If a general sense of music in the air at Vintage High School is not enough of an indication something special is in the works, perhaps the prevalence of "Les Misrable" T-shirts and sweatshirts on students is the giveaway.

Our consumer driven society places merit on items that are useful to us in our everyday lives, only as long as they serve our wants and needs. Once items deliver their potential value to us, i.e. candy wrappers, plastic sandwich bags, junk mail, empty soda cans -- they take on a patina of refuse, something dirty and vile. Our reaction -- to throw these items away and rid ourselves of their spent promises -- is learned as children and we carry it with us the rest of our lives. Indeed, ordinary objects are designed to become obsolete.

The art of

From Register Staff

Performer Andrea Marcovicci is an acquired taste.

In an unexpected visit to the Napa Valley the Bay Area Blues Society will present Mississippi's the Johnny Rawls Revue for a one-time performance at DG's Saturday. Honoring black history month, Ronnie Stewart, executive director of the society will present a short lecture on the history of blues followed by this special concert.

Norman Thayer Jr., approaching his 80th birthday, glumly recognizes that "me and my body are having a great race to see who can poop out first." Nonetheless he and his wife, Ethel, have arrived their summer home on Golden Pond in Maine, for their 48th, and what he is persuaded will be their last, visit.

NEW YORK -- Barry Manilow has landed on the top of the charts with a just-released album for the first time in 29 years.

New York Fashion Week is coming to a close with rapid-fire runway shows from some of the biggest names in the industry -- Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld.

NEW YORK -- ABC's "World News Tonight," scrambling to fill the gap left by its injured anchor, Bob Woodruff, is facing further instability: Elizabeth Vargas, Woodruff's co-anchor, is pregnant.

WASHINGTON -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's top television executive has resigned after three years to return to independent film producing.

LOS ANGELES -- The Academy Awards nominations confirm it: 2005 may have been an off year for the blockbuster crowd, but it was a great year for people who love quality cinema.

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A VOENA CHRISTMAS -- VOENA, Voices of Eve 'N Angels, is the internationally acclaimed, multi-ethnic children's choir that combines inventive a cappella vocal arrangements with percussion, dance and theatrical elements. A joy for the eyes, ears and heart, and one you won't want to miss. Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at Copia. $25 general/$22.50 member. Info, 259-1600.

What is it about a humble mushroom, clandestinely cultivated under an oak tree that provokes such culinary passion and a unique underground economy within Southern France?

From a young age, Tami Nixon knew she wanted to dance. But by the time she was big enough for class, her older sisters had taken dance lessons and didn't enjoy them. So, instead of learning ballet, little Tami and her sisters were sent to swimming classes and joined a swim team.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Kerry Walsh knew there'd be talk when a group of students proposed putting on "The Vagina Monologues" at the University of Notre Dame.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A steady winter breeze isn't all that chills the streets for Mormon missionaries Jeremy Christensen and Cameron Johnson. The two 21-year-olds from Idaho get cool treatment from would-be converts as they approach, offering smiles and salvation.

'The Theology

St. Helena High School

Education

2006 Common Threads honoree recognized

One of the most prestigious international wine organizations is the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Cooking at Andretti

Special to the Register

Register Staff Writer

Pan Seared Day Boat Scallops with Parsnip Puree

Celery Root and Apple Soup with Roasted Chestnuts and Vanilla Oil

A primer on ferns

Chances are you created a project budget for your remodeling or construction project.

Some of the new products at the recent International Builders Show were real attention-getters, and any one of them could be a "must have" for your next project.

It may take more than good seed, good soil, a warming sun and a few timely rains to make your garden productive this year. It also may take some beneficial insects; some pollinators.

The owner of Whiting Nursery in St. Helena, Kevin Twohey, will teach two seminars on fruit trees on Sunday and Feb. 18, from 1 to 3:30 p.m.

On St. Valentine's Day, or at anytime, flowers are messengers from the sender's heart. In Victorian and Edwardian times, when flower giving was a refined art, each flower and even its presentation had a specific significance. Even today, a gift of flowers can communicate a thousand words.

Christine Maclean of Napa and Andrew Adams of Lodi announce their engagement with a wedding planned for May 20, 2006, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Residents of Napa, Meagan Salmon and Brian Houle announce their engagement with plans to marry June 10, 2006, in Carmel.

John and Kit (Reading) Carter of Napa celebrated 60 years of marriage on Feb. 11, 2006. The couple held a celebration at their home attended by their children and special guests, Hailee and Churchill, their daughter Anne's two dogs, who the couple spoils to no end.

Mr. and Mrs. John F. Pyle of Napa celebrated 25 years of marriage on Feb. 11, 2006.

Joe and Sue (Titus) Griego of Napa celebrated 25 years of marriage on Jan. 11, 2006. Along with family and friends, the couple took a seven-day cruise on the Mexican Riviera with stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Queen of the Valley

BUSHEY -- Susan Bushey vs, Jeffry Bushey, Jan. 26, 2006

Residents of San Diego, Alicia McGraw and Sean Doyle were married on Oct. 22, 2005, at the Napa Elks Lodge and held a reception immediately following the ceremony.

AVILA HERNANDEZ-VILLEDA GONZALEZ -- Alejandro Avila Hernandez, 24, Maria Drive, Napa, to Karina Villeda Gonzalez, 26, Sherman Avenue, Napa.

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Soon after scientists landed by helicopter in the mist-shrouded mountains of one of Indonesia's most remote provinces, they stumbled on a primitive egg-laying mammal that simply allowed itself to be picked up and brought to their field camp.