News briefs: ¡Viva Mariachi!, seed pantry, PG&E bill relief and more across Napa County
County needs midterm vote center workers (new)
Napa County is recruiting vote center workers to assist voters during the June and November midterm elections. Vote centers will be located in American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.
Vote center workers can earn more than $900 for working approximately 50 to 60 hours during the three weeks leading up to the June 2 primary election. Many workers hired for the June election also return to work a similar schedule ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
To learn more or apply, visit: www.governmentjobs.com/careers/napacounty/jobs/5234894/
For questions, contact the Napa County Election Division by calling 707-253-4321 or emailing john.tuteur@countyofnapa.org
Master Gardeners talk healthy soil (new)
Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County and Napa County Library for a free online talk, “Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants” on Thursday, March 5, from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom.
Learn how to tell if you have healthy soil and whether any plant problems you’re encountering in your garden are related to soil health. Master Gardeners will share possible solutions for improving your soil.
To access the Zoom link, register online at: https://tinyurl.com/38dvz3bx/
¡Viva Mariachi! at Napa Valley College (new)
The ¡Viva Mariachi! Festival at Napa Valley College returns on Saturday, March 21, with two shows: a matinee concert at 2 p.m. and an evening concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
¡Viva Mariachi! offers a unique opportunity for the community to learn about the thriving programs across the U.S. that promote student success while enriching the cultural vitality and musical traditions of institutions and their surrounding communities.
The cultural event promotes the rich heritage and traditions of Mexico through Mariachi music and music education. The festival hosts youth and student groups representing various levels of the nation’s public education institutions.
This year’s lineup includes Mariachi Las Aguilitas de Davis from Davis Bilingual Elementary School in Tucson, Arizona; LBC Mariachi Cantares de Mi Tierra and Ballet Folklórico from Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Sonoma County; and Mariachi Garibaldi from Southwestern College in Chula Vista.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/2ayb844y/
NVC’s Performing Arts Center is at 2277 Napa-Vallejo Hwy., building 100, Napa.
Library seed pantry opens
The Calistoga Library offers a variety of seeds that you can take home and plant for free.
Check out what they have available this season, until supplies last.
The library is at 1108 Myrtle St., Calistoga.
UpStage seeking noir-themed plays
UpStage Napa Valley is calling all playwrights and aspiring playwrights to submit works for its 6th Annual PlayFest, to be performed across three weekends beginning Oct. 9 at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena.
The local playwright festival focuses on nine 15-minute plays performed by UpStage actors. Noir is this year’s theme.
Imagine, the air is thick, the streetlights are flickering and everyone has a secret. UpStage is seeking high-stakes plots and sharp, atmospheric and tension-filled scripts. Think a rainy alleyway, a smoke-filled office or a dimly lit bar. Think cynical P.I.s, dangerous femme fatales, desperate choices and the moral ambiguity that defines the Noir genre.
Plays must be submitted by April 15. Scripts must be original and written for no more than three actors to be performed with only one set and with a performance length no longer than 15 minutes. Submit one play per playwright to info@upstagenapavalley.com with the subject line PlayFest 2026 Submission – (your last name).
For more information, visit https://www.upstagenapavalley.org/
NVCF scholarship applications open
Napa Valley Community Foundation has opened its application process for 2026 scholarship opportunities.
Eligible applicants include Calistoga Jr./Sr. High School students studying music, Napa County nursing students, Napa County veterans, Napa County teachers and educators, seniors graduating from Napa County high schools, college students and students learning trades such as welding, machining, automotive tech and more.
The deadline to apply is March 2.
To view eligibility criteria for each scholarship and apply, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ycyfrjr4/.
PG&E extends bill relief program
To support customers facing financial hardship, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) extended its Match My Payment Program into 2026, while funds last.
The program offers a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $1,000, for qualifying low-to moderate-income customers to pay past-due energy bills to stop service disconnections.
PG&E launched the program in June, with a $50 million commitment to provide more ways for income-eligible customers to catch up on outstanding balances. The funding supports PG&E’s Match My Payment and Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help (REACH) programs.
In the last year, Napa County customers have received a total of $114,112.52 through Match my Payment and REACH; the assistance went to 131 Match My Payment recipients and 211 REACH recipients.
To learn more about PG&E’s assistance programs, visit pge.com/billhelp/
