Dear Nicholas,
Happy Thanksgiving!News from the Chair
by Nick Cheranich  Our “Meet and Greet” Event
On November 14, we held another Meet and Greet Outreach Event—our biggest yet. About 65 people joined us, including members from across the Redwood Chapter, with some traveling all the way from Willits. There was a definite positive energy in the room: people asking great questions, sharing ideas, laughing together, and walking away with concrete ways to defend and care for the environment of Napa County and beyond. Good music, good wine, good food, and good company certainly didn’t hurt. At this rate, we may have to update our motto to Education, Advocacy… and Fun! Read Scott Thomason’s article below for a more in-depth look. (Photo: attendees at the Napa Group event.)
 T-Shirts for Sale
We’ve created our own Napa Sierra Club T-shirt, complete with a custom label. They look terrific—ideal for holiday gifts. Half of every purchase goes directly to the Napa Group, supporting stipends for our student interns and funding future outreach events and environmental projects. Details on how to purchase are listed below. (Photo: Gemma Roberts and Claire Mulligan presenting at the Napa Group event, wearing the new T-shirts.)
 Student Interns: PSA Video, Celebration Dinner, and More
Our student interns have been impressively busy, and their work over the past year continues to raise the bar. (Photo: Director Beth Nelsen, Nick Cheranich, Maia Medalle, Arya Adhye, Kate Bit, Gemma Roberts and Helena Falk wrapping up the Wetlands PSA shoot.)
They played a key role in producing a polished public-service announcement about the importance of protecting San Francisco Bay wetlands, especially in American Canyon. You’ll be able to view it soon.
 They also kept our event running smoothly—greeting guests, assisting with check-in, helping with T-shirt sales, and sharing their own environmental work. Gemma and Claire spoke powerfully about the issues they care about and the projects they’ve taken on. (Photo: our student interns enjoy a nice meal at Grace's Table in Napa.)
To recognize all they’ve contributed, we hosted an Intern Celebration Dinner made possible by a generous private donation outside the Club.
T hings You Can Do Now
At the event, we shared a handout highlighting simple, immediate actions anyone can take. If you couldn’t attend—or want to explore more—our online version is available here. We want you to feel empowered to start making a difference today.
There's More
Please enjoy the additional articles from our members in this issue.
Wishing you a warm and restorative Thanksgiving. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Because we will be having our annual ExCom Retreat in early February, our next Conservation Committee meeting will be March 16 at 6:00PM. If you would like to attend, just click on the RSVP button below and I'll send you a Zoom invite a few days before the meeting. Thank you. - Nick Cheranich, ExCom Chair
napavalleysierraclub@gmail.com
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Napa Group Hosts Environmental Gathering Article by Scott Thomason, Photos by Jeff Vander Stucken  More than 65 Sierra Club members and guests came to the Napa Group’s second annual “Meet and Greet” social gathering on November 14th at Skyline Park Hall in Napa. Attendees were treated to an evening of food, environmental presentations and music in a relaxed atmosphere. (Photo: event attendees included several of our student interns.) The Napa Group Executive Committee, including Nick Cheranich, Group Chair and Communications Director, Scott Thomason, Treasurer, Rich Richardson, Robert Raven and Paulina Viera Zambrano, Conservation Committee Chair, worked with a local catering company—Jujus—and several vineyards which donated three cases of wine--to make sure our guests were well-treated and well-fed. Live music was provided by saxophone artist Ashley Jemison of Oakland.  Ms. Zambrano, a Latina student at Napa Community College, emceed the evening and spoke of the importance of protecting and preserving the environment and what that means to her. (Photo: Ms. Zambrano.) “The event was a success,” said Ms. Zambrano. “It was a wonderful evening filled with amazing people. I loved seeing people from so many different communities join together that evening to support each other on the environmental issues that concern us all. It makes me very happy to be a part of such a strong community and of the Napa Sierra Club, I look forward to next year's event!”Also helping during the evening were several Napa Group student interns, including Natalie Carr, of Justin Sienna High School, Helena Falk and Gemma Roberts, both of Napa High, and Claire Mulligan who attends Vintage High School. (Photo: Ms. Roberts and Ms. Mulligan.)“I enjoyed engaging with like-minded individuals and expanding my knowledge on positive change that is occurring in my county,” offered Ms. Roberts. Ms. Mulligan added, “I had a wonderful time at the Sierra Club Social Event. It was really great to see so many people come together as a unified community of climate activists, and I left the event feeling empowered and comforted by the amazing actions of my fellow environmentalists. Furthermore, there were some incredible speakers who shared work that the Sierra Club is doing both regionally and locally to address pressing issues. Overall, the event was a great success, and I am very grateful that I got to take part as a student intern for the Napa group.” (Photo: Brad Wagenknecht flanked by Yvonne Baginski (pictured) and Anne Cottrell.) Environmental presenters included Alicia Bales, Redwood Chapter Director (pictured), Janelle Sellick, Executive Director of the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation (ACCPF), Mark Stephenson, President of the Napa-Solano Audubon Society, and Charlie Schneider, Connectivity Program Manager of Cal Trout. Article continues here. |
We Have the Tees! 
Napa Sierra Club T-Shirts For Sale!
We Have Them In Cocoa or Pine
Support Local Climate Action Each shirt is $30 (S–XL) or $35 (XXL), and about half your purchase goes directly to the Napa Sierra Club Group to support student interns and community conservation work. Great gift ideas for the holidays!
How to Order
Pick the size and color you want. At the checkout, add the quantity of the shirt, and click Buy . If you’d like more than one type of shirt (color/size), just repeat the process for each choice.
Pickup Locations
After your purchase, we’ll reach out so you can pick up your shirts in either Napa or American Canyon—whichever is more convenient for you. Napa Sierra Club T-ShirtsUnisex fit • S–XL $30 • XXL $35 
Cocoa | 
Pine |
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Eco Unfiltered, A Student Intern Podcast by Gemma Roberts and Claire Mulligan, Student Interns  Hosted by two passionate teenage climate activists, our own Claire Mulligan and Gemma Roberts, Eco Unfiltered podcast dives into the environmental challenges facing our community today. From climate justice to land-use issues, no topic is off-limits as they explore real solutions, share inspiring stories, and spark honest conversations. Whether you're a student, activist, or just curious about the planet, this podcast proves that age doesn’t define impact—action does. Link to podcast. (Left, Claire Mulligan; right, Gemma Roberts.)   |
Go Where the Fish Are!
Article by Rich Richardson
 The adage, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” is a metaphor for the health of our native fish which is deeply connected to the health of our ecosystems, communities and economies across the state. Protecting California’s trout, salmon and steelhead is essential for a healthy and thriving California for all. This topic was easy for me to jump into since I have been a fly fisherman my entire life. John Gierach beloved fly - fishing author had a wonderful quote “the purpose of fly fishing isn’t to catch fish, it’s to go places where fish are caught”. The irony of this quote is that without a healthy environment there are no fish.This topic came about after we had a Meet & Greet Sierra Club meeting with a wonderful array of speakers including Charlie Schneider Connectivity Program Manager from CalTrout, FISH-WATER-PEOPLE.Charlie spoke on a plethora of exciting and generationally changing subjects, impacting river restoration projects in a very positive way for California. For more detailed information regarding these innovations check out CalTrout’s amazing educational website caltrout.org. Two areas I want to touch upon Is the Klamath River and the Eel River Restoration Project. This past October marked the first anniversary since the removal of the four lower Klamath dams, and scientists, advocates and Tribes are celebrating dramatic ecological improvements for the Klamath River from improved water quality, colder water temperatures and a rapid return of native salmon populations to previously blocked habitats. The first salmon in more than a century is believed to have pushed up the Klamath River into waters formerly blocked by dams. (Photo: Valentin Lacoste) Article continues here. |
Want to Do Something About Climate Change Now? Try Napa County Climate Challenge Article by Nick Cheranich  Talking about climate change can leave people feeling overwhelmed. Psychologist Per Espen Stoknes calls this the “doom barrier*,” when fear turns into disengagement. But we don’t have to stay stuck there. Real, practical steps are available right now—and they’re easier when we tackle them together. (Photo: The Climate Challenge website.)  Start by joining the Napa Sierra Club Community Group on the Napa County Climate Challenge website (formerly NapaRegeneration.org). Once you’re in, you can communicate with others, form small teams of 5–8 households, and work together in a friendly competition. Each pound of CO₂ you reduce earns a point, and teams can compare progress, share tips, and cheer one another on. It’s a grounded, collaborative way to turn climate action into something social and motivating. (Photo: a list of some the Actions you can take.)Why this matters: about 40% of our U.S. emissions come from five everyday areas—transportation, electricity, home heating, food choices, and food waste. The site offers dozens of simple, affordable actions in all five categories. It’s free, available in Spanish, and includes classroom-ready activities for grades 8–12.When I tried it myself, my household footprint came out to 8.3 tons of CO₂ per year—about average for Napa. After completing around 35 actions (many were easy steps I’d already started), I cut that to 3.2 tons—a 62% reduction—and saved more than $2,000, all without major purchases like an EV. There’s more. Among the 100+ total actions are practical steps to strengthen your household’s preparedness for emergencies such as fires or earthquakes. These guides walk you through what to do, what to store, and how to stay safe—another way this tool builds resilience for our community. (Photo: a list of some of the Disaster Preparedness Actions you can do.)Once you see your own progress—and connect with neighbors doing the same—the sense of possibility grows. Household action won’t replace the need for strong climate policy, but it shows what we can accomplish when we move together instead of waiting. A few steps from each of us can add up to something meaningful for all of us.Questions welcome: napavalleysierraclub@gmail.com* Psychology Behind the “Doom Factor,” by Per Espen Stoknes |
Are You Interested in Making a Difference? Not Sure About What to Do? Wondering About What Your Legacy Will Be? Consider Volunteering with Us  Legacy is often defined as the desire to leave the world a better place for future generations.
At the Napa Sierra Club Group, our mission is to conserve natural ecosystems, promote sustainability in land and water use, and reduce carbon emissions. Our projects focus on issues that matter to Napa County, where local action can make a real difference.
We're working to protect the environment for those who will inherit it, but we can't do it alone.  Let's do it for them!
We’re seeking passionate individuals to join our Conservation and Executive Committees. Whether you bring expertise in research, organizing, or education—or you're eager to learn—we welcome your involvement. If you or someone you know has skills and experience that align with our mission, we need your help.
Prepare to make your legacy count. Take the first step by joining us at our next Conservation Committee meeting (RSVP here).
Also consider taking a few Actions, a few things we have identified that you can do to help Now.
For further information, email us, in care of Nick Cheranich, at napavalleysierraclub@gmail.com. Thank you! |
Challenges Facing Our Neighboring Sierra Club Group Article by Robert Raven  Sierra Club's Napa Group has been working with the Solano Group on a number of issues. Both groups are part of the Redwood Chapter, which stretches from the Bay to Oregon. Alicia Bales, Redwood Chapter's Director, has been working closely with both groups. (Photo: map showing location of Suisun City and Collinsville.)A major issue is the proposed new city and port on farmland along Hwy 12, violating a Solano County policy against such developments. Billionaires are behind this project, and they have economic, legal and political power. Now Suisun wants to annex the open space and develop itself into a city of 400,000 people, dwarfing Solano's existing cities. Traffic on Hwy 12 and 80 is already horrible, and the water and energy needs for the billionaires' new city project would compete against American Canyon's needs. For more info and to take action:https://www.solanotogether.org/Another issue is protecting our shoreline from rising sea level in the coming decades. Scott Thomason, Robert Raven and Yvonne Baginski attended Solano's Bayshore Resiliency workshop in Vallejo. The focus, besides the Suisun Marsh area, is the Napa River, and the maps of potential flooding were eye opening. The workshop collected data and mapped vulnerabilities and hazards. By next summer they will have some solutions, and by next winter have a Sea Level Rise Action Plan.For more info and to take action:https://www.bayshoreresiliency.org/aboutMs. Baginski sent a letter to American Canyon officials, urging them to conduct a similar plan. Robert encouraged Supervisor Ramos to also include parts of Carneros and Napa city. If you live in southern Napa, please contact your County Supervisors to get involved with Napa's Sea Level Rise Action Plan.To take action:https://www.napacounty.gov/2116/Board-of-Supervisors |
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