Sun, Great Turnout Shines on Napa County Wellness Fair

An apparent record turnout graced Wednesday's Napa County Wellness Fair.

"We're expecting several hundred people to come through," said organizer Cara Mae McGarry of the event at the county's public health campus off of Old Sonoma Highway.

Hot sunny weather brought crowds to see exhibits from some 62 partner agencies and groups, said McGarry, a health education specialist for Napa County.

"We want to encourage people to incorporate activity into their lives," she added. "We want to show it can be fun to do."

Activities Wednesday included multiple Zumba dance sessions, music by the Yountville Veterans Home Jazz Combo, CPR demos, a raffle and tours of the various exhibits.

"I just wanted to come to make people miserable," said Violet the Clown, of course meaning the opposite. Violet, who calls herself "Napa's Official Hug Therapist," worked the crowd.

"I had no idea there would be so many people," said Darcy Aston, outreach coordinator for the Napa Sanitation District. After a chilly morning, the weather climbed to the mid- to high 70s by the afternoon.

Robert Jacobson, executive director of the Temecula-based California Council on Problem Gambling, said he flew up Wednesday morning from San Diego and was kicking himself for not bringing a jacket in the cold morning arrival at Oakland Airport.

"I thought I was going to have to buy a jacket," said Jacobson, who was wearing a short sleeve polo shirt."But by the time I got here, I didn't need one."

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