New Year's Eve party set to raise funds for Napa family

The Napa Police Department is inviting the public to a New Year's Eve bash to raise money for one of its own.

Officer Tom Helfrich's wife Wendy, was taken ill Feb. 24. Her heart spotted beating for 28 minutes, leaving her with serious brain damage. She needs 24-hour care and numerous rehabilitation and therapy sessions. The couple has three young children. Although Wendy has a caregiver four days a week, Tom, along with family members juggle their schedules to take care of Wendy.

The expenses to care for Wendy are continually mounting.

That's where Napa residents come in.

A New Year's Eve party fundraiser for Wendy will be held at Silverado Resort on Atlas Peak Road. The festivities will kick off with a no-host cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and raffle. The evening will culminate with dancing to Souza Sounds and a midnight toast to ring in 2006.

The cost is $75 per person, which includes dinner, wine, hors d'oeuvres and a champagne midnight toast.

Checks, which will not be cashed until Dec. 30, should be made payable to Susana Aguilera, c/o Napa Police Department, 1539 First St., Napa 94559.

Information is available by call Aguilera, 257-9620 or Imelda Preciado, 257-9202./Register

Anti-smoking board has eight openings

Napa County's executive office has announced eight openings due to term expirations on the Tobacco Advisory Board. The terms expire Jan. 31, 2008.

Needed are three community representatives, one health care organization member, one person from an agency concerned with tobacco related diseases, two at-large positions and one person affiliated with an educational institution.

The Tobacco Advisory Board consists of 15 members. It helps implement tobacco control efforts and demonstrates public support on tobacco control issues. The mission of the Tobacco Advisory Board is to combat discourage use of tobacco products in Napa County, including secondhand smoke exposure, use of tobacco products by minors and negative influence of the tobacco industry.

The advisory board promotes a smoke-free lifestyle, responsibility for children as relates to tobacco usage, the control of access to tobacco products, and the availability of cessation services.

The board meets in Napa at noon on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Anyone interested in consideration for appointment must submit an application form to the county CEO's office no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 13.

The application form is available on the Napa County Web site at www.co.napa.ca.us. or by calling 253-4421./Register