Best Years - Spring 2012

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A Guide to Senior LivingA Guide to Senior Living

Spring 2012Spring 2012

Napa Valley Publishing Company

JENNIFER [email protected]

The name on the long-time Napa grocery store says “BrownsValley Market” but the heart behind the west side business isall Giovannoni. Larry Giovannoni, that is.

Giovannoni, who turned 85 this past Tuesday, is the founder of thepopular neighborhood market on Browns Valley Road.

At his age, many men would be retired, with work far from theirminds, but not Giovannoni. The Napa native and family patriarchstill works every day at the market and said he has no plans to slowdown.

“The grocery business is my life,” Giovannoni said.Browns Valley Market opened in 1980, but groceries and

Giovannonis go way back in Napa.Back to the early 1920s to be exact. That’s when Larry

Giovannoni’s father, Augustine, arrived in San Francisco from Italyvia a yearlong stay in Argentina. Augustine Giovannoni ended upworking in a quicksilver mine in Calistoga before marrying JosephineLanaro.

For a time, the couple lived in the basement of Napa’s Migliavaccamansion, once on Coombs Street, but now on Fourth Street. Thatconnection would prove to be fruitful, because the Migliavacca fam-ily later gave Augustine Giovannoni money to start his business, agrocery store called Giovannoni’s Market, Larry Giovannoni said.

The market, located at Brown and Oak streets, had humble begin-nings, Larry Giovannoni recalled. The family lived on the secondfloor, and the market was on the first floor.

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Larry Giovannoni of Browns Valley Market got his start in the grocery business as a teenager in the market hisfather Augustino Giovannoni, shown in picture frame, owned on Brown Street. Jorgen Gulliksen/Register

Giovannoni still filling food sacks after all these years

See FOOD, Page 14

There is nothing like a family busi-ness. Silverado OrchardsRetirement Community in St.

Helena has been family–owned and oper-ated since 1978. The Baldwin family hasdeep roots in the Napa Valley going backseveral generations. They are activelyinvolved in the business on a daily basis,which makes for a wonderful family feel-ing.

Never bought or sold, SilveradoOrchards is one of the original retirementcommunities in the valley. Many commu-nities have changed hands over the yearsand are owned by large, corporate chains.Often they are managed by out-of-statecompanies, without intimate, localknowledge.

It’s almost impossible to have the samelevel of compassion and interest as a fam-ily business. “A local business owned by alocal family and serving locals is a reallygreat place to live and to work,” saidJanelle Ross, manager. “SilveradoOrchards has been serving the seniors ofthe Napa Valley for over 33 years.”

There is a strong sense of family amongboth the staff and the residents. Theywork together, they play together, theylaugh together, and they cry together.

People very sincerely care about oneanother. Silverado Orchards RetirementCommunity specializes in people.

One resident said, “The manager issuch a wonderful person … compassion-ate and understanding and always willingto listen.” The whole office team is top-notch. They care deeply about their resi-dents.

Here’s a recent letter to the editor fromDaniella Garza, health and wellness coor-dinator:

“Three years ago, I walked intoSilverado Orchards RetirementCommunity in St. Helena simply lookingfor employment, but to my surprise I havereceived so much more. I have foundfriends and family in the residents, thestaff and the Baldwin family. I truly feelblessed to have found a home.

“This letter isn’t big enough for me totell you how much I’ve learned from ouramazing residents. Not only have theytaught me basics like knitting, they havealso taught me many life lessons. I greatlyappreciate being able to hear stories andspend time with our great people. Ibelieve this is a wonderful place for sen-iors. I have seen how the social environ-ment is very beneficial. There are many

opportunities to make new friends, takeclasses, go on trips and enjoy a wide vari-ety of entertainment. Residents are ableto enjoy their retirement at their leisurebecause we even provide the cooking andcleaning.

“The family atmosphere is everywhere.I was assured of this by finding out thatour morning chef has worked here for 27years, our food service director for 21years, our evening chef for 19 years andour manager for 12 years. There definitelyis something about this place if they havechosen to stay here for that long. In theshort time that I’ve been here, I havegrown to consider our staff and residentsmy family. Not only have they ‘taken mein,’ but so has the Baldwin family. Theybuilt Silverado Orchards RetirementCommunity in 1978, and since thenthey’ve been making their staff and resi-dents feel at home.”

There is a big difference between livingalone versus living in a fun and friendlycommunity. “Many times over the years,”

owner Alan Baldwin said, “I’ve had resi-dents tell me that they wished they’dmoved here years ago.” People developnew friendships and enjoy three balancedmeals each day. While in-home care maybe an option for some, never underesti-mate the value of daily social interactions.Eating properly should also not be under-estimated. “It’s so rewarding to see peopleexcited about life,” the owner said.

Imagine delicious, chef-prepared mealscomplete with a fresh salad bar, activitiesand excursions, housekeeping, trans-portation, on-site full service beautysalon, health and wellness program, guestrooms, small town safety and security,and much more, all for one affordablemonthly rent.

This is retirement living at its best; thisis a family business at its best; this isSilverado Orchards RetirementCommunity in St. Helena.

Indeed, retirement living is a family affair.To find out more, call 707-963-3688 or

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Retirement living:a family affair

KERANA [email protected]

Suspects posing as Medicare employeesare calling seniors to obtain personal

information, including checking and sav-ings account numbers, the Napa CountyDistrict Attorney’s Office warned inDecember.

The suspects have contacted at least twoNapa County residents recently, theDistrict Attorney’s Office said.

The suspicious callers said they neededthe information in order to send a new cardafter changes were made to Medicare, thefederal insurance program for seniors.

Al Cardwell, 79, said he received a phonecall a few days ago at his Napa house.

The woman, who had an accent he couldnot identify, asked for his bank informa-tion because she needed to send a newMedicare card, he said.

Cardwell, who said he could hear com-puter-type noises in the background, told

the caller that he does not give out bankinformation over the phone.

“She hung up immediately,” Cardwellsaid.

He did not think the operation waslegitimate, he said, noting that Medicareusually sends notices by mail. So he con-tacted the Napa County District Attorney’sOffice.

“I thought she was obviously phony,”Cardwell said of the mysterious caller.

Medicare officials said the governmentis on the lookout for the scammers. “Thefederal government will never call you onthe phone or send you a note looking foryour bank account number or SocialSecurity number. Anyone who claims to befrom the government and wants the data isabout to commit a crime. So hang up thephone or ignore the letter,” the officialssaid.

Information is available at fraud.org andcredit.com

Napa County district attorneys office warns of Medicare scam

MICHAEL [email protected]

James Cannet came to AmericanCanyon in 1968. “It was a small townthen — not even a town,” he said. A

former machinist at Mare Island, the 90-year old Cannet has been retired for 35years.

Cannet has been a regular at the ElliottDrive Recreation Center “since theybegan serving lunches” for senior citi-zens.

Maryann Bryant, 70, grew up in Beniciain “the old government housing” there.The oldest of four girls, Bryant said that asa child her babysitters were German andItalian prisoners of war.

In 1961 she and her husband moved toMaryland. She returned to the area toAmerican Canyon 10 years ago to care forher aging father.

Most days Bryant has lunch with hergood friend 89-year old Ruby Davis andDavis’ son Orval, 68.

All were on hand last Friday, alongMayor Leon Garcia, Vice Mayor JoanBennett and City Councilmembers BeliaRamos Bennett and Mark Joseph, as wellas 50-60 others, for the one-yearanniversary celebration of the AmericanCanyon Senior Multiuse Center lastFriday.

“In spite of hard times, the City Councilmade a commitment to make this (cele-

bration) happen,” said Garcia in his briefwelcoming remarks. “Happy Birthdayeverybody.”

The 3,200 square foot Senior Centeropened its doors May 10, 2010 after a $1.5million renovation. The building was con-structed in the 1980s for the old AmericanCanyon Water District and served as thecity’s police station after the city incorpo-rated in 1992.

“Here we are, one year later,” said JoanBennett. “We have so much stuff going onhere,” she said. She urged seniors tospread the word and bring their friends.

“The more we increase the use of thisbuilding the better,” the vice mayor said.

Attendees enjoyed lunch, cake andrefreshments as part of the celebration.

The center offers a variety of activities.Classes offered through the Napa ValleyAdult Education include, Pilates, strengthand balance, tai chi and water-colorclasses. There will be two summer ses-sions, July-August (watercolor will beduring August only). Fee for summerclasses is $35 per session. Other on-goingclasses include knitting, quilting andZumba gold. For more information onclasses contact staff 707-647-4567.Lunch served daily $2 per person, reser-vations required. Lunch and bingo secondand fourth Wednesdays of each month.Contact staff 707-648-7275.

Currently the center is open from 9a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.


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American Canyon’s SeniorMultiuse Center celebrates one year

James Cannet, left, and Maryann Bryant were at the Senior Multiuse Center anniversarycelebration Friday where both often have lunch. Cannet, a retired Mare Island machinist,has lived in American Canyon since 1968. Bryant grew up in Benicia and lived much of herlife in Maryland before coming to American Canyon 10 years ago.


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The LTC Ombudsman is empowered by federal and state law to investigate allegations of the infringement of rights, or of abuse or neglect in long-term care facilites—complaints against any agency, business, or individual involved in providing resident care.

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24-hour State Ombudsman Hotline: 1-800-231-4024

JENNIFER [email protected]

On a weekday morning before the Fourth ofJuly holiday, Yountville was quickly comingto life with tourists slowly wandering the

streets, driving cars with out-of-area license plateframes down Washington Street, and consultingmaps in search of just the right winery or restaurant.

The holiday weekend beckoned to the visitors,but for the 2,933 residents, it was just another day inwhat they call the “Town of Yountville.”

Across the street from the Hotel Yountville, resi-dents Gene Halliday and his wife Renate, both 81,assisted a group of disabled veterans during a bocceball game.

The Hallidays owned Halliday Bookstore, thelast book shop to be opened in the town, andlocated in the then-Vintage 1870s building.


Albert Reyff retired and moved to Yountville from San Francisco 15 years ago, anticipating the town’s quiet country setting withwineries and restaurants nearby. Jorgen Gulliksen/Register

Slow, quaintYountville suitsmost just fine

See YOUNTVILLE, Page 11

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TONY [email protected]

“The best way to explore wine country:Cycle along scenic vineyards, sip amazingwines, enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch andlearn about winemaking.”

So reads the website of Randy Johnson’senterprise, Getaway Adventures, nowlocated in a new Post Street office in Napanear Silverado Trail.

Closer inspection reveals that thisexpanding company, now celebrating its20th year under the same ownership,offers much more than cycling tours.

Johnson is forming a consortium ofsimilar outdoor companies to provide asingle-access center for both tourists andlocals. Napa Valley’s Best will help arrangeballoon rides, biking (including electricbikes), hiking, walking tours, limousineand van tours, ziplines, kayaking, biplanerides and, beginning next month, Segwayrentals.

“I started the company by accident, nopun intended,” Johnson said. “I was a pas-sionate ski bum who shredded my liga-ments on the Tahoe slopes when I was 26. Ihad my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)

removed and my hamstring was reroutedto replace it. During my convalescence, thedoctor advised swimming or cycling tobuild up the knee muscles. My aunt had apool at her St. Helena home, so I triedswimming first. Laps quickly became tooboring for me. Instead I began cycling allover the valley.”

Exposure to wine country brought himinto contact with many wineries, expand-ing his knowledge of the grape.

Matters might have ended there but fora visit in September 1990 by his uncle, awine buyer who normally drove around thearea. Johnson suggested a bike tour insteadand his uncle was hooked.

He spread the word when he returned toSouthern California and soon he wasreferring his friends. “At first, I was happyto entertain my uncle’s friends until oneday one of them called me with an urgentrequest: His boss was in town and hewanted to impress him by taking him onthis wine tour he’d heard so much about. Ihad taken up skiing again by this time andhad a big trip planned for that weekend,but this guy practically pleaded with me,saying how much he needed to make animpact, and finally he offered to pay me. Isaw the possibilities of making moneydoing what I loved, so I began picking upbikes and business grew from there.”

Napa Valley’s Best expands, offeringmany vehicles to see valley up close

When someone mentions a super-hero, we may think of the

comic-book characters of our child-hood, but the true superhero may bethe person sitting right next to you.As any one of the more than 50 mil-lion Americans caring for an elderly,disabled, or chronically ill loved oneknows, the task requires superhumanstrength and patience, and a greatdeal of compassion.

However, you can’t take good careof your loved one if you aren’t feelingwell yourself. Neglecting your ownhealth concerns can lead to youbecoming sicker than the person youare caring for. With that in mind, hereare a few health tips to consider:

• Take care of yourself. Take time toeat and exercise. Get enough rest.Find ways to ensure that you get 7 to 8hours of sleep every night. Shake offany self-criticism or guilt that youaren’t doing all you could be doing.Remind yourself daily that you’redoing the best you can for your loved

one and your family.• Commit to doing at least one

thing you enjoy every day. This mightmean meditating, reading a spiritualpassage, walking, listening to music,or sewing — whatever restores yourspirit.

• Ask for help. Prepare a list ofcaregiving activities you could use ahand with. When someone offers tohelp, refer to the list. Better yet,determine who might help you witheach task and then ask for their assis-tance.

It is also important to learn aboutthe local resources available. NapaValley Hospice & Adult Day Servicesoffers a wide variety of caregiver sup-port options, including family con-sultations, regular caregiver trainingsoffered in both English and Spanish,as well as caregiver support groups.

Visit NVHADS.org or call NapaValley Hospice & Adult Day Servicesat 707-258-9080 for additionalinformation, including a listing ofother local resources.


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CHANTAL M. [email protected]

At quick glance, it’s easy to see that therainbow-colored jungle gyms, flyingswings and bouncy rubber matting

at the heart of Fuller Park are the place tobe on a lazy Sunday.

There, moms meet to talk about theweek just passed or the one ahead, families

teach a toddler to swing, dads keep watch-ful eyes on their young and children liveout fantasies in the warm sand.

“We come every Sunday, almost year-round unless it’s pouring rain,” saidDecember Moore, who chatted with afriend while their four children played with

Michael Mortenpushes andpulls his 2-year-old nephew,Rocco Reinoso,on the swings atFuller Park.

Chantal M.Lovell/Register

Sundays at Fuller Park:Where Napans laze, dine, play

See FULLER PARK, Page 12

JAMES [email protected]

North Coast residents hit the phonelines in droves last summer, withthousands participating in Rep.

Mike Thompson’s telephone town hallmeeting on senior issues.

In all, more than 16,000 residents fromThompson’s 1st Congressional Districtdropped in on his phone forum, saidCaroline Hogan, Thompson’s communi-cations director.

For much of the nearly hour-and-a-half call, the focus of the conversationmirrored national headlines, includingthe ongoing fight over health care and thefuture of the Medicare program.

Under the current debate, care for sen-iors will be guided by either reformsincluded in last year’s Patient Protectionand Affordable Care Act or changes to theMedicare system present in the budgetproposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.,Thompson said.

The health care legislation enacted lastyear is still being phased in and mightneed revision, but the reform act is headsabove what is being proposed byRepublicans, he said.

“When these new programs that arepart of this bill come on line, the ones thatwork, they’ll be expanded, and the onethat’s don’t work, they’ll be jettisoned,”Thompson said. “That’s a very, very starkcontrast with what the majority plan —the Ryan plan — does by just destroyingMedicare.”

Ryan’s proposal would essentially pri-vatize the Medicare system, allowing pro-gram recipients to select coverage from alist of plans and have a government sub-sidy check sent directly to the insurancecompany.

The shift would mean Medicare wouldbecome entirely based on private insur-ance providers, as opposed to the govern-ment-provided coverage currentlyoffered to the nation’s seniors.

Since the release of Ryan’s plan,Thompson and other Democrats havelabeled the proposal a “voucher” system,noting that allowances could easily fallshort of covering the cost of care.

Ryan has rejected the voucher label,calling the proposal a “premium support”method that sends money directly to theinsurance company rather than the indi-vidual.

Thompson said that Ryan’s proposalwould force Medicare beneficiaries to paymore for the same level of care, notingthat the Congressional Budget Officeestimates that the plan would roughlydouble the cost of senior health care by2022.

The proposal would also reverse manyof the changes present under theDemocrat’s reform legislation, he said,including steps to close the so-called“donut hole” in prescription drug cover-age.

Under Medicare Part D, a coverage gapexists between the upper limit of “initialcoverage” and the beginning point of“catastrophic coverage.” Beneficiarieswhose costs fall in this gap must pay theirmedication expenses out-of-pocket.

The health care reform legislationenacted last year would slowly close thisfunding gap through the issuance ofrebate checks, Thompson said, notingthat the entire “donut hole” should beclosed by 2020.

Social Security was also discussed dur-ing Wednesday’s forum.

While some revisions need to be made,the state of Social Security is nowherenear as dire as some of the program’s crit-ics make it out to be, Thompson said.

“I'm not one that believes SocialSecurity is bankrupt or getting ready to goover the cliff,” he said. “Right now, ifnothing were done, it would pay 100 per-cent of benefits until 2037. Then, if youstill did nothing, it would pay 75 percentof benefits. So, really, you're talking aboutafter 2037, having a 25 percent problem. Ithink that’s a pretty easy one to fix.”

Both programs — Medicare and SocialSecurity — will require some attentionfrom Congress, Thompson said, whilepledging to protect both as best he can.

“These programs have helped genera-tions of seniors take charge of their healthcare and their lives, and I'm committed tokeeping them strong for future genera-tions,” he said.


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HOWARD [email protected]

What difference can a monthly check 3.6 percentlarger make? Millions of American seniors willfind out in January.

The Social Security Administration announced onWednesday a cost-of-living adjustment for 55 millionelderly citizens — the first Social Security increase since2009. Another 8 million enrolled in the SupplementalSecurity Income program will also get 3.6 percentboosts.

Despite the news, some locals remained cautious.When a few dozen older Napans gathered Wednesday forlunch at the Senior Activity Center, some of the table talkwas about the increases coming their way.

“It will be a noticeable help,” said Fern Pruitt, an 80-year-old volunteer at the center who was lunching withfriends on $2 turkey and mashed potato plates.

“Haircuts and manicures, I do most of those myself;even cut my own hair because it’s $40, $50 to get yourhair cut. I have friends that travel all kinds of places andI can’t afford it.”

Benefit increases have averaged 4.2 percent annuallysince Congress adopted cost-of-living adjustments inthe 1970s. But pensioners have been denied increases thelast two years because inflation rates remained low.

Despite low overall inflation, food and fuel costs havecrept ahead of other costs. Gas prices shot by a third inthe last year, while prices for dairy products, produceand cereal rose sharply in September, according to theLabor Department.

A few more dollars in the pocket would be helpful butwouldn’t reduce the need for late-life thrift, anotherlunch guest at the senior center said.

“I’m really good with money; I budget,” saidJacqueline Canepa, an occasional substitute teacher forthe Napa County Office of Education. “Everything ispaid for and I’m lucky. It’s still more money, though — Ican go out to lunch.”

Hanging over the extra monthly dollars was the possi-bility of losing some of the sum to rising health carecosts. Next week, trustees for Medicare are expected toannounce higher premiums, which are deducted fromSocial Security payouts.

“It used to be that Medicare would cover most every-thing,” said Irene Androlowicz, 74, who spent years on anupstate New York factory line despite a car accident ahalf-century ago that left her in a wheelchair and legbrace. “Now you have to have your regular insurancewith Medicare, and it still doesn’t cover everything, soyou’re still in a hole.”

The coming cost-of-living adjustment will add about$43 to Androlowicz’s monthly benefit of $1,200, but sheand other Napans saw the boost as merely keeping themrunning in place.

“It would be tougher for anybody, whether you’reworking or not,” Androlowicz said of the past few years.She moved to Napa last December to live with a relative.

“Look at the prices when you go to the grocery store —you’d have a heart attack, you really do. You live fromcheck to check. There’s nothing to be saved; you’re buy-ing nothing out of the way.”

“When you’ve got insurance, electricity and water(bills), it seems all I ever do is pay,” said Joe Franklin, 86,a retired electronics engineer who gets $1,186 monthlyfrom Social Security.

“Regardless, I’ll manage somehow, even if I have to goto McDonalds,” he said.


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Local seniors ponderSocial Security raises

Irene Androlowicz shares her thoughts on the proposedSocial Security cost-of-living increase for seniors whilehaving lunch with friends at the Napa Senior Activity Center.

J.L. Sousa/Register


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Renate Halliday recalled what the community was likewhen they first moved to the area in 1971.

“Yountville was a terrible town,” she said. There werea lot of bars, she said, and public drunkenness. “The vis-itors were few and far between.”

Today, “the town has completely changed,” she said.Any foodie worth his or her salt has heard of therenowned French Laundry, along with other notableeateries from chefs like Michael Chiarello and RichardReddington.

The town features more than 1,600 restaurant seats,more than 75 percent of the town’s general fund revenueis a direct result of tourism, and 60 percent of the gener-al fund revenue comes from transient occupancy tax(TOT), a community profile report stated. Yountvillealso offers 454 hotel and inn rooms.

But that’s not what most locals are buzzing about.These residents said they like Yountville for its quaintfeel, community spirit and homey atmosphere.

Gene Halliday said he appreciates the little thingsYountville offers. There’s a free trolley and the town land-scaping gets rave reviews. “For us, it’s idyllic,” he said.

Sure, the couple has to head to Napa for many conven-iences, but that’s to be expected, they said. “Yountvillewas never much of a local-serving town,” RenateHalliday said.

Gene Halliday admits the town can seem a little sleepy.“I don’t see a lot of activity with the locals,” he said. Notevery resident has a car to run to Napa for errands, heacknowledged. Others may be less mobile. “There’snothing to draw them out of their homes.”

“It sounds kind of dreary,” Gene Halliday said, “butYountville is wonderful.”

Yountville native Jennifer Carvalho, 39, works for thetown as a recreation supervisor.

“I love it,” she said about living there. A parent of ayoung son, Carvalho especially appreciates what shecalled the safety of a smaller town.

Carvalho said she shops at the Ranch Market inYountville for everyday basics, but also plans a weeklytrip to Napa for other items not found in town.

She debunked one stereotype about the town. “Peoplethink there’s nothing to do here for residents, and therereally is,” Carvalho said, noting the new Art Walk, parks,community-sponsored trips and other events.

Not everyone agrees. Pat Gorsuch has lived nearYountville for 31 years. She likes living in the countryaround Yountville but said she’s disappointed in how thetown has changed.

“It’s so commercial now. At one time it was a nice littlecommunity,” Gorsuch said. “I used to go into Yountvilleand see people I knew. Now I don’t see anybody I know,hardly. It doesn’t feel like a hometown anymore.”

These days Gorsuch said she travels to Napa moreoften than Yountville itself. “There isn’t anything elsethere for me.”

YountvilleFrom Page 7

See YOUNTVILLE, Page 13

Brook Herrema has lived in Yountville for about eightmonths. She had previously lived in Europe and SanFrancisco and knew that she wanted to work in the hospital-ity industry in the valley, but didn't want to commute fromher temporary home in Marin. J.L. Sousa/Register

toys brought from home.“This is just a beautifulpark and probably has themost diverse playground,so it meets the needs of allages.”

Gretchen Kim lives inAlta Heights, but said sheand her husband come tothe park almost dailybecause it is their daugh-ter’s favorite playground.

“It’s where our daughterrequests to go,” Kim said,as she and her husband,Adam, stood in the Sundaymorning sun while theirdaughter, Chloe, wearing apink tulle tutu, bouncedfrom playhouse to play-house. “The playground isthe best playground, it’sthe biggest one, and it hasthe most things to do for allages.”

But Fuller Park, likemany other parks, hasmore to offer than slidesand sand. A diversity of

people use Fuller Park andit gets especially busy onSunday afternoons oncemorning church servicesconclude, Kim said.

“We usually come in themornings when it’s a littlemore calm, before all thepicnics start,” Kim said.

Even hours before theguests arrive, signs of thepicnics to come later in theday are hard to miss. Picnicareas stand reserved withballoons, barbecues warm-ing deep pots of tamales,and seasonal tablecloths.

“We use this park oftenfor parties,” said BernieOchoa, who sat guardingone of the park’s larger pic-nic areas for his niece’s bap-tism and birthday partylater in the day. “It’s central,it’s a good spot for us andyou can have a large group.”

Ochoa’s group cateredits party, bringing in trayupon tray of carnitas

ordered from a local Latinomarket. “It’s just easierthat way. We just pick it upand bring it here so wedon’t have to worry aboutit,” Ochoa said.

Homemade lunches ofsandwiches and chipsmight be a thing of thepast. Many small picnicgroups were dining Sundayon delivery pizza andboxed Chinese food.

One couple lay under thethick umbrella of shadetrees after finishing theirmeal, watching their 18-month-old pick dande-lions in the nearby grass.

“We just wanted a placewhere she could runaround while we atelunch,” said MelissaWalden, adding she andher husband, Chris, don’tpicnic much but enjoyedtheir first experience atFuller Park.

For others, like thosewho walk or run their dogsalong the winding side-walks, Fuller Park is morefamiliar territory.

“I use the park at leasttwice a day to walk my dog,”said Julie Nunn, who power-walked with her dog, Abbey,and friend, Teresa Hueteand her canine counterpart,Buoy. “I walk this park 365days a year, even when it’spouring rain.”

In addition to providingbeauty for parkgoers,Huete said the many treesthroughout Fuller Park alsoadd comfort.

“This is a great reprievefrom the sun, it really is,”she said. “It’s usually about5 to 10 degrees coolerwalking around this parkthan it is elsewhere in thecity. I think that’s why weget so many people on theweekends. People comehere and lay in the parkbecause it’s so cool.”

Fuller Park gives in somany ways, Huete said. It’swhere she exercises herdog, takes a break from thesun and, in the evening,plays a game of bocce ballwith her husband.

For her, Sunday after-noon is just another day inthe park.

Usually, I am not big onstatistics, but, while

looking at Polk’s 1947 NapaCity Directory, I cameacross some numbers that Ifound interesting. Ithought you old-timersmight be interested also.

I have commented on afew of the categories and, insome cases, compared Napaof 1947 with Napa of today.

Area: In 1947, accordingto Polk, there were a totalof 1,550 acres (2.42 squaremiles) within the Napa citylimits. Today, according toWikipedia, Napa has 11,392acres (17.8 square miles).

Population: Polk esti-mated Napa’s populationat 14,000 citizens in 1947.Actual census numbersshow the 1940 populationas 7,740 and the populationof 1950 to be 13,579. Thegrowth during that decadewas due primarily to thewar effort and jobs created

at Mare Island in Vallejoand Basalt Rock’s localshipyard.

In 1947, Polk said that 99percent of Napa’s citizenswere white. It does notprovide any other race,nationality or ethnic infor-mation.

As I remember, there wasone black family in the cityin 1947. The head of thefamily was the very popularporter at the GreyhoundBus station whose lastname was Williams. Hisson, Sylvester, was a base-ball teammate of mine atNapa High.

In 2006, according toWikipedia, Napa’s racialmix was 90.1 percent white(26.8 percent of those wereLatino or Hispanic), 0.2percent African Americanand 7.3 percent NativeAmerican with a small bal-ance of other races.

Banks: In 1947, Napa hadthree banks. They werewas a Bank of America onFirst Street, corner ofBrown, in a beautiful stoneedifice known as theMigliavacca Building. Thatbuilding was razed duringurban renewal in the 1960sand replaced with a waterfountain that no longerworks and a controversialclock tower that wasremoved a few years ago.

A second Bank ofAmerica was just a blockaway with entries on bothMain and Brown Streets,corner of Second. Thebuilding still exists and it isnow a branch of WellsFargo Bank.


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Fuller ParkFrom Page 8

JimFordNapa asit was

My hometown: Then and now

See FORD, Page 13

She misses shops in the Vintage 1870sthat used to sell shoes, children’s clothesand toys. “Some is still there, but not verymuch. I miss that.”

After honeymooning in Yountville,Sharon Stensaas eventually moved to thetown in 1998 to become the publisher andeditor of the Yountville Sun.

“I love it here,” Stensaas said. “It’s not thekind of place you find just everywhere.”

But the businesswoman has also watchedthe area evolve over the years. “We’ve seenmore of the local-servicing businesses goaway,” replaced by mostly tourist-orientedbusinesses, she said.

While Napa is close enough, “I can’t buya pair of shoes” in Yountville, Stensaaspointed out. The town has lost a veterinari-an, hardware store, service station, hard-ware store, lumber yard, Laundromat, evenan ice cream parlor, she noted.

“I think the most important loss isaffordable dining,” Stensaas said. “We lostFrankie, Johnnie and Luigi’s, we lost Piatti,we lost Compadre’s and the Diner. Whenyou want to eat you don’t always want todrive” to Napa, she said.

Stensaas laughed when she describedone pet peeve about the town. Tourists get

so distracted that they accidentally run stopsigns, she said.

“I think we’re pretty cordial toward ourvisitors, but we do like them to stop at thestop signs,” she said.

Albert Reyff, 86, has lived in Yountvillefor 15 years. Reyff and his wife, Karla, movedto the town from San Francisco.

“The first thing I noticed is that peopleacknowledged one another on the street.You would never do that in San Francisco,”he said.

Reyff said he identifies with the tourists.“I’m retired. I’m on vacation, too.”

The visitors are generally higher-endtourists, he noted. “They’re not here tomake trouble. They’re here to enjoy them-selves.”

“I love the small-town feeling,” KarlaReyff, 66, said. But she also has some reser-vations. Yountville has become too tourist-oriented, she said. “The funky Yountvilleway is disappearing. Everything is upscaleand shiny. Everything is expensive.

“I think this town has sold out to thetourists,” she said. “We’re losing anythingthat was remotely there for the locals.”

People often keep to themselves inYountville, Karla Reyff noted. TheCalifornia Veterans Home at Yountville isits own community, she said. The library isopen only 16.5 hours a week. Sometimes,classes at the Community Center are can-celed because of low enrollment.

“This is a small town, the populationcan’t always support that much,” Reyff said.

But, “Yountville is successful, and youcan’t really argue with success,” her hus-band said.

“It would be a challenge for a small busi-ness owner to survive solely on the full-time residents,” Yountville Town ManagerSteve Rogers said, “which is why our retailhas gone toward boutique or higher-endretail and food.”

Tourism makes the town as comfortableas it is, Mayor John Dunbar said.

“With that support of our visitors, we areable to continue to provide an excellent levelof service to our residents,” Dunbar said.“We have a balanced budget. We providerecreation services and beautiful parks andclean streets and a lot of the amenities thatother cities have had to sacrifice.”

Dunbar pointed out that in the past cou-ple years, the town has welcomed a newtaco truck, approved a deli grocery store aspart of the Somerston wine shop, a conven-ience store adjacent to the new gas station,lunch takeout three days a week from AdHoc restaurant and the reopening ofGordon’s Market.

“The Veterans Home cafe is also open tothe public (and) Pacific Blues, YountvilleDeli and Vintner’s Golf Club are otherexisting options that I think most peoplewould consider affordable,” he said.

According to the 2010 Census, 48.7 per-

cent of Yountville’s population is 65 orolder. The median age is 64 years, whichmakes 28-year-old Brook Herrema a defi-nite minority in town.

Herrema moved to Yountville inNovember after living in Marin County andSan Francisco. Recently, she started writinga column called “Rosemary and Radishes”in the Yountville Sun under the pen nameMargaret Brook.

“I do like it up here,” Herrema said. “It’snice to get out of the city and the sprawl.

“I like being able to walk down my andwalk back. It’s very approachable. I feelcomfortable going out by myself,” Herremasaid.

The dating scene has definitely been dis-appointing, she said. “But it’s easier to meetpeople in Yountville than in San Francisco,where you meet someone but you don’t seethem again. In Yountville, you are alwaysbumping into the same people.”

“I’m not bored,” said Herrema, whoworks at Meadowood. “I feel like almostevery night there’s something to do.”

Would she recommend living inYountville to her friends?

“It depends on the person,” Herremasaid.“If you’re looking to go clubbing on theweekends, then no. I’m over that. I’m readyfor something a bit more low-key. I’d rathergo out to dinner and have a few cocktails ora barbecue with friends.”


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YountvilleFrom Page 11

The third bank was the Bank ofCommerce, on Brown Street, betweenFirst and Second Streets on a site nowoccupied by the county district of attor-ney’s office.

Post Office: There was only one postoffice in 1947. That Depression-era WPAproject building on Second Streetbetween Randolph and Franklin is virtu-ally unchanged from the day it was built.Today, there are two post offices.

Church buildings: In 1947, there were14 church buildings. Polk does not namethe churches or divulge any denomina-tional information. A quick count intoday’s Yellow Pages shows that there are46 churches in Napa.

Hotels: Polk mentions four hotels witha total of 312 rooms in 1947. They were theConner Hotel on the corner of Main andThird streets, now a part of VeteransMemorial Park; Hotel Major on MainStreet, near the Napa Valley OperaHouse; Hotel Senate on First Street, cor-ner of School; and the Plaza Hotel on thecorner of Second and Brown Streets. Ofthe four, only the Plaza building remains.

It was remodeled a few years ago intooffice space and renamed AlexandriaSquare.

Hospital: Napa’s only hospital wasParks Victory Hospital. It had 58 bedsand was on Jefferson between G and Hstreets, now the site of office buildings.Today, our city is blessed to have Queen ofthe Valley Medical Center.

Police department: The departmentwas on Brown Street, between Secondand Third, directly across from the oldCourt House. The building is still there.In 1947, according to Polk, there were 15sworn officers, three cars and fourmotorcycles that were radio equipped.

Fire department: The Fire Department ofold had 15 firemen, one hook and laddertruck, one water truck, a rescue squadtruck, 5 engines and one car. The stationwas on Second Street across the street fromtoday’s Napa Valley Register building.

Education: Within the City of Napa in1947 there were a total of eight schools,which included two elementary, one jun-ior high, one senior high, one junior col-lege and three parochial schools. Therewere 3,300 students in public schooland 460 in private schools with a totalof 143 teachers.

Napa has grown a lot in 64 years.

FordFrom Page 12


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The country was in the middle of the Depression andhis family was poor, he said.

“We didn’t have much,” he said. “We had a huge gar-den” and “ate a lot of soup. His father couldn’t alwaysafford shoes for himself.

“When they first opened the store all they sold wasbread and milk,” Giovannoni said. “That’s all they couldafford.”

Augustine Giovannoni worked as a ship painter at aNapa shipyard to help make ends meet, while his wifeJosephine helped run the store.

“They were hard working,” Albert Giovannoni, Larry’solder brother said.

Most shopping orders were taken door to door, LarryGiovannoni recalled. At 8 or 10 years old, “I remembergoing around with my father to get grocery orders,” hesaid. “Most people didn’t have a phone,” he said. Aftertaking the orders, they’d return later with the deliveries.

As the family started selling more goods, “it was one ofthe busiest markets in town,” Larry Giovannoni said.

“I remember selling 1,000 pounds of crab a week, for29 cents a pound,” he said. They sold 800 to 1,000 casesof produce a week, plus large sections of beef cut toorder.

“It was all about volume,” Larry’s son, MichaelGiovannoni, said. “You’d walk in there and it’d be meateverywhere hanging in those coolers.”

Behind where the downtown library is today, LarryGiovannoni remembered a dock and wharf on the NapaRiver where he and his father and other local merchants

including the Vallerga family would receive groceriesdelivered by boat. After unloading, the boats would carryfruit picked from Napa orchards back to the city, he said.

When Larry was 27 he met his future wife, DianeMorecraft, then a senior at Napa High.

“We had a few dates and fell in love,” he said. “Luckyme. She put up with all my crap,” he said with a smile.

They have been married for 57 years and have five sonsand three daughters, 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

In the 1960s, Larry Giovannoni decided to buy a parcelof land on Browns Valley Road.

“The families were getting bigger,” Giovannoni said.He figured some of his children would end up in the gro-cery business, and while there wasn’t much on the westside of Napa at the time, “I had a good feeling it wouldwork,” he said.

“He has good vision and intuition,” MichaelGiovannoni said.

The family bought the land, and from the early ’60s tomid ’80s, they all lived in a then four-bedroom ranchhouse on the property, now home to Browns ValleyPizzeria.

“First, he was going to build a house there,” AlbertGiovannoni said. “I said, ‘Baloney, make it commercial,and the first thing you gotta do is walk the streets in thatarea and ask the people if they would like a grocery storethere,’” Giovannoni said.

The decision to open a market was fortunate.“We’re lucky to be out here in this location,” Larry

Giovannoni said. With most of his competitors on theother side of town, he’s found a niche, he said.

FoodFrom Page 1

Larry Giovannoni pictured in his father's market on BrownStreet at the age is 16. Submitted Photo

While Larry Giovannoni was getting ready to build anew market, his brother, Ernest Giovannoni, was run-ning the original Brown Street Giovannoni’s Market. Thebusiness was sold years ago. Today, a Latino marketoccupies the spot.

Over the years, Browns Valley Market became a truefamily business. Nine family members, including Larry’ssons, Jerry and Michael Giovannoni, and two daughters,Gina Scheumann and Chrissy Anderson, work at themarket or the meat market inside the grocery store. Sodo several grandkids.

What’s the secret to the store’s success?“Good quality and good service,” Larry Giovannoni

said. “Being competitive and treating people like family.”“We have a neighborhood feel,” Jerry Giovannoni said.

“We’re a family-oriented business.”Today, the business has 45 employees, many high

school and college students. A number of employeeshave been with the market for more than 10 or 15 years.

“It’s very simple. Treat people right,” MichaelGiovannoni said.

Jerry and Michael Giovannoni said their father haseverything to do with that success.

“You and your brothers worked all their lives,” JerryGiovannoni said to his father. “You passed that ethic onto all of us. Now, we’re passing that on to our children,”he said.

That work ethic includes doing whatever is necessary,including the most basic services. “I like bagging gro-ceries,” Larry Giovannoni admitted. “I’m probably theoldest bagger in California,” he laughed.

Larry Giovannoni doesn’t think of retiring. “Whatwould I do if I retired?” he said.

Besides working seven days a week at the market,Larry Giovannoni also helps out at the Napa ValleyMarina, another family-owned business. Plus, “I staybusy with my kids and grandkids.”

“You can’t stop him from working,” his brother,Albert, said. “He’s always looking for something to do orwho to help; he never stops.”

Larry Giovannoni said his proudest accomplishmentsare meeting his wife and raising his family. “All my kidshave done good,” he said. “They are good citizens, goodparents.”

“He (is) a hell of a guy,” Albert Giovannoni said. “He’salways thinking of other people.

“He has a compassionate heart that people are drawnto,” Michael Giovannoni said.

In between running his business and work, LarryGiovannoni also manages to find time for a hobby. “I liketo sing,” he said. “Mostly Italian opera.”

Over the years, he has performed at weddings and par-ties, and many years ago, sang in a few shows at the JarvisConservatory in Napa. He took lessons in San Franciscowhen he was in his 20s and once auditioned for the SanFrancisco Opera chorus.

“We’d be up at night and he’d be banging away at thepiano and singing,” Jerry Giovannoni recalled.

“Those were good days,” Larry Giovannoni said,adding that he still studies opera today.

His favorite song to sing? “There are so many,” he said.Then, after thinking for a minute, “’O Sole Mio,’” he said.

“Everybody likes ‘O Sole Mio.’”What’s his plan for the future?“Spend more time with my family and my wife,” he

said. And “keep bagging groceries, I guess.”


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Augustino Giovannoni in front of what was onceGiovannoni's South Napa Grocery on Brown Streetsometime in the 1940's. Jorgen Gulliksen/Register

“Good quality and good service, being competitive andtreating people like family.” Larry Giovannoni

“We have a neighborhood feel. We’re a family-orientedbusiness.” Jerry Giovannoni

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Best Years - Spring 2012

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