Political upheaval in local schools, several tragic deaths and a popular new social event rank among the top 10 news stories of 2009, as voted upon by the Star staff.

1. School trustees face recall

St. Helena schools have seen their share of controversy, but never anything like this.

Long-standing philosophical disagreements exploded into all-out war this year when Superintendent Allan Gordon retired and the St. Helena School Board quickly picked his heir apparent, Robert Haley, to replace him.

Parents who had pushed for an open search for other candidates soon seized upon the generous retirement packages awarded to Gordon and former high school Principal Jim Zoll.

Subsequent investigations by the Napa County district attorney’s office and the California Fair Political Practices Commission dismissed allegations of wrongdoing by the school board and top administrators. But that didn’t stop concerned parents from mounting a recall campaign.

Some observers predicted it would fail, but recall supporters surprised everyone by gathering more than 2,000 signatures against each of the four school boardmembers, more than enough to put the recall on the Feb. 23 ballot.

With Jeff Conwell, Jeanne DeVincenzi, Jeannie Kerr and Sean Maher trying to unseat the current boardmembers, it’s likely that, whether it succeeds or not, the recall campaign will be one of the biggest news stories of 2010 as well.

2. Jacobson family dies in plane crash

In a year of untimely deaths, the loss of the Jacobson family in March was almost too tragic to be described in words.

All five members of the Jacobson family of St. Helena — Erin Jacobson, a well-liked ophthalmologist, his wife Amy, and their three children Taylor, 4; Ava, 3; and Jude, 2 — died in a Montana plane crash that also claimed the lives of nine other people.

Numerous friends recalled the Jacobsons, who were headed for a ski trip when their plane crashed, as an outgoing, fun-loving family who craved outdoor adventure.

3. Cheers! takes St. Helena by storm

Thanks to a guy named Todd White, “Cheers!” is no longer just something St. Helenans say when they clink their wine glasses together.

When White introduced his idea of hosting monthly Cheers! St. Helena social events downtown, there were plenty of questions, not the least of which were “Will anybody come?” and “Who’s Todd White?”

But the enterprising wine merchant with the Southern accent proved the naysayers wrong as Cheers! drew thousands of locals and visitors downtown to sip, socialize and shop at a time when local businesses badly needed a shot in the arm.

4. City builds flood project

Persistence pays off.

Just ask the city officials and residents of Vineyard Valley Mobile Home Park who endured years of lawsuits and financial disappointments before finally getting the first phase of St. Helena’s $30 million flood project in the ground this year.

The project still has its detractors, including slow-growth advocates who wonder what will happen with a large vacant tract behind the new levee. But it’s a safe bet that residents of Vineyard Valley and Hunt’s Grove Apartments can now sleep a little easier on rainy nights.

5. Three more untimely deaths

On top of the Jacobson family, St. Helena lost an avuncular art gallery owner, a beloved cop-turned-deacon and a sports-loving auto dealer.

Ira Wolk, owner of I. Wolk Gallery, died July 29 of injuries sustained in a solo bicycle crash three weeks earlier. Bob Little, a deacon at St. Helena Catholic Church, died Aug. 23 in a motorcycle crash in Humboldt County. Zumwalt, who ran Zumwalt Ford, died Oct. 2 after battling lung and liver cancer.

6. Changes at St. Helena Hospital

It was a big year for St. Helena Hospital, which got a new leader and a new cancer center.

In February Terry Newmyer became the hospital’s president and CEO, replacing JoAline Olson. Three months later came the announcement that the hospital was eliminating 40 jobs.

Then in November the hospital unveiled the $16.6 million Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center, the second such facility in the Napa Valley.

7. Mabel Johnson gives hospital $8 million

In a community known for generous donations of money and time, it’s hard to top St. Helena native Mabel Johnson’s $8 million gift to St. Helena Hospital, which was announced in October.

Johnson, a former employee of Pacific Gas and Electric and a longtime hospital volunteer, wasn’t born rich — she and her late husband Wayne came by it the old-fashioned way, through prudent saving and smart investments.

The money is earmarked for medical technology, which Johnson believes is crucial in attracting the best doctors.

8. Haslip resigns from school board

When Jim Haslip was elected to the school board in the 2006 after being highly critical of the board during his campaign, many observers expected him to shake things up.

But there was little drama until May, when Haslip abruptly resigned from the board amidst a bitter controversy over how to replace retiring Superintendent Allan Gordon.

Within weeks Haslip went from being a staunch advocate of hiring Gordon acolyte Robert Haley to walking door-to-door gathering signatures to recall his former colleagues.

Voters elected the pro-recall Kevin Alfaro to fill Haslip’s seat.

9. Recession hits St. Helena

St. Helena was not immune to the global recession, as wine drinkers and tourists all cut back on their Wine Country indulgences.

No large businesses closed outright, but they’re all feeling the pain. That became evident when the city’s sales tax and hotel tax revenues came in well under projections.

Even Auction Napa Valley, the region’s premier fundraiser, raised just under $5.3 million — no small potatoes, but only a fraction of prior years’ proceeds.

10. St. Helena welcomes Wine Train

A former St. Helena resident visiting town after a 10-year absence could be forgiven for suspecting a journalistic prank when glancing at the lead headline of the June 11 Star: “St. Helena allows Wine Train.”

But it was no joke. With a 4-1 vote, the city council put an end to a feud of epic proportions by allowing the Napa Valley Wine Train to stop in town, let off 50 passengers for a few hours, then take them back to Napa during the monthly Cheers! St. Helena events.

With the Wine Train under new leadership that respects the city’s sovereignty, it’s possible that the city’s relationship with the restaurant on wheels could get even cozier in 2010.

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