NOV E M B E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 15 November is the month of Thanksgiving and being thankful, but for many Napans that gratitude and healing began when a group of citizens and members of BottleRock put together a last minute earthquake benefit concert, Napa Rocks, which sold out immediately. The stage behind the Chardonnay Hall at the Napa Valley Exposition filled with local artists and concluded with world-renowned musician Michael Franti and his band, the Spearheads. Everyone volunteered their time, including the musicians, to raise funds for the earthquake relief. The September 28concert was part of a four-day fundraiser that raised over $430,000. All net proceeds went into the Napa Valley Community Relief Fund. “The reason I chose to be involved with the Napa Rocks is because I live in San Francisco and I remember being in a number of earthquakes, especially the big one in 1989. There was more than just the physical damage that happened to my house; there was the fact that every time a truck would go by, or every time I'd feel the wind shake our house really hard, it would scare me. I would leap out of bed,” said Michael Franti. “I really empathize with people who are in Napa right now who are going through that feeling. I really felt a connection in wanting to support people there to preserve historic buildings, to make sure businesses that have suffered and personal families who have gone through big hits have resources available, and also support people who have sustained personal injury. We're really grateful for the opportunity that we've had over the years to have our music supported by Napa, and this was one way we felt we could give back,” he added. Franti’s Napa-based Do It For The Love Foundation is a nonprofit wish-granting organization that brings people living with life-threatening illnesses, children with severe challenges, and wounded veterans to live concerts and other music experiences. He has been spreading his message of love, peace and social justice for decades. As an E.R. nurse, Sara Agah, witnesses firsthand the toll that life-threatening medical conditions have on both patients and their loved ones. Michael and Sara created this project, which bridges their passions and expertise. The idea for the organization was spurred by an encounter with two of Michael’s fans in the spring of 2013. Steve and Hope Dezember reached out to Michael and shared Steve’s desire to attend one of Michael Franti & Spearhead’s concerts. Steve is living with advanced stages of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). They were provided not just tickets, but Michael invited the couple to join him and the band onstage. Although Steve was barely able to move his body, he asked Hope to lift him out of his wheelchair. Wrapped in each other’s arms, they danced on stage in front of 20,000 fellow music fans. There was not a dry eye in the house. That night, Sara and Michael decided they wanted to continue to give the gift of live music to inspire joy, connectedness and a positive, potentially life-changing experience to as many other people in need as possible. During the Napa Rocks concert Franti brought up kids on stage and had members of the Napa Youth Symphony perform with him, and also reached out to audience members by performing two songs among the crowd. As the hardest hit areas of Napa Valley continue to rebuild and repair, and most businesses are re-opened, some still feeling the effects of the tremor. One business still forced to keep its doors closed is the popular eatery/wine bar, Carpe Diem Wine Bar, located in the historic Alexandria Hotel. Images of the precarious dangling rooftop off the third floor were shown around the world. The roof has been removed and work has begun to strengthen the building, but work has slowed as the historical society ensures that materials are used to keep the late 18th century building on the list of historical places. “I understand the significance of keeping the building historical,” said Scott Kendall, owner of Carpe Diem. “I am anxious to re-open and serve our devoted customers again. The longer is drags out, it will harder to keep my staff.” In the meantime, Kendall has been operating as a pop-up nd is relying on catering services to keep his staff busy. Ironically, he day before the earthquake hit, Kendall finished a sustainable remodel to the space next door in order to expand his restaurant. The Sebastopol native said he fell in love with Napa and his space in the downtown area when he opened for business five years ago “I knew downtown Napa was on the cusp of breaking out and had so much potential,” said Kendall. “It was a bonus getting to know the community and the nice people here.” Though he may relocate briefly during the rebuild, Kendall said its his intent to stay in his current location once the seismic retrofit is completed on the Alexandria Building. In the meantime, Napa can help Kendall and his staff out by using his catering services. You can reach him at scott@carpdiemwinebar.com. The Buoncristiani Brothers making pizza for the crew at Napa Barrel Care Scott Kendall Michael Franti at Napa Rocks photo by ART & CLARITY
NVLife_NovDec_2014
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