By Kathleen Reynolds “Fitness as we age becomes more important each year,” says John Stewart, owner of Custom Health Fitness, a sports medicine facility and online fitness coaching business in Napa. “Our longevity and quality of life depend on it more than we know. Good balance, proper joint mobility, and progressive strength training are key components to aging well and living with little to no pain while fully participating in the golden years with travel, grand

By Craig Smith On average, we now spend four and a half to seven hours a day on our screens. We are increasingly isolated from each other, and social media gets a lot of blame for that. The US Surgeon General refers to this as a loneliness epidemic, with severe mental, emotional and physical consequences. Yikes! What are we to do? Fortunately, there is a way out: play games, work puzzles or join groups. All of these make us feel better, and the number of people en

By Kathleen Reynolds Trying to figure out what to give the loved ones in your life this holiday season? Think back. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received, the worst or the most surprising? Here are your neighbors’ memories. Square cut or pear shape, these rocks don’t lose their shape “In 2001, while window shopping, I pointed out a diamond ring to my husband and casually stated that it would be a great 20th anniversary present,” says Glenda Machado. “It was si

By Craig Smith Christmas Tree Lighting • Veterans Park • Wed. Nov. 26th 6 p.m. Napa Christmas Parade • Sat. Dec. 6th 5 p.m. Picking the theme for this year’s holiday activities in Downtown Napa was easy. “The Downtown Napa Association (DNA) board members chose ‘Joy to the World and Peace on Earth,’” said Bill La Liberte, Executive Director of the DNA, the organization that organizes the events. “It’s a great time of year to reflect on how we can all support each o

Melodie Hilton |  Chuck Peckinpaugh  |  Cynthia Kirk By Craig Smith Melodie Hilton Melodie Hilton It’s been a long time ago, and Melodie Hilton can’t remember exactly how many grade schools she attended. “I lost track, but I’m pretty sure it was just under thirty for my first 10 grades,” she said. Her gypsy-like mother had the family on the move all the time, from Pennsylvania to Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Colorado, and Arizona. Looking to put down roots, Melodie lef

Education for Workers and Their Families By Kathleen Reynolds “Driven to become the best farmer he could be, Roberto Juarez began taking viticulture classes offered by the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation. He soon realized that achieving this goal required learning English, so he enrolled in the Foundation’s English Literacy Program, which he completed in 2017. Now fluent, Roberto embraced ongoing education, taking every course available through the Foundation in areas like