|
Kevin Courtney articles
Kevin Courtney is Napa Valley Register's Napa city reporter. Kevin can be reached at kcourtney@napanews.com
November 20th, 2009
Entertainment district, Copia and streets are hot topics at first downtown forumNearly 100 people turned out Wednesday night to give their two cents on what the downtown Napa of the future should look like.
November 19th, 2009
Napa OKs energy-saving guru, planAided by $700,000 in federal stimulus funding, Napa will hire a “sustainability coordinator” to spur city efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouses gases.
November 14th, 2009
Napa study to examine more downtown street changesThe long-simmering debate over whether downtown Napa streets should be one-way, two-way or merely flipped to become one-way the other way is back.
November 13th, 2009
'Grassy' Napa tap water will soon improveYour senses are not playing a trick on you. Napa’s tap water does have a musty taste.
November 12th, 2009
Young and old pay tribute to veteransVeterans from Napa’s wars of yesteryear gathered at Veterans Memorial Park Wednesday morning to pay tribute to all who have served in uniform.
November 11th, 2009
New traffic lights to ease clog of track workTo keep cross-town traffic moving during flood control’s relocation of Wine Train tracks, two traffic lights will be installed on Soscol Avenue, flood officials said Tuesday.
November 10th, 2009
Ways to donate food for holidaysLocal charities are gearing up to provide more food this holiday season to a growing number of people who are working fewer hours or have lost their jobs. Here are ways you can make your own donations.
Food bank, sans refrigeration, faces tall task as holidays nearLucky you. Your big fear is of putting on extra pounds during the holidays. Less fortunate Napa Valley residents are more concerned about going hungry.
November 9th, 2009
Time for a new countywide growth summit?Is there a way for the county to share its regional housing allocations with cities? How many hotels are enough for Napa County?
A new honor for Bear FlaggersDowntown Napa’s Veterans Day ceremonies will include a tribute to a ragtag group of armed men who swept through what is now Veterans Memorial Park in 1846, a year before the city’s founding.
November 8th, 2009
Howard Goines, 88, takes on Infineon RacewayWhat a sight it was. Seven Model A Fords, wheezy icons of the American road of 80 years ago, putt-putted round and round the otherwise empty track at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma a week ago.
November 6th, 2009
Company says Napa ignored rules on bus dealA Solano County transportation company is suing the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency for the right to operate transit systems throughout the county.
November 5th, 2009
Potential hiking trails near Hennessey, Milliken reservoirsWild lands surrounding two city of Napa reservoirs — Lake Hennessey and Lake Milliken — may be opened to the public for hiking, biking and horse riding.
November 4th, 2009
Napa Expo's trees a refuge for protected owl, hawkDuring their monthly meeting in October, several directors of Napa Valley Exposition were unnerved by the rat-tat-tat of a giant eucalyptus dropping debris on the roof of the directors’ cottage.
November 3rd, 2009
Transit agency finds missing millionsThe financial wheels nearly came off the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency in recent years, with the public and, for a time, agency directors, none the wiser.
November 2nd, 2009
Drawing up plans for businessArchitects don’t have the visibility of contractors and construction workers, but they have been hit equally hard by the recession. When houses and office buildings aren’t sprouting, architects’ phones aren’t ringing.
October 29th, 2009
Napa Valley Exposition agrees to house winter homeless shelterAlways a difficult operation to find a location for, the winter homeless shelter will be moving to Napa Valley Exposition starting in mid-November.
Musician Alan Arnopole raps and yodels to entertain Peju tasting room visitorsSo many spiels at winery tasting rooms are somber affairs, focusing on terroir, sugar-acid balance and — let us not forget — malolactic fermentation.
October 26th, 2009
Volunteers needed at charity eventFor people wanting to do good during the holiday season, Action of Napa Valley has an opportunity for you.
Building bridges to NapaClay Gregory, the new president and chief executive officer of the Napa Valley Destination Council, has his work cut out for him.
October 22nd, 2009
City funds dip; cuts may be comingWith Napa’s major sources of revenues dropping at an accelerating rate in the first half of 2009, new cost-cutting may be necessary this winter, Napa City Manager Mike Parness told the City Council Tuesday.
Out of sight in Old TownThe makeover of a gracious Old Town neighborhood that serves as the face to downtown Napa is nearly complete.
DUI checkpoints coming to NapaThe Napa Police Department will set up drunk driving checkpoints in coming months using a $124,000 state grant.
October 21st, 2009
DUI checkpoints coming to NapaThe Napa Police Department will set up drunk driving checkpoints in coming months using a $124,000 state grant.
October 19th, 2009
A van plan for farmworkersListen up, agricultural workers. The county’s transit agency has a deal for you.
October 17th, 2009
Few catching on to Vallejo ExpressWithout much fanfare, the VINE launched new express buses last summer to whisk Napa Valley commuters to the Vallejo ferry and BART links.
October 16th, 2009
Downtown Napa will go all out for the holidaysDefying the Grinch-like pall on the economy, downtown Napa will turn itself into a brilliantly lit fantasy land this holiday season.
October 10th, 2009
Airport, county raise St. Regis questionsAs the city of Napa prepares to decide the fate of a proposed St. Regis resort on Stanly Lane, both the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the Airport Land Use Commission are asking for more information about the project.
October 9th, 2009
City may buy Napa SquareWanting to consolidate scattered government offices, the city of Napa will explore the feasibility of buying the new $25 million Napa Square complex, located across School Street from City Hall.
October 8th, 2009
More traffic cameras slated for cityNapa’s two red light cameras are catching motorists at the rate of 12 a day, while reducing red light-running accidents citywide by more than half, police reported.
October 6th, 2009
The squeaky wheel gets the asphaltMany residents have complained about rough conditions on their streets, but none as relentlessly as Harding Avenue’s Brent Farlie.
October 4th, 2009
Flood money a trickle, but it won't hurtThis year’s federal allocation for the Napa flood project will be a paltry $1 million, which in any other year would be a cause for concern.
October 3rd, 2009
Huether to run for city councilGordon Huether, an artist and three-term city planning commissioner, is the first announced candidate for the November 2010 Napa City Council election, where he is likely to face incumbents Juliana Inman and Peter Mott.
October 2nd, 2009
Liquor license lottery aids restaurateursLife works in strange ways. Just ask St. Helena restaurateur Robert Simon.
Oxbow Preserve opensNapa’s newest park is a nature preserve, which sounds a tad dull. Who invites sedges and mugworts — two of the preserve’s most common native plants — to a party?
September 29th, 2009
City sizes up St. Regis resortA proposed 93-acre resort in Carneros that would occupy what is now vineyard land could bring millions of dollars to the city of Napa each year but would have manageable environmental impacts, a city study concludes.
September 28th, 2009
No recession at the fairAttendance at the Napa Town and Country Fair in August dipped 4.3 percent from last year, but revenues were up because of higher ticket prices, fair executives reported last week.
September 24th, 2009
Paving crews making some smooth movesNapa’s Public Works Department is an army on the move, working its way, street by street, through the Bel Aire neighborhood.
September 22nd, 2009
City sued over affordable housingA crusader for affordable housing filed a lawsuit against the city of Napa last week, asserting that the city’s new General Plan Housing Element doesn’t do enough to promote low-income housing.
September 20th, 2009
Is pot right for Napa?These are tough times in Sebastopol. Two auto dealers have closed. Plants that once processed Gravenstein apples sit empty.
September 17th, 2009
Plan emerges to hasten work on railroad tracksThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will likely pay additional federal stimulus money to reduce the amount of time that portions of First and Third streets in Napa are closed for railroad track relocations.
September 16th, 2009
Napa teen Beltrami heading home from Wisconsin hospitalAfter 379 days at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Grant Beltrami was scheduled to fly home tomorrow to resume his life as a Napa teenager.
September 13th, 2009
The ghost ship of CarnerosNearly 30 years ago, while kayaking on the Napa River, Bob Johnstone stumbled on a sight that has haunted his imagination ever since.
September 11th, 2009
Vacation rentals create dust-upNeighbors opposed to tourists bedding down in their Browns Valley neighborhood mobilized Wednesday afternoon to battle a vacation rental home on Larkin Way.
September 10th, 2009
City: Rentals best use of housing fundsThe best way to expand Napa’s stock of affordable housing is to promote new rentals, not ownership housing, the Napa City Council was told Tuesday night.
September 9th, 2009
Napa ready to address future park plansBuilding a replacement skateboard park should be one of the city’s top recreation priorities and the Senior Center should be expanded to include other age groups.
September 8th, 2009
Jay Golik: Architect and green city plannerThe bones of Napa’s old downtown can be found high up on Redwood Road under a canopy of giant redwoods and Douglas fir, overlooking a gurgling creek that flows even in late summer.
September 4th, 2009
Lot contract sparks debateA planned park-and-ride lot on Solano Avenue at Redwood Road nearly got derailed Tuesday when two Napa City Council members said they were unhappy with staff recommending an out-of-town firm for the design work.
September 3rd, 2009
Marijuana clinics not OK -- for now -- in NapaThe Napa City Council reaffirmed its intent Tuesday to proceed cautiously in drafting an ordinance that would allow medical marijuana clinics.
September 2nd, 2009
Marijuana clinics not OK -- for now -- in NapaThe Napa City Council reaffirmed its intent Tuesday night to proceed cautiously in drafting an ordinance that would allow medical marijuana clinics. Despite public pleas to proceed quickly, council members said they would not be rushed to craft regulations in less than the nine months required by staff.
Fire union agrees to fewer benefitsBreaking with tradition, the Napa City Firefighters Association is agreeing to a three-year contract that calls for a rollback in fringe benefits and only modest wage increases.
August 29th, 2009
Time and money will help Napa write pot rulesCity staff wants nine months and $45,000 to write an ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries within the Napa city limits.
August 26th, 2009
Tyler Florence opening Napa restaurantTwo weeks after landing “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto, downtown Napa’s Riverfront project confirmed two more restaurants Tuesday — one launched by Food Network star Tyler Florence and a seafood eatery by the Bay Area’s celebrated Lark Creek Restaurant Group.
August 25th, 2009
Tyler Florence opening Napa restaurantTwo weeks after landing “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto, downtown Napa’s Riverfront project confirmed two more restaurants Tuesday — one by Food Network star Tyler Florence and a seafood eatery by the Bay Area’s celebrated Lark Creek Restaurant Group.
August 23rd, 2009
City sorry that neighbors suffered as new home sites grewA rare thing happened at this week’s Napa City Council meeting. Council members apologized for how the city had supervised development of new homes on Cardwell Court in east Napa.
August 22nd, 2009
Angst in public viewA little bored, a little alienated, The Teenager used to hang out downtown under a streetlight, watching the traffic go by on First Street.
August 20th, 2009
Napa council green lights medical marijuana dispensariesAfter listening to two hours of impassioned testimony about the benefits of medical marijuana, the Napa City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to begin the process to allow cannabis clinics.
August 19th, 2009
Napa council green lights medical marijuana dispensariesAfter listening to two hours of impassioned testimony about the benefits of medical marijuana, the Napa City Council voted unanimouslyTuesday night to begin the process to allow cannibis clinics.
August 14th, 2009
License flap on flood projectThe Napa flood project ran into a wave of embarrassment this week when it appeared that the company with the $65 million federal railroad relocation contract had let its license expire.
August 13th, 2009
'We don't do rides'If anyone tells you that senior citizens are poky, don’t believe them. Many were setting speed records Wednesday for fastest Napa Town and Country Fair.
August 11th, 2009
The big bangAt this weekend’s Destruction Derby, “it’s kill or be killed, every man for himself.”
August 7th, 2009
Domestic batteryDustin P. Smith, 27, of Napa was arrested Wednesday morning after officers responded to a disturbance report on the 2300 block of Clay Street.
Food theftA 20-year-old Napa man was arrested for investigation of burglary Wednesday afternoon after leaving Raley’s supermarket on Soscol Avenue with two duffel bags of groceries, police said.
Man arrested after car burglary in NapaNapa police say they caught a car burglar Wednesday night.
Trespassers are run off, but birds feast on fruit at CopiaThe summer harvest is approaching its peak, but not at bankrupt Copia, where the organic gardens, inspired by those at a French castle, await better times.
Riverfront site unveils restaurant, business tenantsHit hard by the recession, the Riverfront, downtown Napa’s most ambitious new commercial project, is finally springing to life.
August 6th, 2009
VINE operator can keep the jobVeolia Transportation, current operator of the VINE and VINE Go services, can keep the job for another five years, the county’s transportation agency confirmed Tuesday morning.
August 5th, 2009
Flood work delays worry Napa Creek neighborsLinda Kerr is a leader of Napa Creek residents monitoring flood control efforts in her neighborhood, and she’s worried that she is seeing a bad omen.
August 4th, 2009
It's fair time! Fair lovers still have a week to lock in cheaper admission and carnival prices for the Napa Town and Country Fair.
July 31st, 2009
Criminal threat arrestMable Pettengill, 34, was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly threatened to kill a staff member at the county’s Crisis Clinic on Old Sonoma Road, Napa police reported.
Third Street closure delayed many monthsPlans for a prolonged closure of Third Street starting next month for flood control work have been put on hold.
Guilty plea from dispatcher who faked cancer claimDannille Vanderpool, a former Napa Police Dispatcher of the Year, pleaded guilty Friday morning to a single count of grand theft, admitting she took donations from colleagues after falsely claiming to have cancer.
July 30th, 2009
Guilty plea from dispatcher who faked cancer claimDannille Vanderpool, a former Napa police Dispatcher of the Year, pleaded guilty this morning to a single count of grand theft, admitting she took donations for a faked cancer.
First Street bridge to reopen SaturdayThe new First Street bridge over the Napa River — a $15 million span with “iconic” light obelisks, pedestrian overlooks and sidewalk ribbons of glass — is scheduled to open to traffic Saturday.
Public garden a success - just ask the gopherYou can measure the success of Napa’s new community garden many ways.
July 29th, 2009
Local firms ride the green waveIt’s as if back-to-nature hippies had taken over the modern office kitchen in Napa Valley Corporate Park.
July 24th, 2009
Domestic battery charge against Napa manNapa police arrested Wade Glasser, 29, of Napa, for investigation of domestic battery and drunk driving after responding to a reported disturbance on the 2200 block of Louisa Street at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Leaf blower theftA 25-year-old man on a bicycle was arrested for investigation of a leaf blower theft Wednesday afternoon, Napa police said.
Heavy Infineon Raceway traffic expected this weekendMotorists can expect heavy traffic near Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County this weekend because of a big drag racing event, the California Highway Patrol said.
Senior citizen swindleAn 89-year-old American Canyon man was bilked out of $7,000 by two men who pulled a classic con, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office reported.
VINE fleet gets new hybrid busesWhat if you fed steroids to a Toyota Prius?
Lake Berryessa drowning victim's body foundUsing an underwater search vehicle, Napa County Sheriff’s divers recovered the body Thursday of a 36-year-old Dixon man who drowned Sunday while boating with his family at Lake Berryessa.
July 22nd, 2009
Third Street to be closed for flood workWith federal stimulus money about to kick the Napa flood project into high gear, plans are afoot to close Third Street for at least two months after next month’s Napa Town and Country Fair and use the former Napa Pipe site as a soils dump.
July 18th, 2009
Manasse, now 70, traded the tannery for TulocayPeter Manasse, a fourth-generation Napan, is as vocationally nimble as they come.
July 16th, 2009
Bus center slated to be next to ExpoNapa’s new transit center will be built at the southwest corner of Fourth and Burnell streets, opposite Napa Valley Exposition.
July 14th, 2009
Slowing the Browns Valley 'slingshot' Napa city officials will study whether it makes sense to redirect traffic on a stub of Browns Valley Road east of Buhman Avenue, so cars don’t merge at high speeds in front of Dezerai Court.
City enters third year without dockDowntown Napa’s rebirth as a water-oriented destination awaits one essential feature: a dock.
July 13th, 2009
Avia Hotel to build elevator at Clay Street garageWith support from the new Avia hotel, the city will install a new elevator in the Clay Street garage before year’s end.
July 10th, 2009
'Lifestyle' hotel opens where J.C. Penney stoodLocals couldn’t help but be curious.
$100k study on how to fill downtown storefrontsAlarmed by the amount of vacant retail and office space in downtown, the city of Napa will spend nearly $100,000 to have a consultant put together a marketing and leasing strategy.
Domestic disturbancePolice arrested Diana Douglass, 23, of Napa for investigation of domestic battery Wednesday night. Napa officers had been called to Griggs Lane regarding a disturbance. A man said Douglass had punched him in the face, causing swelling.
July 9th, 2009
Three shoplifting arrestsAmerican Canyon police arrested three adults for investigation of commercial burglary after they allegedly shoplifted 24 items from the Wal-Mart on Highway 29 Wednesday morning.
Napa man arrested for alleged assaultNapa police arrested a 23-year-old local man Wednesday night in connection with an assault June 30 on Jefferson Street.
$100k study on how to fill downtown storefrontsAlarmed by the amount of vacant retail and office space in downtown, the city of Napa will spend nearly $100,000 to have a consultant put together a marketing and leasing strategy.
Napa seeks better tap for Delta waterNapa is teaming up with other cities in Napa and Solano counties to find a new spot in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta where it can draw its water supply.
July 5th, 2009
Napa County's Mother LodeThe history books have it all wrong. For Napa County, the Gold Rush wasn’t in 1849. It happened less than 30 years ago in a remote corner of the county ruled by jackrabbits.
July 3rd, 2009
Stolen vehicle arrestGregory A. Wright, 38, of Napa was booked at the county jail Wednesday afternoon after he was stopped by Vallejo police while driving a vehicle reported stolen Tuesday in Napa, local police said.
Burglary arrest in NapaResponding to a Wednesday night prowler call, Napa police arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly had taken a garage door opener from a resident’s vehicle.
VINE service in same handsThe Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency voted Wednesday morning to retain Veolia Transportation to run local transit services, including the VINE, VINE Go and small city shuttles, for the next five years.
Submit news, announcements: Virtual Newsroom
Contact: News | Advertising | Subscriber Services | Work for us | Buy photos
Contact: News | Advertising | Subscriber Services | Work for us | Buy photos
Local tourism: Inside Napa Valley || Parade Magazine