Message Forum

Stevie,

Read my most recent post...Sandy Swearingen is fine. Her mobile home was one of the tradgedies of the recent Napa earthquake, it collasped to the ground. They are waiting for the insurance estimate.

Bruce, Here's a place you might try for those women you're looking for. ;) http://www.answers.com/Q/In_the_1500s_who_established_a_colony_in_Brazil

09/01/14 07:49 AM

#575

Happy Birthday Fred,

Now that you are part of the 68 Club, please take it easy on us lower classmen.

One of your many golf partners,

Bob

09/01/14 09:33 AM

#576

Charmy Ann Evans (Sorem)

Happy Birthday, Fred. 68 is not so bad, you get used to it! Your video tribute to Carol is one of the most beautiful I have seen. So sorry for your loss but happy for the love you found, not all are as lucky as we.

09/01/14 01:32 PM

#577

Bob Benning.......how did St. Mary's do during the Earthquake?

09/01/14 09:44 PM

#578

Just bought an Earthquake Relief wine glass, even though, I'm not a huge drinker, at all, but wanted to help in this small way.

The wine glass is HUGE and well done. Adam, the owner, is such a nice man and so helpful with all of this. I talked with him on their Live Chat. I like this business, Say It On Wine. Terrific! :)

09/03/14 11:30 PM

#579

Bill Forsythe

Happy Birthday, Fred Teeters... I hope the dust has settled (sorry) for all of you and your families. My son Barry had some minor damage, but was essentially OK.

It appears to me that humor has been a great stress reliever, and I can feel genuine concern in these messages. It reaffirms my regard for you all.

Be well

Bill

09/04/14 08:10 AM

#580

Good morning Jane,

The exterior of St. Mary's looked good. The retrofit was like putting an entire shell on the outside merged with the existing hollow clay tile walls. If you can imagine a structure built with soda crackers and dropping a brick on it, you would have an idea what could have happened. We could have affected the entire block, including Ray's house across the street.

The main damage is to the brick archway going up to the altar. A crack and some bricks have fallen and an engineer has to come in and determine how much is structural and how much is cosmetic. With the outer shell and the vertical steel beams within the church we feel pretty good about it. No building can be earthquake-proof but we feel the building is a close to earth-quake safe as possible. You have to get something back when you put $800,000 into a retrofit.

I think this may change the direction of this years Candlelight Tour sponsored by Napa Landmarks. It is scheduled in November and is entitled "Victorian Napa". It is intentioned to feature the Gifford mansion, the First Methodist, First Presbyterian, and St. Mary's churches with core pre-1900 material located in the Goodman Library. If you see a common thread it is that at least four of these structures have been "red-tagged."

Stay tuned,

Bob

09/05/14 12:03 AM

#581

Thank you Bob. As I recall that brick arch is quite a feat of engineering in its own right. Did you know the Giffords were my great grandparents? It has been so great to see that grand old lady get refurbished...and she seems to have weathered the quake, as did the yellow Victorian next to Coombs and Dunlap on Division. That was my other set of great grandparents, the Corletts. So sorry to hear that the November tour will have to be revamped, but was probably inevitable after this quake. Nick and I are currently in Vienna, but the quake is still on our minds.

09/05/14 07:02 AM

#582

Jane,

I think we are all proud of any roots we have here in the beautiful Napa Valley. They seem to bring us even closer together. Your story is most interesting.

Say "Hi" to Nick. We miss seeing him on Dry Creek Road in the mornings. He is a real cheer leader among the runners. I can usually hear him about a quarter mile up the road.

Bob

09/05/14 07:29 AM

#583

Bob,

Where are St. Mary's (don't remember that one) and the Methodist Church located?

09/05/14 11:47 AM

#584

Diane,

St. Mary's is located on Third St., one block west of Jefferson. Follow the night search lights to Ray Guadagni's home and it is within a couple of blocks.. Also the Methodist church is down town just a little bit south of First Presbyterian.

09/06/14 06:51 AM

#585

Thanks, Bob, I remember the Methodist Church, but couldn't place it after all these years of being away from Napa. I don't recall St. Mary's, at all and I don't know where Ray's home is located, spotlights or no. :)

09/06/14 10:45 AM

#586

Bruce Erricson

Ladies,

I can't thank you enough for making such sincere efforts to improve my scant love life. Stevie - Merry Widows in Arkansas? Sounds enticing -- did that movie end up the way I think it did? Mike Howard lives in Mena, AK. Maybe I'll send him ahead to scout.

Diane -- loved your contribution to my woeful state; very subtle.

Everyone - have the aftershocks finally ended? I'm guessing yes, as I've heard nothing recently.

09/06/14 01:09 PM

#587

Bob,

Where is Ray's house? I used to live a block and a half from St. Mary's.

09/07/14 11:40 AM

#588

Oh Burt, that is just TERRIBLE about your former neighbor! Geesh.

09/07/14 12:48 PM

#589

Bruce Erricson

Guadagni has a house??

Great/lousy story Burt. Thank goodness I have neither a house nor a bank account. Only my receding hairline...

09/25/14 10:05 PM

#590

Larry Hamilton

Diane:

Yes I do live in the mobile park that Sandy does. Sorry to hear about her loss. We had four fires break out on our block in front of me (two across the street), and one behind me, but my place (only 4 months old) escaped. The firemen made us leave about a half hour after the quake and I got to return a few hours later, convinced mine had been incinerated, but only covered in embers. Very lucky indeed. Just damage to the foundation, which a grant from the city of Napa covered, they also paid to upgrade it to quake resistant standards. Whew! Makes me sad though because my neighbors were wiped out...its just barren across the street from me, where four homes once stood. I understand that it was even worse at Salvadore mobile park.

I should get in touch with Ray. The last time we communicated he said that his damage was substantial.

I taking off for a drive to the east coast saturday. Will be nice to get away from all this.

Take care everyone.

- Larry -

09/25/14 10:07 PM

#591

Larry Hamilton

Happy Birthday Fred!

09/26/14 07:30 AM

#592

Larry,

Glad you are all right. Wow, that must have been terrible to watch your neighbors' homes be on firel It's amazing how devastating this quake was. Good that you are getting away from it, for awhile. Enjoy your vacation.

Sorry to hear about Ray Guidani's home.

Diane

09/27/14 12:51 AM

#593

Sammy Dent

Did the old adobe hut surive with out damage? Its the oldest building in Napa.

09/27/14 06:53 AM

#594

Sammy,

The Old Adobe looked like it was about to fall down before the quake. I don't know if any seimic work had been done on it but one of the news stations had reported that it appeared unharmed. No sure if that is still the current status. Go figure.

Larry, I didn't know you lived in the same park as Sandy. I stop by there from time to time to see the progress on her place.

Bob

09/27/14 10:08 AM

#595

Bruce Erricson

Larry, I'm very glad to hear that you came out OK from the quake. Enjoy your trip.

Bob, your entry sounds like Sandy's place was not a total loss, as originally feared. Can you give me an update on her situation? I haven't heard from her in awhile.

Thanks,

Bruce

09/27/14 12:08 PM

#596