Brent Logar, of Napa, has successfully completed California Highway Patrol (CHP) cadet training, and has been assigned to duty at the CHP’s Barstow Area office.

Officer Logar is a 1993 graduate of Vintage High School in Napa. He also earned his bachelor of science in business administration from California State University Chico. Prior to joining the CHP, he was a sales representative for Paychex, Inc.

Cadet training for Officer Logar included vehicle patrol, accident investigation, first aid, apprehension and arrest of suspected violators (including those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs), traffic control, report writing, recovery of stolen vehicles, assisting the motoring public, issuing citations, emergency scene management, and knowledge of various codes including the Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and Health and Safety Code./Register

Student film wins award

“Safe Surrender,” the 2006 documentary film produced by PUC film and television majors Brian Bazemore and Jackson Boren, has earned recognition with a platinum Ava Award.

Bazemore and Boren filmed, directed and edited the documentary for the San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland about the Safely Surrendered Baby Law. The law, which allows parents to anonymously and legally give a newborn to a hospital, police or fire station within 72 hours of the baby’s birth, has been in place since 2001, but needed to be brought to public awareness.

“Safe Surrender” received a platinum award — the highest level— from the competition, which is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The Ava Awards recognize outstanding work by creative professionals in concept, writing, direction, shooting and editing of audio-visual materials and programs. Over 1,700 entrants throughout the country submitted films to this year’s competition./Register

Napa Valley Vintners elections

(NVV) announces that Pat Stotesbery, owner of Ladera Vineyards, has been elected president of the board of directors for the non-profit trade association of more than 300 member wineries from California’s premier wine growing region. The gavel was passed to Stotesbery from 2007 NVV Board President Peter McCrea, owner of Stony Hill Vineyard, who will continue as his predecessors have as board advisor.

The board’s docket is going to be a busy one for Stotesbery’s team with the NVV leading the charge against industry-threatening rules being considered by the Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), as well as ongoing Napa name protection work underway across the U.S. and around the world. The association will launch its Napa Green Certified Winery program after a successful completion of the pilot program in 2007. In marketing the Appellation, the NVV will head to Florida, San Francisco Bay Area and Asia to meet consumers, trade and policy- and opinion-makers. Signature professional programs of the association include Premiere Napa Valley-the midwinter barrel tasting and auction; educational programs, including The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy, Master Napa Valley for advance-level credential candidates and Napa Valley Rocks, for on- and off-premise trade education./Register

Librarian receives books

Stephanie Grohs, head librarian of the Napa Community College library, was on hand at the Christmas meeting and luncheon of Napa Valley Republican Women Federated to receive seven new books. The books, selected by Grohs from an approved list, were presented by Sue Plant, local chairman of the Mamie Eisenhower Project which donates books to libraries and other institutions. NVRWF has been making annual donations of books since 1991./Register

NVC graduations

The Napa Valley College Psychiatric Technician graduation ceremony held Dec. 19, was dedicated to the memory of classmate Ray Lizardo who died in September as a result of sudden-onset leukemia. His parents were honored at the ceremony and presented with a posthumous certificate. College Health Occupations staff member De Sturdent, RN, called for a moment of silence in his memory.

Sue Nelson, vice president of Instruction, welcomed the graduates. Class valedictorian and speaker was Lindie Graves. Instructor Mike Derby, BSN,  announced the graduates who were presented pins by clinical instructors. Program coordinator Cliff Zyskowski, LPT, and instructor Robert Millay, BSN, made remarks. Instructor Johnnie Hardeman, LPT, presented the Psychiatric Technician’s oath.

Graduates are Charisse Angeles, Shanel Bohulano, Louvette Boncato, Akilah Burton, Philip Cadenas, Belinda Callejo, Dominique Coleman, Elianathes Delacruz, Napoleon DeVeyra, Darleen Dularte, Jan Escobar, William Ford, Mary Claire Fune, Lindie Graves, Lotlot (Loretes) Herbia, Tina Jovez, Amritpal Kaur, Eufemia Mamayson, Jinky Miguel, Krisman Naval, Mesha Olson, Eden Pineda, Christian Samaniego, Kaye Santos, Roberta Uson and Russel Ygnalaga.

The fall 2007 Associate Degree in Nursing program pinning ceremony was held Dec. 17. Student speakers were Abigale Ayuyao, Heather Plack-Plyler and Frank Spruce. Master of Ceremonies was Associate Dean of Nursing Margaret Craig. Dr. Amy LaPan, dean of Health Occupations; Sue Nelson, vice president of Instruction, and nursing instructor Susan Engle also spoke. De Sturdevant and Sonja Gambrel of the Nursing Skills Lab directed the lighting of the candles and the nurse pledge. Margaret Craig and faculty members presented the pins.

Graduates are Oliver Aandahl, Carmen Arroyo, Abigale Lumas Ayuyao, Michelle Bartlett, Casey Bridge, Antoinette Cortez, Andrea Davault, Andrea Del Rosario, Erlinda Eason, Lillian Fulmore, Sabrina Gage, Christine Hasbani, Crystal Ingersoll, Anna Isip, Mary Jimenez, Radonna Kilough, Nidhi Kumar, Kevin Lopez, Lisa Nicole Lyons, Mariano Benrowne, Leilani Marquez, Sarah McCalden, Divina Misajon, Alice Mulugeta, Menna Newmeyer, Melayda Nunez, Annie Octaviano, Joyce Panlaqui, LaShawn Passmore, Jasmine Pineda, Heather Plack-Plyler, Katie Rider, Jamie Marie Solorzano, Frank Spruce, Lynar Tabilas, Francis Villanueva and Alberto Zazueta.

For more information on Health Occupations programs at Napa Valley College, see www.napavalley.edu/Register