Conversations with Calistoga

Adela Kras was born Jewish in 1920 in Krakow, Poland.  Adela lived in Calistoga for quite some time, and died in 2013.  Her story of WW2 survival and how she came to be in Calistoga is told by her then-neighbor, Michael Hicks.  

Anne Carver is one of those few people you meet that you listen to carefully from the beginning to the end of the discussion.  Anne, her husband Denis, and her two young boys raised in Calistoga believe passionately about contributing back into the community.  As the founder of Calistoga's Family Center Anne is well known, but she continues to enrich lives and moments of anyone she interacts with. 

Erin Smith-Hagbergs' third year as Calistoga Schools Superintendent definitely has not gone as she or anyone else thought.  The onset of SARS-COVID totally disrupted both elementary and high school communities overnight.  Here, Erin talks of her youth, family, but mostly about Calistoga education and the community that attracted and retains her.

Sonia Murphy either knows or has been in front of the majority of people in the Napa Valley.  From flipping burgers at the old Calistoga Drive-In to catering weddings and parties for hundreds of people Sonia's stories of her life here in Calistoga enrich our history and bring a smile to anyone listening.

Friend to, and resident of, Calistoga for over 30 years, Carlo Marchiori talks of his childhood, schooling, and global journey that brought him to Calistoga.  One of the very secret treasures of our town, a summertime tour of the magnificent estate he built largely by himself is mandatory.

How we become the people we are later in life, and the paths we take to get there, are always the most interesting stories.  Growing up in the Napa Valley since the age of 13, Peter Kay usually took the path less traveled, but it eventually brought him back to Calistoga.  We think we know people, but the backstories add so much color...

Margaux Singleton has mastered the lifetime arts of social interaction, casual and interesting conversation, and for many years now the fine wines of Napa/Sonoma and Europe.  She speaks of the characters that convinced her to come to Calistoga, and the wine and winemakers that convinced her to stay here.

Philip Claypool travels a lot but always returns to his "Mayberry of the West" - here, he talks of his childhood, musical history and abilities, and demonstrates his remarkable range of vocal energy.  And, his guitar...

The heart and soul of any community is almost always with the young families that establish long term residence and lay the foundation for multi-generational presence.  

In the early 1990's a local general contractor applied for permission to build 44 single family homes in Calistoga.  The fascinating story how that developer chose to build 22 of the 44 homes as affordable, focusing on local residents and discouraging second home/investment buyers, is worth reviewing almost 30 years later.

This conversation is with Isidro Guzman, who came to Calistoga as a young man but almost 40 years later has deep roots throughout our community.  He and his wife qualified to purchase one of the 22 affordable homes in the Palisades.