Dear editor, My response to the awful murder of 16-year-old Jesus Tornero is that I'm shocked, disturbed and very angry that this could happen anywhere, let alone in our community. I hope that the people that did this awful deed receive the maximum punishment for the crime.

Dear editor, In recent days, several articles have highlighted the problems of gangs and violence among our youth. As the Student Assistance Program coordinator with St. Helena Unified School District and a licensed clinical social worker, I encourage your support of violence prevention programs in all the schools of the Napa Valley.

Dear editor, We here in Napa are blessed. We live in a beautiful valley, we have glorious weather and we are a destination point for many, many tourists each year. Yet there is a growing number among us who are in great need and they often turn to the food bank. And the food bank is trying desperately to meet the need.

Dear editor, Our Napa visitor center has been served by a group of 30 volunteers, for the most part retired members of our community. This group of residents has served this community as active members of Napa’s work force. After years and years of building what it is today, they continue servicing our community on a voluntary basis.

Dear editor, Two months ago, the Napa Register published an amazing story about the new-to-vintage clothing section in my store: the Jessel Gallery. (“The valley’s Mustard Magic artist turns her talents to ‘dressing the goddess,’” Aug. 13).