Education

Comparative religion and spirituality lectures Join Dr. Ron Carlson at Grace Church of Napa Valley today through Wednesday at 7 p.m. as he lectures on comparative religions including Islam, Mormonism, Catholicism and New Age Spirituality. For more information, visit www.gracenapa.org.

Monday Night Relationship Solutions MNRS is a weekly workshop aimed at providing "practical solutions to everyday problems." Each workshop contains content toward building healthy relationships and communication skills. This Monday's workshop teaches "Identifying Safe People and Why We Need Them." All workshops are at First Christian Church, 2659 First St. in Napa at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $15. For information, call Ron Bauer or Penni Cremen at 255-8823.

Public hearing on tutoring Native American children

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday to discuss and approve the Federal Grant application, which provides money to the Napa Valley Unified School District for tutoring of Native American children. Under the Authority of Section 9401, a waiver has been submitted with the grant application pertaining to the administrative cap of 5 percent on grant funds under the Indian Education Formula Grant Program to local education agencies. The hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Indian Education Center, Pueblo Vista School, 1600 Barbara Road, Napa, in the Title I room, off of the multi-use room.

Learn how to legally protect your children

All are welcome to join the St. Apollinaris parent community on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the St. Apollinaris School hall for a presentation explaining guardianship, living trusts and how to protect our children. Dave Gaw of Gaw, Van Male, Smith, Myers & Miroglio, and John Carr, of Hines & Carr LLP will lead the discussion. If you have any questions, please call Carrie Bacci at 259-5485.

Federal Grant application to be discussed at public hearing A public hearing will be held Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Indian Education Center, Pueblo Vista School, 1600 Barbara Rd., Napa, in the Title I room. The federal grant application will be discussed. This grant provides money to the school district for tutoring of Native American children. For information, call 253-3884.

IEP training/IDEA update

The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) was passed in 1997 to ensure that all children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate education. The IDEA Update will be an overview of the 2004 law and an opportunity for parents to ask questions and understand if and how their children will be affected. The training will be held on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Parent-Child Advocacy Network (ParentsCAN). To register or for more information, please call 253-7444.

Horse Trailer Safety Clinic

Please come join us on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Napa Valley Horsemen's Association arena located at 1200 Foster Rd. in Napa. California Highway Patrol will present horse trailer safety and driving information. This event is free. Donations will be accepted. Sponsored by the NV Pony Club and NV Horsemen's Association. Contact 265-6650 with any questions.

Respiratory care info meetings

Interested in a career in respiratory care? Learn more about the training program offered at Napa Valley College on April 3 and May 1 from 5 to 6 p.m. in room 1002. For information, call 253-3145.

Help for parents with teens

The Napa County Office of Education and Napa Valley Unified School District present "Verbal Judo for Parents with Teens." Retired Police Chief Dan Monez will present the workshop free of charge on April 4 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the NVUSD Board Room. A light meal and refreshments will be served. The tools and technique of Verbal Judo can empower parents to effectively deal with the difficulties of raising teenagers. Parents have said that taking the course and reading the recommended books have completely changed their relationship with their teens for the better. You must pre-register by Thursday by calling 253-3888 or e-mailing aruygt@nvusd.k12.ca.us.

CyberMill hosts Internet safety lecture

The District Attorney's office and Napa Police Department are presenting an Internet safety lecture on April 7 from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. at CyberMill designed to help parents talk candidly to their teens about Internet safety and to reduce the risk of their becoming involved in, or targets of, violence. Spanish translator will be on-site. For additional information please call 258-8884, ext. 14. CyberMill is located at 3299 Claremont Way.

Senior seminar

Napa Valley College Senior Seminar class is held each Friday at the Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St. in Napa. Admission is free. This Friday at 9 a.m., Mary Bergfelt of LAPS will speak about "Animal Assisted Therapy." At 10:15 a.m., John Glaser, Superintendent of NVUSD will present an update on Napa Valley schools. For information, call 224-3611.

Child care program

The Napa Valley Unified Childcare Program is beginning their fall 2006-07 registration. Child care is currently available at the following elementary school sites: El Centro, Browns Valley, Snow, West Park, Mt. George and Bel Aire Park. Please call for additional information, 253-3959 or 253-3582.

New nursing scholarship announced

A Voice Found Inc., a nonprofit career counseling and scholarship service, is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity for local students pursuing a career in nursing at a university, college or community college. The Anne Cumming Nursing Scholarship honors a woman who dedicated her life to nursing. Applications are available in local high school and college counseling offices or online at www.avoicefound.org.

Health

Free Senior Health Fair On Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Senior Health Fair will be held at the Napa Senior Activity Center, 1500 Jefferson St. in Napa. Free health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose will be available to seniors and their families. For information, call 255-1800.

Colon Cancer: Detection, Treatments and Advances in Research

On Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., join George Fisher, M.D., for a free conference call presentation. Space is limited. To register, please contact Torrey Schoen and provide your full name, address, city, zip, phone number, e-mail address and fax number. Call 255-5911 and press option 3.

Community Smoking Cessation Project People who smoke and are ready to stop are urged to call the Community Smoking Cessation Project, at 261-6771 now to enroll in one of the eight-session smoking cessation classes. Mondays at Queen of the Valley at 6 p.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center at 6 p.m. Keep the Quit Support Group is available on Thursdays at Napa Kaiser Permanente at 5:30 p.m. Please call to reserve a space.

Pre-natal yoga

This special two-hour prenatal yoga workshop for you and your partner/coach is designed to help prepare you for the birth of your baby for when the time is right for you to transition from pregnancy into delivery. Includes pranayama (breathing techniques) and partner assisted asanas to help soothe and relax you as you begin your journey into motherhood. Saturday from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. at Napa Valley Yoga. $40 per couple. For information and reservations visit www.napavalleyyoga.net.

Alzheimer's respite camp weekend

The Napa Valley Alzheimer's Coalition is offering a respite weekend at Enchanted Hills Camp on Mt. Veeder Rd. from April 21 through April 23. The event is an opportunity for caregivers to receive 48 hours of respite and care-receivers to receive 48 hours of stimulating programming and activities in a safe environment. Deadline for applications is Friday. Call Anne at 258-9087 for an application.

Cancer support group St. Helena Hospital's Women's Center sponsors a cancer support group, led by a breast cancer survivor and psychologist, every third Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at the Women's Center, 1299 Pine St. in St. Helena. For information, call 968-9957.

Volunteer/fundraisers

Child abuse prevention, awareness Thursday at noon, join the Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Campaign Kickoff Luncheon. Held at the Yountville Community Hall, 6550 Yount St. in Yountville. For information, call 252-1123.

The impact of drug abuse on children Thursday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., join us for community training hosted by the Child Abuse Prevention Council. "The impact of drug abuse on children" will be explored at the Yountville Community Hall, 6550 Yount St. in Yountville. Call 252-1123 for information.

Napa's wildlife needs your help

Volunteers are needed for the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County's 2006 songbird clinic which cares for injured, ill, or orphaned songbirds. Responsibilities involve cleaning and feeding young songbirds. The clinic is open from mid-April through late August. Volunteers are needed to take a three-hour shift per week throughout the season.

If you are responsible, over 14 years of age and care about the future of wildlife in our county, please consider volunteering for the 2006 Songbird Clinic season. Volunteer training will be held Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Napa Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa, in the Community Room. For more information, call Pam Condos, Rehabilitation Coordinator, at 226-5573.

New Technology Spanish Club holds car wash

New Technology High School Spanish Club will hold a car wash at Sleep City in Napa on April 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds from the car wash will benefit a trip to Chile. Sleep City is located at 1300 Jefferson St. For information, call Liz Chacon at 259-8557.

Share your love of books -- reach out and read!

Volunteer to read books to children in the Napa Kaiser Pediatrics Clinic waiting room. Hours are flexible, and you will be modeling read-aloud techniques and talking to parents about the importance of reading to young children. Training is provided by the Napa Library on April 11 and 18 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call or visit the Literacy Center at the Napa Main Library, 580 Coombs St., (707) 253-4283. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Di Rosa Preserve volunteers needed The Di Rosa Preserve: Art and Nature is recruiting new volunteers. There are openings for tour guides, docents, a nature program and administrative assistance. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is encouraged to call and schedule an interview and complimentary tour of the Di Rosa Preserve. Bilingual skills are especially desired. For information, call 226-5991, ext. 24 or e-mail Barbara@dirosapreserve.org.

Clubs/Meetings

Bonsai Club

Whiting Nursery and the Napa Valley Bonsai Club are jointly sponsoring a free bonsai demonstration and clinic today, 738 Main Street, St. Helena. This is an opportunity to become acquainted with the ancient Japanese art of bonsai. Those who already have trees and may like some advice or assistance are invited to bring them for evaluation.

The Napa Valley Bonsai Club meets regularly the third Monday of the month at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson St., Napa. At 6:30 p.m. is "Bonsai Fundamentals" and at 7:30 p.m. there is a brief general meeting following which is an interesting program. Visitors are welcome. For further information, please call 255-8822.

Napa Valley Art Association

The Napa Valley Art Association will hold their monthly meeting on Monday at 1 p.m. at 1520 Behrens Street in Napa. All members and guests are welcome.

Susan McGuire will be the guest demonstrator. She is a watercolorist who holds a BFA from Holy Names University in Oakland. Refreshments will be served. $3 fee for non-members, payable at the door. For more information, please call 265-9050.

Napa County Commission on Aging On Monday from 2 to 4 p.m., the Napa County Commission on Aging will hold their monthly meeting in the Veterans Home of California at Yountville in Grant Hall. The Vets Home administrator will be guest speaker. Meetings are open to the public. Please come and share your views and concerns regarding seniors in Napa County. For directions, call 944-5068.

Area Agency on Aging seeks input on area plan

The Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging Serving Napa-Solano will hold three public hearings for Planning and Service Area #28:

* The final hearing will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Florence Douglas Senior Center, 333 Amador St., Vallejo.

Get information about local programs and services for seniors, persons with disabilities and their caregivers that are supported by the Area Agency on Aging. Voice your ideas and concerns and comment on the plan update. Interested parties should call the AAA at 644-6612.

Family Support Group

Do you have friends or loved ones who are facing mental health issues? The Mental Health Family Support Group invites you to join the next meeting on Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at 1500 Third St., Suite B-1, in downtown Napa. This group is sponsored by the county of Napa Health & Human Services Agency. Free, no registration required. For more information, please call 253-4778 or 253-4886.

Tea & Comfort

Hospice of Napa Valley is offering Tea & Comfort, an opportunity for women who have experienced the loss of a loved one to get together in a relaxed environment and meet others who have had similar experiences. This informal group will meet each Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hospice of Napa Valley office, 414 S. Jefferson St., Napa. For more information, call 258-9080.

Business Network International

One business category may join BNI. We meet every Tuesday at 7 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. at Riverpoint, 500 Lincoln Ave., Napa. Guests are served breakfast at no charge. Grow your business through over 35 sales associates, with no cost to you as a member. Please Contact Curtis Asby at 291-3202.

Napa Success Connection

The new business networking group, Napa Success Connection, is recruiting interested business people in Napa. Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. at the Napa Land Title Company at 951 California Blvd. Please contact Sandy Borges-Herbert with Prudential California Realty at 259-4911 for more information and to reserve your business category.

American Needlepoint Guild

The Wine Country Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild meets on the fourth Saturday each month at 10 a.m. at the Napa Senior Center. The April 22 meeting will feature Jan Morgan's Halloween Candy Corn piece "The Colonel." All stitchers are welcome. For information, call 255-1199.

New Horizons for young adults

New Horizons, a social group for specially-abled young adults in high school or beyond will meet at Pizza Hut on Jefferson the fourth Saturday of each month, from 5 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are welcome to this group for socializing and meeting new friends. For more information, call Marcia at 224-2214.

We support our troops

We are a non-political group and are working in conjunction with the Red Cross for the purpose of providing support to our troops. We obtain needed and requested items and mail them to the troops. We are asking the Napa business community and individuals to help by donating goods, money or by adopting a package. For more information, call 258-8790 or contact your local Red Cross.

Napa Sons of Italy

The Napa Sons of Italy lodge #2043 welcomes you to attend our monthly meetings every fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Napa Activity Center, 1500 Jefferson St., Napa. For more information, call 252-1963 or 226-226-9747.

Sons in Retirement (SIR)

Sons in Retirement, Branch 80, is a group of retired men that gathers once a month for a luncheon and good fellowship. The membership consists of retired men from the military, construction, government, utilities and all walks of life. For information, call 224-8976.

Other

Town Hall meetings on underage drinking

Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga are three of hundreds of communities nationwide that will hold underage drinking prevention Town Hall meetings. The St. Helena meeting is Monday at 7 p.m. at Vintage Hall. Napa meeting is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Napa City-County Library. The Calistoga meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Calistoga Elementary School cafeteria.

Police service survey

In an effort to better serve the community, the Napa Police Department is asking for your help and feedback by completing a survey relating to local police services. The survey is available in both English and Spanish and is confidential. It can be accessed by going to the city of Napa's Web site at www.cityofnapa.org or by going to RGN Consulting's Web site at www.rgnconsulting.org. A paper copy of the survey can also be picked up Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Napa Police Department front desk, City Hall collections office, Napa City-County Library and the Senior Citizens Center. All surveys must be completed and returned by March 30. For more information, call 257-9223.

Planetary play day with Unity in Napa Valley Join with Unity Church in Napa Valley for fun, games, laughter and aura readings on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Welcome Grange Hall, 3275 Hagen Rd. in Napa. This is a free event sponsored by Unity Church in Napa Valley. For information, call 255-0410.