Everyone's wondering whether President George W. Bush will drive or fly into the Napa Valley on Friday. And if he flies, where will he land?

On Thursday afternoon, one of the potential landing sites for the presidential helicopter, known officially as Marine One, was eliminated.

"We have been told not to expect the president to land at the Angwin Airport," said John Collins, vice president for financial administration at Pacific Union College.

"The kids on campus were on all excited about the possibility (of Bush landing there), but we've sent out an e-mail saying that won't happen," he said.

One possible explanation is the expected arrival of a storm front over the weekend. Accuweather, which provides weather information to the Register, is calling for a mix of sun, clouds and rain on Friday. A mixture of clear skies, clouds and a possible thunderstorm are predicted for Saturday, when the president is scheduled to leave.

"Angwin is often in the clouds, not under them," said Collins.

Collins said he served as the contact person between PUC and the White House last year when Vice President Cheney came for a visit.

Then, the vice president's location was a secret. This time, it was known that PUC was one of two or three potential landing sites. One of Collins' goals was to assure security if the facility were to be used. "I feel that a public official should be able to move about with dignity and privacy," he said. "His stay in wine country should be a good one, and he should want to come back."

All this lends credence to the theory that Meadowood Napa Valley in St. Helena will be the landing site.

On Wednesday, Napa area pilots received notice that the air space around Meadowood and beyond will be severely restricted during an 18-hour window of time Friday evening and Saturday.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a bulletin notifying not just fixed-wing flyers, but gliders, hang-gliders, crop dusters and balloonists that an area radiating out 30 miles from the facility will be restricted. There is a complete no-fly zone within a 10-mile radius.

"They will intercept you, and they will shoot you down," said Wayne Lackey of Wine Country Helicopters.

Napa County Airport is within the 30-mile zone, but outside the 10-mile radius, so takeoffs and landings will go on, but pilots must file a flight plan and transmit a code. The FAA stressed "no loitering" to pilots in the area.

The restrictions are in effect up to an altitude of 18,000 feet.

Lackey said even with the saturated ground, the Marine helicopters typically used to transport the president should not have a problem. Three of the choppers made a test run on Tuesday. Lackey said if one is used for the presidential party, the other two would likely serve as decoys.

Rallies on both sides

The White House did not release the president's itinerary by press time, but some of those planning to protest the president's visit made their schedule known Wednesday. Protests organized by United Napans Concerned Over Iraq Lunacy (UNCOIL) are due to take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday.

Janet Kirtlink, head of the Napa County Republican Central Committee, said local Republicans plan to stage a show of support from 5 to 7 p.m. at the intersection of Deer Park Road and Silverado Trail.

"One of our committee members talked to the police department up there and they suggested that would be a good place," she said, adding supporters had no expectation the president would travel past in a motorcade. "The point is for me I'm just doing it for support of the president."

It is likely parts of the Trail will be closed as a result of the president's visit, but law enforcement officials haven't released specifics.

Napa County Sheriff's Capt. John Robertson said off duty law enforcement personnel will be called in and surrounding agencies will be alerted in case extra help is needed with demonstrators. Permits are needed if roads could be blocked, but he said it "could be too late for that."

Chillin' at Meadowood

It's no longer a secret that the president is expected at Meadowood. But 24 hours before the president's arrival, it appeared to be just another calm day at the lush resort.

Wine tour vans dropped off fresh batches of visitors. Some people played tennis, others lounged in the sprawling swimming pools. At least one visitor who was not a member had no trouble getting past the guarded gate and heading to the Grill.

Nearby, a handful of people putted away on the vibrantly green golf course -- a possible landing site for Marine One. Meanwhile, scores of fresh-faced staff, smartly dressed in khakis and white polo shirts, roamed the grounds in golf carts, occasionally offering a greeting or a ride to guests.

The closest thing to any kind of anticipatory excitement late Thursday afternoon seemed to be the replacement of day-old flowers with fresh blooms at the Grill. Even the sounds of construction at the restaurant and the Vintner's Room had nothing to do with Bush. According to a construction worker, remodels and upgrades of the restaurant have been underway for weeks and will be going on long after the president is back in Washington.

Medics on call

St. Helena and Queen of the Valley hospitals were both contacted by the White House Thursday, but spokespersons said neither was asked to prepare anything special in advance of today's visit by President Bush.

"They wanted to review our emergency capabilities," said St. Helena Hospital spokeswoman Elizabeth Zima. "They just wanted to know what acute care medical services we would have in an emergency situation. We're not doing anything special."

She said the Secret Service wanted to know what specialty services were available and on call, how long it would take to access those services in the emergency room, and what their ability is to handle a transfer patient. The hospital has a helipad.

Dante Allen, spokesman for the Queen, said the Napa hospital fielded a similar call. The Queen also has a helipad.

Feinstein in town, too

Meanwhile, President Bush is not the only dignitary expected in Napa Valley this weekend.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., will be in downtown Napa on Saturday morning for a look at the Napa River Flood Control Project. She will be joined by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd and Napa Mayor Jill Techel, as well as local business leaders, for an update on the $288 million project.

While the president is not expected to join his fellow denizens of Washington, D.C., at the Napa River Inn, he will be on people's minds. This year, flood control officials sought $31 million for the project, but the president's budget calls for only $9 million. Thompson and Feinstein will take the lead, as they have in the past, to bump up the appropriation for the project.

Power play?

Power was turned off for residents around Meadowood Country Club on Thursday between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. PG&E notified residents of the action. Meadowood neighbor Fred Rijke said he was not told that the move had anything to do with the presidential visit but noted, "If we're going to be that close to the president, we should be pretty safe."

Register staff writers Jay Goetting, David Ryan, Marsha Dorgan, Julissa McKinnon and Managing Editor Bill Kisliuk contributed to this report.