Dog owners of Napa have been coming to Pet Cuts in order to keep their pets clean and glamorous since 1995.
Experience and training are what sets this business apart from other shops in the area. “I have a degree as a veterinary animal technician,” says Annie Moore, owner and groomer of Pet Cuts. “So I am able to notice when a dog might have an ear or skin infection and let the owner know that they should take their pet to the vet.”
Moore also runs her shop differently than other places. “We schedule our appointments like a beauty salon. Our customers don’t have to wait here all day to get taken care of.” Pet Cuts is a full-service grooming salon. All dogs get bathed with hypoallergenic shampoo mixed with oatmeal-infused products. “Dogs like coming here. I think it shows, and their owners can see it.”
1119 Lincoln Ave., Napa, CA 94558 • (707) 258-1164 • www.napapetcuts.com
Nitro Dog is a “fun to functional” dog and cat boutique in Lafayette that carries well-researched, quality items for your dog, cat, home or person. They strive to offer an ever-changing, wide selection of pet products that range from whimsical to practical, while being pet health conscious and fairly priced. Nitro Dog also carries original art, photography and local crafts. Nitro Dog also sells items on line at Nitrodog.com and, if you don’t see an item listed, just email them and ask! They will do their best to help.
Len and Leslie Ofiana opened Nitro Dog in 2000, along with their dogs Casey, Luna and Tulip (who love being personal product testers). They are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative products that will work best with your needs. Len and Leslie are also keen to work with non-profit, pet-related organizations so that they can give back to their community. With knowledgeable and focused customer service to assist you in your purchases, coupled with a wide selection of high quality products and the warm, inviting atmosphere of the store, Nitro Dog works hard to assure you a pleasurable shopping experience.
61 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, CA 94549 • (925) 962-2275 • www.nitrodog.com
I always think of that Johnny Cash song when I get my shoes shined. Rufus Singleton always epitomized that song – he always had a smile on his face and a happy story to tell. Rufus retired about six years ago from being a longshoreman in San Francisco over the previous 34 years and had begun shining shoes to keep busy and get out of the house. Rufus is a native of east Texas who had moved first to Los Angeles in 1943, to the SF Bay area in 1956 and finally to Vallejo in 1989. Rufus really took care of his guests and made them feel special, and he was always on the lookout for a pair of shoes to shine (since there are so few left that need shining). Sadly, 6 months ago he had to hang up his shoeshine rag as he has both glaucoma and cataracts in both eyes and, since he is now 85, he felt it was time to focus on his health. He will be missed and we all will have to be on the lookout for a good shoe shine guy (or gal) to keep our shoes shiny!
7 Flags Car wash in Vallejo was his former location
Poised a few miles from Downtown Napa, the Spa at the Napa Valley Marriott is certainly located in the perfect place to get one’s body and mind prepared for all that wine country has to offer. The Spa has a wide selection of specialty treatments available, as well as a professional and friendly staff to cater to their guests’ every whim. “We are a full-service facility, so guests can make the spa their whole day,” says Bruce Taylor, Spa Director. “We have a lot of experience. Our therapists get treated well and receive special training from us.”
Guests can also feel comfortable knowing that their money will be spent wisely, no matter what options they choose. “If you look at everything we offer, we have the best value in the county, by far.” The Napa experience is one of the main draws to visitors and residents alike, and the Spa utilizes the yield of the surrounding area to pamper guests. “We use products that are indigenous to Napa. We use a lot of grape seed products. Guests from out of town, and Napa residents as well, want to experience those local products while they are here.”
3425 Solano Ave., Napa, CA 94558 • (707) 253-8600 • www.napavalleymarriott.com
Pinkies believes in using only the highest quality products to ensure that your service will last. We know that the highlight of a manicure or pedicure is the massage and, for this reason, we use two superbly formulated private label lotions.
Their professional staff is there to insure that your experience is rivaled by none. Pinkies only hires highly trained, state-licensed technicians to perform all services. Nail technicians receive additional training in “Pinkies Technique” so that you will always receive quality, consistent service with each visit.
Their goal is to give each of their guests an unforgettable and extraordinary experience. Pinkies also has locations in Danville, San Ramon, Los Altos, Burlingame and San Francisco.
P3333 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA 94549 • (925) 299-1229 • www.pinkiesnailsalons.com
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Pat Wells came to Napa in 1984 and established her own, quite successful, construction company. In 1989 she became a foster parent for special needs children and she eventually adopted two of them. When she retired in 2006 she still needed something to do so she branched out to help supervise visits with parents who have children in foster care.
Pat then started volunteering with “The Table,” an organization focused on feeding the homeless in the Napa area. She also started volunteering as a Housing Counselor and Case Manager for Community Action Napa Valley. There she works to help the homeless find housing and gathers donations of furniture and house wares for them.
Her work with children led her to become chairperson for the Juvenile Justice Commission in Napa County. They inspect, provide oversight and review complaints about Juvenile Hall in Napa County and then report back to the judges.
She also has her own project where she provides a complete makeover for one select homeless woman each year. She solicits donations throughout the year for such things as manicures, haircuts, clothing, etc., as she seeks out that special person to help.
Finally, during the holiday season, she organizes a secret Santa gift giving project for needy families in the community.
Pat works every day to help her adopted community and we thank her for all that she has done, and is still doing, to help others.
Every once in a while, a special person comes along to show us what can be done in the world. Budd Mackenzie is one of those rare individuals. He has taken on many roles in his city of Lafayette including President of the Little League, Chamber of Commerce President (chair for the committee to add police) and he was named “Citizen of the Year” for his work.
Budd has taken on tasks that stretch well beyond the borders of Lafayette as well. In 2003, when we stood on the brink of war in the Middle East, Budd expressed his concern for what that would mean to the people there. He also discovered Greg Mortenson, who was working in the Middle East building schools to replace those ravaged by previous wars, and to also give girls an opportunity to attend.
Budd contacted Greg and told him that Lafayette, California would help. The village of Lalander (just south of Kabul) was identified and the rest is history. Budd began Change for Change, which got the children involved in helping. He brought Greg here to speak, and Trust in Education was launched. Budd then traveled to Afghanistan and, once there, a Pandora’s Box of new needs was realized. Budd quickly went to work on helping with those as well. He continues to travel to Afghanistan and help to find long-term solutions to their challenges. Budd is an example to all of us of how one person can change the world.
Family Service of Napa Valley provides professional and affordable mental health services to people of all ages who reside in Napa County. Their counseling services are offered in both English and Spanish to individuals and families, most of which are low-income and uninsured, or underinsured.
They also provide services tailored to meet the needs of older adults, as well as residential treatment to adults with mental disabilities through their supportive housing programs. They are one of the oldest non-profits in Napa Valley, dating back to 1948. They currently provide support to over 500 people per year who would otherwise go without much needed help.
709 Franklin St., Napa, CA 94559 • (707) 255-0966 • www.familyservicenapa.org
