Good morning, Napa.

A 17-year-old Fairfield teen drowned Sunday at the Smittle Creek day-use area on Lake Berryessa, according to the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

Twelve local craftspeople joined the Napa Makers Accelerator program, which gives makers essential skills to help grow their small businesses — a program designed to build business expertise and support.

Rebecca Yerger writes a Memory Lane column that explains the unique history and local tales of Browns Valley (a distinct part of Napa), highlighting stories that give the area its special identity.

In Napa, the jobless rate dropped in April to tie for the sixth lowest in California—local officials are now evaluating which employers are hiring and what jobs are most in demand.

Molly Moran Williams has joined the Napa County Planning Commission and will help guide local planning and development.

At its board meeting on May 20, 2025, the Napa County Board of Supervisors appointed Molly Moran Williams to the Planning Commission and Leslie Lew to the Wildlife Conservation Commission with both appointments effective immediately.

Moran Williams’ term expires December 31, 2026 — Lew’s term ends February 1, 2026.

The City of Napa honored public workers at its Outstanding Performers and Service Awards this month—recognizing individuals like Devon Webb and James Connaughton and teams for their work on park projects and police investigations.

City Manager Steve Potter said the awards show the strong commitment of Napa staff—emphasizing their dedication to community service.

The Napa County grand jury asked Napa Valley Unified School District to show how it spends bond money for school projects—calling for clearer public details on the use of voter-approved funds.

The report will help local residents understand the spending on these projects.

Agricultural Commissioner Tracy Cleveland released the 2024 Napa County Agricultural Crop Report at the May 20 Board of Supervisors meeting and reported that overall production fell 14.3 percent to $1,034,798,400 while winegrape production dropped 13.8 percent from 2023—she also noted shifts in grape variety values, pest detection efforts, and a cover art contest win by Unidos Middle School student Jullian Pineda.