Napa Valley College Foundation elects new board members
The Napa Valley College Foundation Board of Directors elected three new members at a special meeting last week.
They are:
Richard Hall
Richard is a strategic finance and executive management consultant to the wine industry. His career began at Siemens AG in Erlangen, Germany, where he worked with advanced robotic inventory systems before transitioning into accounting, finance, and corporate planning. After working in healthcare for both private and publicly held companies, he entered the wine industry with Leslie Rudd Investment Company. He later served as Chief Financial Officer at Cliff Lede Vineyards for 14 years. Since then, he has advised more than a dozen wineries in California and internationally in executive financial and operational roles. Richard holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Santa Cruz and an MBA in finance from Saint Mary’s College of California. He was elected twice to serve as a Town Councilmember and Vice Mayor in Yountville and currently serves on several local nonprofit boards. He lives in Napa with his wife, children, and fur babies.
Ethan Hare
Ethan Hare is a Northern California builder and business leader who has worked in the construction industry since 1999. He founded Hare Construction (HCI) in 2006 and has grown it into a leading construction and real estate development firm on the Monterey Peninsula, with additional offices in San Francisco and Napa. Under his leadership, HCI has delivered more than $250 million in residential, commercial, and institutional projects. In 2024, Ethan became a Founding Partner and President of NICCA, an integrated luxury development platform uniting brokerage, architecture, construction, interior design, and lifestyle services. Ethan is deeply committed to community service. He joined the Board of Directors of CASA of Monterey County in 2012, serving for ten years in support of children in foster care, and now continues as a Board Member Emeritus.
Marcus Sitzman
Marcus Sitzman is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and digital transformation. Having worked at industry leaders like Symantec and McAfee, he most recently held leadership roles at Cisco. Since moving to Napa with his wife, Michelle, at the start of 2024, Marcus has dedicated himself to regional resilience and civic governance. As a current Class 38 participant of Leadership Napa Valley, Marcus combines his background in operational excellence with a deep passion for the community. He is currently a student in the Napa Valley College Wine Production program and holds a WSET certification, reflecting his commitment to the region’s viticultural heritage. Marcus is a Foundation President’s Circle Member and donor to the Hospitality Training Center.
Solano County volunteers participate in the 2026 Earth Day Cleanup
Eleven sites hosted 262 volunteers around Solano County for the 12th annual Earth Day Cleanup last weekend. This year, volunteers collected 4,356 pounds of trash and 135 pounds of recyclable beverage containers.
Not only did volunteers prevent litter from flowing from Solano County’s waterways into the ocean, but they also helped contribute to California’s goal of an 80% recycling rate for all aluminum, glass, plastic, and bimetal beverage containers sold in the state.
Volunteers fanned out across sites in all seven cities in the county and collected a wide range of litter, from plastic bottles to discarded fishing line to a pile of tires. Many were equipped with trash pickers provided by the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, burlap sacks for carrying trash provided by Moschetti Coffee, and fueled by Lara Bars provided by Sprouts Farmers Market, thanks to a donation from the Sierra Club of Solano County.
Gaby Bermudez, Volunteer Services Manager with the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership, stated that “we are so proud to support and encourage volunteers to participate in Solano County’s Earth Day Cleanup. We enjoyed volunteering and contributing to keeping Solano clean and beautiful.”
At the Andrews Park site in Vacaville, several groups came out to volunteer together, including employees from Amazon and Levi’s, and students from The Academy of 21st Century Learning. One volunteer, Tatiana, noted that “it’s really good to see so much of the community come out and clean the main park in town.” Volunteers Beth and Cindy at McGary Road in Vallejo were glad to be out helping and expressed how they liked to “give back to the community (they) love so much.”
Human impact on our oceans starts here in Solano County if we don’t take action. Litter ends up in smaller waterways, like creeks, and can flow out into the San Francisco Bay, and eventually the Pacific Ocean, harming wildlife and damaging marine habitats. Events like the Earth Day Cleanup help prevent this negative impact. Residents of Solano County can also take action in their everyday life by picking up litter in their neighborhoods, recycling their CRV containers, and disposing of their pet’s waste properly.
Over 12 years, Earth Day Cleanup volunteers have been responsible for collecting 65,241 pounds of trash and 2,631 pounds of recyclable beverage containers, making a major impact in caring for our planet.
“This cleanup event really brings the community together. Businesses, schools, non-profits, community groups, and individuals want to see our waterways and open spaces clear of litter, and it’s amazing what an impact that collective action can have,” said Robyn Slater, Earth Day Cleanup Coordinator with Solano Resource Conservation District.
Community members who want to participate in another cleanup this year can also gather at Lake Solano for World Environment Day on Saturday, June 6th. That event will focus on cleaning up Lake Berryessa, the county’s major drinking water source, as well as enjoying activities such as tours of the demonstration garden with Putah Creek Council and making wildflower seed packets to take home. Lunch will be provided to all registered volunteers. Learn more about these cleanups at cleanupsolano.org.
Solano Resource Conservation District coordinates the annual Earth Day Cleanup in partnership with the Cities and County of Solano, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Vallejo Watershed Alliance, Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District, Solano Land Trust, and volunteer site leaders. Additional support is provided by the Sierra Club Solano Group, Sprouts Farmers Market in Vacaville, the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership, 95.3 KUIC, and the California Coastal Commission. Cleanupsolano.org provides up-to-date information all year long about countywide community cleanups organized through Solano Resource Conservation District: Earth Day Cleanup (April), World Environment Day Cleanup (1st Saturday of June), and Coastal Cleanup Day (3rd Saturday of September).
Fairfield High students lead the way with Regional Prom Dress Giveaway
In a powerful example of student leadership and community partnership, Fairfield High School’s Class of 2027 leadership students hosted a “Prom Dress Giveaway” on Saturday, March 28, opening their doors to students from across Solano County and beyond. The event was led by Fairfield High’s Class of 2027 co-leadership advisors Lynn Bocca and Sherry Nelson, as well as the efforts to manage setup and break down by two volunteers from the leadership class of 2028 — Dani Bocca and Alexia Weiss.
Held at the Fairfield High School library, the event welcomed students from Armijo, Rodriguez, Fairfield, and Vanden high schools, as well as neighboring districts including Vacaville Unified, Benicia Unified, and American Canyon. By the end of the day, more than 75 prom dresses had been distributed – along with makeup bags, shoes, handbags, and jewelry – helping ensure that every student could feel confident and celebrated on their special night.
The giveaway was a joint effort between the leadership students at FHS and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, whose partnership helped bring the vision to life.
“This event is a beautiful reflection of what happens when students lead with empathy and purpose,” said Rebecca Campion, Principal of Fairfield High School. “Our leadership students saw a need and turned it into an opportunity to uplift others, creating a space where every student felt valued and supported.”
Lynn Bocca, M.Ed, Education Specialist, FHS Special Education Co-Chair, and FHS Class of 2027 Advisor, emphasized the impact of student-driven service. “Watching our students organize this event from start to finish was incredibly inspiring. They demonstrated compassion, teamwork, and a deep commitment to making a difference, within our school, and across neighboring communities.”
FSUSD Superintendent Sachs highlighted the broader significance of the event. “These students are the future of our Fairfield-Suisun community. I’m grateful to the staff who guided and supported our students in bringing this vision to life, and proud to see our young leaders creating opportunities for their peers.”
The Prom Dress Giveaway not only helped remove financial barriers for dozens of students but also created a joyful and welcoming environment where participants could connect, celebrate, and prepare for a memorable milestone. And, it’s a reminder to all of us that small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.timesheraldonline.com ’
