NEWS OF THE MONTH FROM THE TARRYTOWN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

MAY 2020
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
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"Keep Your Distance" by Richard Thompson? "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by the Police? "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"? Randy Newman's new "Stay Away"? If these are the songs that won't leave you alone, you're not alone. But as we continue social distancing, let's take comfort from the fact that our planet is getting a chance to catch its breath, and that maybe we learn a few more good lessons in Earth Appreciation. This month, check out how much you can reduce your carbon footprint with an electric vehicle. Get out on the Hudson and store your kayak near the river. And Thursday, May 7 (tonight!), join us on Zoom for our monthly meeting at 7:00. It's "virtually" open to the public, and we'd love to have you!

COVID-19 CHANGES EVERYTHING
HERE'S WHAT'S CHANGED (FOR NOW):
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The following is a little round-up of Covid-related changes in our neighborhood:

At Patriot's Park, garbage cans were removed due to hazardous waste being dumped. Bins will be replaced once social distancing is lifted.
The community garden at Paulding school is on pause until further notice
The TaSH Drive-thru market completed its third week with twelve vendors. There is a very organized pre-order contactless system where attendees can expect to make the rounds within 15 minutes per vehicle, but still have access to fresh local food and support our farmers/vendors. The market will remain at Parking lot F throughout the month of May, and possibly longer. http://tashfarmersmarket.org/tash-drive-thru-market
Compost bags for our foodscrap recycling program will now be available at the Village Hall lobby from 8:30-4pm (call 914.631.7873 M-F) or the Library M-F 10am-3pm by appointment (914.631.7734 or warnerlibrary@wlsmail.org). Exact change is needed $2/roll. They will no longer be sold at Grass Roots Kitchen. If you are sheltering in place the village will even arrange for delivery! Please email administrator@tarrytowngov.com

If you'd like to foodscrap, check out all the information on our website.Then, just fill the bins with your food scraps and bring the filled toters to the drop-off center, located between the Recreation and the Senior Center by Pierson Park. Please note the collection bins will be available for curbside pickup by appointment (info above) at the library M-F 10-3pm starting May 13th.

COVID-19 CHANGES EVERYTHING
SUSTAINABILITY: A LASTING PRIORITY
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The environment is taking a fresh breath at the moment. While we often lack the collective will to make the changes necessary to slow climate change in a meaningful way, we are now in a moment that demands collaboration, creativity, and sacrifice.

Let's keep up the momentum, even as the virus recedes. Let's make sure sustainability is our lasting priority.

BEES DESERVE THE BEST.
POLLINATOR PATHWAYS NEWS

If you're shopping for native plant starters there are a few local options:

Rosedale Nurseries in Hawthorne is open again, after a mandatory closure due to Covid-19. Their hours are 9-5, daily: https://rosedalenurseries.com/

Nature’s Cradle in Eastchester is taking pre-orders by email at info@naturescradle.com or for more info naturescradlenursery.com/.

For general info about Pollinator Pathways check out https://tarrytownenvironmental.org/pollinator-pathways-101/

Nearby villages are coordinating a group bulk purchase and if anyone is interested in buying multiple plugs (seedlings) they should contact us at tarrytownenviro@gmail.com

Look closely! At the Tim Duch and Lee Eiferman garden on 114 North Washington Street in Tarrytown (the old Knights of Columbus property), a new Pollinator Pathway badge adorns the support for an espaliered apple tree in full bloom.

TIGHT LINES!
PUT YOUR FISHING LINE IN THE TUBE, PLEASE.
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Everyone who fishes knows: fishing line left behind creates a wildlife hazard. Leaving a wad of cut line or, worse, line studded with sinkers or hooks, lying around on the ground is considered one of the "high crimes" of fishing miscreants, right up there with Low Holing, High Holing, Corking and Crowding.

To make disposal of these hazards easier, the Village of Tarrytown has installed fishing line collection tubes at the lakes, and at Pierson Park.

We've spared you the photo of a Blandings Turtle or a toddler goose wrapped up on discarded fishing line; instead, here's a portrait of our new fishing line collection tube, mounted cheerfully on a post in the Lakes parking area.

You can see -- and use -- these little garbage collectors at the Upper Lake parking lot, the Lower Lake kayak launch, and at the circle in Pierson Park. Other fishing line collection tubes will be installed near our popular fishing spots soon.

Remember to please use these disposal units for fishing line only.

Gas-X for Cows:
CAN COWS CREATE CARBON CREDITS?
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The lead article in The New York Times Sunday Business section for 5/3/20 describes an innovative new product that could go a long way towards reducing a well-known source of a powerful greenhouse gas: Cow flatus. Zaluvida, a biotech company founded by Thomas Hafner, has developed “Mootral”, a feed additive for cattle that is essentially “Gas-X for cows”, that cuts the emission of methane from “both ends” of a cow by one third or more in early trials.

If it were a country, the cattle industry would be the world’s 6^th-largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter. While most of us would prefer to see the beef industry itself reduced, the cutting of methane – a GHG much more potent than CO2 – produced by cow burps and farts, would be a huge step towards meeting international carbon-reduction goals.

What’s more, the Mootral additive – made from garlic – can improve milk production, since cows lose an estimated 12% of their energy in the “activities” that release methane. And, the 50-Euro per month per cow cost estimate for Mootral treatment would be more than compensated by a farm’s ability to receive (or sell) carbon-offset credits for emission reduction. Grocers and restaurants could gain as well by promoting their beef as “environmentally friendly”, though they might get pushback on that from activists.

More trials are needed to be sure Mootral is safe and that it doesn’t give the milk a garlicky taste, but you should be hearing more about this down the road.

LOVE YOUR VILLAGE
JOINING TEAC IS EASY. JUST COME TO A (ZOOM) MEETING.
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TEAC relies on volunteers to keep things moving, and we usually meet on the 1st Thursday in Village Hall, One Depot Plaza, at 7:00 PM.

Since the Covid, we've moved our monthly meetings online -- Zoom-style for now -- so you can still pitch in. The next regular TEAC meeting will be on May 7, 2020 (that's tonight!). The meetings are open to all.

Log in using the information below:

Time: May 7, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84401255003?pwd=enlyVUk1ajU0ZUZMRmU2ZDNCano4dz09
Meeting ID: 844 0125 5003
Password: 081401

KEEP EARTH DAY GOING
GET OUTSIDE. CLEAN SOMETHING UP.
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Keep Earth Day going with fun and simple outings.

Grab a garbage bag to take on your next hike and have your own clean-up (the Lakes area can always use a pickup).
Enjoy Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway, when it's closed to motorized vehicles (Sundays in May, June and Sept from 10a.m. – 2p.m. Dates: May 3, 10, 17, 31 June 7, 14, 21, 28 Sept 13, 20, 27 For more info visit: https://www.thewpf.org/event/bicycle-sundays-2/2020-05-31/)
Walk every inch of the new trails at the Lakes area in Tarrytown;
...or visit quiet Pruyn Audubon sanctuary in Millwood (where you'll find much less human traffic than at the Rockefeller Parks.)
Take cuttings of your most successful garden plants, and replant lawn areas with native shrubs and perennials;
Use the shortage of meat to inspire creative, tasty meatless meals for your family (and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time).

PADDLES UP!
NEW KAYAK RACKS, REGISTRATION OPEN AT LOSEE PARK
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There are now three kayak racks for Tarrytown residents' use, installed at Losee Park. The fee is $170 per year 4/1/2020-3/31/2021. For more information email recreation@tarrytowngov.com

Our Chairmen Report: "On Sunday we spotted a couple of Cormorants and a blue heron on the Hudson as we headed south from Losee Park. On the way back we spied the falcon cam on the new bridge." To check our the family of Peregrine Falcons go to https://www.newnybridge.com/peregrine-falcons/

TIME TO CHECK IN ON...
TARRYTOWN'S CAR CHARGER METRICS

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The electric car chargers installed in Tarrytown's commuter parking lot have been quietly gathering data and reporting on efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. They keep track of how much gasoline is saved, how much greenhouse gas is prevented, and more.

The Village sent us the graphic, above, that shows just what happens when we swap the internal combustion engine for an electric motor. The graphics represent information gathered between August 2018 and May 1, 2020.

We appreciate the many commuters who have used these chargers (and thanks to Assistant Village Administrator Josh Ringel for the graphic)!

LET'S GET COUNTED:
FILL OUT YOUR CENSUS
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Don't forget to fill out your census! Here's the link so you can do it online.

“Every emergency reveals that “impossible” things are actually doable. In this case, our society just demonstrated that it can choose to change more and faster than we ever imagined.”
-- MIT President Rafael Reif, reflecting on lessons of the pandemic for climate change action.