Californians’ strange history with voter initiatives continues on Tuesday, as we will decide on 12 measures that range in subject matter from teen abortions and the size of animal cages to renewable energy goals and the proper tools to battle gangs.

It was a night of firsts.

These are tough times, and if the pundits are to be believed, more will follow. They’re the kinds of times when any of us might need to fall back on values that rise above the usual plans for paying the bills and stretching our income around our financial obligations. That’s been a role of art since man first scratched his dreams on the cave walls of France and it’s the reason for this note.

The election night celebrations world wide for Obama's victory were an awesome sight to behold. Never in my life have I ever seen anything like this. Watching you tubes of Grant Park in Chicago, or people running wild in celebrations outdoors from New York to Africa to Indonesia brought tears to my eyes.

Attacks in the story comments attached to each NapaValleyRegister.com article take many forms — all of them disturbing since this should be a forum for community debat — and I find it sad to realize how many people cannot debate a topic without attacking the messenger.

Barack Obama looked a little tired in his first press conference since Election Day. The president-elect is not the only one.

Dear editor, Saturday, Oct. 4 was my fourth time attending the holiday wear sale at Community Projects in Napa. It just keeps getting better!

Dear editor, many of you who have lived in Napa for a long time know Keith and Doris Orr.

Dear editor, it is with great sadness that I write this note to say farewell to Eco-Organize on Yajome Street. For the past year, Toni Renee has been a fixture in the community with her funky, cool shop trying to get Napans to think about reducing, reusing and recycling. Her shop is now closed so she can focus more on consulting, but her impact won’t be forgotten. Every time we use one of our “treasures” from Eco-Organize, we are fondly reminded of Toni and her many talents and efforts to make Napa more green and sustainable.

Dear editor, I am a resident of Napa Nursing Center. Recently I heard that over 90 percent of all nursing homes are not qualified. Two weeks ago Napa Nursing Center passed the California state survey with flying colors. Administrator Georgia Otterson and her entire staff are to be commended for their hard work and dedication. After spending the last 30 years in nursing homes, I know a thing or two about quality care. In this facility there is enough love, care and fun for all 100-plus residents who reside here.