The Sierra Club Napa Group was a sponsor of the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation’s (ACCPF) annual “Evening at the Ruins,” a fundraising to support the new Napa River Ecology Center and ACCPF’s year-round environmental education programs.
The event is held annually at an abandoned cement factory that is now noted for its graffiti art that covers virtually every wall of the buildings.
Those attending enjoyed live music, including the local American Canyon Choir, dancing, acrobats and a catered dinner with wine. One of the highlights of the evening was the annual “Dessert Dash” in which individual tables collectively bid on an array of amazing desserts. The Sierra Club was the highest bidder and thus won first choice of any of the desserts and selected a homemade triple-decker chocolate mousse cup for each person.
“Both Joelle Gallagher and her friend Jennifer Palmer, oversaw choosing the best, richest, and yummiest dessert on hand. They did not disappoint. Yum, yum yum!” recounted Cheranich
Each year the event, which seats approximately 350, sells out within several hours after tickets go on sale months in advance. In addition to the Sierra Club, others attending included Napa County Board of Supervisor Belia Ramos, American Canyon Mayor Pierre Washington, Vice Mayor Mark Joseph, AC City Council members David Oro, Brando Cruz and Melissa Lammantina.
One of the keynote speakers was Congressman Mike Thompson who has championed the Ecology Center in Washington during his time in office. Thompson has already procured nearly $1 million in federal funding and had also gotten another $1.5 million before the Trump administration eliminated that figure shortly after taking office.
The Napa Group has worked closely with ACCPF each of the past three years, through the Rohloff Bequeathment earmarked for Sea Level Rise educational activities involving the Bay, Loma Prieta and Redwood Chapters.
Spearheaded initially by Ms. Benz and Janelle Sellick, Executive Director of ACCPF, the Napa Group has delivered educational curriculum to various American Canyon public school students focusing on the need to protect and restore the wetlands of American Canyon.
It was incredible to be at a gala event packed with elected officials and people dressed to the nines, treated to an elegant meal in a breathtaking venue, all to support an Ecology Center on the Napa River,” remarked Ms. Bales. It was very moving to hear the young interns who spoke about their experiences doing fish monitoring and stream surveys, and to realize all of this effort was motivated by the community’s deep love for Nature,” she added.
“Colorful lights, a glass of bubbly and volunteers welcomed us to this yearly event,” said Mr. Raven. “Music came from a duo who played boomer rock (my favorite), while trapeze artists twirled and local politicians and environmentalists made small talk and gave heartfelt speeches,” he continued.