Three high-tech fire detection cameras are slated to debut in Napa County on Friday, adding an extra layer of potential prevention with wildfire season at its height.
One is located on Atlas Peak east of the city of Napa, one at Clover Flat Landfill southeast of Calistoga and one on Diamond Mountain southwest of Calistoga. They are designed to provide early alerts for wildfires and cover much of Napa Valley.
The artificial intelligence-based IQ FireWatch system can detect fires both visually and through heat disturbances. A third party is to monitor the information and alert Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Emergency Command Center of potential wildfires.
Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 6 months!
“Early detection is the best defense with these types of active fire calls,” Napa County Fire Chief Jason Martin said.
It remains to be seen whether the system will be a game-changer through the end of fire season. The system is getting a kind of test run as the county ponders future options.
People are also reading…
“Now, knock on wood, we (hopefully) don’t have an incident and it’s inconclusive,” Martin said. “Or we do have an incident and we’re able to keep it small because of early intervention.”
The Board of Supervisors on Aug. 24 agreed to spend $6,000 per camera per month for the three high-tech fire cameras installed by Illumination Technologies California. The term is until the end of December, though the cameras can be turned off and not paid for if the rainy season arrives sooner, a county report said.
Martin didn’t portray the three high-tech cameras as a cure-all for megafires. Rather, he depicted them as another tool along with such things as stepped-up fuel management and the water-dropping helicopter that was based at Napa County airport in early June.
These cameras could be only a starting point for early fire detection efforts. The county Board of Supervisors is looking at installing a more comprehensive system that could cover about 90% of the county.
What technology might be available is still to be determined, county Public Works Director Steven Lederer told the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 14.
“It could end up being cameras,” Lederer said. “It could be a satellite system. It could be drones. It could be other things I am not even thinking about.”
The three cameras were installed and recording video during last year's fire season, but they were not yet hooked up to the monitoring system, so they couldn't alert firefighters to flames in real-time.
One of the cameras, the one at Clover Flat, captured the opening moments of the devastating Glass Fire, which broke out on Sept. 27, 2020. While the camera was not hooked to the monitoring system yet, the footage it captured was later used by investigators to rule out as a cause of the fire a malfunction in an electric fence around a vineyard, which had been an early suspect. Investigators have not been able to determine what did cause the blaze, which ripped across the valley, destroying homes and several wineries and resorts.
The three IQ FireWatch cameras are not to be confused with cameras that are part of the separate ALERTWildfire North Bay system.
ALERTWildfire over three years has installed cameras at a dozen locations in Napa County. The public can go to http://www.alertwildfire.org/northbay/index.html to see views from Mount Veeder to Mount St. Helena to Berryessa Peak and other vantage points.
But the AlertWildfire system cameras are simply cameras. They don’t have heat detection, artificial intelligence technology, and other high-tech features. Nor is the system monitored day and night.
Christopher Thompson, board president of Napa Communities Firewise Foundation, said the high-tech cameras should make a difference. And, he said, in a sense, the concept is not all that new.
“We’ve used lookout towers in this country since the early 1900s,” he said, adding the IQ FireWatch cameras are the technological version.
Thompson is a volunteer firefighter for the Deer Park fire station. He lives in Deer Park, a small community northeast of St. Helena that lost dozens of homes to the 2020 Glass Fire — Thompson said perhaps a couple of hundred. Five homes near Thompson’s house burned.
Napa County is better prepared for fires this year in ways that go beyond the IQ FireWatch system, Thompson said. He pointed to projects such as clearing vegetation along major evacuation routes.
“I feel safer because we are at the very least dealing with the egress and ingress, which is a huge issue — egress, getting people out of the area and ingress, getting first responders into it,” he said.
Napa Firewise since the 2017 Tubbs, Atlas, and Nuns fires has worked with the county and various groups to raise $18 million for fire prevention. It spearheaded the development of a five-year plan unveiled last spring that outlines fuel reduction projects.
In coming years as more fuel reduction projects are completed, Napa County will be even better prepared to deal with wildfires, Thompson said.
So far this fire season, the county has had some close calls but no megafire.
County Supervisor Ryan Gregory pointed to the Fremont Fire that broke out the afternoon of Sept. 22 in the Carneros region. It sent a column of smoke into the air that at one point looked ominous from the city of Napa.
But the Fremont Fire turned out to be a wildfire footnote. Ground crews aided by two helicopters and five air attack planes contained the blaze at 116 acres.
He sleeps better at night knowing the water-dropping helicopter is stationed at the Napa County Airport, Gregory said.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service as of Tuesday had no rain in its seven-day forecast. That means no end to the fire season — either early or late — is in sight.
Napa State Hospital averages almost 1.5 inches of rain in October. None has fallen to date this month and only .08 inches since March. Last rain year, the hospital received 10.24 inches, which is 37% of normal, according to the National Weather Service.
Under the watchful eye of Moana the llama, goats and sheep clear fire fuel on Calistoga's Mount Washington.
Catch up on Napa County's top news stories
In case you missed it, here is a look at the most-read stories on NapaValleyRegister.com.
Get unlimited digital access to the Napa Valley Register for just $1 for your first 6 months! Enjoy every article without restrictions and find tons of subscriber-only perks, such as access to our daily eEdition. Click here for details!
What is Napa County doing as another wildfire season approaches?
The first-grade class Rebecca Lacau first met last August was unlike any she had taught in more than a decade at Willow Elementary School.
A Morimoto Asia, serving pan-Asian foods, will open in the former Basalt space at the corner of Third and Main streets in Napa. No opening dat…
The Napa Valley Register offers an in-depth look at the big races on the June 2022 ballot.
Napa Valley winery Heitz Cellar has filed a lawsuit against one of its cask suppliers, claiming the company sold them barrels that were faulty.
A revised Napa County list of possible rural sites for apartments, condominiums or townhouses includes a small corner of Skyline Wilderness Pa…
Napa County Landmarks has released its annual list of "10 threatened treasures" in Napa County — structures with historic value that are in ne…
Plastic seems to be everywhere nowadays, and based on existing research on the greater San Francisco Bay, it is highly likely that the Napa Ri…
Five years after the Napa City Council voted to end red-light camera traffic enforcement in Napa, the council unanimously supported a plan to …
Jack Cakebread, one of the pioneers who who lead the transformation of the Napa Valley in the 1970s, died on April 26.
Photo gallery: Calistoga Fit and Donovan's
New, free, safety swim class with Calistoga Fit starts Tuesday
Calistoga Fit introduces a new Water Safety Clinic class that will be offered on a monthly basis for free at the studio.
New Partnerships Coordinator and Swim Instructor Maggie Grymes will lead the class from 6 to 8 p.m. starting Tuesday, May 25. To sign up email maggie@calistogafit.com.
It only takes a moment. A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line, or apply sunscreen. Take the next step in saving lives in and around water.
Calistoga's Donavan and Jacqi Almond have become standouts in the Napa Valley fitness community.
Experts share tips on how to prepare for an outdoor workout
Do your homework
“Know before you go,” says Courtenay Schurman, a trainer and owner of Body Results, a training studio for outdoor athletes. Make sure you have an understanding of the layout of the location you’ll be visiting and know things like whether or not it will be open, what obstacles or structures might hinder your path, and what the weather conditions will be. “You’d be surprised at how many people don’t think about it.”
Invest in quality gear
Shoes are a key investment for outdoor workouts, especially hikes, according to Wesley Trimble, communications and creative director for the American Hiking Society. Schurman also notes that a good backpack is worth getting. “Pay good money for the right shoes and backpack; you can skimp in other areas if you need to. If your feet aren’t comfortable, your whole body will suffer,” Schurman says. Schurman recommends going shoe shopping late in the day as your feet can swell during the day and to also bring the socks you plan to wear during your workout.
Wear layers
Wearing layers in cold weather during exercise is critical. Schurman says that people who work out outside should consider wearing layers to warm themselves up as they exercise. Trimble notes that in colder weather it’s better to start off with fewer layers that you can add onto as your body adjusts to the temperature. “When you’re exerting yourself more heavily, your body is going to be generating extra amounts of heat so it’s great to be able to take a layer off,” Trimble says.
Wear the appropriate material
When choosing layers, make sure you can select materials that are appropriate for the weather. In cooler weather, your materials should be something moisture-wicking that will pull moisture away from your body, especially if you are working out in colder temperatures for a long period of time. In hotter climates, having moisture close to your body is not as problematic since it will keep you cool. “Cotton will hold moisture and then that will cool you off, whereas either wool or synthetics … help to take the moisture away from your body better than cotton will,” Trimble says.
Know the ground
It’s important to be aware of the change from an even, smooth and possibly sprung gym or home floor to the potentially uneven terrain of the outdoors. “If you’re running on the ground outside, you should be prepared for the instability you’re going to face on the ground,” says Nolan Hyland, a personal trainer for the National Academy of Sports Medicine. “If you’re only used to training on even surfaces, you could be more likely for injury at the ankle and foot.” If you plan to go for a run, Hyland recommends doing a warmup walk to prepare your body but also to check the ground for things like holes that could prove dangerous if unexpectedly encountered.
Hydrate
Schurman cautions that people who work out outdoors should be sure to hydrate and replace their electrolytes. “A lot of people, especially in cold weather will forget to drink. … Replenishing that lost liquid is very important so you don’t get headache-y and so you don’t lose your mental function.” Hyland adds that during a workout, water and salt are both necessary. “Salt is 100% important, when you’re sweating, you have to have salt,” Hyland says. Hyland also notes that you should take small sips of water during your workout, especially in warmer weather. “When you’re outside exposed to the sun, you could dehydrate a lot faster and also not really feel the onset of that,” Hyland says.
Steps to stay hydrated
Hyland notes that it’s important to make sure you start the day hydrated by drinking enough water the day before your workout. Hyland cautions against drinking a large amount of water just before starting your workout. “Nobody likes having a water bed in your stomach when you’re trying to work out.” (Aleksej Sarifulin/Dreamstime.com/TNS)
Find other ways to fuel up
Schurman says flavored water is another good alternative to hydrate but cautions against overly sugary drinks like orange juice and suggests diluting or testing drinks like Gatorade and Powerade ahead of time to avoid cramping or other unpleasant side effects. Salty, fatty snacks like pretzels, trail mix and even jerky can also be good to bring along to replace your electrolytes if your workout is over an hour long. Hyland recommends having a pre-workout snack that’s high in protein and fat, then cooling down with water or fruit after you’re finished.
Stretch
Warming up before an outdoor workout is crucial to getting your heart rate up, raising core temperature and preparing the body for exertion. Hyland says dynamic warmups — warmups that involve constant movement and repetition — are better than static warmups in which a person holds a position for a period of time when preparing to work out outdoors.
Protect your devices
Though many sporting gear stores sell compartments to protect electronic devices like phones, music players and headphones, Schurman says placing your devices in a plastic bag and keeping them in your pocket can also work. According to Trimble, it’s important to pay attention to make sure you aren’t using your devices in ways that will drain the battery faster. For example, Trimble says, “using the GPS will take a bigger hit on the battery life of your device.” Trimble also recommends storing your phone closer to your body if you are out in cooler temperatures so that your body heat can keep your phone from getting too cold and losing its charge.
Don’t become overly reliant on technology
According to Schurman, people who work out outdoors should still be able to read a map and a compass to navigate their way around in case their phone breaks or runs out of battery or they find themselves in an area with limited cell service. “That’s a big concern. … Too many people new to going out are having to be rescued because they don’t know the basics of keeping themselves safe,” Schurman says.
Communicate
As a safety precaution before heading out, tell your location to a friend or family member. “Let somebody know where you’re going to be,” Schurman says. “If you’re going to the gym, it’s one thing, but if you’re going somewhere where you might have to change plans halfway … text somebody.”
Bring a buddy
If possible, Trimble suggests bringing someone with you on your workout. “Not all parks and areas in parks have cell signal so going with someone is a great idea.”
Work out in a populated area
More populated areas are safer when it comes to working out outside. “You probably want to go someplace where you know there will be people, so that if something does happen to you, you’re not 30 miles from anyone else. That’s dangerous, especially for the novice,” Schurman says.
Know what to do if you end up in trouble
If you find yourself lost, retrace your steps, Schurman says. If you're injured, you should also stop and find some place out of the way where you can get help from a passerby.
Start slow
“Guides on Kilimanjaro have a word, ‘pole pole’ which means ‘slow,’” Schurman says. “They will start their clients at a ridiculously slow pace, but as they gain elevation and the pace remains the same, they realize how lovely and sustainable that pace is.” Hyland also adds that starting with a short workout, especially for a novice, can be helpful to see how you acclimate to an outdoor environment. “Maybe your first workout is only 15 minutes long because you want to see how you do in the sun,” Hyland says.
Don’t go from 0 to 100 in one day
In a similar vein, Schurman suggests increasing your workout intensity in small increments. “I recommend adhering to the ‘10% rule,’ which says that from one week to the next, do not add more (elevation, distance, time) than 10% over the previous week’s efforts,” Schurman says. “If you do a 5-mile hike one weekend, you wouldn’t double it the next, you’d try for a 5.5- or maybe 6-mile hike with the same weight or maybe slightly less, the next.”
Err on the side of shorter
It’s better to cut your workout short rather than overexerting yourself. “You’re not going to injure yourself by going too short,” Schurman says, “You can certainly injure yourself by going too long. … You can always add the next time you’re out.”
Listen to your body
Schurman stresses the importance of using common sense and paying attention to signs of injury during a workout. “If as you are working out and you feel a pop, hear a crunch, notice a tightening sensation or heat anywhere in your body that doesn’t ‘feel normal’ then stop, figure out what happened and evaluate whether you overdid it,” Schurman says.
Have an ending point
Having a turnaround time can prevent you from getting overly fatigued and risking injury, and it also ensures that you have plenty of resources during your workout. “It’s important that people moderate their overall activity to make sure that they can get back to their car or the trailhead safely,” Trimble says. It’s also important to make a judgement call on when to conclude your workout so that you don’t risk being in an unfamiliar area in the dark without adequate food or water.
Cool down
Experts stress the importance of a cooldown stretch. Cooling down, Schurman says, helps to “involve the brain in transitioning from one thing to another.” Hyland recommends ending your workout with a long cool down lap as well as four to eight static stretches. “You don’t want to just stop and walk back and sit on your couch.”
Be mindful of pandemic considerations
It’s also helpful to do your homework on how crowded an area typically is. “Depending on the trail conditions sometimes it can be somewhat difficult to socially distance,” Trimble says, adding, “It’s always a great idea to talk to some locals or a land manager to see if they have recommendations for less-used open spaces.”
And bring a mask
Institutions like the Cleveland Clinic, the University of Maryland and St. Luke's Health note that if you are working out in a sparsely populated area, a mask may not be necessary. However, you should still bring a mask in case you encounter other people. If you are working out in a populated area where a mask is necessary, it is also a good idea to bring an extra mask in case yours gets damp or dirty.
Calistoga celebrates Earth Day with Wellness Week April 19-25
Calistoga’s many health and wellness outlets are joining in celebration of Earth Day on April 22 with a week of special events and offers focused on wellness, healthy living and eating.
During the week of April 19-25, take extra time to reconnect with Mother Earth with Visit Calistoga’s Wellness Week and the many special offers from spas, inns, activities with Calistoga Fit, Calistoga Community Pool, and Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Treat yourself to a Lobster Feed with Picayune Cellars, a trip to Old Faithful Geyser, join in a special recognition of Calistoga Napa Green wineries, take advantage of an offer from Bank of the West, and much more.
During the week join Calistoga Fit and replenish your inspiration with a 90-min Earth Day seminar in Pioneer Park, or experience with an energizing 30 minute boxing workout and 30 minute strength and tone workout, or try Restorative Yoga and Chakra Balancing.
The Mount View Hotel & Spa presents an Earth Day Benefit dinner and a movie event March 22, featuring “March of the Penguins.”
Upper Valley Disposal and Recycling will also hold an Earth Day Recycling Event on April 24 with an opportunity to recycle computer and office equipment, old VCRs, tape players, stereo equipment, cell phones, along with household electronics including microwaves, toasters, vacuums, and more.
Go to https://visitcalistoga.com/wellness-week/ to find a complete list of Wellness Week specials.
WATCH NOW: CALISTOGA FIT OWNERS BUILD MUSCLE, COMMUNITY
Calistoga's Donavan and Jacqi Almond have become standouts in the Napa Valley fitness community.
SEE SEAN MCCAWLEY’S FIT FOR LIFE SERIES
Get into the swim of things at the Calistoga Community Pool
Staying fit during pandemic shut-downs has been a challenge, especially for those who can’t or don’t like to run or partake in other high-impact workouts. But swimming, along with water aerobics, provides both cardiovascular and strength benefits, and Calistoga Community Pool at 1745 Washington St. is open and offers lap swimming and water aerobics, albeit with some COVID-19 constraints.
In the past, the pool didn’t open until mid-April, but according to Calistoga Parks and Recreation director Rachel Melick, when she approached the Calistoga City Council in February about opening early, the city provided the necessary funds.
“Swimming and aqua aerobics are two of the safest activities to do during COVID, especially for seniors,” Melick said. “The water is chlorinated, and we limit how many participants we can have in the pool at once. Our schedule is very light right now, but as restrictions ease and the weather gets warmer, we should be able to ramp up a bit more.”
Right now, only one swimmer at a time can use a lap swim lane, and the number of water aerobics participants is limited so that exercisers can stay a safe distance from one another in the pool.
In order to use the community pool, you need to create an online account and make a reservation via https://cityofcalistoga.perfectmind.com/. On the website members and non-members can sign up for lap swim lanes as well as classes. Drop-ins are welcome and can pay per class, but Calistoga residents can sign up for a free season pass with proof of ID. The pool staff, including life guards, is almost complete comprised of Calistoga high school students.
“I think this is the perfect job for a high school student,” said Melick. “They learn a lot of valuable life skills like CPR, and they need to be very responsible. My first job was as a lifeguard, and I loved it. Plus, I made lifelong friends.” Melick added that right now the pool is fully staffed, but that throughout the spring and summer she is always hiring and training more lifeguards.
In addition to providing the community with a place to be active and foster wellness, those who frequent the pool also have the chance to socialize, something so important during a time when many have felt isolated at home. Some pool users have been meeting there for years to chat before and after swimming, and even with social distancing in place, swimmers are wont to chat while waiting in line before a class and after a swim.
Calistoga resident Mary Sherman swims laps at the community pool on a regular basis. “I honestly feel so blessed that the pool is open,” she said. “It’s such a great asset to the community, and I commend the city of Calistoga for being concerned about the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants. And the spacing procedures put in place during the pandemic make me feel completely safe and comfortable when I swim.”
Avid aqua-aerobics class participant Jean DeLucca adds, “I’ve always been a water girl, and working out with a gaggle of friendly women in a big, beautiful pool surrounded by giant oaks with a great instructor and rockin’ music is an amazing way to start the day.”
Parks and Rec teams up with staff from Calistoga Fit, the city’s most popular gym, to lead adult classes in the pool and on land. “Youth sports are back, too,” said Melick, “and we’ll be adding more classes like yoga, which is currently available on Zoom but may transition to Pioneer Park as spring progresses.”
Calistoga Fit’s owners build muscle, community
Calistoga's Donavan and Jacqi Almond have become standouts in the Napa Valley fitness community.
If you thought your life was complicated, meet the Almonds — Donavan and Jacqi — who own and operate two Napa Valley-based businesses, have four children (one with special needs) and still find time to be active participants in the local community.
Since moving to the area from Atlanta, Georgia, in 2007, Donavan has become one of the valley’s most sought-after and popular fitness and wellness gurus, while Jacqi — a popular fitness instructor in her own right — is also a volunteer firefighter who spent much of the last two summers helping extinguish the region’s numerous infernos.
“We are busy but happy. We’ve found our home,” Donavan said. “The community is welcoming and supportive, and we believe that the future is bright for the valley — growing into more than a wine and food destination but increasingly becoming a fitness and wellness destination, too.”
Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register.
What’s your superpower?
The couple met while attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Jacqui studied sports marketing and Donavan focused on kinesiology — the study of human movement and how it impacts health and well-being. Both intended to work within the world of sports, although their exact paths were not yet clear.
Growing up, each had played sports and grown to appreciate the discipline, skill and dedication that were needed to reach the highest levels. They each had also developed a better understanding of their own strengths.
“Everyone has their own superpower,” Donavan said. “Mine is awareness and Jacqi’s is tenacity. The combination has come in handy as we’ve built our family and our businesses together.”
Donavan was born in Atlanta, where his mother worked in the life-insurance business and his father worked as an engineer for BellSouth, the local telecommunication company. By the time he was 4 years old he was showing signs of his superpower, providing driving directions to his mother on the way home during family outings and having a keen awareness of the movement of people around him.
“It was something that just came naturally to me,” he said, “but it has allowed me to help my clients over the years by focusing on and helping define, refine and strengthen their natural movements.”
Jacqi grew up outside Washington, D.C., where her mother worked in the postal service’s engineering department and her father was a physicist at a company she found out after his death was actually a secret division within the government.
Perfect timing
After college the couple moved back to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University and obtain their masters degrees. Jacqi also worked with the Atlanta Falcons’ marketing team while Donavan took a personal-trainer position at a downtown athletics club.
In what seemed like perfect timing, as their programs were wrapping up, a representative — Richard Hill — from a newly built Auberge-owned resort in Calistoga, Solage, came into the Atlanta gym for a workout.
“Richard was in Atlanta for a meeting and we started talking,” Donavan said. “A few months later I moved to California and started working at Solage, and a few months after that Jacqi and I got married and moved here.”
The whirlwind few months followed by a change from big-city life to rural living was a bit of a shock for Jacqi when she arrived.
“I’m a big-city girl, and for a while I felt a bit disorientated,” she said. “It took a few years to find my footing, but now it would be hard for me to think about living anywhere else.”
Calistoga Fit
Fast forward from 2007, and although the Almonds no longer work at Solage they do provide personal-fitness services to many other local resorts — the Meritage, Carneros Resort and Spa and Auberge du Soleil.
“We value [their] company’s expertise in all things fitness and health,” said George Goeggel, managing partner of Auberge du Soleil, “as well as their friendly, well-trained staff and their close ties to the Napa Valley community,”
Like many young entrepreneurs, the Almonds have their hands in more than just one single type of activity. They own and operate Donavan’s Wellness Solutions, which assists local resorts, spas and gyms, and they also have their own smartphone app, the Calistoga Fit app that provides unlimited access to more than 100 fitness, yoga, meditation and other classes online.
Beyond their work with local resorts and managing their virtual classes, the couple also operates a studio and gym in Calistoga where they provide personal training and live fitness classes. It is also becoming a common occurrence lately — when conditions allow — to see them leading dozens of people in socially distanced group-training sessions in Calistoga’s Pioneer Park just off the town’s main street.
Building bodies
The client list for the Almonds is extensive and includes those looking to improve or maintain their health, rehab patients and assist both semi-professional and professional athletes. Hundreds of Napa Valley residents have hired and learned to value the Almonds — and their growing team of trainers — to help heal, improve overall health, strengthen, or prepare for triathlons, marathons and bodybuilding competitions.
“I’ve trained with Donavan nearly 14 years, and we strength train six days a week in the outdoor gym he helped me design,” said Susan Hoff, co-proprietor with her husband, Duane, of St. Helena’s Fantesca Estate and Winery. “He helped me win a World Bodybuilding Fitness and Fashion Federation Pro Card at the World Bodybuilding Fitness and Fashion International Worlds Competition in Las Vegas in 2015, when I turned 50.”
Hoff still competes in the competition’s 35+ division. She is the oldest competitor onstage in the division and often places in the top 10 among international competitors.
Building community
Pat and Anne Stotesbery are proprietors of St. Helena’s Ladera Vineyards. The couple has been training with the Almonds since 2016, with two sessions each week at their home.
“It feels like we’ve known them for more than four years because we’ve formed a really great bond/relationship, which I doubt is unique to us since they are both the sort of people you just have to like,” Pat wrote in an email. “The really cool thing is that they’ve done all this — made all these relationships and managed to also run a profitable business — which is the definition of bootstrapping your way to the American dream!”
Fighting fire
Like many locals, the Almonds were forced to evacuate during the 2017 Tubbs Fire. As they drove out of town, Jacqi couldn’t stop thinking about how she might help.
Within weeks she asked friend and gym client Jeff Lemelin, a volunteer battalion chief for Sonoma County, what it takes to become a volunteer firefighter. One year later she was one.
“Jacqi Almond has been with the Sonoma County Fire District since 2018, when she enrolled into the Volunteer Fire Academy at the Santa Rosa Junior College,” Lemelin wrote. “Since she joined she’s been on numerous [major] fires in a short amount of time — the Kincade Fire, the Glass Fire and the LNU Complex Fire, to name a few.”
Since becoming a volunteer, Jacqi has become one of Lemelin’s “go-to firefighters.”
According to both Jacqi and Lemelin, firefighting is a physically demanding job that requires quick thinking, while improvising and adapting to overcome dynamic situations.
“Jacqi is always professional, eager to learn, quick on her feet and flexible,” Lemelin wrote. “I think being a mom to four kids has prepared her to multitask and always have an eye out for the safety of others.”
Learning to see from other points of view
Parents with children are always learning to adapt and remain flexible. Having four children — Caleb, 12; Isabella, 10; Elijah, 8; and Dominic, 4 — allows the Almonds ample opportunity to practice such skills and gain new insights.
“Our oldest, Caleb, is autistic and we are constantly in awe at how he provides us a new way to see things from a different perspective,” Donavan said. “He is the biggest teacher. He doesn’t judge others, and he sees each person as who they are. He teaches us patience and empathy and teaches us ways to connect to others that we’d never considered. It’s not always easy, but we treasure all our children for who they are and where they are and what they teach us.”
Being parents in a time of Black Lives Matter
“I didn’t grow up thinking much about race, but today I have to,” Jacqi said. “I never thought I’d need to tell my 8-year-old that he shouldn’t wear a hoodie sweatshirt outside at night, but that’s something we talk about. The community is warm and welcoming here, but there are those out there that make such conversations necessary.”
Growing up in Atlanta provided Donavan with a certain point of view about race in America.
“As we are seeing from the recent election results in Georgia, Atlanta is not shy about talking about or dealing with race in America,” Donavan said. “I think that comes from the fact that many African American leaders came from Atlanta — Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Stacey Abrams and others. There are also African Americans at every level of the economic scale there. This, I believe, created an environment of confidence and helped lay a foundation for real positive lasting change.”
The future of fitness in the Napa Valley
The Almonds envision Napa Valley becoming a health and wellness destination but also a region that has the makings of becoming a place on the globe known for living longer, healthier lives. This idea, termed, “Blue Zones” in a 2005 National Geographic story, “The Secrets of a Long Life,” is not so much the end goal but more of a long-term vision for living in a healthy community.
“Blue Zones create living and working habits that encompass a wellness/preventive mentality,” Stotesbery wrote. “In fact, Donavan and I were part of an early study group discussing the possibility of a Blue Zone application here in the Napa Valley. This is ongoing, and I am certain that if we ever get it really going, he’ll want to be a part of it. He talks this stuff because he believes in it and wants to contribute to it.”
What the future of the Napa Valley becomes remains undetermined, but what is clear is that having innovative, entrepreneurial, community-centered families that live lives of service such as the Almonds is the lifeblood of any vibrant community.
WATCH NOW: IS BEER YOGA THE NEXT BIG EXERCISE CRAZE?
It’s yoga and beer, what’s not to like? Buzz60’s Tony Spitz has the details.
SEE PHOTOS FROM THE NAPA VALLEY MARATHON 2020
Photos: Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
San Leandro's Bolota Asmerom, 41, leads the Napa Valley Half Marathon en route to victory as hot air balloons pass in the background.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Anne Theisen, 47, of Mazama, Washington wins the Napa Valley Marathon on Sunday.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Spectators crowded the course of the Napa Valley Marathon in 2020, days before the coronavirus halted nearly all public sporting and entertainment events in California for months. The marathon, which was converted to a virtual race last year, will return to Napa County on Sunday.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners in the March 1 Kaiser Marathon lined up before the start on Silverado Trail in Calistoga.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
With temperatures in the mid-40's and a brisk wind, marathoners wrapped themselves in mylar blankets before the the race March 1. This was the first Kaiser Marathon for runner Kevin Hanna, from Orlando, Fl. and pacer Heather Sandlin, from Michigan.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners from all over the U.S. participated in the 2020 Kaiser Marathon including these athletes from Fresno.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Athletes were off and running at the start in the Kaiser Marathon at 7:30 a.m., March 1 on Silverado Trail in Calsitoga.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners from all over the U.S. participated in the 26.2 mile Kaiser Napa Valley Marathon March 1, which started in Calistoga and continued down Silverado Trail to Napa.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners shared stories and took selfied before the Kaiser Napa Valley Marathon March 1, that began on Silverado Trail.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
A record 4,500 competitors ran in the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon and Half Marathon March 1.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Online Yoga with Calistoga Parks & Recreation and Calistoga Fit
Start 2021 with a refreshing, mindful yoga practice.
Calistoga Parks & Recreation and Calistoga Fit are presenting online yoga classes until it is safe to meet again in person.
Classes will be held with Jordan via Zoom from 6—7 p.m., on Mondays. Registration is open one week before each Monday class, and closes at 5 p.m. the previous Friday. Participants will be emailed the Zoom link for each class.
Register at cityofcalistoga.perfectmind.com, or call (707) 942-2838.
WATCH NOW: GET UP, STAND UP, OLDER SEDENTARY WOMEN FACE GREATER RISK OF HEART FAILURE
A new study reveals older women have a greater risk of heart failure if they spend more time sitting than those who sit less. And according to UPI, that's even if they have a regular fitness routine. As part of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, researchers analyzed the records of 80,100 postmenopausal women who were roughly 63 years old. Women spending less than 6.5 hours daily sitting or lying down had 15% less risk of heart failure hospitalization than women spending 9.5 sedentary hours daily. The data also showed the less sedentary women had a 42% less risk of heart failure hospitalization than women reporting more than 9.5 hours sedentary hours.
SEE PHOTOS FROM NAPA VALLEY MARATHON 2020
Photos: Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
San Leandro's Bolota Asmerom, 41, leads the Napa Valley Half Marathon en route to victory as hot air balloons pass in the background.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Anne Theisen, 47, of Mazama, Washington wins the Napa Valley Marathon on Sunday.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Spectators crowded the course of the Napa Valley Marathon in 2020, days before the coronavirus halted nearly all public sporting and entertainment events in California for months. The marathon, which was converted to a virtual race last year, will return to Napa County on Sunday.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners in the March 1 Kaiser Marathon lined up before the start on Silverado Trail in Calistoga.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
With temperatures in the mid-40's and a brisk wind, marathoners wrapped themselves in mylar blankets before the the race March 1. This was the first Kaiser Marathon for runner Kevin Hanna, from Orlando, Fl. and pacer Heather Sandlin, from Michigan.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners from all over the U.S. participated in the 2020 Kaiser Marathon including these athletes from Fresno.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Athletes were off and running at the start in the Kaiser Marathon at 7:30 a.m., March 1 on Silverado Trail in Calsitoga.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners from all over the U.S. participated in the 26.2 mile Kaiser Napa Valley Marathon March 1, which started in Calistoga and continued down Silverado Trail to Napa.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Runners shared stories and took selfied before the Kaiser Napa Valley Marathon March 1, that began on Silverado Trail.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
A record 4,500 competitors ran in the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon and Half Marathon March 1.
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Napa Valley Marathon 2020
Free yoga in Pioneer Park offered on Mondays
The Calistoga Chamber of Commerce is happy to sponsor free community yoga in Pioneer Park with Jordan, from Calistoga Fit, on Mondays from 6-7 p.m.
Move through traditional yoga poses with fun and motivating music. The one hour of fun, suitable for all levels. Adults only, social distancing will be practiced.
Registration opens at 6 p.m. the Tuesday before Monday’s class through Calistoga Parks & Recreation at https://cityofcalistoga.perfectmind.com/. Classes are free but advance registration is required. Weather permitting, the outdoor classes will run through Oct. 26.
Watch now: Tips to Get Motivated for Exercise
Getting a good workout in can be hard, but professionals say there are ways to learn to look forward to it. Buzz60’s Keri Lumm has more.
Calistoga's Fitness First is on the move
After 15 years in the same location, Fitness First will be moving from behind the post office to a much larger space on Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga.
Jennifer Breiner, who owns the studio with her husband, Kris, said they are excited about the new space, and the whole Breiner family has been working to revamp the new studio. They’ve been taking down walls, adding showers, and hardwood floors, in the space formerly occupied by Cheer Bar.
The new 3,000-square foot space will provide the studio with double the space for more exercise equipment, and the popular Nia and Brazilian dance classes. Teen and senior classes will continue to be offered.
“We’ll have so much more space to do that stuff,” Breiner said.
The studio will continue to feature workout equipment for cardio, and free weights, with the addition of changing rooms, lockers and showers.
Breiner couldn’t give an exact date, but is hoping everything comes together so they can open soon.
Due to COVID-19, gyms were allowed to reopen only recently, and the Breiners will be operating under strict guidelines. Members’ temperatures will be taken at the door, and only 6 to 10 people maximum will be allowed in at any one time. The Breiners are also bringing on more staff to ensure guidelines are followed.
“There are still lots of limitations and the guidelines we’ll be following are off the scope,” Breiner said. “I’ve always been a fanatic about cleaning off equipment. I’m here every day, and I don’t want to get sick either. But we know people need to exercise, for their health and their sanity.”
Before the pandemic, members had access to the gym 24/7. That won’t happen for a while, Breiner said. Initially, the gym will be open from 5 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m.
The studio has been offering classes via Zoom the past few months, and live-streaming will continue for those who are not comfortable going to the gym just yet.
Fitness First also offers personal training, and for those really looking to get a full-body assessment, there’s the Fit 3D Body Scan. The scan takes an image of your body with hundreds of measurements including inches, body fat percentage, fat and lean mass breakdowns, and provides an analysis of your posture, body composition and shape.
There is also the 21-Day Shred, with the goal of creating healthy habits within that time period. It’s 21 days of classes, training, and nutritional consulting.
Basic membership starts at $96 a month, and prices will not be going up, Breiner said. A one-month trial for $49 also allows potential members to try everything the gym has to offer.
“We offer a little bit of everything, so there is something for everyone,” Breiner said.
The Breiners both grew up in Calistoga. Jennifer is a third-generation Calistogan, and Kris moved here with his family when very young. It was a dream of theirs to open the first full-service fitness studio in town. It took them four years to find a building, and in 2004 they opened a gym at 1880 Lincoln Ave., where Calistoga Motor Lodge is now. They then moved to the space behind the post office, where they’ve been for the last 15 years.
Already long-term business owners in Calistoga, the Breiners have a long-term lease on the building and plan to stay.
“We grew up here. We’re not going anywhere,” she said.
Calistoga Fit outdoor classes to resume at Pioneer Park
Calistoga Fit is excited to share that they have resumed select outdoor fitness classes at Pioneer Park. All classes are to be conducted under the most recent safe social distancing guidelines outlined by the Napa County public health officer.
“We are still hosting virtual classes as well but excited to bring the community back together safely, to work to promote their health and wellness,” said the facility’s owner, Jacqi Almond.
The outdoor class schedule for June is as follows:
- Saturday: Bootcamp, 8-8:45 a.m.
- Monday: HITT, 6-6:45 p.m.
- Tuesday: Dirty 30, 5:15-5:45 p.m.
- Wednesday: Hatha Yoga, 6-7:15 p.m.
- Thursday: Dirty 30, 5:15-5:45 p.m.
Classes will continue to be reserved online at calistogafitness.com.
“We understand that not everyone might feel comfortable attending in-person classes just yet so we will continue to offer several Zoom classes as well,” Almond said.
Local exercise options offered online
While not deemed essential, and because social distance cannot be guaranteed, the physical locations of gyms and fitness centers are currently closed. However, remaining active is key to maintaining one’s physical, mental, and emotional health, especially in face of this pandemic. Therefore, a number of Napa Valley’s wellness businesses are offering at-home complimentary and paid sessions to the general public and members in a variety of delivery formats.
Below, in alphabetical order by name, are some options to consider.
Calistoga Fit
Calistoga Fit offers multiple Zoom sessions per day – yoga, Pilates, barre, boot camp, spin, and guided meditation – free for members or $15 drop-in fee per session for non-members. Those who enroll in sessions will receive links to join the class an hour prior to the class start time. Personal and small-group training via Zoom is also available.
707-227-4729
Crush Fitness
Crush Fitness in both Napa and St. Helena deliver Zoom sessions for all skill levels. The first session is free to try. Sessions include CrossFit, mobility, garage strength, pop-up WODS (workout of the day), and Crush PE for kids. Class passes are available: five classes for $99 or ten classes for $189. Unlimited memberships are also available by request.
Napa: 707- 603-9960 or crushfit.napa@gmail.com
St. Helena: 707-968-5226 or crushfit.sthelena@gmail.com
CTS Fitness & Performance Napa
CTS Fitness & Performance Napa delivers live workouts via Zoom, including adult fitness, yoga, athlete performance (middle and high school athletes), and prenatal and postnatal fitness. The first session is free. CTS is offering a $99/month special during the COVID-19 quarantine to enroll in any Zoom group training program. Personal training sessions are also available.
707-738-0190
Essentrics with Julie
Julie Webster is continuing her popular Essentrics classes via Zoom. Email her at julie@julie-webster.com for details.
Fit Body Boot Camp Napa and Fairfield
Fit Body Boot Camp (FBBC) Napa and Fairfield is offering a complimentary 21-day, Healthy-at-Home fitness program through the Facebook group, Healthy-At-Home Napa/Fairfield Free Fitness Group. FBBC also has introductory memberships available, such as their 28-Day Stronger Together at Home Challenge, as well as long-term memberships. In the Facebook group, FBBC VIP Lounge, coaches use Facebook Live to deliver and record 30-minute, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), boot camp workouts Mondays through Saturdays, restorative yoga on Sundays, as well as a weekly meditation, Zoom coffee hour, and boot camp for kids.
707-773-9127 (text)
Fitness First Calistoga
Fitness First Calistoga offers complimentary Zoom cardio and total-body workouts Mondays through Fridays at 9:00 a.m. For those who cannot attend live, the sessions are recorded and emailed to participants.
workout@napavalleyfitness.com for login information
707-942-5275
Fitness Revolution Napa
Fitness Revolution Napa delivers daily, 45-minute Zoom sessions Mondays through Fridays, which include a warm-up plus total-body cardio- and resistance-training workout using bodyweight or dumbbells. Workouts can be modified for all fitness levels. The drop-in fee per session is $12.50 or participants may try a two-week trial for $49.
707-479-0866
HealthQuest Napa
HealthQuest Napa has a YouTube channel where instructors record and post daily videos, and also offers live sessions via Facebook Live and Instagram Live. Options include yoga, stretch, senior classes (Forever Young and Strength & Flex), pump, circuit, HIIT boot camps, Barre, and spin. According to general manager Gail Garaventa, “Everything we are doing is free to the community to try to help them keep fit and strong until this virus is destroyed!”
707-254-7200
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCSE9nEZX0H81Kycn9rLr_BQ
In-Shape Napa (and all locations)
In-Shape offers complimentary, daily sessions for members and non-members via Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and on demand via their website. In addition to workouts, In-Shape also offers recipes, health and wellness tips, activities for kids, and relaxation/mindfulness sessions.
Workout Replay: inshape.com/workout-replay
jacqueline.buchanan@inshape.com
626.590.2166
Weekly schedule: inshape.com/online-fitness-schedule
Napa Valley Yoga Center Napa
Napa Valley Yoga Center Napa offers a complimentary community workshop series, as well as 19, one-hour Zoom sessions per week, no membership required, for a drop-fee of $10 per session. The center has a library of online recorded sessions since the shelter-at-home order began.
connect@napavalleyyogacenter.com
707-791-2026
Complimentary Community Series: napavalleyyogacenter.com/community-workshops
Session schedule and library of recorded classes: napavalleyyogacenter.com/nvyc-online-2
Orangetheory Fitness Napa
Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) offers complimentary, daily workouts via their Orangetheory at Home website. The owner of the Napa location, Colleen O’Ferrall-Jones, also delivers Zoom workouts for members or drop-ins Mondays through Saturdays, which are accessible by contacting OTF-Napa.
studiomanager0850@orangetheoryfitness.com
707-345-1560
Orangetheory at Home: orangetheoryathome.com
Planet Fitness Napa (and all locations)
Planet Fitness offers free, “United We Move” Facebook livestreams at 4 p.m. PDT daily, which are also recorded and can be replayed later.
planetfitness.com/united-we-move
planetfitness.com/gyms/napa-ca
707-254-9450
Synergy Health Club by St. Joseph Health Napa
On Friday, March 20, 2020, Synergy Health Club began posting a complimentary, six-week, daily workout program via the Active Wellness YouTube Channel, youtube.com/user/activesportsclubs/videos. The 30- to 45-minute workouts require no equipment or special set-up. Synergy also delivers a bonus, weekly meditation video on Wellness Wednesday. Videos for the forthcoming week are published on Fridays.
synergyhealthclub.org/napa-home
devin.johnson@synergyhealthclub.org
Facebook: facebook.com/SynergyNapa
Wine Country CrossFit Napa
Wine Country CrossFit offers complimentary, live classes for everyone six days per week, which are also recorded for those who cannot attend live. Sessions include 45-minute boot camps, one-hour CrossFit workouts, Sip & Stretch, and a weekly Virtual Happy Hour at 5.30 p.m. on Thursdays.
winecountrycrossfit.com/gym-is-open
707-337-9441
Yoga Passion Napa
Yoga Passion Napa delivers daily, Zoom yoga classes for a $10 drop-in fee.
707-637-4774
Schedule: yogapassionnapa.com/schedule
Motivation and options for staying fit during Shelter at Home
Whether home with kids and family, partners or roommates, or all alone, sheltering at home can take its toll on all of us, emotionally and physically.
Especially for those used to an active lifestyle — who regularly head to the gym to take a class or lift weights, participate in yoga or spin classes, or a running or cycling club — cabin fever and inactivity can be rough. Thankfully, there are all kinds of opportunities to stay fit even if you didn’t work out before the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order came through.
Health and fitness experts agree that regular exercise helps to maintain strong immune systems as well as boosting moods. As reported in the March 18 issue of The Atlantic, Karen Glanz, an epidemiology and nursing professor at the University of Pennsylvania recommends taking walks, running, hiking, and biking. “Being outdoors is best if the weather is agreeable, and if the place where people live is safe to be outdoors.”
Parks and Rec to the rescueBut if your outdoor time is limited, the City of Calistoga’s Parks and Recreation Department has created an “At Home Recreation“ resource center on its website to help the community engage in meaningful, active, and mindful ways to stay healthy. Through a partnership with Calistoga Fit, residents can take part in a program called Simply Move. Just follow Calistoga Fit on Instagram, Facebook, or on its website where it posts free daily workouts with demonstration videos by their staff. Gym equipment is not required. One workout involves hopping over, punching, and throwing pillows on the floor; another shows how to use everyday objects such as water bottles, soup cans, or jugs of detergent for an upper-body strength workout. Put all those cans of beans you bought to good use!
Challenge yourselfCalistoga Fit is also offering free OnDemand classes to all its members as well as a 30-day Simply Move challenge with short workouts you can do at home or outdoors. Its March Madness Challenge that offers seven days of free workouts; these are also posted on the gym’s Facebook page and Instagram. If you don’t belong to the gym, you can access Calistoga Fit’s OnDemand digital platform for $14.99 per month.
Even if you’ve never practiced before, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and build strength while focusing on breath and mindfulness, definite stress reducers. There are many online options for yoga at all levels, including yoga classes for kids. Two places to start are Yoga for Everyone and Cosmic Kids Yoga. While a yoga mat is nice, you don’t need one or fancy leggings to do yoga. To get a cardio dance-style workout, turn to YouTube where there are loads of online options.
Calendar your workoutsBut how do you get or stay motivated to exercise when it’s so much easier to connect with friends via chats, read, watch movies and laze on the couch, especially on rainy days? Says Jaqui Almond, co-owner of Calistoga Fit and parent of four children, “My family does a ‘morning movement’ class; we either play outside, go on a walk, or do a Simply Move or online class before homeschool starts on rainy days, and we take regular breaks for recess where we might do a relay race or scavenger hunt. For adults, add your workout to your daily calendar just as you would with any other meeting. Use Zoom or Facetime with a friend and do a workout together, or send each other challenges.”
Fresh air, fresh outlookParks and Rec also reminds Calistogans that many of our county parks and hiking trails are still open including the Oat Hill Mine trail and the Napa Vine Trail from lower Washington Street to Dunaweal, right here in town. You can walk, run, or bike with a buddy as long as you stay several feet apart. If you’re anything like me you will find getting outdoors or taking an online fitness class will not only make you feel better, but it will make the myriad challenges of this difficult time much easier to bear.
http://www.calistogafitness.com/calfitondemand
info@calistlogafit.com for questions.
From Napa HealthQuest:
Bootcamp! This is a fun one to follow along https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4kjD1JUXaM
HealthQuest HIIT Workout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EFV3oZON1E
This Pump class can be done in your living room or backyard! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG4JGzb55IQ
Editor’s Note: Because of the health implications of the COVID-19 virus, this article is being made available free to all online readers. If you’d like to join us in supporting the mission of local journalism, please visit napavalleyregister.com/members/join/.
Photos: A look at Napa County under the coronavirus shelter-at-home mandate
Zuzu
Zuzu in downtown Napa.
Lovina
Lovina owner Jennifer Bennett. The restaurant is open Thanksgiving for dining outside or for take-out.
Calistoga Playground
The basketball hoop was removed from a park in Calistoga to encourage social distancing.
Hydro Grill
Hydro Grill in Calistoga
Johnnys
Johnnys in Calistoga
Puerto Valarta
Puerto Valarta in Calistoga offer curbside pickup.
Calistoga Thai Kitchen
A pedestrian reviews the menu at Calistoga Thai Kitchen.
Theorem Vineyard
Theorem Vineyard in Calistoga
Evangeline
Sasan Nayeri, owner of Evangeline in Calistoga.
Napa Whole Foods
A line forms outside Whole Foods in Napa.
St. Helena Gott's
Gott's in St. Helena is take out and delivery only during shelter in place orders.
Press in St. Helena
Press in St. Helena offers curbside pickup.
Tra Vigne
Tra Vigne in St. Helena is significantly empty during shelter-at-home orders.
Napa Whole Foods
Two women chat at a bench outside Whole Foods in Napa even though it is wrapped in caution tape to discourage gathering.
An empty street in Calistoga
Calistoga at 5:30 p.m. on March 20.
An empty Calistoga street
An empty Calistoga street on March 31.
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware in Calistoga, April 11
Ace Hardware in Calistoga
Ace Hardware in Calistoga, April 11
Calistoga CalMart
Calistoga CalMart will be installing a new emergency generator to prevent losses from power outages.
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, April 11, 2020.
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28, 2020.
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28
Calistoga Farmers Market
Calistoga Farmers Market, March 28
Calistoga Farmers' Market
The Calistoga Farmers' Market in March, 2020 was nearly deserted as the pandemic's shelter-in-place order took affect.
Easter Bunny tours Napa neighborhoods
With Easter-season events canceled by the coronavirus epidemic and resulting shutdowns of public gatherings, Melodie Durham organized an impromptu Easter bunny tour Sunday afternoon, greeting families for more than two hours from a slow-moving pickup truck.
Whole Foods line, April 11
A line of socially distancing customers waits to enter Whole Foods on Saturday.
Grab-and-go school lunches in Napa
Chris Gross, magnet grant director at the Napa Valley Unified School District, has taken on a different role as part of the team that bags and distributes takeaway breakfasts and lunches for students while schools remain shut down by the coronavirus epidemic. Gross packed lunches Thursday at Napa High School, one of four distribution points in the district.
Grab-and-go school lunches in Napa
A queue of more than 15 vehicles formed at the head of a grab-and-go meal station in the Napa High School parking lot before it opened Thursday morning.
Grab-and-go school lunches in Napa
Mike Pearson (left), the Napa Valley Unified School District's assistant superintendent for operations, was one of 10 people staffing a grab-and-go meal station outside Napa High School on Thursday. The campus is one of four where students and their families have received district-prepared breakfasts and lunches since NVUSD closed its campuses March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Grab-and-go school lunches in Napa
A worker at the Napa Valley Unified School District's central kitchen prepared pizzas for Thursday's meal drop-off, which provided two days of breakfasts and lunches for students forced to stay home by California's shelter-in-place order. All district campuses were closed March 13 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Grab-and-go school lunches in Napa
Families of Napa Valley Unified School District students visiting a grab-and-go meal station Thursday received bags containing two breakfasts and two lunches. Starting this week, the district began distributing multiple meals while cutting the drop-off schedule from five to two days a week, to lessen the possibility of exposure to the coronavirus.
Sign of the times
A sign at the corner of Silverado Trail and First Street.
Sign of the times
A sign outside the South Napa Target on Friday April 10.
Napa's drive up clinic
A sign at the drive-up medical clinic at 1100 Trancas St. The service is offered to patients of St. Joseph Medical Group and by appointment only.
Taking a sample
Shannon Coomes, RN, Sheila Brady, RN and Tracy Bloom, nurse practitioner collect a swab from a drive-through patient. The service is offered to patients of St. Joseph Medical Group and by appointment only.
Nicole Landis
St. Helena Primary School teacher Nicole Landis waves at students along Railroad Avenue on Friday. Primary school staff drove around town to greet students and parents after the district announced that schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year in favor of remote learning.
Napa Premium Outlets during the coronavirus epidemic
Laura Saunders (left), co-owner of the cafe brewed., took carry-out orders of coffee and cookies Sunday afternoon on the other side of a barrier created from two folding tables to maintain a safe distance from customers. The coffee shop and bakery was one of only two businesses still open at Napa Premium Outlets, where all non-food vendors shut down when California imposed a stay-home order March 20 to combat the coronavirus epidemic.
Making face shields
A group of staffers from Queen of the Valley Medical Center created protective face shields made from everyday materials, for coworkers to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Face shields
A group of staffers from Queen of the Valley Medical center created protective face shields made from everyday materials, for coworkers to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Free Meal Friday
James Cerda, operations manager at Theorem Vineyards, delivers food to waiting cars April 3 at the Pickled Pig in Calistoga. Theorem and Heritage Catering in Calistoga are offering free meals on Fridays to families in need.
Free Meal Friday
On Friday, April 3, Theorem Vineyards partnered with Napa Valley Heritage Catering to offer free meals to families in need during the pandemic. James Cerda, operations manager at Theorem Vineyards, wore a protective mask as he delivered meals to cars.
Social distancing signs
Social distancing signs are now common at larger retailers like Target.
Social distancing signs
Social distancing signs are now common at larger retailers like Raley's.
Bread delivery
A large amount of bread was seen at Raley's on April 3, 2020.
Dr. Manjappa at Queen of the Valley Medical Center
Dr. Manjappa at Queen of the Valley Medical Center wears a fabric mask.
Bear on fence
This bear was spotted on a fence in Napa. Napans are placing teddy bears and other stuffed animals in home windows to create a scavenger hunt-like activity for kids who are stuck at home.
Bear
This bear was spotted looking out his window in Napa. Napans are placing teddy bears and other stuffed animals in their home windows to create a scavenger hunt-like activity for kids who are stuck at home.
Dr. Adhye and Janice Peters RN
Dr. Abhijit Adhye, an internal medicine physician with St. Joseph Health Medical Group in Napa (left) and Janice Peters, RN (right) wear personal protective equipment while taking care of their patients in Napa. This photo was taken at a “drive through” clinic next to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center where Adhye and Peters can evaluate their patients without those patients having to come into his office and risk possible cross contamination or inadvertent spread of the coronavirus.
Napa police department employees
Napa police department employees recently received free masks made by Molly Silcox and other volunteers.
Andrea D. Hoogendoorn
Andrea D. Hoogendoorn, owner of Mad Mod Shop in Calistoga, has made a number of fabric masks to help health care workers and anyone else who needs such protection during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hanh Ho Egan
Hanh Ho Egan, a local seamstress, has made face masks for those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Matthew Blach
Matthew Blach of Taramasso Ranch disinfects the fridge after each customer buys eggs.