Concluding its successful 2005/06 Season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre gets the last laugh with Molire's "The Miser." This savagely funny comedy about a love affair between a man and his money arrives in an exuberant production from Theatre de la Jeune Lune, recipient of the 2005 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. In a hilarious and contemporary new adaptation from David Ball, "The Miser" is staged in the Roda Theatre by Jeune Lune's artistic director, Dominique Serrand and features Steven Epp as the titular tightwad.

California Shakespeare Theater opens its 2006 season with a wildly imaginative puppet version of Shakespeare's comedy "The Merry Wives of Windsor." directed by Associate Artistic Director Sean Daniels. After the success of his puppet-infused production of "The Comedy of Errors in 2004," Daniels delves even further into the realm of live action and puppetry with "The Merry Wives of Windsor" creating a fantastical production for children and adults alike.

"The King" -- More a product of trailer trash than noble blood, this story of a prodigal son returning to wreak havoc devolves into pointless and preposterous nastiness. Director James Marsh and co-writer Milo Addica ("Monster's Ball") let their story run far astray, into and well beyond the realm of unsavory voyeurism dished out on Jerry Springer's TV show. Early on, Marsh and Addica's screenplay sets up an intriguing drama about a father and the bastard offspring he denies to protect the sanctity of his current cozy family life, the roles grandly embodied by William Hurt and Gael Garcia Bernal. Then the film turns terribly tabloid, wallowing in black-hearted, vulgar action carried out for inconceivable reasons. Laura Harring, Pell James and Paul Dano co-star as the pious family of Hurt, who plays a sanctimonious pastor. R for strong sexual activity involving a teen, some violence and language. 104 min. Two stars out of four. AP

The path of an artist

Everyone goes to diners! They're easy to spot -- gleaming stainless steel and colorful porcelain enamel. Their glowing neon signals a buzz of activity: burgers sizzling, milkshakes mixing, crockery clinking and waitresses dishing out everything from waffles to wisecracks.

CANNES, France -- The women of "X-Men: The Last Stand" can kick your butt.

Vocal harmonies will fill the Napa Valley Opera House for two June nights that promise blissful listening for fans of doo-wop, a cappella and smooth soul singing.

Thursday night is "date night" at Copia during the summer, with live music under the night sky at the River Concert Terrace. Everything from rhythm and blues to Big Band, from Beatles to salsa, comedy to the blues is on the schedule for the Thursday night concerts, which begin June 22.

Two defining video games from the 1980s are back for the Nintendo DS handheld.

Readers of her three popular Napa Valley mystery novels know her as Nadia Gordon. The book jacket photos show a stylish young woman with a model's cheekbones in a fanciful feathered scarf.

In Napa County during the last five years, an increasing number of children have been receiving needed dental care, and more families been able to get affordable health insurance. Home visits to new moms have encouraged more breastfeeding, which helps build a child's immunity to diseases. More preschool children have been learning to love books by reading with their parents.

Laughter and conversation drift through an open door in a Third Street building behind the First Presbyterian Church of Napa. Inside, people are seated at tables, steaming trays of food in front of them. Some of them are talking, some moving to music in headsets, some checking on babies in strollers. They are men and women, old, young, Caucasian, Hispanic and African-American. Many are dressed neatly and eat in quiet dignity, posture straight. Others have a harder time focusing on the task. All are grateful for the meal.

This month we will focus on jewelry: How to choose it , what to choose and why.

NEW YORK -- Linda Wells takes beauty seriously. It's the key to Allure magazine, which Wells has led as editor in chief since the magazine launched 15 years ago.

NEW YORK -- The late spring and early summer are ideal times to expand the family -- to include a new dog.

I was about 11 years old when Mr. Whelan would drop me off in downtown Napa on the corner of First and Main streets to sell Sunday newspapers. Once dropped off at 9 a.m., I was on my own until 1 a.m., when he picked me up. I had to make arrangements for food or my own calls of nature and I learned to improvise. It was worth it because I could make as much as $5 in that one day.

Education

Zanone promoted to corporal Michael Zanone of the United States Marine Corps has been promoted from lance corporal to corporal. Zanone entered military service in March of 2004, and is currently deployed to Al Anbar Providence, Iraq. Corporal Zanone is with C Company, First Battalion, First Marine Regiment. Marines with C Company are supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and are charged with continued security and stability operations, and are combining with Iraqi police to conduct anti-insurgent patrols. He is the son of Dana and Christine Zanone of Napa and he graduated from Napa High School in 2001./Register

For Jordan Williams, 12, having her art displayed in an art show was an amazing experience.

For New World winemakers, it was more than a shot in the arm.

Clear your calendars and get in line! Sunset magazine will host its ninth annual Celebration Weekend, a two-day bonanza event showcasing the "Best of the West," today, and Sunday. Sunset expects to top last year's record attendance of 25,000 visitors.

For the hottest new plant on the block, grow amaranth. This plant offers edible leaves that rival spinach, a nutritious grain, and leaves and flowers in splashy colors.

From the hillside vantage point of the home he's building, Rick Thornberry has sweeping views across the Napa Valley, Rector Reservoir and, on a clear day, to San Francisco. But Thornberry sees something else -- the threat of wild land fire.

Q: Can you please give me some information on in-floor heating, using hot water through flexible pipes? -- Sarah

When 58 million weekend warriors fire up gas-powered lawn mowers, trimmers and edgers this summer, they will produce more than tidy lawns. Those small engines will emitt one-tenth of the total hydrocarbon emissions produced annually in the United States.

We recently attended the 61st Annual National Hardware Show and Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., where hardware manufacturers from all over the world come to show off their wares to retailers. We got to see, touch and experiment with the latest and greatest in home improvement tools and products of all kinds.

MAUZY, Va. -- When Sylvia Crumpacker is away on one of many buying trips for her antiques- and artifact-filled Shoppes at Mauzy, she's always on the hunt for containers -- any interesting container capable of holding potting soil.

Microorganisms

Why don't we

Home & Garden Tour is today

BARBOUR -- Sheila Barbour vs. James Barbour, April 24, 2006

BRYSON-DAVIS -- Howard R. Bryson, 83, Rohlffs Way, Napa, to Patsy Jean Davis, 76, 226th Street, Kent.

Robyn Elizabeth Stanley and Michael James Mathison, both of Napa, announce their engagement with plans to marry Sept. 30, 2006, at the St. Helena Catholic Church.

Sarah Sturdevant of Enid, Okla., and Robert Prior of Napa were married March 4, 2006, in Lawton, Okla.

Bridget Wiemels and Greg Manifold, both of Washington, D.C. announce their engagement with plans to marry June 17, 2006, at St. A's, with a reception to follow at Villagio in Yountville.

Queen of the Valley

Bob and Carol (Henke) Eichler of Napa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 14, 2006. They were honored at a dinner party hosted by their daughter Lisa Eichler at Auberge du Soleil. The couple also celebrated with a Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Norwegian Star and a month-long vacation in Europe.

Jennifer Lynn Perry and Brian David Freeto were married at a nuptial Mass in the Christian Brothers Chapel at Mont La Salle in Napa on August 6, 2006, Fr. Gordon Kalil officiated the ceremony.

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

ALBANY, N.Y. -- On a mission to whip herself into shape, Kate Kowalczyk tossed out the junk food and stocked up on her idea of good-for-you staples like yogurt and low-fat cookies.