Artist-apiarist and Napa resident Rob Keller is one of the 15 artists receiving a grant from the Creative Work Fund, a program from the Walter and Elise Haas Fund to support new art works and local artists. The fund is giving grants totaling $472,000 to visual and traditional Bay Area artists creating new works through collaborations with local nonprofits.

If a trip to Hawaii is beyond your budget this summer, let “Manaleo” bring the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands to you.

When Napa Valley Dance Center presented its annual recital last weekend, the stage was filled with young dancers, from the miniature Cinderellas in tutus and tiaras making their first pirouette to the experienced teenagers spinning and leaping across the stage in flowing gowns.

A Stephen King adaptation about a guy alone in a hotel room with some foul presence and a bunch of lost souls sounds like the low-rent version of the author’s “The Shining,” which had an entire resort hotel in which evil could roam.

The Wailin’ Jennys, a stand-out among the new generation of Canadian roots music bands, bring their lush, powerful music to the Napa Valley Opera House Friday. With the emphasis on their three-part harmonies, Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and newest member Heather Masse perform original and traditional tunes, which run the gamut of roots styles from classic and contemporary folk to Celtic roots and country.

Recently I got an e-mail from a Napan named Marti Blackard who remembered me, she said, from a holiday get together at Jay Goetting’s house. When Jay’s name is mentioned I listen, because that retired Register journalist and bass musician is one fine man.

Pastor Marvin Wray discusses “The Power of Prayer” at Napa Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1105 G. St., Napa, Saturday at 11:15 a.m. Info, 252-2444.

From Register staff

Vintage grad joins Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Local man graduates from Naval Academy

The mayor of Zagreb, Croatia, was in Rutherford Thursday to present Mike Grgich with a golden medal from the city, a rarely given award that recognized Grgich’s contributions to American-Croatian relations, his contributions to Croatia and the relationships he has built between the vintner’s land of birth and his adopted home.

When Copia opened in November 2001, it was called “The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts,” but as it has evolved, it’s become clear, that, just as wine and and Napa Valley are practically synonymous, Copia’s concentration should be on the grape.

NAPA — Round and round they go, hundreds of bottles of Two Buck Chuck rattling and clinking their way toward a big machine that deftly fills, corks and seals each one in a rhythmic dance of metal and glass.

ANDREW DORNENBURG

One word — education — seemed to keep popping up during two seminars at the walk-around tasting of the Association of African American Vintners at Copia last weekend.

VOLGA, S.D. — Jim and Nancy Schade opened their winery, Schade Vineyard, with the goal of bringing a touch of Napa Valley to the South Dakota prairie.

There's something about balmy summer evenings that makes you want to fire up the old grill and treat yourself to an alfresco meal.

Each year Sutter Home Winery's Build a Better Burger National Cook-Off, with its grand prize of $50,000, draws competitors from around the nation with recipes for burgers that range from sublime to strange. Duck burgers, anyone?

If hot dogs and hamburgers don't inspire you to hit the hiking trail and pitch a tent, how about sausage jambalaya bubbling over the campfire followed by hot berry cobbler?

Sticky Chicken

The intense, dry heat of the grill can be a chicken breast's worst enemy.

Blue Cheese Burgers

After public hearings in April and May, the Napa County Board of Supervisors adopted a weed abatement ordinance for unincorporated Napa County (with the exception of unincorporated land within the American Canyon Fire Protection District).

When Terry and Sioux Elledge, creators and owners of Sioux Z Wow gourmet marinade, relocated their residence and business to Napa from Southern California, they bought a new home.

Queen of the Valley

BERNAL GUTIERREZ-VERDIN LOPEZ -- Jose Bernal Gutierrez, 38, Garfield Avenue, Glendale, to Maria Silvana Verdin Lopez, 38, Brown Street, Napa.

Gina Marie Budde and Jason Richard Bishop, formerly of Napa, will be married on Aug. 12, 2007, at the Yountville Community Church in Yountville.

Melinda Carmichael and Matt Swallow, both of Vallejo, are proud to announce their engagement at Matt's parents' home in Napa Christmas evening.

Relatives from Nevada, Idaho, both ends of California and some local friends joined together to help Robert and Marielore Hippenstiel celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on May 26. A limousine took them to a wonderful dinner at La Strada Restaurant. This was followed by a cake and a Champagne toast at their home with friends. The evening was capped by the surprise of a wonderful DVD on the story of their lives, produced by their son-in-law, David Anderson. Catherine McLarand, their little flower girl of 60 years ago, was in attendance.

Don and Ruth (Martin) Crawford of Napa celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Saturday at their home. Family and friends joined the Crawfords at an open house to offer congratulations, enjoy refreshments and share memories.