photo by ART & CLARITY MOIRA JOHNSTO N-BLOCK The best friend of the Napa River W riter and author Moira Johnston Block came to the Napa Valley in 1988 to do a follow-up story on the Napa Valley Wine Train for National Geographic magazine. She interviewed the late Wine Train founder Dr. Alvin Lee Block, and said within two hours they knew they were in love. They married in January 1990 and lived along the Napa River, another piece of the Napa Valley she would fall in love with. The struggling river was her backdrop and view while writing seven nonfiction books from her kitchen table. The Canadian-born Block’s infectious smile and gentle soul led the way to changing the Napa River as we now know it. She started the Friends of the Napa River in 1993 and was the founding president. Her passion for improving the health of the river and controlling flood damage inspired her to become an American citizen in 1998, so she could vote on Measure A, the Napa River Flood Project. “I’ve always been proud to be known as the ‘River Lady,’ and giving birth to a huge coalition of people in my living room. The River Project will always be a treasure in my life.” Block has recently recruited long-time friend Bernhard Krevet to take over the presidential duties. The two often traverse on his pontoon boat up the river, basking in the now-active river filled with kayakers and canoes, and fishermen along the shore. The shoreline houses natural habitat instead of a proposed concrete wall. friendsofthenapariver.org –Kari Ruel photo by ART & CLARITY JANUARY- INTRIGUING KID Singer, uke master, BottleRock star ▲ ▲ Napa High freshman Ari Eisenberg has been a musician since he began playing the violin at two, but it was the introduction to the ukulele by vintner Judd Finkelstein that steered his musical path. “I thought it would be a cool instrument to play while I sang, so I taught myself how to play,” said Eisenberg. That was three years ago; he performed at the UkaAPalooze festival at the Oxbow Public Market and hasn’t stopped playing since. The 14-year old singer-songwriter was the youngest performer two years in a row at BottleRock, and he has performed at Napa Bikefest, Silo’s, the Wine Country Ukulele Festival, Napa Valley Rocks with Michael Franti, and various open mic nights, where he has wowed audiences with his powerful and emotional interpretations of rock/pop covers and his own original songs. “It was an adrenalin rush to perform with Michael Franti,” said Eisenberg. “It was crazy, awesome and fun.” Eisenberg said music inspires him and he looks forward to being famous one day. In the meantime he’s already developing a local fan base. He has written several songs including “Rain Check,” an original song to excuse the fact that Ari doesn’t have a girlfriend, though he has a lot of girl fans. You can watch it sung at BottleRock 2014 at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VOgR5SL50wc. Another original, “Night Time,” is online as well at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bA1uqe8xOI. When Eisenberg is not writing new songs or performing, he plays on Napa High School’s Junior Varsity soccer team and wrestles. –Kari Ruel JANUARY / F E B R UARY 2 0 1 5 17
NVLife_JanFeb_2015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above