Reminder...
FCWC welcomes articles for Westchester Environment from our member organizations. Please submit them to fcwc@fcwc.org, or call co-editors, Carolyn Cunninghman or Warren Ross at the FCWC offices, (914) 422-4053 during regular business hours.

FCWC President’s Message

By Herbert Fox

Now that the torch has been passed for leading FCWC, I would like first of all to pay tribute to Oreon Sandler for all he accomplished as president. Every president stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before, and thus I stand on Oreon’s. I thank Oreon, for all he has done to put us in the good place we’re now in. Oreon is, in my mind, the quintessential volunteer in our volunteer organization.

Let us all try to do what Oreon has done. Without the active participation of all our board and Federation members we cannot achieve our goals.

That might mean:

• Writing position papers and suggesting topics on which to take a stand.
• Writing proposals to find new sources for funding.
• Supporting WESC and SNAP to help these committed students enter more high schools.
• Working with our Federation partners, our member organizations, to identify important environmental issues and goals.
• Supporting the programs we sponsor by helping to plan them and building attendance.
• Developing new programs and providing ideas to further raise the environmental consciousness of Westchester County.

I close with a quotation from Walt Whitman:

Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling,
Give me juicy autumnal fruit ripe and red from the orchard,
Give me a field where the unmow’d grass grows,
Give me an arbor, give me the trellis’d grape,
Give me fresh corn and wheat, give me serene-moving animals teaching content.

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Dr. Herbert Fox Elected New FCWC President

By Warren Ross

Herbert Fox, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the New York Institute of Technology, was elected president of FCWC at the June 8 annual meeting at Kensico Dam Plaza.

Following welcoming remarks by County Executive Andrew Spano, Rick Turner, chair of the nominating committee, proposed the slate of new board members who, in turn, elected the officers. Dr. Fox succeeds Oreon Sandler, whose term expired but who was reelected to serve on the board. Other reelected board members are Jan Blaire, Win Parker, Warren Ross, Roberta Wiernik, and Mr. Turner was elected to a first term. Serving with Dr. Fox will be Cesare Manfredi and Jim Nordgren as vice presidents, co-treasurers Larry O’Connell and Robert Tritsch, and secretary, Rick Turner respectively.

In another change, P. Lynn Oliva retired from the board after serving for five years in a number of capacities, including secretary. Ms. Oliva is a former commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Planning, and has since worked as director of an intergovernmental watershed planning and management agency on Long Island and as a project manger for the Army Corps of Engineers. Since then she has assumed the presidency of the White Plains Library board. Mr. Sandler thanked her for her contributions to FCWC saying she will be deeply missed.

Sandler Thanks Board

Outgoing president Oreon Sandler expressed his thanks to the Board for its support during his very active three year term and his satisfaction in seeing the organization come through its strategic planning process and move ahead in many areas.The Board and staff presented Mr. Sandler with a gift in appreciation of his dedicated service to FCWC.

Keynote Speaker John Cronin

John Cronin, the first Hudson Riverkeeper and now Executive Director of the Beacon Institute and Director of the Pace Academy of the Environment, gave the keynote address. Speaking on the environmental challenge of the 21st century, he recalled that when he began as Riverkeeper there were no staff, no money, and no agenda. Instead there were many problems. Con Edison was planning to rip the top off Storm King Mountain in order to build a hydroelectric generating facility, and what is now ExxonMobil was sending its tankers up the river to flush out their tanks and take on fresh water without payment or authorization.

“All we had was imagination,” Mr. Cronin said. “We imagined a clean river, where people could swim, where the fish would come back.” Similarly, he suggested, environmentalists now need to imagine a world with clean air, clean water, and an end to global warming.

Also featured at the meeting were recognition of the late Edith Read and presentation of the first Edith Read award (see accompanying story), as well as of FCWC’s first Green Seal Awards. The winners were honored for their efforts to reduce air pollution by enforcing the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel.

FCWC appreciates the help of the Westchester County Dept. of Parks in hosting the meeting at Kensico Dam Plaza and for providing the tent and equipment.

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FCWC Members Hold Federation Meeting

By Staff

Representatives from 13 of FCWC’s member organizations*, mostly from the southern part of the county, held a Federation meeting in May at the Greenburgh Nature Center. The participants used this semi-annual meeting to report on and discuss their organization’s current and future environmental activities and concerns, and offer direction to FCWC.

Several FCWC Board members reviewed FCWC’s activities for the past year, including those activities that had resulted from the previous Federation meetings in 2005. In response to our Federation members’ concerns regarding deer and invasive plant species, FCWC co-sponsored a conference last fall with the Westchester County Parks Department on deer issues and with The Nature Conservancy this spring on invasive plant species. Also, FCWC reactivated its listserve to provide events and action alerts from our member organizations and other environmental groups on a monthly basis.

Among the members’ suggestions from this year’s discussion was a proposal to develop a “wish list” of our common environmental goals. Other FCWC members with ideas for this list should contact the FCWC office. Another suggestion was to monitor municipalities’ MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) plans throughout the county and publish a score card on them. FCWC is already planning to focus on storm water issues this fall. A late summer meeting of the Federation member organizations from the northern part of the county, as well as those unable to make the May meeting, is being planned.

*Organizations present: Bronx River Sound Shore Audubon; Bronx River Parkway Reservation Conservancy; Central Westchester Audubon; Friends of Edith Read Sanctuary; Grassroots Environmental Education; Greenburgh Nature Center; League of Women Voters; Park Hill Conservancy; Rye Garden Club; Rye Nature Center; Sheldrake Environmental Center; Saw Mill River Audubon; Saw Mill River Coalition.

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FCWC Honors Memory of Edith Read

By Carolyn Cunningham

At its annual meeting FCWC presented its first Edith G. Read Award to honor the memory of Edith Read, who died in April 2006 at the age of 102. Edith was an FCWC Board member from 1983 to 1996, a vice president for a number of those years, a Director Emerita, and one of its most illustrious members. Edith was a persuasive and persistent advocate for conservation. She was instrumental in acquiring and protecting important open space in Rye in the 1950’s and 60s, including the 47 acre Rye Nature Center and a wetland area called Parcels A and B. Later she helped preserve the wildlife sanctuary at Playland Park that now bears her name. This is only a very partial list of her accomplishments.

Since Edith was not only a valued friend, but a mentor and role model to so many in the environmental community, the FCWC Board decided that the award should go to an outstanding student from our Westchester Environmental Student Council. The first award was presented to Alex Gertner of Scarsdale, who has been an exemplary, active president of the WESC group for two years.

Alex’s acceptance remarks concluded:

“A record of accomplishments in service of the environment, comparable to Edith Read’s, is perhaps unattainable for most… To follow in Edith Read’s footsteps is to recognize environmental issues even when others negate their existence, to confront polluters beyond the scope of lagging laws and regulations, and to advance environmental efforts despite concentrated resistance and widespread apathy. This, I think, is Edith Read’s true legacy, and one that is entirely accessible and should be wholly attainable by all.”

FCWC is gathering memories of Edith and will post them on our website. At the meeting, former FCWC president, and former Friends of Edith Read Sanctuary president, Garry Corwin, reminisced about his helping to acquire the Sanctuary through his legal work that Edith paid for at an agreed “half rate”. He noted that Edith always made it clear that “you can’t compromise on the environment.” You either harm it or not.

Remembrances from others who worked with Edith over the years were displayed at the meeting.

Carolyn Cunningham is an FCWC Board member.

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Wildlife in Your Own Backyard

By Janet Allen

Does the thought of mowing your grass every week fill you with dread? Are you worried about the health effects of those chemicals you use on your lawn and garden? Then consider creating a healthier, more interesting yard this year – a yard that can be a haven for songbirds, butterflies, and other little creatures. Rather than a chore, your yard can become a source of joy and satisfaction for you and your family.

Wildlife, just like people, needs four basic things: food, water, cover, and a place to raise their young. Here are some ways you can provide these habitat basics.

Food - Birdfeeders are what first come to mind when providing food for wildlife. But native plants, trees, shrubs, and perennials can provide nectar, seeds, nuts, and berries for many more kinds of birds, butterflies, and other creatures. And although most ads imply that “the only good bug is a dead bug,” insects are an essential source of food for wildlife.

Water - Many people have birdbaths. But in addition to the usual pedestal birdbaths, many creatures prefer some water at ground level – a simple clay flowerpot saucer can fill this need. Don’t forget to clean your birdbaths frequently to prevent mosquitoes from hatching.

Cover - Wildlife needs protection from predators and severe weather. Strive to create a three-dimensional space with a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees and bushes, grasses, and other plants. Log piles, stone walls, and brush piles provide additional cover.

A place to raise young - Dead trees are especially important for cavity nesting birds. Just cut them down to a safe height and watch the birds move in! If you don’t have a dead tree, provide nestboxes.

Butterflies need particular plants on which to raise their young. Monarch butterflies, for example, must have milkweeds, and each butterfly species has its own specific host plants. Violets, parsley, dill, and willow are examples of larval host plants.

Conservation practices - Besides providing for the habitat basics, our yards can be models of healthy conservation practices. Here are a few;

Choose plants native to our region. Our native wildlife evolved along with our native plants, so they provide the best habitat for them. But some plants (even some still commonly sold) are especially bad choices because they invade our natural areas. Please don’t plant Norway maple, Japanese barberry, and Japanese honeysuckle, to name just a few.

Not enough room for plants? Eliminate some lawn, and you’ll not only have room to add some habitat-friendly plants but you’ll also have less lawn to care for.

Finally, use fewer chemical pesticides and fertilizers or none at all. These products harm wildlife and might also harm children and pets. You can maintain a “good enough” lawn by mowing high, leaving the clippings, and hand-weeding plants such as dandelions.

We like to think globally and act locally and what’s more local than our own yards? Even though we each may own only a small piece of the earth, our collective stewardship of our properties can help make a place for wildlife, protect our soil and water, and create a healthier future for our children.

Janet Allen is President and co-founder of Habitat Gardening in Central New York, a chapter of Wild Ones, and a Habitat Steward for the National Wildlife Federation.

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Davids Island: Good News but No Final Victory

By Oreon Sandler

Thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a further $9 million has been appropriated toward the acquisition of Davids Island as permanently protected parkland. Now all that is needed for the final confirmation that this vital environmental jewel in Long Island Sound will be saved is for the County of Westchester to complete the purchase.

When FCWC met with the Army Corps of Engineers last year the total estimate for cleaning up the island was roughly $14 million. Once Congress approves this latest appropriation, the necessary funds for completing this major task – together with the funding contributed by the City of New Rochelle and Westchester County – will be in hand.

County Executive Spano has done much already to further acquisition of Davids Island as a County Park, and the City of New Rochelle, which owns the island, has agreed in principle to this acquisition. The only thing that stood in the way was cleanup by the Federal government. Now that the necessary funds are likely to be approved, all County conservationists should urge that the final step in the long struggle to protect Davids Island be completed as soon as possible: County acquisition.

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FCWC Charts 2006-07 Program Year

By Staff

Following up on its emphasis on cleaner air during the 2005-06 fiscal year, FCWC will begin a water quality initiative during the year ahead.

At the recommendation of the organization’s Program Committee chaired by board member Roberta Wiernik, this initiative will entail a formally organized effort at protecting watersheds, preparing an educational program to support municipal storm water sewer system upgrades, as well as septic system maintenance programs.

The following specific programs will be launched first:

• In conjunction with the Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition and the Croton chapter of Trout Unlimited, urging the towns of Bedford, New Castle, and Mount Kisco to form an intermunicipal agreement to address problems in the Kisco River.

• Posting stormwater education materials on the FCWC website.

• Supporting a County requirement for regular septic pump-outs.

• Conducting educational conferences on clean water initiatives.

In explaining the need for such conferences, Ms. Wiernik noted that storm water runoff is a major source of non-point source pollution of our rivers and streams and of Long Island Sound. She pointed out that the State has mandated upgrades of what are called MS4s (Municipal Separate Storm Water Sewer Systems), but that despite impending deadlines many communities have yet to take the necessary actions. Expert speakers are expected to explain the issues and offer suggestions to enable municipalities to comply.

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FCWC Calls for More Information from FAA

By Staff

FCWC has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to prepare a supplement to its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) regarding its proposed redesign of the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia metropolitan airspace.

Initial information about the DEIS seemed to suggest that the impact on Westchester County of this redesign of aircraft flight paths would be minimal. However, a closer reading of the document revealed that the information concerning changes related to Westchester County Airport is inadequate to evaluate the actual noise impact.

FCWC has for years pressed the County to reduce noise and other environmental impacts from the airport and has been gratified of late that real progress was being made. Consequently, FCWC has added its voice to that of the County and other concerned neighbors of the airport in finding the DEIS to be inadequate for a definitive analysis of the recommended alternative as it pertains to the County airport.

One conclusion in the review by the county’s consultant on the DEIS, Harris Miller Miller & Hanson, Inc., is that although the DEIS does not predict changes in Westchester that would exceed FAA criteria for significant or slight-to-moderate impact in noise levels, many of the predicted changes are within one decibel or less of the criteria. This means that the changes in operations and exposure are likely to be highly noticeable by Westchester residents and other airport neighbors. In a letter to FAA, FCWC asked that the missing information be provided before the proposed changes are made.

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Calling All High School Students!

Make a difference in your community, and join WESC the Westchester Environmental Student Council.

Each month, students from all over Westchester participate in our environmental stewardship and volunteer activities, learn about natural resources, and advocate change.

Call the office to join: (914) 422-4053 or e-mail fcwc@fcwc.org - For more information visit www.fcwc.org

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