Call For Entries

Faces Of Napa Valley

Cameo Cinema Foundation and The Cameo Cinema are looking for imaginative and original short films that feature St. Helena's everyday heroes. We all know an Everyday Hero. It is the person who does simple acts of kindness, courage, and love. We are looking for short films that share your experiences, thoughts, and stories about the people in your life who are making St. Helena and the Napa Valley a better place for everyone. Open to anyone aged from 10 to 100 who live in St. Helena, California. Think about who is the hero in your life and what being a hero means to you. This program is made possible by a Grant from the City of St. Helena. For details and submission forms, please email Cathy Buck or contact her at info@cameocinema.com. Learn More.

Coastal Cleanup Day 2023

Join us in the statewide effort to keep our waterways clean! The City of St. Helena is partnering with Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) and will be cleaning the creek bed that stretches from Jacob Meily Park to Main Street. September 23 at 9 a.m. Learn More and Register.

Composting: Helps Pipes, Helps Environment

Did you know that your garbage disposal or even garbage can might not be the best place for your food scraps? Garbage disposals are not meant to handle large quantities of food. When food is sent down the disposal, it requires more water to flush it down the drain line. Putting your compost in your compost pail and compost/yard waste bin saves water, saves your pipes from getting clogged, and equates to a lower water bill. Soiled paper, bones, seafood shells, fruit and vegetable materials, meats, and any fatty or oily food scraps should never be put down the drain but can always be put in your compost pail. Any food scraps containing fats, oils, and grease (FOG) can cause sewer blockages leading to spills and overflows, which are harmful to the environment and public health. Learn more about your Residential, Multifamily, and Commercial compost programs from Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling.

Don’t Let Your Unpicked Fruit Go To Waste!

Let a volunteer fruit gleaner pick your fruit to help others. Gleaning is simply the act of collecting excess fresh fruits. Once picked, gleaners will deliver fruit to the local food pantry, UpValley Family Center, SHHS Culinary Program, and other community organizations or members. Learn more or schedule an appointment by contacting Susan Davis and Pam Smithers at 707-696-0530. Learn more about how you can help support our community.

Crane Park Movie Night

Bring your blankets or lawn chairs and settle in for a screening of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." The movie will start at sundown (approximately 7:45 p.m.). Don't forget to grab some free popcorn to enjoy during the movie. We hope to see you there! September 22 at Crane Park. Admission and popcorn are free. Learn More.

Do You Have One Minute A Month To Help Make St. Helena Better?

You’re invited! The City of St. Helena invites you to join our new FlashVote community. It’s free, fast, and fun. Civic participation has never been easier, and we’d love your help. Why join? Give us your input on the issues you care about in seconds, from any device, anytime. Results from the community are shared within days. FlashVote protects your data and privacy as an independent intermediary between you and the City of St. Helena. Watch Video. Learn More and Sign Up.

New School Resource Officer Takes Over In St. Helena

St. Helena kids have a new friend in law enforcement. Police Officer Wenner Massella took over as school resource officer at the beginning of the school year. He’ll be present at all four schools, but he’ll concentrate on St. Helena High School and RLS Middle School. Read the story in the St. Helena Star.

Speed Data Analysis

In advance of the Blue Zones “Quick-Build” traffic calming project, our Public Works Department conducted a speed data analysis. A device was placed at the intersection of Madrona Ave. and Kearney St. for 10 days, then the results were downloaded. During the survey, more than 18,000 vehicles were tracked, with the average speed being 22 MPH. 99% of vehicles were traveling under 33 MPH. Watch the Video to Learn More.

Blue Zones Traffic Calming Project & Survey

The City of St. Helena teamed up with the Blue Zones Project Upper Napa Valley and the Napa County Bicycle Coalition to paint dots and install white delineator posts that mimic the function of sidewalk bulb-outs. The goal is to slow down traffic at the intersection and make it safer for pedestrians, including kids walking to RLS Middle School and St. Helena Elementary School. Read the story in the St. Helena Star.

After you have been through the intersection, please complete a quick survey.

Mediterranean Oak Borer Workshop Recap

Join Curtis Ewing (Entomologist with CAL FIRE Forest Entomology and Pathology Program) and Michael Jones (UC Cooperative Extension Forest Advisor for Mendocino, Lake, and Sonoma Counties) for a discussion on the biology, ecology, and management of the recently detected invasive Mediterranean Oak Borer (MOB). Watch Video.

September Is Suicide Prevention Month. It's Okay To Ask Yourself, "Do I Need Help?"

Do I have mild symptoms that have lasted for less than 2 weeks? Symptoms may include trouble sleeping or feeling down, but you’re still able to do your job, schoolwork, housework, and/or take care of yourself or others. Self-care activities that can help include exercising, socializing, regular sleep schedule, journaling and self-reflection, eating nutritiously, talking to a trusted friend or family member, practicing meditation and mindfulness, and/or engaging in hobbies. If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, talk to a healthcare provider.

Do I have severe symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more? Symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, unwanted weight changes, struggling to get out of bed in the morning, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest in things you enjoy, unable to perform daily responsibilities, and/or thoughts of death or self-harm. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's okay to seek professional help. If you are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741). Additional Resources from the California Department of Public Health.

Wildfire Preparedness & Resource Event

The community is invited to learn more about wildfire preparedness and ask questions from local organizations about what to pack in a “go bag,” how to evacuate with pets, evacuation routes, the Hi/Lo siren, evacuation door tags, and more. The event is sponsored by St. Helena Fire Safe Council and Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD). Jacob Meily Park, September 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn More.

Arundo Donax Cleanup

The City of St. Helena, in coordination with Napa County and Jerah Frye Native Habitat Restoration, is continuing to work on removing the invasive Arundo Donax plant. This giant reed is a tall perennial grass that looks similar to corn when growing. It forms in dense stands on disturbed sites, sand dunes, riparian areas, and wetlands in our region and beyond—threatening California’s riparian ecosystems by outcompeting native species for water. Crews will continue this work over the next few weeks, but it could take multiple years to remove the species from the area. Learn More from the California Invasive Plant Council.

Final Call for Harvest Festival Local Business Vendors!

We have extended the deadline for an additional week for local business interested in being a vendor at the St. Helena Hometown Harvest Festival. Businesses in the community are invited to showcase their work during the event, which will take place on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oak Ave.

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please reach out to Recreation Supervisor, Ashley Sylvester, at asylvester@cityofsthelena.org, or call 707-967-2736. The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 27. Applications can be found online at cityofsthelena.org/harvestfestival. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of this celebrated annual event for the community!

Stephanie Killingsworth

Senior Accounting Technician

We spoke with a member of our Finance Department this week! Stephanie has worked in the Finance Department for the City of St. Helena since December 2015. She began as an Accounting Assistant I and has been promoted multiple times to her current position as a Senior Accounting Technician. Read More.