Napa County News in Brief

Regional Catalyst grant supports UpValley Promotoras to launch worker cooperative

The Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative announced $9 million in Catalyst grant awards for the
launch of initiatives to help build the regional economic development infrastructure in the Bay
Area. Napa County’s UpValley Family Centers proposal to incubate a worker-owned Promotora
Cooperative was one of 10 projects in the Bay Area to receive a Catalyst grant. The Catalyst
Program, part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative,
empowers communities and workers, creates quality jobs and addresses long-standing
inequalities and climate vulnerabilities.

“This project will support Latina women currently volunteering as community health workers to
enter high road quality jobs,” said Indira Lopez-Jones, program director. “These women have
served our communities through multiple crises, including wildfires and the pandemic, so that
vulnerable and disadvantaged community members received accurate health and wellness
information and resources.”

Olga Pimentel, one of nine Promotoras actively involved in the establishment of the worker-
owned cooperative, said, “This is an exciting opportunity to develop a business, while working
as a team with the same vision and goal.”

“UpValley Family Centers is proud to serve as an incubator organization, working alongside this
group of devoted Promotoras on their journey to forming their own business,” said Jenny Ocon,
executive director. “We are grateful to the Bay Area Jobs First Collaborative, and our
longstanding partner the Latino Community Foundation, for their investment in this cooperative
that is being formed and led by the Promotoras themselves.”

Napa County Civil Grand Jury seeking applicants

Applications are being accepted through April 30 to serve on the 2025-26 Napa County Civil
Grand Jury. Successful applicants will serve as grand jurors for a term beginning in July 2025
and ending June 2026.

The Civil Grand Jury is responsible for investigating and reporting on the operations, accounts
and records of local government officers and agencies. Grand jurors also have the power to
investigate citizen complaints about local government. Service as a grand juror is compensated at
the rate of $15 per general meeting attended, plus mileage.

The Grand Jury typically meets in the city of Napa and meets virtually by video as needed.
Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years of age, U.S. citizens, and residents of Napa County
for at least one year prior to appointment.

For a full list of qualifications, to learn more or to apply, visit the Napa County Superior Court website. For questions, call 707-299-1110.

County encourages measles vaccinations

With the recent rise of measles cases nationally, Napa County urges everyone to get the measles
vaccination if they are not sure if they got it or if they did not have measles as a child.
The highly contagious virus can cause serious illness and death, and the safe and highly effective
measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine offers the best protection.

Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. If an
infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus can linger indoors for several hours. Symptoms
include fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (pink eye), followed by a rash.
“Vaccinating our community against measles is not just about protecting the individual, but about
ensuring the safety of everyone, so no one is left vulnerable to this preventable disease,” said Dr.
Christine Wu, deputy director of Public Health for Napa County.

More than 300 measles cases have been reported in the U.S. as of March 14, as well as two
measles deaths – the first in the U.S. since 2015. There were five reported cases in California as
of March 11.

Allies for immigrants

UpValley Family Centers, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, On The Move Neighborhood
Initiative, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, Community Leaders Coalition of Napa
Valley and Napa Valley Community Foundation have joined forces to form Napa Valley
Together: Allies for Immigrants.

The initiative is dedicated to supporting immigrants in Napa County and advancing the rights of
everyone who lives locally through collective action and legal support. With a commitment to
foster a community where every individual is valued, empowered and supported, the group’s
mission is to uphold immigrant rights, ensure due process under the law, reduce the climate of
fear created by misinformation and safeguard the continued prosperity of the community.

A new website for the initiative has been launched and contains timely resources and ways to
take action in the community. To receive accurate information, legal resources and support visit their website.

Napa County RCD seeking gardens for tour

The Napa County Resource Conservation District is searching for gardens in Yountville and the
Napa for their annual garden tour, which is set for May 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gardens should showcase beautiful, climate-smart, and water-wise features. Both home and commercial
landscapes, which can include wineries, are eligible to be included on the tour.

One or more of the following design and functional features should be integral to the garden:

• Native habitat: native plants, pollinator gardens;
• Stormwater retention: rain gardens, rain barrels; water conservation;
• Soil health: plants that make sense, irrigation controllers and drip irrigation systems,
• compost/mulch application);
• Food security : incorporating fruit trees, vegetable gardening, seed saving and sharing;
• Waste reduction and closing the loop: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle;
• Making the most of every space: container gardens, vertical gardens.

A variety of gardens will be included on the tour. Front yards, back yards, apartment or other
rental gardens, side yards, creative turf strips, food gardens, winery landscapes, and other
corporate landscaping can all be considered. To apply to share a garden to help inspire and
educate, reach out to ashley@NapaRCD.org

Native Plant Society spring sale, show

It’s time to celebrate Earth Day and spruce up your garden with pollinator-friendly and drought-
tolerant California native plants.

The Napa Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will host its annual spring sale
and Wildflower Show on Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Napa’s Skyline Wilderness Park. Admission to the park is free during the
sale.

More than 1,000 hard-to-find native plants and 125 species will be available for sale. Whether
your garden is large or small, flat or hilly, sunny or shady, they have the plants for you. Experts
will be on hand to answer questions and help with plant selection. For more information, visit
www.napavalleycnps.org/. Skyline Wilderness Park, 2201 Imola Ave., Napa.
Napa County on the Move: A Plan to Make Our Travel Safer & Greener

The League of Women Voters Napa County and NapaClimate Now! have organized a panel
event for April 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists. The focus will
be to discuss barriers and next steps for improving active transportation in Napa County. Napa
County Supervisor Belia Ramos, president of Association of Bay Area Governments and Napa
County representative to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, will emcee and talk about
the regional transportation picture, including funding issues.

Panelists will include Patrick Band, Napa Valley Transportation Authority; Kara Vernor, Napa
County Bicycle Coalition; David Oro, American Canyon City Council; and Kevin Eisenberg, Calistoga City Council.

There is no fee to attend, and registration is not required. Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists, 1625 Salvador Ave, Napa.

Queen of the Valley to benefit from Jersey Mike’s Subs throughout March

Providence Queen of the Valley Foundation is partnering with Jersey Mike’s Subs for the
restaurant company’s 15th annual March “Month of Giving” campaign.

For this month, customers will have the option to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or
donate $1, $3 or $5 when placing their order. In addition, on Day of Giving, Wednesday, March
26, Jersey Mike’s Subs in Napa will give 100 percent of the day’s sales – not just profit – to
Queen of the Valley Foundation to support cancer care.

“We’ve been extremely grateful for the support we’ve received for this event in the past and are
looking forward to seeing the community throughout the month, and especially on March 26, our
Day of Giving,” said local Napa Jersey Mike’s owner Jhing R. Lacsamana, whose mother was
treated at Queen of the Valley for cancer almost 20 years ago.
“Though my mother passed away in 2002, the Queen has always been in my heart, and I want to
give back through this donation,” she said. “It is in Jersey Mike’s culture to give, and that is why
we continue to bring this tradition to Napa.”

Jersey Mike’s Subs is at 627 Trancas St., Napa.

Napa Open Space District volunteering

The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District is encouraging people to spend more
time outdoors this year by hiking, camping, biking and volunteering. As the Napa Open Space
District continues to expand, be on the lookout for some upcoming volunteer projects to help
build new trails and improve existing ones.

Volunteering provides the opportunity to learn about what goes into maintaining local parks and
get a sneak peek at some places that are not yet open to the public. To sign up for monthly emails
about upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit the website or email info@napaoutdoors.org.

Lucky Penny launches ‘Thrive in ‘25’ fund drive

Lucky Penny Productions has kicked off a fundraising effort to sustain the company’s
productions at the Lucky Penny Community Arts Center.

“It’s been almost two years since we have run a fund drive,” said Managing Director Barry
Martin. “Everything has been different since we were closed for 18 months during the pandemic,
but since we re-opened, we’ve learned that along with the donations we receive month-to-month, we need an additional $35,000 to $40,000 to cover all of our costs and continue producing theater and operating our Napa Academy of Performing Arts program.”

Donations can be made online by using the donate link. Checks can be sent to Lucky Penny at 1370 Trancas St. PMB 228, Napa CA 94558. Lucky Penny is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Lucky Penny is currently presenting “Reefer Madness” at the Lucky Penny Community Arts
Center in Napa. It’s a lively musical spoof of a 1930s film made to warn young people about the
dangers of marijuana. For tickets and showtimes, visit the Lucky Penny website.

Open Studios Registration now open

Registration has begun for Open Studios 2025. In its 37th year, Open Studios runs the last two
weekends in September when artists open their workspaces to visitors. The deadline for artists to
sign up is April 30 by 5 p.m. Participating artists may sign up for one or both weekends.

Email peggyfrancis1@gmail.com with questions. For more information on how to apply visit this link.

A call for Artisans

Applications are due April 11 for the The Makers Accelerator program, a six-week curriculum
designed to help Napa makers grow and improve their business. It was created in partnership
with the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center.

Applicants must have an artisan product they already make and live in or within 20 miles of the
city of Napa, and they must have or be able to obtain a city of Napa business license.

The program meets on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 7 p.m., starting May 15. All sessions
being held virtually with the exception of the final session on June 26 , which will be held in-
person in Napa.

This program is free to participants. More information on the program can be found here.

UpStage: Calling all playwrights

UpStage Napa Valley is calling all playwrights and aspiring playwrights to submit their work to
be featured in the 5th annual PlayFest in October. The festival will include a dozen 15-minute
plays.

This year’s prompt: “You never know a good thing until it’s gone.” All scripts must be original
and written for no more than three performers. Each playwright can submit one play to
info@upstagenapavalley.org. The deadline to apply is April 15 and chosen entries will be
announced in mid-May.

For more information, visit here. PlayFest will be performed by UpStage actors in October at Grace Episcopal Church at 1314 Spring St., St. Helena.

Free Napa Green Screen Film Series set

The Green Screen Film Series is a set of free climate-related film screenings at the Napa County
Library, in partnership with Napa Climate NOW. The upcoming film “The Beaver Believers”
follows people working across the American West to reintroduce beavers that naturally restore
ecosystems and help fight climate change. It will be shown on Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m.

The Napa County Library is at 580 Coombs St., Napa. Learn more here.

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