This weekend the Napa Valley Chorale presents its holiday concert at the Jarvis Conservatory. Under the direction of Jan Lanterman, the Chorale performs Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets, at $35, are available at the Jarvis Conservatory, at 1711 Main St., Napa. For more information, call 255-5445 or visit www.jarvisconservatory.com.

At 87, Rene di Rosa is still collecting new works by Bay Area artists.

On Sunday afternoon at the Napa Valley Opera House, a large audience — half of them children — were treated to a bit of theater magic presented by the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company.

A golden lineup of entertainment awaits audiences as the Lincoln Theater in Yountville begins its year-long 50th anniversary celebration in January.

Harry Shearer, actor, journalist, author and commentator, will appear at the Napa Valley Opera House Friday at 8 p.m., to share his views on politics, the media and pop culture.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has named Dec. 8, 2006, “Larry Vuckovich Day” in San Francisco to honor the 70th birthday of the San Francisco-based jazz pianist, bandleader and concert presenter.

NEW YORK — “Letters From Iwo Jima,” the second half of Clint Eastwood’s two-part look at World War II, is the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures’ pick as the best film of 2006.

An accurate indicator of whether a game is any good is time. It may seem obvious, but if a game sucks you in enough to play for longer periods than you normally would, that’s a very good sign indeed.

The basic formula for rock hasn’t changed much over the past half-century or so: Take two or more teenagers, add drums, microphones and guitars, combine in garage and plug in. It doesn’t always work, but when it does the results can be mighty and long-lasting.

MEXICO CITY — Scenes of enslaved Maya Indians building temples for a violent, decadent culture in Mel Gibson’s new film “Apocalypto” may ring true for many of today’s Mayas, who earn meager wages in construction camps, building huge tourist resorts on land they once owned.

Anyone heading to the mountains to try skiing for the first time this season might want to take a page from the experiences of Zeke the Zebra, whose snowy adventures are recounted in a new children’s book from Dee Richards, a Napa artist and author.

It’s hard to believe a video game like “Final Fantasy XII” even fits on a single PlayStation 2 disc — it’s a gargantuan, epic role-playing experience.

It took more than 3,500 student hours to put together a colorful ceramic tile mural that was unveiled Thursday at Vintage High.

Education

Gasser Foundation president gets award

Second Lt. Josh Carter of Napa received his pilot wings from the Air Force on Nov. 9. Lt. Carter graduated from the elite Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB, Texas, where he was awarded the Order of Daedalians Commander's Trophy for the most outstanding student.

It’s really not hyperbole to describe Rob McNeil’s career as sparkling.

The Hess Collection will hold its monthly Cellar Door Red Saturday and Sunday when fans can fill a half-gallon jug with a blend composed of 90 percent Mt. Veeder cabernet sauvignon and 10 percent petite verdot.

“In winter,  the darkest time of the year, it’s the custom to drink to the return of the sun. In pre-historic times, access to a sheltered cave and a fire was the height of luxury. If a little fermented grape juice or soupy beer was at hand than you were literally living like a king.”

Each Tuesday The Register reviews an area restaurant, with an emphasis on establishments where a couple can dine for $30 or less. Reader suggestions are welcomed.

Coming up with a Yuletide gift for the home cook should be as easy as, well, apple pie.

Whether you’re on a budget or looking to bust one, finding the perfect gift for the gourmet in your life need not be a hassle.

This time of year you're sure to see your neighbors dragging plastic Santas out of the garage, cramming Christmas trees through the doorways and unsnarling strings of holiday lights. Decorating can be a hassle, but with a little planning, you can create a beautiful display that won't have you saying "bah humbug" when the energy bill arrives.

Heila Hubbard doesn't dare tell her neighbors, but she recently spent weeks figuring out how to run water out of her tap.

WOODSTOCK, Va. -- Esther Miller is here to warn you about being blistered by the milk of horticultural kindness -- in her case, by brushing up against the creamy sap oozing from plants belonging to the family Euphorbia.

We usually have the coldest weather in January and February, but during each of the past four years we have had an early frost in December that put an end to the winter blooms of the Mexican sage out by my driveway. Protect tender bougainvillea, citrus, fuchsia and succulents by covering them if frost is expected. If we're not having steady rain yet, continue to run the irrigation system if the soil dries out. Also water the potted plants as necessary, especially those under the eaves. There is still time to plant some vegetable seeds or some cool weather annuals, or relax a bit and leave the pruning until January. For more seasonal gardening topics, tune in to MGTV local public access cable Channel 28 (cable only); showtimes are Thursdays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 7 p.m.

Six Napa Valley estates will be open today for this year's St. Helena Holiday Home Tour, which raises funds for the students at St. Helena primary and elementary schools. The tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shopping for the holidays

A Napa holiday tradition returns as Napa County Landmarks presents its Holiday Candlelight Tour 3-8 p.m. Saturday in the Napa Abajo/Fuller Park neighborhoods in Napa.

WASHINGTON -- A year after experimenting with fresh flower decorations, the White House is returning to a more traditional Christmas look for its 24 holiday parties.

THOMPSON-SCHROETER -- Edmund Paul Thompson, 33, Tanglewood Way, Napa, to Lena Katharina Schroeter, 29, Tanglewood Way, Napa.

St. Helena Hospital

OBA -- Asuncion Oba vs. Joseph Oba, Nov. 16, 2006

Ray Borgia and Diane (MacPherson) Borgia celebrated their 40th anniversary on Nov. 7 with a cruise on the Mexican Riviera aboard the Carnival Spirit with friends. They also celebrated Diane's 60th birthday on Nov. 15.

Dalton Allen and Kasey Randle announced their engagement to be married on June 16, 2007. Dalton proposed to Kasey on the island of Hawaii in Kona. Kasey is the daughter of Bob and Quay Randle of Big Bear Lake. She is a 1996 graduate of Big Bear High School and is an escrow officer. Dalton is the son of Dave and Connie Allen of Napa. He is a 1993 graduate of Vintage High School and is currently completing his teaching credential at California State University, Long Beach. They are living in Long Beach.

Meagan Salmon of Carmel and Brian Houle of San Mateo married on June 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Monterey Peninsula in Carmel. The reception was held at the Hyatt Regency of Monterey. The couple married at the same church where the bride's parents were wed 28 years ago.

Jim Landis and Sandy (Foster) Landis of Napa celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sept. 30 at the home of the Stornettas. They married on Oct. 6, 1956, in Berkeley and have lived in Napa County for 36 years.

Cynthia Sue Hamby and Matthew Eugene Eckert, both of Port Orford, Ore., married on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Berkeley Marina. Cindi and Matt were married by the captain on the bow of the Commodore Hornblower yacht, surrounded by 40 family members and close friends. After the ceremony, a reception, luncheon and dancing were held on the yacht as it cruised the calm waters of San Francisco Bay.

Jennifer Datlik and Thomas McDonald of Seattle, Wash., were married Oct. 14, 2006, at V. Sattui WInery. The bride and groom held a sunset candlelit ceremony officiated by Fr. Ray Meiser. The bride was escorted down the aisle by Dean Sereni, her friend since preschool and fellow graduate of Calistoga High School, class of 1994.