It has never seemed so obvious that Napa County is overflowing with talented musical youth as on Saturday night, when 13 aspiring pop stars took their turns on the Napa Valley Opera House stage in the last preliminary round of the Idol NV teen singing contest.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) invites all Napa County high school students to submit their artwork to the annual Congressional Art Competition.

It’s a story that has kept film and theater audiences on the edge of their seats for more than 60 years: A hard-boiled New York detective finds himself falling for the woman whose murder he is investigating.

When Jennifer King decided to direct “South Pacific” at Napa Valley College, she went to the Veterans Home of California in Yountville to talk to men and women who had fought in World War II, and she ended up inviting them to share their stories as part of her production, which opens this weekend at Napa Valley College.

A rare  San Francisco Opera production will be staged in the Napa Valley when four opera singers who have earned spots in the San Francisco Opera’s prestigious two-year residency known as the Adler Fellows Program, perform Benjamin Britten’s haunting thriller “The Turn of the Screw” based on the Henry James novella.

Dreamweavers presents a benefit performance of  “Laura” March 15 for the Sierra Service Project of the First United Methodist Church youth group.

The Napa Valley Symphony presents its final classical concert of the 2006/2007 season featuring renowned pianist John Covelli on March 18 at 3 p.m. at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville.

Kim Nalley is an awardwinning vocalist, bandleader and owner of the renowned San Francisco jazz club Jazz at Pearl’s.

On a warm spring morning in April a group of travelers gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark near London and prepare to journey to the sacred shrine at Canterbury, the resting place of the martyr Sir Thomas Becket.

From Register Staff

Does your pet deserve a moment in the limelight? Send brief answers to these questions along with your name, town, phone number and a picture of your pet to jjones@napanews.com or Pic of the Litter, Napa Valley Register, P.O. Box 150, Napa CA 94559.

Opening today, the Bleaux Magnolia in Napa brings a welcome new taste to the downtown food scene: Cajun.

It’s only a few hours before dozens of guests, dressed in best bib and tucker, are scheduled to sit down to an epicurean feast.

Three popular events associated with the annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival are scheduled in March.

While Pierce Carson was toiling away behind the scenes watching chefs at work, I was on a different assignment, tasting the special mustard menu that the Restaurant at Meadowood is serving in honor of the flowers in bloom all over the valley.

If opening day seems far away, it’s possible to get a taste for Major League Baseball even without a game to watch.

Pat Kuleto’s having fun. Happiest when he’s got more than one iron in the fire, the 61-year-old wine country resident is busy getting three new Bay Area restaurants up and running as well as finally seeing black ink on the books in the Napa Valley wine operation that bears his name.

Nonprofit organizations around the state are holding their breath. When legislation passes and is signed by the governor allowing vintners to pour wine at charitable events regardless of the type of licenses they hold, those same organizations will breathe a sigh of relief.

Copia’s singing wine guy Burke Owens has announced he’s taken a new job with Bonny Doone Vineyard in the Santa Cruz mountains. Owens, who has shared his vocal talent as well as his wine expertise at many a Copia event, will be leaving the Copia staff at the end of March but will be back for special events at Copia.

NEW DELHI — Pressure mounted on India Wednesday to cut high import duties on wine and spirits after the United States said it had joined the European Union asking the World Trade Organization to intervene in the matter.

Even if you don’t produce commercial crops, the office of the Napa County agricultural commissioner has valuable information for you. Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Dave Whitmer and his staff are happy to share a wealth of knowledge on subjects such as pest prevention and management, protecting the environment and the accuracy of weights and measurements.

On Monday I had the pleasure of participating as an instructor in a fruit tree-pruning seminar sponsored by the California Arborists Association. A non-profit organization of professional arborists, CAA promotes training, education, and high professional standards of practice in tree care. The fruit tree-pruning seminar was one of many workshops and events on their calendar for 2007.

Most mornings this month, you’ll find me in my garden feeding, grooming and generally trying to coax my roses into putting on a superior floral extravaganza. My garden will be on the Napa County Master Gardeners’ Garden Tour on June 3, so the pressure is on to get my 350-plus roses to look their best when visitors arrive.

CASTILLO-LOPEZ — Eduardo Castillo vs. Beatriz Lopez, Feb. 9, 2007

ALLEN-MARCEAU — Matthew Steven Allen, 27, Garfield Lane, Napa, to Nicole Marie Marceau, 22, Garfield Lane, Napa.

Megan Scurlock and Andrew Sizelove of Folsom announce their engagement to be married on June 30 in Yountville.

Kim Liestenfeltz and Don Loiler of Napa announce their engagement to be married on June 30 at a Yountville Estate.

Ashley Ferguson and Philip Figueroa of Napa announce their engagement to be married on June 16 at St. Helena Catholic Church.

Jill Carlson and Shane Means of Santa Barbara County were married Aug. 5 at the Carlson residence in Napa in a Mexican fiesta-themed backyard wedding.

Kaiser Hospital Vallejo

Noel and Mary (Yarbrough) Hayes of Napa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 11 with family at a dinner party at Rings Restaurant at Embassy Suites in Napa. Four generations were able to be present around the table with candlelight, white roses with gold ribbons and crystal.

Scott and Debra Dunbar of American Canyon celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on Feb. 18. The couple was married on Feb. 18, 1978, and has spent 20 years in Napa County. They have been married for 29 years and are as happy as the day they got married. They are a true inspiration for all married couples.

Loralei Laughridge and Harry Morehouse Jr. of Vallejo announce their engagement to be married on June 24 with a ceremony at Blue Rock Springs in Vallejo, and reception at the Moose Lodge in Vallejo.