’s lifesaving spay and neuter surgeries and preventive care that reduces overpopulation and prevents suffering.
For more information or to purchase Pawsports, visit: https://napahumane.org/events/pawsport/
County needs midterm vote center workers
Napa County is recruiting vote center workers to assist voters during the June and November midterm elections. Vote centers will be located in American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.
Vote center workers can earn more than $900 for working approximately 50 to 60 hours during the three weeks leading up to the June 2 primary election. Many workers hired for the June election also return to work a similar schedule ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
To learn more or apply, visit: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/napacounty/jobs/5234894/.
For questions, contact the Napa County Election Division by calling 707-253-4321 or emailing [email protected].
Blue Skies Ahead Mentis fundraiser
Mentis, Napa Valley’s center for mental health services, invites the community to an evening of hope, connection and celebration at Blue Skies Ahead: Carnival of Lights. The gala will take place Saturday, March 14, at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in St. Helena.
Tickets are $250, and available online at https://mentis2026.givesmart.com/
Guests will be immersed in a carnival-inspired experience featuring interactive games to spark conversations around mental health, alongside culinary creations from La Saison and Joseph Phelps Executive Chef Tod Kawachi. The night will also feature live and silent auctions.
A virtual auction online is open through March 14, featuring packages including VIP golf experiences, rare large-format Napa Valley wines, gourmet dining opportunities and wine country adventures.
Dedicated to supporting the emotional health and well-being of all Napa County residents, Mentis provides bilingual, affordable mental health services to people of every age, stage and income level.
For tickets, auction access or to donate, visit www.mentisnapa.org/ Joseph Phelps Vineyards is at 200 Taplin Road, St. Helena.
Learn best practices to grow a fruit and vegetables this spring
The Parks and Recreation Department invites residents interested in growing their own food to attend a spring and summer vegetable gardening class on Sunday, March 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center.
Led by the UC Master Gardeners of Napa Valley, this hands-on class will offer practical, seasonal guidance for planting cool-season crops now and preparing for heat-loving vegetables in the months ahead. Topics include soil preparation, fertilizing, irrigation, pest management and planting schedules tailored to the local climate.
The fee to attend is $10. Seeds and plants will be provided allowing participants to practice seed sowing and transplanting during the class.
Online registration is required at https://secure.rec1.com/CA/yountville-ca/catalog/
The Yountville Community Center is at 6516 Washington St., Yountville.
Dress to impress for Oscar’s viewing party at the Local’s Lounge
Join Yountville’s Parks and Recreation Department at the Local’s Lounge at the Commons on Sunday, March 15, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. for an Oscars viewing party.
Dress for the occasion and stop by the free event to enjoy great company, watch the red-carpet moments and cheer on the Academy Award winners. Feel free to bring your own refreshments.
For more information, visit: https://ca-yountville.civicplus.com/619/Oscars-Viewing-Party/.
The Local’s Lounge is at 6554 Yount St., Yountville.
Henry Haus Blacksmith Shops open house
The Napa County Historical Society (NCHS) will open the historic Henry Haus Blacksmith Shop on Sunday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local blacksmith Ken Maxfield will provide educational demonstrations and showcase the legacy of the historic shop for visitors. The event is free and open to the public. A suggested donation of $10 is requested to support future NCHS programming. Closed-toed shoes are recommended.
For more information and to register, visit napahistory.org/events/.
Henry Haus Blacksmith Shop is located at 5850 Chiles Pope Valley Road, Pope Valley.
Climate change is underway, NVCF offers free program
Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF) is hosting a free conversation on Thursday, March 19, in Yountville with climate educator and UC Berkeley professor Andrew Isaacs who will discuss the science of climate change, its implications for our region, and potential mitigation and resilience strategies for Napa Valley.
Doors open at 5 p.m., with the program scheduled from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington St.
Register at https://www.napavalleycf.org/events/climate-change-what-the-science-is-telling-us-and-what-it-means-for-napa-in-the-years-ahead/
Fork2Film Festival returns to the Cameo
The third Annual Fork2Film Festival is returning to the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena from March 19-22. The four-day celebration highlights culinary, wine and agriculture films from around the world, paired with tastings, filmmaker Q&As and special events.
This year’s lineup includes the world premiere of “The Swirled Cup” from Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, a 30th anniversary screening of “Big Night” and a dynamic slate of narrative and documentary features exploring food culture, resilience, sustainability and community.
Individual tickets are $20 and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Rush tickets to all screenings will be available for purchase 15 minutes before each screening at $25.
For festival details and for the full lineup of events, visit: https://www.cameocinema.com/nvf2f-schedule/. Cameo Cinema is at 1340 Main St., St. Helena.
Geology and wildflower hike at Oat Hill Mine
Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District’s upcoming third Saturday Hike will be a geology and wildflower hike at Oat Hill Mine Trail in Calistoga on Saturday, March 21, at 10 a.m.
The hike will combine geology and wildflowers while highlighting Oat Hill Mine Trail. Join Sarah Clark on the steep but spectacular ramble.
To RSVP and to learn more about the series and future hikes across Napa County, visit https://napaoutdoors.org/parks/3rdsaturdayhikes/. For questions, email [email protected]. The trailhead is at 2082 Oat Hill Mine Trail, Calistoga.
¡Viva Mariachi! at Napa Valley College
The ¡Viva Mariachi! Festival at Napa Valley College returns on Saturday, March 21, with two shows: a matinee concert at 2 p.m. and an evening concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
The cultural event promotes the rich heritage and traditions of Mexico through mariachi music and music education. The festival hosts youth and student groups representing various levels of the nation’s public education institutions.
This year’s lineup includes Mariachi Las Aguilitas de Davis from Davis Bilingual Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona, LBC Mariachi Cantares de Mi Tierra and Ballet Folklórico from Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Sonoma County and Mariachi Garibaldi from Southwestern College in Chula Vista.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/2ayb844y/. NVC’s Performing Arts Center is at 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, building 100, Napa.
Nominations for Heart of Napa Valley Awards
Nominations for the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) 11th annual Heart of Napa Awards are open through Monday, March 23, at midnight.
Each year, the Heart of Napa Valley Awards shine a light on the people and programs advancing the health, equity and well-being in Napa County. $22,500 in award funds will be distributed across six award categories, honoring those driving positive, lasting change.
Categories are: Corporate Community Service, Excellence in Board Leadership, Youth Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Excellence in Leadership and Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence.
Nominations can be submitted online at: https://cvnl.org/heart-of-napa/. Self-nominations are welcome and individuals or organizations may submit nominations in multiple categories.
For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, email Linda Jacobs at [email protected].
Appellation St. Helena’s 13th Annual bASH 2026
Appellation St. Helena (ASH) will present bASH 2026, a wine and food pairing competition, on Saturday, March 28, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Held in the historic barrel room at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, bASH features wines from 20+ Appellation St. Helena wineries, paired with savory bites prepared by CIA “Rising Star” culinary students. Awards will be presented to the top three student teams, and guests are invited to be part of the experience voting for the People’s Choice Best Pairing.
Participating wineries include Anomaly Vineyards, AXR Winery, Battuello Family Vineyards, Beringer Winery, Chase Cellars, CourAvant, Crane Assembly, Davies Vineyards, Gibbs Napa Valley, Hall Wines, Mending Wall, Patent Wines, Pellet Estate, Raymond Vineyards, Saint Helena Winery, Salvestrin Vineyard & Winery, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Taplin Cellars, Titus Vineyards, Varozza, Vineyard 29 and Young Inglewood.
Tickets for bASH 2026 can be purchased at: https://bit.ly/4csmbL7.
Apply for Leadership Napa Valley’s Class 39
Applications are now open for Class 39 of Leadership Napa Valley (LNV), a long-standing community leadership program dedicated to developing, inspiring and engaging current and future leaders in Napa County.
LNV welcomes applicants from the private, public and nonprofit sectors who live or work in Napa County and are interested in strengthening their leadership skills and community involvement. Participants will gain insight into key community issues, build lasting relationships with other local leaders and collaborate on projects that create meaningful community impact.
The class will meet 16 times from August 2026 to June 2027, covering topics including tourism, agriculture, criminal and legal justice, business and economic development, government, health and human services, education, and arts and culture.
Prospective applicants are invited to attend informational sessions. The deadline to apply is April 3. For the list of sessions, or for application details, visit https://leadershipnapavalley.org/.
Camp Y-Ville summer program seeks teens councilors in training
Do you know any 13- to 16-year-olds who are looking for something fun to do part-time over the summer? Yountville’s Parks and Recreation Department is seeking applications for its Councilors in Training program for the Camp Y-Ville summer camp.
Councilors in training will learn leadership, professionalism and other. Teens will volunteer more than 100 hours and can pick their own schedules and attend pool days and field trips throughout the summer.
The fee to register is $95 for residents and $110 for non-residents. The fee is not required until the applicant is accepted into the program.
Applications are due to [email protected] by Friday, April 10. Interviews will take place the week of April 20. Accepted applicants will attend trainings from May 11 to 14, and May 29.
For more information or to fill out an application, visit https://ca-yountville.civicplus.com/519/Teen-Programs/.
UpStage seeking noir-themed plays
UpStage Napa Valley is calling all playwrights and aspiring playwrights to submit works for its 6th annual PlayFest, to be performed on three weekends beginning Oct. 9 at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena.
The local playwright festival focuses on nine 15-minute plays performed by UpStage actors. “Noir “is this year’s theme. UpStage is seeking high-stakes plots and sharp, atmospheric, tension-filled scriptswith desperate choices and the moral ambiguity that defines the noir genre.Imagine: cynical P.I.s and dangerous femme fatales, a rainy alleyway, a smoke-filled office or a dimly lit bar. The streetlights are flickering, and everyone has a secret.
Plays must be submitted by April 15. Scripts must be original and written for no more than three actors to be performed with only one set and with a performance length no longer than 15 minutes. Submit one play per playwright to [email protected] with the subject line: PlayFest 2026 Submission – (your last name). For more information, visit https://www.upstagenapavalley.org/
Register for annual Pickleball Classic
Registration is now open for UpValley Family Centers’ third annual Napa Valley Pickleball Classic on May 16 and 17 at Crane Park in St. Helena.
The tournament, hosted in partnership with St. Helena Parks and Recreation, will include free beginner pickleball clinics, food trucks and opportunities to connect with neighbors.
Players can compete in under 50 and 50+ divisions, with intermediate and advanced levels. This year there is also a new teen bracket for ages 14-17.
Funds raised through sponsorships, donations and Game Changer fundraising pages directly benefit UpValley Family Centers’ programs. Support local families by donating, sponsoring or starting a Game Changer fundraising page at: http://www.nvpc.givesmart.com/.
Register to play at http://www.cityofsthelena.gov/938/Napa-Valley-Pickleball-Classic/. Crane Park is at 360 S. Crane Ave., St. Helena.
