Erica Ahmann Smithies
Erica Ahmann Smithies will begin work as American Canyon’s new public works director on March 15 after a four-year stint in that position for St. Helena.
“The city already has an excellent group of people working on exciting projects and I’m eager to contribute,” she said in an American Canyon press release. “With my experience getting public works projects to the finish line, I hope we can take American Canyon’s efforts in this area to the next level.”
City projects include renovating Green Island Road in the industrial area and building the final Devlin Road segment. In longer range, the city wants to build an extension for Newell Drive to help ease traffic on Highway 29.
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“During this recruitment process, the city attracted several highly-qualified candidates,” City Manager Jason Holley said. “With her extensive experience on high-profile projects and a strong background with other jurisdictions in the North Bay, Erica is well-positioned to hit the ground running.”
A Napa native, Smithies graduated from Napa High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
She qualified for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Trials in discus and is a member of the Napa High Athletic Hall of Fame. Smithies, her husband and their two daughters live on her family’s ranch in Napa raising cattle.
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Eagle Cycling Club of Napa recently visited all three Napa Farmworker Housing Centers to donate gently used men’s clothing, jackets, single bedding and toiletries.
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Captain Howard Halla, age 101, is a veteran who flew B-25 bombers in World War II. Recently, Halla was surprised with a Valentine gift from his wife Joanne — a golf cart modeled like a Jeep. The couple, with their dog Rudy, are living at Silverado Country Club, while their home is being rebuilt after losing it in the fire.
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Four generations, the Cohea's, Ricker's and Finegan's celebrating a birthday and Valentine's Day at the Oakland Zoo.
You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com.
Barry Eberling
Napa County Reporter
Barry Eberling covers Napa County government, transportation, the environment and general assignments. He has worked for the Napa Valley Register since fall 2014 and previously worked 27 years for the Daily Republic of Fairfield.
