publisher’s note napa valley’s only locally owned community bank Located next to Vallerga’s Market in the Redwood Plaza Shopping Center YOUR BUCK STAYS HERE With Patricia Damery and Donald Harms, of Harms Vineyard and Lavender Farm I allow the pages to breathe more, and for our advertisers,Magazine. The slightly larger format willt’s with boundless excitement that we unveil a fresh look forNapa Valley Life make their ads stand out. This fall we are entering into our fifteenth year publishing “Life as we know it” in the Napa Valley. It’s been a tremendous honor for me and my writers to bring you the real stories: behind the scenes, the newsmakers, people profiles and the new trends as they affect the Valley. Please also check out our new look on our website at www.napavalleylifemagazine.com. I want to personally thank all those who have worked hard this year to make all these changes possible. For years one of the stories I wanted to tell was about Muriel Fagiani, who kept the Napa City Council and community leaders in check and accountable by questioning their moves and decisions. I’d often see her When you bank with us, you’ll see your graciously declined, stating she didn’t need the recognition. Lowellon the street or at bingo and ask if I could interview her. She always money making a difference right here: Downey, NVL’s photographer, often asked if he could photograph her in front of City Hall, but again she would decline. She did what she did more jobs, more local revenue, and for the betterment of her community and nothing else. One day Lowell more impact on the Napa Valley caught Muriel staring out the window of the bar that she kept closed for over forty years after her sister was murdered there. For decades the economy. Fagiani Bar remained dormant, until her sister’s murder was solved and she agreed to sell it. Last month the place was resurrected, remodeled And because we can make individual Downtown Napa Map pull-out, where Lowell recounts his memoriesand reopened. In her honor, look for that priceless picture in our loans up to $4.9 million, there’s a lot of and tribute to Muriel. Additionally, another Napa Valley personage, Joe Vallerga, passed away in August and we celebrate his life with photos. work we can do together. Best of all, we I love it when energetic kids do something outside the box. Lowell don’t have to go out of state—or even and Janna’s fourteen-year-old son, Forest, traveled to Costa Rica to work in a foreign country. He shares his journey to inspire other kids out of town—for approvals. We make to step out of their comfort zone and make time off from school decisions in Napa, for Napa. meaningful. Finally, this issue is typically our Harvest Issue, but we wanted to showcase two wineries that were going “beyond the vine.” Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields truly exemplifies how to be true to A B E T T E R B A N K for a better Napa the earth when it comes to farming. Bellaterra Ranch has found the winning formula to pair wine and cigars. Your Publisher, Kari Ruel 8 w w w. n A PA 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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