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Tribune
Calistoga
Independently owned and published in Calistoga for Calistogans since 2002
June 5, 2015
CHS GRADUATION 2015
Planners continue use
permit hearing
June 5, 2015
Congratulations to the
Calistoga High School
Class of 2015
Commencement Program
Friday, June 5, 2015 • 7 p.m.
Napa County Fairgrounds
50¢
Processional
“Pomp & Circumstance,” CHS Band
Pledge of Allegiance
Alexis Monhoff
National Anthem
Cynthia Rubio
Welcome
Principal David Kumamoto
Valedictorian
Walker Hughes
Salutatorian
Jasmine Pochini
Concert Band
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay
Flag Exchange
Daniel Gross & Vitor Saito
ASB President
Dario DiGiulio
CHS Choir
"Defying Gravity" from Wicked
Superintendent
Dr. Esmeralda Mondragon, Ed.D.
Principal’s Address
Principal David Kumamoto
Class of 2015
Presentation of Diplomas:
Superintendent Esmeralda Mondragon,
President Indira Lopez, clerk Jeff Maxfield, trustee Marco DiGiulio
Recessional:
Principal David Kumamoto
Beginning a journey
full of challenges
Congratulations Class of 2015! Today
you have concluded
a very important part
of your life and you
begin a new journey.
I am sure that you
will face the world’s
challenges and seize
the most exciting opportunities.
As a student you
still have a long way
to go and a lot to achieve.
However, you have developed habits
of effort and achievement. We know you
can do it…si se puede! Please continue
to make us part of your successes, accomplishments and leadership contributions. Thank you for making Calistoga
schools and our community stronger.
Best of luck for all your future
endeavors!
– Indira Lopez
President, Board of Trustees,
Calistoga Joint Unified
County planners continue hearing
on Reverie Winery improvements
By Amanda Rhodes
Tribune Staff Writer
n Winery rumored to be
for sale to Calistoga Hills
after use permit approved
Reverie Winery is in talks to
be sold, but not until a use permit modification is granted by the
county planning commission.
After a nearly four hour meeting Wednesday devoted solely to
the request of a use permit modification to Reverie Winery on Diamond Mountain Road, the Napa
County Planning Commission
unanimously voted for a June con-
tinuance.
“Another tricky one of course,”
Commissioner Matt Pope said as
he and his fellow commissioners
wrangled with yet another controversial issue regarding winery permits in the valley.
The topic has caught the eye of
many, not just Reverie’s neighbors
in the semi-rural area located on
Diamond Mountain Road in Calistoga, after rumors surfaced that the
property is reportedly for sale and
in talks to be bought by the owners of the nearby Calistoga Hills
resort.
“It is well known that this property is for sale,” Deputy Planning
Director John McDowell said as
he gave his report.
The applicant, Reverie owner
Norman Kiken, who purchased the
property in 1993, is requesting recognition of illegal improvements
and setback encroachments as well
as increases in allowable capacity
and visitation.
The use permit entitlement
request pertains to the existing
winery located at 1520 Diamond
Mountain Rd. that has previously
expanded beyond the limits of its
use permit without required county
approvals and is currently in violation of county code.
Kiken, prior to the county initiating a code enforcement case,
submitted the subject use permit
modification request voluntarily.
Property owners with code vio-
lations have the right to request
retroactive approval of development/uses implemented without
required permits.
The existing parcel is 39.8
acres in area and includes an existing 2,951 sq. ft. winery building,
a 4,700 plus sq. ft. winery cave,
outdoor work areas, crush and tank
pads and a single family residence
located on the same parcel. The
property also has an existing 27acre vineyard.
Kiken is requesting approval of
a modification to the use permit, a
use permit exception to the conservation regulations and an exception to the Napa County Roads
See REVERIE page 3
6th grade graduation
Dancing to their own tune
By Pat Hampton
Tribune Publisher
Hundreds of colorful
helium-filled balloons
almost blocked out the sky
as 62 students left Calistoga Elementary School
with a send-off by teachers
and family.
Graduation for the sixth
graders was held Wednesday on a portable stage
at the Berry Street Field,
steps away from the sixth
grade classroom these
students will not return to
in the fall. They are now
seventh graders.
CES Principal Vicka
Llamas addressed the
crowd and then teachers
Autumn Grove, Matthew
Gudenius and Sarah Flint
handed out awards for citizenship, educational excellence and most improved.
in 2017 if all goes well
By Pat Hampton
Tribune Publisher
Although passersby can’t see
much work being done on the new
resort at the old Silver Rose Inn
Below
tGraduation
Special insert on CHS
graduation tonight
9
u Senior Awards Night
$90,000 in scholarships
for graduating seniors
14
New animal
services with
Petaluma
n City council approves
$49,400 annual contract
By Pat Hampton
Tribune Publisher
A Petaluma non-profit will take
over animal services in Calistoga,
collecting dog license fees, overseeing adoptions and taking in
animals in its no-kill facility for an
annual payment of $49,400.
City officials took notice when a
woman wrote a letter to this newspaper that her older dog was killed
by her neighbor’s pit bull and she
had no place to call for help. Calistoga has not had a contract for
animal services for over a decade,
relying instead on the Calistoga
Pet Clinic to serve as a de facto
holding and treatment facility.
Last September city councilmembers asked city manager
Richard Spitler to prepare a request
for proposals for animal control
and shelter services. Three proposals were received and in April the
city negotiated an agreement with
Petaluma Animal Services Foundation.
This week the contract was approved, offering on-call field services for domestic animals in the
city limits. PASF would respond
See ANIMALS page 3
City approves
flying rainbow
flag for a week
n Request to fly LGBT
flag approved 5-0
Photo by Pat Hampton
Sixth grade elementary school teacher Matthew Gudenius leads sixth graders and company in a
group celebration dance after sixth grade graduation ended Wednesday evening.
Silver Rose project still moving along with target date in 2017
n Resort set to open
u Reverie Winery
on the Silverado Trail, things are
moving along.
Kelly Foster, the shepherd of
the project from its start, told the
city council that all buildings and
vineyards have been removed, 13
underground septic tanks dug up
and taken away as well as two
wells, and workers have relocated
22 olive trees and five oaks.
The project has also paid $2
million in city impact fees.
Foster said he was still targeting 2017 for the opening of the
resort that will have a hotel with
85 guest rooms, 21 single-family
homes, a spa, restaurant, winery
and recreational amenities.
Vice Mayor Michael Dunsford
asked about the first floor space
in the Masonic Building that has
been rented by Foster’s group.
Foster said the space has been
used to construct a model hotel
room down to the smallest detail
so they will know exactly how it
will look before construction begins.
The room is not open to the
public.
The Rainbow Flag celebrating
gay pride will fly on the community pole near the police station from
June 11-18, city council unanimously decided Tuesday.
Ten-year
resident Arturo Alfaro
asked
the
council
to
approve flying the colorful flag in
recognition
of Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride
week.
“Seeing the rainbow flag raised
in our city celebrating the contributions and diversity of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and queer community would mean
See FLAG page 3