Dear Supporter,
Happy FallNews from the ChairDon't Be Spooked—Be Inspired!
A Halloween Gathering for Environmental ActionSaturday, October 31 • 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Skyline Wilderness Park Come join us again!
Last year's gathering brought together environmental advocates, community leaders, students, and friends from across our region. This Halloween, we're doing it again—and expanding the conversation. (Photo: a scene from last year's event)
Please join the Napa Sierra Club Group for our 3rd Annual Regional Environmental Gathering, an afternoon of inspiration, conversation, and connection at Skyline Wilderness Park.
Together with participants from Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, Mendocino, and neighboring counties, we'll explore some of the important environmental issues facing our region—and, more importantly, what we can do about them.
Spaces are limited and are filling fast, so if you're planning to attend, please RSVP today. Please RSVP Today Featured speakers include Congressman Mike Thompson, Sierra Club California Director Miguel Miguel, Sierra Club Redwood Chapter Executive Director Alicia Bales, former NASA scientist Drew Isaacs, environmental historian David Schmidt, local conservation leaders, and one of our outstanding student interns.
 The next generation of environmental leaders: Napa Sierra Club student interns.
And because this is a gathering, not just a program, we'll have delicious food, local wine, live music, and plenty of time to meet and connect with fellow environmental advocates from across the region.
Come for the conversation. Come for the community. Come away inspired—and perhaps with a few new ideas about how you can make a difference.
Space is limited, so please let us know if you'll be joining us and how many people will be in your party. Please RSVP Today (if planning to attend) We hope you'll spend part of your Halloween afternoon with us at Skyline Wilderness Park.
No tricks. Just good people, good conversation, and a few treats along the way.
— Napa Sierra Club Group ____________________________ Elections Are Near
Why are we urging you to vote YES on Napa County’s Measure B, NO on Proposition 45, and show your support for the Bay Area Air District’s Rule 9-6?  Measure B (Napa County): We have come so close over the years to passing a land-preservation measure, only to see it defeated because it failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. Measure B is different: it needs only a simple 51% majority to pass. Read more about it below.  Proposition 45 (State-wide): Plain and simple, Prop 45 would make major changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in one fell swoop. Read below why we and so many other environmental groups believe this is something California voters should understand and do everything they can to help in its defeat.Rule 9-6 (Bay Area): If approved by the Bay Area Air District Board, Rule 9-6 would set pollution limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) from natural-gas-fired water heaters. Water heaters sold or installed in the Bay Area would have to meet those limits. When an old water heater is replaced, the new one would have to meet the requirements—meaning that, over time, dirtier water heaters would be replaced with cleaner ones. That is very good for our health and the environment. ____________________________  Our Newest Student Intern
Please meet our newest student intern, Sophia D’Antilio. She hails from Calistoga and attends Justin-Siena High School. Please read her bio below.
____________________________
Shakespeare  and Climate Action
Speaking of interns, what do they have in common with Shakespeare and climate action? Quite a bit, as it turns out! Read my article below to find out what we’ve been up to.
____________________________  Napa Sierra Club T-shirts for Sale
Oh la la, comme c'est chic! Needing something new for your wardrobe? If so, please see below for colors and sizes that work for you. We can ship it to you free. Bonus: every shirt sold supports our local work and helps fund future programs.
____________________________  Elections Update in American Canyon
If you live in American Canyon and aren’t sure who is running for City Council, please read Scott’s summary of the Public Election Forum held on September 28.
If you want more info on other candidates and propositions, visit the Redwood Chapter's Endorsements page.
And finally, don’t forget to RSVP for our Environmental Gathering ASAP! We would love to see you there on October 31.
____________________________ Our next Conservation Committee meeting will be November 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
|
Please Vote Yes On Measure Bby Nick Cheranich Protecting Napa County’s open space, watersheds, agricultural lands and natural resources has long been an important part of the Sierra Club’s work. That is why the Napa Group has chosen to support Measure B, the Napa County Wildfire Preparedness, Watershed Protection and Open Space Preservation Act of 2026.
PLEASE VOTE YES ON MEASURE B
Measure B would establish a half-cent countywide sales tax for 18 years, beginning in April 2027, expected to generate approximately $23 million annually. The money would be kept in Napa County and dedicated to wildfire preparedness, watershed protection and open-space preservation. Half of the revenue would go to Napa County for competitive grants supporting wildfire-prevention projects such as hazardous fuel reduction, firebreaks and fire-safe evacuation routes. The other half would go to the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District for projects involving open-space preservation, watershed protection, wildfire resilience, parks and trails. For the Napa Group, the measure represents an opportunity to provide more consistent, long-term funding for work that is often dependent on competitive and unpredictable grants. Protecting watersheds and the lands surrounding our reservoirs is particularly important because those natural areas are connected to the quality and reliability of Napa County’s drinking water. Measure B also includes accountability provisions. The measure creates a nine-member citizen oversight committee, requires annual reporting on how funds are used, and establishes a dedicated fund for the tax proceeds. Essential purchases, including groceries and prescription medicine, are exempt from the tax. We see this as another opportunity for the Napa Group to work alongside local conservation organizations, community leaders, firefighters and public agencies on a shared goal: protecting the natural resources that make Napa County such a special place to live. The Napa Group is pleased to support Measure B and to continue working with our community to protect Napa County’s lands, watersheds and open spaces for the future. |
The Disappearance of the Great Barrier Reef by Arya Adhye, Student Intern Since childhood, the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia has been on my bucket list. After seeing photos and hearing about its greatness, I regarded the reef as a fantastical place teeming with life, diversity, and colors. It was especially high on my bucket list because I had heard of the reef’s destruction over many years. I feared that by the time I would be able to go, it would be completely gone. So, when my sister had the opportunity to study abroad in Australia this summer, my family and I jumped at the chance to witness its beauty with our own eyes. My parents visited Australia in 2006, two years before my birth, and were lucky enough to see the Great Barrier Reef in all its previous glory. My dad scuba dived while my mom snorkeled, but when recounting the experience, they both recalled the vibrant colors of the fish and reefs. They told tales of colors so bright they were almost neon, stunning anyone who passed. Everywhere they turned, they were surrounded by schools of fish, and any form of sea life a person could imagine. After hearing these dazzling stories, my excitement only grew. To ensure my sister and I got the same experience as they did, my parents booked a tour in the same area, Michaelmas Cay.  The day of the tour quickly arrived. I have the unfortunate burden of terrible sea-sickness, so as we sped towards the reef, the boat rocking back and forth, I felt less and less like I would be able to enter the water without throwing up, especially since the wind was particularly strong on that winter morning. However, my desire to see the reef overpowered my stomach’s unrelenting twists and turns, and I entered the water. I snorkeled from the boat towards the Cay (the small, beachy island). Looking down, I was not bombarded with colors, as I had hoped. The water, incredibly clear, showcased the glaring lack of vibrancy of the reef. As we swam, I saw mostly sand, then large patches of grey reef. An occasional, small group of fish swam by my body. I had expected a bustling city of sea life, but what I was met with looked like an abandoned city. A ghost town.  The tour guide pointed out different types of fish, yet I struggled to distinguish them, as they were all pale-skinned with grey undertones. Soon, the Cay’s shores were in view. However, my vision was quickly obstructed by plumes of sand drawn up by my fins hitting the seafloor. I looked down, surprised we had already arrived at the beach. I then realized we had not yet arrived: the Cay was still 20 or 30 meters away. Below me were the remains of the reefs my parents had seen twenty years ago. Healthy and thriving reefs were replaced by uniform, white sand, washed away by decades of human abuse. I swam quickly the rest of the way to the beach, flopping down on the sand, filled with a crushing sadness. (Photo: Michaelmas Cay in 2009) Article continues here. |
Vote No On Prop 45 - Protect California's Environment for Future Generationsby Rich Richardson“A person without a vote is a person without protection” - Lyndon B. Johnson We know this is a critical and complicated general election in California, with 14 different propositions on the ballot, often with competing objectives. It is critical that we take the time to thoroughly research these propositions to fully understand what our votes will decide. We also have a general election in the United States, with several long-term environmental issues at stake depending on who is elected to the Senate and House on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. "Prop 45 weakens environmental protections in California at a time when the Trump Administration continues to roll back environmental protections at the federal level."
 I recently attended two separate Town Hall meetings with U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson and U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman. They both recommended voting early if possible and placing your ballot in a secure ballot drop box rather than using the United States Postal Service. This helps ensure ballot security and expediency and that your ballot ends up where it is supposed to go, is received on time, and is counted. Regarding Proposition 45, there is an excellent website, noprop45Ca.com, where you can review and research more information about why Prop 45 is not a safe environmental law or a cost-saving idea for California. If you are seeking direct answers, reach out to Gabriel Tolson by text or phone at 415-599-6740. Gabriel Tolson works for the Planning and Conservation League, an environmental policy advocacy organization based in Sacramento. Their website is www.pcl.org. I have attended three Zoom calls with Gabriel Tolson regarding Proposition 45. Gabriel is an excellent speaker and very knowledgeable about the reasons Prop 45 is not an acceptable law for California. The Sierra Club also opposes Prop 45. There are two main drivers behind Prop 45. One is the California Chamber of Commerce, which is the sponsor of this measure, and its single largest financial contributor is Building a Better California. Roughly $42 million to date has been spent to pass Prop 45, versus approximately $15 million opposing it. There are two main drivers behind Prop 45. One is the California Chamber of Commerce, which is the sponsor of this measure, and its single largest financial contributor is Building a Better California. Roughly $42 million to date has been spent to pass Prop 45, versus approximately $15 million opposing it. Article continues here. |
Napa Group's New Student Internby Sophia D'AntilioMy name is Sophia D’Antilio, and I am a junior at Justin-Siena High School in Napa Valley. I live in Calistoga, where the Napa River runs alongside my home, and growing up there has developed my interest in local ecosystems and how they change over time. From a young age, I have observed bird migrations and fish runs occur right in my backyard, which has fostered a passion for environmental advocacy and watershed conservation. Through both personal experience and my recent studying of local watershed systems, I’ve developed a strong interest in environmental restoration, especially protecting fish populations and maintaining healthy water systems. I’m also interested in pursuing a pre-law track to explore how environmental policy can support conservation efforts. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a Napa Sierra Club student intern and look forward to contributing to projects that protect our local environment. |
Shakespeare Meets Climate Change by Nick Cheranich What happens when Shakespeare’s most famous soliloquies are given new meaning by a generation facing a rapidly changing climate? That’s the idea behind the Shakespeare Climate Action Project, a new project featuring student interns performing contemporary adaptations of four of Shakespeare’s great speeches. Four hundred years ago, Shakespeare wrote about human blindness, ambition, and consequence. Today, those words can sound less like history—and more like a warning. The project began with Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be,” transformed into “To Act, or Not to Act,” a meditation on the consequences of climate inaction. The second, adapted from Macbeth’s “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,” explores what happens when tomorrow becomes an excuse for putting off action today. From the beginning, the project was a creative collaboration between the student interns and me. I had some background in Shakespeare from my years teaching at Silverado Middle School, where my students and I performed several Shakespeare plays. For these climate adaptations, we held a few rehearsals together, then took the cameras outdoors and into the community to shoot the scenes. The students weren’t simply performing someone else’s script—they helped bring these centuries-old words into a very contemporary conversation about climate change. Their passion about the subject comes through. Both films—about four and a half minutes each—have now been completed and feature our talented student interns performing outdoors amid the landscapes they are helping to protect. Watch the videos:To Act, or Not to ActTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowTwo more adaptations are planned: King Lear’s “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks” and The Tempest’s “Our revels are now ended.” There is also a larger idea behind the project. We are exploring the possibility of bringing the four films together with short interviews with the student performers and other connecting material into a half-hour documentary for public television. The individual monologues, however, will remain stand-alone films that can be shared in schools, at community events, and through social media. The goal is not simply to put Shakespeare into a climate-change setting. It is to ask whether words written four centuries ago can help us see our own choices—and our relationship with the natural world—in a different way. |
American Canyon Public Forum, Co-Hosted by Napa Sierra Club by Scott Thomason  On September 28 at the Recreation Center in American Canyon, the Napa Sierra Club Group (Scott Thomason) and the Napa Valley Wildlife Habitat Conservation Coalition (Yvonne Baginski), hosted a Public Forum for candidates running for American Canyon City Council. (Photo credit: Linda Brown; L to R: David Oro, Sindy Biederman, Jason Kishineff, Robert Cole, Gaginski, and Thomason.) Purpose of the gathering was to give each candidate an opportunity to answer environmental and land use questions prepared by several conservation groups including Napa Vision 2050, Napa Climate Now!, the Sierra Club, Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), and the Napa County Wildlife Habitat Conservation Coalition (NCWHCC). Attendees included American Canyon citizens, Napa County environmentalists and four of the five City Council candidates, including incumbent David Oro, Sindy Biederman, Robert Cole, and Jason Kishineff.  Questions included how to address sea level rise threats, the impact that proposed industrial and housing developments will have on wildlife and habitat in American Canyon and surrounding land proposed for annexation, how to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, how to improve the impact of transportation along Highway 29, and water usage, conservation and sustainability in American Canyon. Ironically, one question, “How effective do you think our local LAFCO is in protecting the environment, the rural character of American Canyon, and preventing urban sprawl? What could make it even better?” was submitted by former LAFCO Executive Director Brendon Freeman before he was recently replaced by the LAFCO Commission. Each candidate was sent the questions to be asked a week in advance, then given three minutes for an opening statement and two minutes to answer each of the questions on a rotating sequence throughout the afternoon. The purpose of the forum was not to endorse any specific candidate, but instead to give those attending an opportunity to hear answers from each candidate and form their own opinion about who to support. “As I always thought, being on the City Council is not a part-time job,” states American Canyon resident Joe Nabrynski, who attended the forum. “The knowledge you must have, just on the environmental issues alone that affect the community, require a lot of research and work. Whoever you vote for, that person will have to make a full-time commitment. I thought the candidates handled themselves very well,” Nabrynski added. “I'm very glad I attended the forum and learned more about the City Council candidates and how they view the issues confronting American Canyon,” stated long-time environmentalist Christina Benz. “I was most interested in the responses to questions about the sea level rise threat, open space protection, and making Highway 29 safer and more pedestrian- and bike-friendly through American Canyon. “The presenters did a great job!” Ms. Benz concluded. Article continues here. |
We Have Your Tees! Time to Gear Up for Fall 2026
Napa Sierra Club T-Shirts For Sale!
We Have Them In Cocoa and 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 (at the Earth Day Event) or American Canyon—whichever is more convenient for you. Or, if you can't pick them up, we'll deliver them to you (no charge). Napa Sierra Club T-ShirtsUnisex fit • S–XL $30 • XXL $35 Cocoa T-Shirts | Pine T-Shirts |
|
|
|
