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Laurie Claudon has joined the Advisory Council of Save Rural Angwin, joining 14 other civic leaders in the task of preserving the rural nature of the Howell Mountain community and the green agricultural land in the heart of Angwin. |
The SRA Advisory Council membership includes Dr. Meade Baldwin, Carl Benson, Jon-Mark Chappelet, Hugh Davies, Guy Kay, Robin Lail, Dick Maher, Mary Novak, Robert Redford, Dario Sattui, John Shafer, Mel Varrelman, and Warren and Barbara Winiarski.
Laurie Claudon came to Napa Valley with her husband, Tom Clark, in 1974 following their Peace Corp assignment in Colombia. After staying home with her two young children, Laurie taught English and administered the counseling department at the Napa Adult High School. She then earned her MA in counseling psychology and launched a psychotherapy practice in St. Helena. Laurie was also the director and facilitator for the Grace Family Vineyards Student Enrichment Program; working with over 300 high school students and their families. In 2000 Laurie retired from her counseling practice to become the general manager of her family's wine business, Clark-Claudon Vineyards. Today, she continues to manage the business while also enjoying her four Napa Valley grandchildren. Laurie and Tom have lived in Angwin since 1980.
The immediate challenge facing the community is a plan by Pacific Union College to build 380 new housing units in Angwin, a project which would increase the number of households in Angwin by 43%. SRA is vigorously opposing the plan because of its urbanizing impact and because many of the units would be on land which has been farmed for 100 years.
SRA is being supported in its goals by the Napa County Farm Bureau and the Sierra Club, as well as more than 1,000 individual supporters.