St. Helena 9th Grader To Receive City's 1st Community In Action Award

ST. HELENA, CA — The City of St. Helena is giving its first Community In Action award Friday to a freshman at St. Helena High School who began her advocacy journey in third grade.

The city planned to present Lucy Janev with the award during a ceremony Friday afternoon on Kearney Street between Madrona Avenue and Andrea Avenue, where, as a third-grader, Lucy requested safer sidewalks in her neighborhood.

Specifically, she sought crosswalks at the intersection of Madrona Avenue and Kearney Street, a route frequented by St. Helena Elementary School students and Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School students.

Lucy’s commitment to this cause has been unwavering. Since she first brought the issue to the St. Helena City Council’s attention, she continued to attend meetings in fourth and fifth grade, passionately voicing her concerns. In sixth grade, she wrote another letter urging further action to enhance pedestrian safety. Her advocacy culminated in the recent installation of new curb ramps with curb extensions —bulb-outs— and an additional crosswalk at the intersection, significantly redesigning it to improve safety for all residents.

These improvements were made possible with Lucy's vision and through a collaboration with the Upper Napa Valley Blue Zones Project. After a pilot project at the intersection in late 2023, city staff designed the curb ramps with curb extensions and presented the plans to the Active Transportation and Safety Committee (ATSC) for consideration and approval. The installation of the new ramps and the additional crosswalk marks a significant enhancement to the intersection, reflecting the city’s commitment to resident safety and responsiveness to community feedback.

The work was completed in coordination with the Kearney and Andrea Watermain Project. This project replaced 2,000 feet of 1940s-era water pipeline and was budgeted at $950,000. Upon completion, the street was repaved, and improvements were made to the sidewalk and intersection to increase safety and comply with ADA requirements.

"Public safety must always be our highest priority, so I am honored to present Lucy with our first 'Community in Action' Certificate in recognition of her outstanding efforts to help make our community safer for pedestrians," St. Helena Mayor Paul Dohring said.

St. Helena City Council Member Anne Chouteau was also impressed by Lucy's efforts.

"Lucy's determination and perseverance are truly inspiring," Chouteau said. "Her efforts, supported by the voices of other concerned parents, have led to tangible changes that benefit our community and demonstrated the profound impact of civic engagement at any age. This collaborative effort is a powerful reminder that every voice can make a difference in shaping our community's future."