Out and About in the neighborhood
So, October was my birthday month and a busy one it was! Many of the events I’ll mention were well covered in previous editions of the Sun, but bear with me as I trip down memory lane.
Sharon Stensaas and I motored up to St Helena on Oct. 4 to attend Iren Jenny’s Hope’s Chest fashion show and general “cool stuff” sale, which benefits a most worthy social services organization in Napa: COPE Family Center. My vote for “wearing her new chapeau so well” went to Rita Simke.
On Oct. 6, dozens of locals listened attentively as cyber security professional Jill Williams educated us on how to prevent corporate data from getting into the wrong hands. This was yet another offering of the Yountville Parks and Recreation Golden Ticket program, providing improvement of the mind and body to our aging population.
Mitch Cosentino was a recent host of Wine Time, and it is always of educational interest to hear his take on everything vinous in the Napa Valley.
At a gathering in the home of Janet Claire-Gotch, we heard from Marisa Binder (new executive director of If Given A Chance) and Norma Magdaleno (Napa High School guidance counselor who coaches and supports If Given a Chance in her role working with the high school seniors). Marisa and Norma shared more about the program, including three points that many of us didn’t know:
● The program serves students from all over Napa County, including St. Helena, Yountville, Calistoga and American Canyon.
● If Given A Chance commits to programmatic support for a student for five years, helping students with one-on-one mentoring, peer-to-peer mentoring, mental health support and access to internships. This isn’t just a scholarship program!
● 70% of this year’s cohort of students will be the first in their families to attend a U.S. college or university.
We also heard from Jimena, a student at St. Helena High School and an If Given A Chance program participant in the newest cohort. Jimena serves as chapter vice-president for Future Farmers of America, is a varsity wrestler and an Advancement Via Individual Determination program participant. She aspires to enter politics and has just been selected to serve on a committee for Representative Mike Thompson. Her success belies a childhood marked by violence, including the loss of a brother to a drive-by shooting. If Jimena is typical of today’s teens, I say we are in good hands, and I fully intend to support If Given A Chance.
A party in the Rancho de Napa Clubhouse was supposed to be a surprise for Violet Hover, planned for over the span of two months by her daughter Crystal Hover and Sandy Fagan. However, Violet’s intention to volunteer at the wildlife refuge that day changed the format to just celebrating her milestone trip around the sun with a circus theme. The celebration was enjoyed by what seemed to include the entire Yountville Bocce Club, most of the Rancho residents and various friends from NoYo to SoYo.
I even scored 50 points in the sack toss, winning a cute tic-tac-toe device. Sharon Gmelch and I joined Violet at the photo booth to commemorate the occasion, and Liz Moffitt’s equine fur-baby, Maya, arrived to enjoy the festivities after a visit to the Blessing of the Animals.
So many happenings! Personally, my birthday was celebrated with my daughter, Erica Wiechers and son-in-law, Jason Kuykendall, over four days and included dinner at Clementine, where I was totally surprised to find some of my besties at the table, which was over the top.
Local Arik Housley wrote “Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love and Resilience.” The book is a memoir of a father’s journey through sorrow, a family’s unbreakable bond, and the redemptive power of love in the darkest of times, following the loss of his 18-year-old daughter Alaina, who was murdered in a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. Arik and his family’s Ranch Market, Too have long supported town events. Buying his book is one way to return the favor.
My former co-worker at Robert Mondavi Winery, Michael Donohue, is inviting 40 people to sign up for a blind tasting of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the 2021 vintage. The wines will be from various sub-appellations of the Napa Valley appellation, and many will likely be “single-vineyard” and “estate” wines that retail for hundreds of dollars, perhaps even more.
This event takes place at the Napa Valley College on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. All participants will be encouraged to write a brief description or winetasting note about each wine and submit along with a 100-point scale score. At about 5 p.m. the “Best 2021 Cabernet in the Napa Valley” of this tasting, will be announced. Billed as a “once in a lifetime learning experience,” the tickets are $106 per person. Contact Michael at (415) 450-5979 or [email protected] to attend.
The Michael Leonardi Foundation presents Art for Awareness this Saturday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center. Experience powerful pieces by young artists (ages 12–26) exploring hope, healing, resilience and community around the fentanyl crisis. It is free and will be held in the courtyard or inside if it rains. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.michaelleonardifoundation.org or email [email protected].
I hope you had as good a time at the Yountville Halloween Block Party on Oct. 31 as I did. I’m already looking forward to next year’s do. Larry Kamer asked the Current Events gathering to share their favorite Halloween experience, and the tales were as diverse as the class. Next time you encounter them, ask Prentiss Willson, Guy Morgan or Deborah Siebelist about road detours, non-English speakers convulsing in laughter or conning relatives into refilling candy containers.
By now surely, you’ve set your clocks back?
Cheers,
Susan
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