This week, I was a guest speaker at Bob Fioretti's coaching seminars in Napa. I spoke to some incredibly talented leaders in our community on the value of being organized and shared my experience, focusing on the different ways people get organized. One man asked me if organizing is a luxury. A very interesting question, which I answered by saying, "Actually, I think it is more of a necessity than a luxury." But his question got me thinking about my profession in a new light.

Although it began as way to lure more tourists to the valley during the quiet winter months, the Napa Valley Mustard Festival has garnered its share of attention from locals as well.

Pianist Alan Feinberg, who has forged a career based on musical exploration, will be the guest artist as the Napa Valley Symphony presents its final classical subscription concert of the season April 23 at 3 p.m. and April 25 at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.

Ranging from jazz icon Dave Brubeck to pop chart-topper Shawn Colvin, smooth jazz stalwart Norman Brown to soulful blues/jazz diva Patti Austin, the lineup for the 38th annual Robert Mondavi Summer Festival should appeal to a wide range of musical tastes.

It was standing room only at Copia last week when Helgi Tomasson, the artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, introduced the Friday Night Flick, "The Red Shoes." Tomasson, credited transforming the San Francisco company from regional to international, asked the audience how many had attended a ballet performance and nearly everyone in the packed theater raised their hands.

'Lie, Cheat' and laugh at Dreamweavers

BANGALORE, India -- Raj Kumar, a onetime child actor who became one of south India's most beloved movie stars and later was kidnapped by a notorious bandit, died Wednesday at age 77.

NEW YORK -- For David Lee Roth, morning drive time is turning into a car wreck.

LOS ANGELES -- Tom Cruise has been practically shouting from the rooftops about his love for his pregnant fiancee, Katie Holmes. But when their much-anticipated baby is born, the superstar dad probably won't say a word.

The makers of "Airplane!" have reconnected for "Scary Movie 4," but they've created a sequel that never truly takes flight.

LOS ANGELES -- June Pointer, the youngest of the Pointer Sisters -- known for the '70s and '80s hits "I'm So Excited," "Fire" and "Slow Hand" -- has died of cancer, her family said Wednesday. She was 52.

NEW YORK -- It wasn't too long ago that Norah Jones was living a double life, and trying hard to shield it from public view.

Education

Based in England, the Royal Academy of Dance has affiliations in 70 countries and trains over 250,000 children each year. As part of their classical training, RAD students may opt to take an examination, judged by an international examiner, to determine their proficiency.

Napa Valley College grad receives award

You don't have to be a girl to be a nurse or a boy to be a firefighter. "Each of you has an inner voice. You have the power to do whatever you want in life." stated Tracy Hayward from last years "Good Enough!" Conference.

Eighth grade 4.0

Chocolate Pot de Crme with Chantilly Cream

Let it rainŠ

Despite the evidence of the weather, it really is spring and this week, with both Passover and Easter on the calendar, it's time to celebrate, even if we have to slosh through mountains of mud to do it.

Julia Child's Favorite Jamison Lamb

Parslied New Potatoes

New at the CIA

An upcoming 40th anniversary celebration this summer will salute innovations as well as achievements of wine industry icon Robert Mondavi.

The Kitchens in the Vineyards tour presents Napa Valley homes which share one characteristic: the wow factor.

Planning for planting

BISCONER -- Benjamin Bisconer vs. Bridget Bisconer, April 3, 2006

DOMMEN-BLODGETT -- Markus Dommen, 36, Coombs Street, Napa, to Debra Alana Blodgett, 38, Coombs Street, Napa.

Kaiser Vallejo

Residents of Napa, Gina Garaventa and Scott McClellin announce their engagement with plans to marry Sept. 16, 2006, at the Napa Valley Country Club.