|
President's Message
May 2026 - Welcome to the month of May - sometimes a difficult month to predict regarding its weather. Let's hope May provides good hiking days.
I want to thank the Overnight Outings Committee for the outstanding Santa Cruz Outing that ended April 23. Although it was raining on Tuesday and Wednesday, it was sunny and comfortable on Sunday for the Año Nuevo hike and on the last day for those who wanted to hike or explore other places in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Besides, for those who did not want to deal with a rainy hike, there was the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and miniature golf, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to visit; of which a good number of us took advantage. We all enjoyed the last night as we gathered for dinner at the Water Street Grill. Thank you to Lucy for another important event - the wonderful Spring Luncheon, where we filled our bellies with good food, and had a chance to share our friendship. I want to express my gratitude to Bill Chen, who has retired as a valuable mem-ber of the Overnight Outings Committee, and to congratulate Yvonne and Bill, who recently became grandparents. Sue Lai has retired from the Website Committee. She was an outstanding member, whose computer skills were valuable to our Club. YES, we are looking for a member to join the Website Committee. For those of you who would like to see a beautiful display of irises: Dry Creek/Meyers Garden of the East Bay Regional Park District in Union City has opened the specific area to the public for you to visit. The iris display will be open on the following dates from 10 - 4: April 30, May 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, and 15. Lastly, there are a variety of hikes for you to join this month. So, get out there and have fun, while getting exercise and appreciating the splendid nature and urban landscape that make living here pretty special. Again, we need a volunteer to team up with the Website Committee, whose members will gladly assist you in what you will need to know. Please get in touch with me if you are interested in becoming the newest member. I hope to see you soon on a hike. Stay well. Respectfully submitted, Stew Perlman ************************************ CCHC Board of Directors
The CCHC Board currently meets via Zoom on the second Friday of each month. CCHC members should contact Stew Perlman with any concerns so that they can be discussed at the meeting. The 2026 Board meeting dates are listed on the Board of Directors page.
Minutes of monthly Board Meetings: January 9, 2026 Board Meeting December 12, 2025 Board Meeting November 14, 2025 Board Meeting October 10, 2025 Board Meeting September 12, 2025 Board Mtg August 08, 2025 Board Meeting July 11, 2025 Board Meeting June 13, 2025 Board Meeting May 9, 2025 Board Meeting April 11, 2025 Board Meeting March 14, 2025 Board Meeting February 14, 2025 Board Meeting January 10, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes of earlier meetings are posted on the Board of Directors page. *********************************** Conservation Committee
California Trails Survey
Trail users, advocates and professionals can share their experiences and insights by completing an online survey that will help inform the future of trail access and connectivity throughout California. This is your chance to help blaze a new path forward and guide critical trail investments included in the voter-approved Proposition 4 (Climate Bond). The online survey is open through February 2026, when virtual public meetings are scheduled for further engagement. Thank You notes were received in January for contributions by CCHC to the following: 1. Citizens for East Shore Parks To Tell the Truth This article from the National Parks Conservation Association (on the list of recipients that CCHC donates to) is eloquent in pointing out what the current administration is doing with the whitewashing of the history of the USA, a country built by immigrants, people of color, women who had to fight for voting rights and more. The cleansing of the National Parks has begun. In this political climate where one can be fired or Federal funds for the recipient Organization be withheld for being the messenger, NPCA and the writer, Alan Spears have displayed great courage I think in publishing this. Please read this. |
Announcements, Upcoming Events, and News
SAVE THESE DATES!!
MINDEN/GARDNERVILLE, NV
MULTI DAY OUTING October 4-8, 2026 Outing information here. Signups: June 1-13 ********************************************* MONTHLY HARD COPY NEWSLETTER
Members may elect to receive a snail mailed newsletter and hike schedule at an additional cost. The most recent edition is available to download. The newsletter's content is based on information from this website and from the club's Groups.io social media site. ********************************************* OTHER NEWS and INFORMATION
OPEN HIKE DATES
2nd Quarter - June Thursdays - 6/18 Sundays - 6/7, 6/21 3rd Quarter - July - September Thursdays - 8/20, 9/3, 9/17 Sundays - 7/5, 7/19, 8/2, 8/16, 8/23, 9/6, 9/27 The open dates above are updated periodically. To check real-time open dates or sign up to lead a hike, please refer to the sign-up spreadsheets under the Lead a Hike page and contact Marilyn Vihman (Sunday) or Jim Baranowski (Thursday). WE NEED HIKES FOR THE SUMMER!! There are plenty of great hikes to do over the summer months: - Lands End or anywhere along the coast - West Marin - Along the Bay, or the west side of the East Bay Hills - Carquinez Strait - City hikes in SF or around the Bay - Even shady hikes in the San Ramon Valley Check out past hikes here in the Website under Hikes, Outings > Hike Schedule Archive. Or check out the wealth of information in All Trails, or the many publications devoted to walks and hikes in our beautiful Bay Area. If you have an idea, or would like some help, please contact: Marilyn Vihman 510-708-3853 m.vihman@berkeley.edu (Sunday) Jim Branowski 925-577-1022 brnw_th@yahoo.com (Thursday) If you can get your idea (doesn’t have to be final) in by May 20, your hike can make it into the Summer Hike Schedule. PLEASE SIGN UP!!!! ********************************************* WELCOME To our new members!
Zelda Bronstein Pamela Cross Holly Ruehlin Mary Starkey Sue M Travis ********************************************* PAPER COOKIE BAGSPaper Cookie Bags, available at cost.
As a follow-up to Stew’s, the CCHC Conservation committee’s and our hikers’ support for using less plastic for optional hike treats, we now have environmentally friendly paper cookie bags at cost for cookies, trail mix, etc, These paper bags are made from natural Kraft paper stock and uses a chlorine-free manufacturing process and integrated soy blend eco-wax. There are no PFAs and are made in the US. Additional information here! |
Officers and Committees
2026-27 President
Stew Perlman Vice-President James Baranowski Treasurer Cameron Mitchell Recording Secretary Noël Siver Membership Secretary Connie Gee Corresponding Secretary Helen Wong Johe Board of Directors Mike Branning Roland Hebert Rosemary Johnson Suzy Mark Lucy Perdichizzi Hiking Schedule Marilyn Vihman, Sunday Chair Jim Baranowski, Thursday Chair Hiking Schedule Editor Noël Siver Newsletter Mailing Connie Gee Newsletter Printing Fred Mock Extracurricular Coordinator Lois Switzer Groups.io Coordinator Rosemary Johnson Nominating Committee Cameron Mitchell, Chair Harry Fong Lily Ho David Jadeson Sylvia Kwan Social Committee Lucy Perdichizzi, Chair Overnight Outings Committee Edwin Osada, Chair Steven Chun Helen Wong Johe Pam Littlejohn Angela Toy Lynne Vogensen Conservation Committee Beryl Vonderheid, Chair Liz Howell Sue Lai Barbara Mow Roberta O'Grady Jo Anne Schultz Kate Steinel Audit Committee April McMahon Linda Margossian Herb Yonge Historian Yvonne Moss Website Committee Lewis Conner Liz Howell Fred Mock |
CCHC also contributes to Save the Bay, a regional conservation organization that advocates for policy changes, restores wetlands, and provides education to ensure a clean and healthy bay for people and wildlife in the Bay Area. Save the Bay recently published an inspirational message about "Power"
Power belongs to all of us.
When voices rise together, the tide turns.
When thousands of hands dig in,
the shoreline grows.
When we don’t back down, the Bay thrives.
Power isn’t distant. It lives here… in every hand, every voice,
every act of persistence that says:
Not today, Not this Bay, Not on our watch.
Power multiplies.
One act sparks another.
One stand becomes a movement.
It’s grit. It’s persistence. It's standing firm
when walking away would be easier.
The Bay is powerful.
And this is the moment to stand with it
Thank you!
When voices rise together, the tide turns.
When thousands of hands dig in,
the shoreline grows.
When we don’t back down, the Bay thrives.
Power isn’t distant. It lives here… in every hand, every voice,
every act of persistence that says:
Not today, Not this Bay, Not on our watch.
Power multiplies.
One act sparks another.
One stand becomes a movement.
It’s grit. It’s persistence. It's standing firm
when walking away would be easier.
The Bay is powerful.
And this is the moment to stand with it
Thank you!