Hector Marroquin

Walk into the St. Helena Public Library this month, look into the glass case and seven faces look back at you. One of those men founded Yountville. One built Chateau Montelena. One sold hammers and nails on Main Street for half a century. One wore a police chief's badge. One survived an American internment camp and came home to lead his neighbors anyway. What they had in common, besides St. Helena, was a fraternal lodge.

On Feb. 10, the St. Helena City Council made a decision that deserves recognition. The 3-1 vote approving the Spring Grove project was the right move for our city and it deserves to be said plainly. Let’s be honest, Spring Grove isn’t perfect. No project ever is. It is not the full solution or the end of the conversation either because we need housing inventory. However, in a high-fire-severity area, residents are right to be sensitive to evacuation realities and emergency access.

Dear Citizens of St. Helena, As the sun sets on this election season, heartfelt gratitude goes out to every resident who cast a vote in my favor for City Council and embraced the vision of unity for our city's future. Those who sent text messages, emails, phone calls and even stopped me in the street to express your support, touched me deeply. When I started this campaign, I promised myself that it would be one of positivity, hope and character.