Dear editor, For many, Saturday, April 21, was like any other number of spring weekend days: grabbing breakfast and the morning cup of coffee on the run, kids’ sports and a futile effort to address those ever-present chores or homework.

For others, it was an important day to honor our community and our environment, Earth Day. This marked the second anniversary of a home-grown event, Spring Clean Napa, where local residents enhanced the quality of our life by picking up litter and recyclables in their neighborhoods. More than 150 concerned and passionate citizens made their way to the Napa Firefighters Museum distribution and collection center to deliver their catch.

Delicious treats supplied by Melissa Teaff, Peet’s and Buttercream fueled the effort and complemented the personal reward of doing a good deed for the day. Our generous sponsors included Napa Recycling and Waste, Wal-Mart, the Volunteer Center of Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Register, the Napa Chamber of Commerce, the members of Napa Rotary clubs, Gravett & Frater and many, many others. What was once a Leadership Napa Valley project designed by Ellen Eshelby, Elisabeth Frater, Derek Gibbs, Sheila Gentry, Brian Teaff and myself is now an ongoing annual event.

Thank you, Napa citizens for your commitment to spring cleaning!

Mike Basayne / Napa