napa valley’s only locally owned community bank Located next to Vallerga’s Market in the Redwood Plaza Shopping Center larity c DECISIONS MADE HERE photo by Art & With Ailene and Paul Tarap, and Sunnybrook Symphony B daily early-morning pleasures was seeing the “Oreo cows”efore I bought a house in Napa, I commuted to Napafrom American Canyon for twelve years. One of my grazing on the pasture on the left side of Highway 29, just north of the intersection with Highway 12 to Sonoma. It always made me smile, and I wondered what the deal was. I’d often point them out to my kids, and they were always a topic of conversation when out- of-town guests would arrive, but I knew so little about them. We were planning our annual food issue and I wanted to focus on food grown or raised locally. I figured those cows would fit in perfectly. Then, serendipitously, Ailene Tarap cleaned my teeth. While At Bank of Napa, we don’t have to go out working on my teeth as my dental hygenist, she told me that of state, or even out of town, for approvals cleaning teeth was a part-time job. Her full-time gig was raising or decisions. Galloway Belted cattle. “The ‘Oreo cows’?” I asked her. “Yes,” she smiled. I told her I had always wanted to do a story on the cows, and she invited me up to the ranch. Best of all, you’ll see your money making a I spent two afternoons with Ailene and her husband Paul, difference right here in Napa: more jobs, observing their remarkably beautiful beasts and wandering around more local revenue, and more impact on the ranch in my toe-less shoes. What was I thinking? Fortunately my feet fared well, even with a wandering orphan calf following our the Napa Valley economy. every move. The big question was when our cover girl, Symphony, would have her first calf. Despite being due within days, she was a trouper, as she is used to posing for pictures. A national champion, Symphony is a show favorite and will be back on the circuit next year. Now when people visit me and ask about the cows with the stripes around their bellies, I’ll probably give them more information than they possibly can handle. (And now, so will you!) Writer Paul Franson continues our look at food created locally when he explores the world at Boca Farms. And our second edition of Mischievous Ink explores wine entrepreneur Heidi Barrett’s not- so-secret life as a helicopter pilot. Many thanks to Ian White for creating a wonderful new addition to the magazine. Also my hat’s off to my former partner in creating Napa Valley Life, Jim Brumm, who just released his book, Long Term Thinking For A Short-Sighted World. I miss our philosophical discussions, and reading his book reminded A B E T T E R B A N K for a better Napa me of how inquisitive he is. Hey, it’s summer out there. Go do something adventurous and tell us about it—you may be featured in a future issue of Napa Valley Life. Your Publisher, Kari Ruel 8 w w w . n A P A V A L L E Y L I F E m A G A z I n E . c o m
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