Providing Peace of Mind

First Am Napa is now closing deals beyond Napa’s borders by the name of Cal Land Title

By Matt Larson

Buying or selling a home is no easy task, and when it comes to the paperwork—particularly with title and escrow—there is zero room for error. The mission of First American Title Company of Napa is simple: to be the leading title and real estate settlement service provider in the Napa area and throughout the State of California.

After 55 years of trusted service in Napa, they’ve certainly accomplished their goal. Now, they’re taking things to the next level. Last year, for the first time ever, First American Title Company of Napa opened an office outside of Napa County, and it was a grand success. Located in Benicia and doing business as Cal Land Title, this location is their cornerstone office for venturing beyond Napa County, and into Marin, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino, and wherever else the wind will take them.

Many of their clients have crossover work between Napa and Solano Counties, as well as in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino Counties, and all over. So this addition is a very welcome expansion for their regular clientele. “We’re going to be able to tell those clients, who have become so comfortable using us over the past 5 decades, that we can now help them in all these counties,” said Owner and CEO Jonny Karpuk. “We’d like to carry our reputation and build on it throughout the rest of the North Bay.”

Karpuk’s grandfather was on the ground floor of starting First American Title Company of Napa in the mid 1960s, and became the sole owner a couple decades later. His three daughters assumed ownership of the company and his middle daughter, Andrea, ran it until 2013. That was when Karpuk purchased it from his aunts. His ownership began effective January 1, 2014.

“We’ve been tremendously successful over the past four years,” he said. “We’ve seen our market share increase by orders of magnitude: from just over 40% in 2014 to 47/48% last year in Napa County.” And now that they’ve started Cal Land Title in Benicia, exponential growth is on the horizon. Karpuk is very proud of what their Benicia location has accomplished in their first year. “Christina, Tessie, Tricia, and Dayana are all first rate, and incredible teammates,” he said. “We’re lucky to have them as a part of our family.”

For some specifics on their reputation, Karpuk said, “We are regarded as the preeminent title insurance company in Napa County, and our market share speaks to that.” He explains how your average title company is often part of a big box corporate conglomerate, so it’s nice to be able to have easy access to whomever you need to talk to if something comes up. “They’ve got direct access to me,” he said. “We have the ability to make decisions, and to help people right here on the grounds. We don’t have to go down to Santa Ana or off to Sacramento; if they come up, we can resolve title issues right here, directly.”

Being locally owned is a huge part of the culture at both First American Title Company of Napa and Cal Land Title. Not only is it good for the client to have 55 years of local expertise, but the community as a whole benefits as well, as unlike some of those larger conglomerates that offshore many of their jobs, Karpuk makes sure to keep everything close to home. “As a locally owned, family business, we’re employing people who are also part of our local community,” he said. They currently have about 40 employees, who each support at least one to two family members of their own. “So, probably more than 100 people are dependent on this company for the income it provides to their families. That’s a significant contribution that we’re making to the community in terms of employment.”

Closing people’s transactions via title and escrow services are what First American Title Company of Napa and Cal Land Title are most often asked to do, but Karpuk and his team look at it a little differently. “We like to say that we’re providing peace of mind,” he explained. “Homes are the largest investment most people will have in their lives. You want to know that your money’s in good hands, and you want the peace of mind that it’s being handled well.” First American Title Company of Napa has the proven track record to keep your mind at ease throughout the entire closing transaction process, and that extends directly to Cal Land Title as well.

A key element to the success of First American Title Company of Napa over the years has been the positive culture of their company as a whole. “I feel, personally, like my job is to keep us committed to being the best place to work,” said Karpuk. “Being a family-owned business, we really try to connect with our staff, and welcome their families into our company … title and escrow is really hard work and a lot of our staff has to spend big chunks of time committed to their desk, so we are incredibly grateful to the families of our staff that support them and help them to be successful.”

At this writing, Karpuk was looking forward to a companywide town hall meeting where all the staff gets together to just hang out with pizza and beer. Always looking for ways to bring the employees together, First American Title Company of Napa recently helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity in February of this year. “It was an awesome family/team experience,” said Karpuk. “Sometimes there are people you work with, but they’re at a totally opposite end of the assembly line, so it gave us an opportunity to collaborate and work together in new ways.”

They’re also big financial supporters of Napa’s Salvation Army, as well as a nonprofit called Warrior Rising, which is not a local nonprofit, but they are active locally. “Their mission is to help veteran-owned small businesses through membership, partnership, and funding,” said Karpuk. “I’m a big believer in that cause.” Karpuk, a married father of five, is a decorated Army veteran. He served in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan, received two bronze stars for service in combat, and is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. And his grandfather, who helped start the company, served in World War II with the Navy, so First American Title Company of Napa and Cal Land Title are locally owned, family owned, and veteran owned as well.

Realtors, consumers, and lenders alike have all relied on First American Title Company of Napa for all their title and escrow needs. With offices in St. Helena, three locations in Napa, and now in Benicia as Cal Land Title, call their Solano office today at (707) 361-5760 or visit Cal-Land.com. “We’re the most trusted provider,” said Karpuk. “At the end of the day, when you’re talking about something as significant as a real estate purchase—you want to be dealing with the most trusted provider.”

Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!

Keep up with all things Larson at www.MarsLegstrong.com.”

Affordable Affluent Women’s Attire

Sparkly Ragz is a luxury consignment and artisan boutique with an eclectic twist

By Matt Larson

Whatever comes to mind when you think of a consignment shop, nothing can prepare you for the pleasant surprises you’ll encounter when visiting Sparkly Ragz in Suisun City. They specialize in luxury consignment, are extremely selective on what they bring in, and because of their high turnover rate and 60-day product expiration, the store is constantly evolving.

“If you pop in once a month, once every two weeks, even once a week, it’ll look different to you,” said Co-Owner and Store Manager Salina Conse. “Anything that we take into the store has to be cute and current,” she said. “It needs to be in good condition and purchased within the last three years.”

Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Valentino, Christian Dior, Burberry—if those brands have always been on your bucket list but just out of reach of your wallet, you may very well find that deal of a lifetime when visiting Sparkly Ragz. Every Tuesday night they take in new consigners from 5-8 p.m. “I’m very selective,” said Conse. “We’re only 500 square feet, so anything I take is what I see being the trend and what works for my clientele.” Please note, Sparkly Ragz does not do vintage, and it is not a thrift store.

Chances are pretty good that Sparkly Ragz will carry something you like and, more importantly, something that fits. “Really anyone can shop with us,” said Conse, who’s helped customers from as young as six, to as wise as 98 years old. “We carry sizes extra small up to 3x; prices start at $6 and can go up to the hundreds and thousands.” She’s done her research with other consignment stores in the bay, so she’s confident that when you make a purchase at Sparkly Rags, you’re getting a very fair price. “I do have to say, we have the best prices in the Bay Area.” Even if you find something you love but it’s still a bit too expensive, check their website to read about their layaway options.

Sparkly Ragz is the kind of place where being a regular customer truly has its benefits. Conse will gladly cater as best she can to specific requests, and she will also try and source a certain product for her regular customers by reaching out to her consignment base. She has a comprehensive customer list and can keep specific notes for each of them.

“Let’s say I get a Louis Vuitton bag,” she explained. “All I have to do is go to my customer list, type in Louis Vuitton, and there’ll be a list of 40-100 ladies looking for Louis Vuitton.” If the bag happens to be the specific style that a customer was looking for, then they’ll get a phone call right away. “One of the Louis Vuitton bags I had in the store sold, literally, within one minute,” she said. “I had a Chanel bag at the beginning of this month, brand new with tags, and couldn’t even get it out on the floor before it was gone. It is very good to be a regular with me!”

Certain shoppers won’t buy a thing unless Conse picks it out for them, and she does a lot of personal shopping for her clients as well. Sometimes, if she gets a new item that she knows would be perfect for a particular customer, she’ll give them a call for first dibs before she even puts it on the shelf.

A great way to get involved with the Sparkly Ragz community is to follow them on Facebook. They also have a Facebook group (search “Sparkly Ragz VIP Group”) which you should join right away. “I do live videos on there, I show all the inventory, new arrivals, do special sales, and you can make purchases right then and there!” said Conse. They also ship nationally, with regular customers on the East coast and the Midwest, so if you want to share this awesome place with your distant friends and family, you can!

On the second Thursday of every month, from 6-9 p.m., Sparkly Ragz invites you to their Girls’ Night Out event where the entire store is on sale. They’ll also serve champagne, feature small bites from a local restaurant, do a raffle, and just have a great time. They can also take that whole event to you; “We’ll bring it to your home!” said Conse. “If you want to have a small gathering of girls (anywhere from three to nine guests) we can bring a small selection from the store to your home and do a home party that way.” For more details on that please refer to their website.

In addition to carrying women’s clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, Sparkly Ragz partners with more than 65 local artisans throughout the Bay Area—mostly from Suisun City, Fairfield, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Vacaville, and Benicia. They provide handmade jewelry, soy candles, bath products, gift cards and more. “So on top of partnership with the community, helping them clean out their closets, local artisans can also consign with the store,” said Conse. They don’t buyout anything, it’s all consigned. So shopping at Sparkly Ragz is truly shopping local; in fact, it’s next-level local, as you’re supporting a pretty vast community of local artisans and consignors all at once. Also, it’s a family-owned business, as the other co-owner is Salina’s mother, and best friend, Holly.

If the store is open, Salina will be there, as she’s really the only employee. With that being the case, she emphasizes “ish” hours, as sometimes the store will open 15 minutes late, or will close 15 minutes early, because life. If you’re running late and want to catch them before they close, you might want to give them a call first. In most cases they’ll even stay open a little later just for you! Located in Suisun Harbor Square at 700 Main St., Suite 114 in Suisun City, they’re open Tuesdays from 11ish to 8ish, Wed-Fri from 11ish-5ish, Saturdays from noonish to 4ish, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Visit their website at sparklyragz.com, call them at (707) 426-4303, follow them on Instagram and Pinterest, and don’t forget to join their Facebook group! They’re the only “Sparkly Ragz” in the world, so they should be easy to find.

Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!

Keep up with all things Larson at www.MarsLegstrong.com.”

Repairing you

Plastic Surgery is more than cosmetic

By Nate Gartrell

Imagine how it would feel to go through the unbelievable trauma of being shot in the head, miraculously surviving, then looking into the mirror and seeing a face you don’t fully recognize. That’s what happened to one local man last year, who sought out local plastic surgeon Barbara Persons, MD FACS with the seemingly impossible task of repairing severe damage to his face and skull.

However, in the ensuing weeks, Dr. Persons, of Persons Plastic Surgery in Lafayette, helped the man through a transformation that those who witnessed it say rendered the scar invisible. “With Dr. Persons’ amazing care, attention to detail, and truly remarkable skills as a surgeon, the patient no longer has to look in the mirror and see the constant reminder of the violence he encountered,” Trisha Camero said, a spokeswoman for the private practice. “His friends even said they cannot believe he had a gunshot wound to the face!”

Dr. Persons truly understands the gravity of such a scenario, as she’s been through something similar herself, and it’s what inspired the reconstructive and cosmetic surgery business. It happened in December 1992, when Dr. Persons was in medical school. She was driving to meet friends for a ski trip, a celebratory trip as they’d recently finished a semester, when a semi-truck plowed into her car. It was a horrible crash, and she was seriously injured. She ended up needing 14 reconstructive surgeries to fully recover. “Dr. Persons saw firsthand the transformative ability a plastic surgeon had … That’s what started it all,” Trisha said. “After that, she wanted to dedicate her life to making sure everyone feels like themselves again. It’s her passion.”

After completing medical school and serving two years on the US Public Health Service Corps—where she helped provide healthcare services on a Navajo reservation that was mostly without electricity and water—Dr. Persons decided to pursue the same field that had helped restore her life to normalcy after a tragedy. “My mom’s a nurse, and I’ve known a lot of doctors. [Persons] is the most caring doctor I’ve ever encountered, and she’s got an amazing team behind her,” Trisha said. “She really stands out from the rest; she loves to teach others, she’s really compassionate, and she has a kind heart.”

Nowadays, Persons heads her own practice in Lafayette, the city where she grew up and went to school. Over the past 20 years, she has provided care for thousands over and made a name for herself. Her practice specializes in facelifts, necklifts, tummy tucks, breast augmentations, scar revisions, so-called “mommy makeovers,” as well as non-surgical procedures like botox, laser hair removal, vein treatment, and dermal fillers. “We have so much to offer, and it’s really organized; we offer different procedures on different days,” Trisha said.

Dr. Persons and her staff make sure to keep up with the latest technological advancements, which constantly change, so the best bet is to check the practice’s website for a full list of services. “She really gets excited about new technology, whether it makes the patient more comfortable, or helps perform the procedure better or more efficiently, she’s on top of it,” Trisha said.

This year, like last year, Persons Plastic Surgery won a Local Happenings Local’s Choice Award in the healthcare category for Contra Costa County. The awards are decided by our readers voting for their favorites, and Persons has won several times, a sign of the practice’s sterling reputation among those familiar with it. “We would like to sincerely thank our 6,000+ patients in the Bay Area for their continued support, encouragement, and loyalty,” Dr. Persons said in response to the latest award. “Our patients are all amazing people with amazing hearts and have shown unbelievable gratitude to our staff over the years.”

During the holiday season, Persons Plastic Surgery celebrated with a party and by temporarily knocking down its prices, significantly. If you missed that sale don’t worry, the practice offers seasonal discounts throughout the year and they already have something for spring in the works. Persons Plastic Surgery also offer patients interest-free payment plans for those who can’t pay everything upfront. “You should see how much people love and appreciate her, not just as a doctor, but as a person as well,” Trisha said. “She has been doing this for over 20 years, and she still gets really excited about everything she does. It’s amazing to see.”

Persons Plastic Surgery is open five days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 911 Moraga Road #205 in Lafayette. For additional information, like a full list of services or to schedule a consultation, visit www.personsplasticsurgery.com, email info@personsplasticsurgery.com, or call (925) 283-8811.

Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track. 

Boutique Classique

Not Your Ordinary Vintage Shop

By James Quinn

It is no secret that vintage is definitely “in” on the mainstream platform. Rather than ever going out of style, vintage is retro while accentuating our features in the best affordable way. Because trends fashionably come back, vintage will always be popular—it is a timeless means of expression.

Since one of my primary goals is to get to know my community better as a teacher and writer, I recently did that by learning about a modern vintage clothing store that is like no other—another hidden gem!

I am talking about Boutique Classique, located in historic downtown Vallejo at 1711 Sonoma Blvd. For all the lady readers out there, you are in luck because this place specializes in high-quality, modern vintage women’s clothing. Men, this could be a place to get some great Christmas presents.

Established in August of 2015, Boutique Classique sells modern vintage clothing and accessories; that is, everything is new as vintage-inspired reproductions from designer lines. Some that they offer include: Bettie Page (40’s pin-ups), Leg Avenue, Lindy Bop (their new line from the UK), Lux De Ville (pocketbooks), Rago Shapewear, Steady Clothing, Stop Staring, Tarina Tarantino, Unique Vintage, and Voodoo Vixen. Their website describes, “We offer new vintage clothing such as pin-up dresses, retro-styled swimsuits, cocktail dresses, shapewear and lingerie [sizes 2 to 26] inspired by the 1920s, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s,” Boutique Classic’s website reads.

For accessories, they have necklaces and bracelets, though some of their most interesting accessories are their broaches. “Some of my broaches are limited edition; so there’re only a thousand of them made. They are hand-assembled and painted in Melbourne, Australia. It’s a huge genre in the pin-up industry right now,” said Serenity Holzman, the business owner of Boutique Classique. “I like being able to give my customers something that is unique and fun.”

Because its clothing is all new reproductions, this shop is unique in that there is not one in our area—certainly not where I live in Benicia—not even in a city as great as San Francisco. “For a shop like this, with as many brands as we have and the versatility that we have, there is nothing like this within at least a 50-mile radius,” Holzman said. While vintage shops are all over the Bay Area, Boutique Classique stands out because of their wide selection of constantly changing stock with the said brands, affordability (e.g. they always have a discount rack), and flexible and comfortable clothing in a large range of sizes. Holzman knows her merchandise because she gives it a trial run by dressing the part. When we met at the shop, she had on a green dress with an Alice in Wonderland-themed print that I also saw on the rack. What is more, Boutique Classique emphasizes that its clothes will last if they are taken care of, whereas clothes from a typical, authentic vintage clothing shop could have damage and/or will usually not last long if regularly washed.

When deciding where to set up a shop, Holzman and her husband, Jean-Joel Lawrence-Holzman, chose Vallejo as their mainstay. “Vallejo is such a creative community in general, and it has so many different dimensions to the creativity: we have a Burning Man community, a Renaissance community, and a steampunk community,” Holzman said. “I think we fit right in because we are different. ” For those who do not know, Vallejo is nationally the most diverse region when coupled with the City of Fairfield (2010 US Census), and it is truly historic (e.g. served as the state capital twice). Like the city, Boutique Classique is not only nostalgic of rich U.S. history, but it is also diverse in representing some of the most stylish decades. So Boutique Classique more than fits in with Vallejo.

Vallejo has improved since 2008’s financial crisis, and businesses like Boutique Classique are just what it needs. Boutique Classique helps bring the community closer together by being a part of it themselves. “We are really active in the Chamber of Commerce. Every time new people come into our community, I instantly hand them the downtown directory,” Holzman said. “Which we help put together,” Lawrence-Holzman added.

The two clearly care about Vallejo, helping to promote it and downtown. “We helped establish the Downtown Merchant’s Committee [Facebook @vallejodmc],” Lawrence-Holzman said. “So that’s really important. We try to put on events with all the retailers participating for Halloween and Christmas. We had a summer’s sweeps where people could enter raffles to win prizes—we want people to realize that something is happening here downtown.”

To make more space for a community spot and their creativity, Serenity Holzman and her husband plan to move to a bigger place for the boutique, while still staying downtown. Of course, not only would a bigger boutique allow for more merchandise on display, but it would also allow for bigger community events and more. Holzman said, “We want it to be a community area where we can have events like paint and wine nights, hair and makeup classes, and community things that are necessary.” They also plan to have a section for men.

Visit Boutique Classique at 1711 Sonoma Boulevard, Vallejo. It is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; however, they are available by appointments that you can book by calling (510) 978-2599 or through their website. For additional information, visit their website at www.boutiqueclassique.net. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @BoutiqueClassique to keep up with latest vintage trends. Jean-Joel Lawrence-Holzman took all pictures used in this article.

James Quinn lives in Benicia and teaches at Elmer Cave Language Academy in Vallejo. A UC Davis alumnus in English, he now studies education as part of Touro University’s Master’s in Education program. Along with teaching, he tutors and writes often. He is working on a novel that takes place in Benicia. See his website at mrquinnj.weebly.com.

Serenity Lawrence Studios

Hollywood Photographer in Vallejo

By James Quinn

Did you know that there is a professional photography studio in Vallejo? Tucked in Vallejo’s Glen Cove, Serenity Lawrence Studios, LLC is a hidden gem that I certainly had no idea about until I recently learned about it from its owner, Jean-Joel Lawrence-Holzman and his wife, Serenity Holzman.

After Lawrence-Holzman showed me samples of his beautiful, high-quality work, and learning that it is affordable, I clearly see that Serenity Lawrence Studios is definitely the place to go for any professional photographs. Lawrence-Holzman and Serenity Holzman can make women look like pin-up models from a completely different decade! Their website sums it up nicely: “Serenity Lawrence Studios transforms everyday women into gorgeous pin-ups!” While the photo studio specializes in glamour and pin-up photography, they also do a myriad of different photographs: family portraits, special holiday shoots like for Halloween and Christmas, couple’s shoots, headshots, and so forth.

Lawrence-Holzman has quite the resume, having been in the industry for more than 40 years, “working with both Hollywood celebrities and beautiful women,” his website says. Lawrence-Holzman was a celebrity still photographer for 13 years, which is where he received most of his training. Not only that, but Lawrence-Holzman is well traveled and helped produce documentaries on extinct species of primates—and that is just some of the amazing experience Lawrence-Holzman has.

As such, I just had to know how he and his wife chose Vallejo to bring their expertise and business. “Why did we pick Vallejo? We picked Vallejo because we like Vallejo; we wouldn’t have bought a house here to start with if we didn’t have a feeling for the city,” Lawrence-Holzman said. “The photo studio could’ve been anywhere, but we’ve lived in Vallejo.”

Between Lawrence-Holzman’s photo studio and his wife’s boutique (Boutique Classique in downtown Vallejo), the couple help keep Vallejo’s business community strong by not being a part of a corporate chain, and by working with other local businesses and Vallejo’s Downtown Merchants Committee (i.e., they are both a part of it). You can read more about that in the Boutique Classique article!

What is more, Serenity Lawrence Studios and Boutique Classique complement each other well: the photography studio does the glamour and pin-up photography (e.g. themed photography from the 1920s through the 50’s), while the boutique sells the women’s modern vintage clothing to go with it. Lawrence-Holzman opened his studio up in Glen Cove in 2012 whereas Boutique Classique recently opened in downtown Vallejo in 2015. “Once we got the photo studio and started to shoot this stuff, we wanted to have more wardrobe available to us,” Lawrence-Holzman said. “And we figured we would be able to accommodate that by opening a women’s clothing boutique, so that if we wanted to do a photoshoot—they needed clothing or vice-versa—they would have it. It’s all tied together.”

In addition to glamour and pin-up photography, the studio includes other services. Their website elaborates, “Our other services include studio and darkroom rental, styling assistant and photographic printing on site, wardrobe and makeup room, as well as a wide variety of props/furniture for rental and use.”

Holzman has amazing sets. You can see some samples shown in the high-quality photographs used in this article, as they are all samples of his work. Although they can slightly change their sets, even doing custom sets for the right price, Lawrence-Holzman told me that they use established sets that they usually keep for a while. They currently have a really fancy chaise lounge boudoir set, which you can see some of it in the photograph with the long couch.

Within their sets, the studio provides many props. Some of these props are authentic artifacts (antiques of things you would find at an old military hospital). All of this really helps add to the environment—ultimately bringing the picture to life to make you feel like you are looking at something from that decade.

Most of Serenity Lawrence Studios’ business comes from recommendations. Since it is not in a central location like downtown, the studio does not get foot traffic. “I am not in a commercial area; I’m down in the Glen Cove Marina,” Lawrence-Holzman said. “So it’s been a little tough that way. It’s quiet and peaceful down there, but it’s not where people can see it.” Boutique Classique, however, is downtown and helps the studio by informing people of it, as the two businesses work in tandem. Both Serenity Lawrence Studios and Boutique Classique plan to eventually move into a bigger building that will better combine the two businesses in Downtown Vallejo. Lawrence-Holzman said, “That way if someone just comes in and wants to buy a dress and do a shooting, they could do everything at once.”

Serenity Lawrence Studios is located at 150 Glen Cove Marina Rd #100. Just before you get to the Glen Cove Marina, go down Glen Cove Parkway and to the left is Glen Cove Marina Rd.

Basic photo shoots start at $150 with high-resolution images on a personalized CD. For additional information (pricing, sets, appointments, etc.) and booking, visit www.serenitylawrencestudios.com, or call (510) 978-2831. Follow the studio on Facebook @SerenityLawrenceStudiosLLC. Jean-Joel Lawrence-Holzman took all pictures used in this article.

James Quinn lives in Benicia and teaches at Elmer Cave Language Academy in Vallejo. A UC Davis alumnus in English, he now studies education as part of Touro University’s Master’s in Education program. Along with teaching, he tutors and writes often. He is working on a novel that takes place in Benicia. See his website at mrquinnj.weebly.com.