A GREAT DAY OUT

TEAC's “ECO FAIR” BEATS FOUL-WEATHER PREDICTIONS

By Bar­rett Sea­man – (Used with permission from The Hudson Independent)

A lot of events were planned in the River­towns for the first week­end in Oc­to­ber, so the dis­mal weather fore­cast trig­gered by Hur­ri­cane Ian was not wel­come news. Irv­ing­ton High School can­celed its home­com­ing pa­rade. Folks in Dobbs Ferry fret­ted that there was no rain date for Ferry Festa, the an­nual street fair that would close Main and Cedar Streets to ve­hic­u­lar traf­fic. Many won­dered whether Tar­ry­town’s Eco Fair sched­uled to ac­com­pany the reg­u­lar Sat­ur­day morn­ing TaSH farm­ers mar­ket would have to be can­celed.

The worst fore­casts did not ma­te­ri­al­ize, how­ever. Gray skies and af­ter­noon driz­zle were not enough to stop Ferry Festa, and most of the en­vi­ron­men­tal groups sched­uled to set up shop in Pa­tri­ots Park did so.

The 16 en­vi­ron­men­tal groups par­tic­i­pat­ing in the Eco Fair were able to bol­ster their au­di­ence of eco-devo­tees with farm­ers mar­ket pa­trons. Among the at­ten­dees were Tar­ry­town Mayor Karen Brown and State Sen­ate Ma­jor­ity Leader An­drea Stew­art Cousins.

There were es­tab­lished groups like Sus­tain­able Westch­ester and Cit­i­zens Cli­mate Lobby along­side more nar­rowly fo­cused groups like the Rewil­d­ing School, the Re­fillery and the Hack­ley School’s pro­gram to pro­tect the Tar­ry­town Lakes. At the end of the day, the Tar­ry­town Tree Com­mis­sion had given away al­most 200 White Spruce and Bal­sam Fir trees.

The Tarrytown Tree Commission gave away almost 200 White Spruce and Balsam Fir trees, and the Vegan Mexican food truck situated on the other side of the park sold out by 12:30pm. TEAC was able to customize an electrical connection for them to avoid running their generator (which would not have been permitted).

Or­ga­niz­ers deemed the fair a “great suc­cess in spite of the poor weather pre­dic­tions,” said TEAC co-chair­man Dean Gal­lea. Added Rachel Tieger, the other TEAC co-chair, “When they were not busy, ex­hibitors vis­ited each oth­er’s booths with a sense of col­lab­o­ra­tion and shared ad­ven­ture.  At­ten­dees were de­lighted by the ex­pan­sive va­ri­ety of of­fer­ings and the wealth of in­for­ma­tion avail­able.”

A sam­pling of par­tic­i­pat­ing groups:

By Katie Krider, TEAC Volunteer 

Early fall’s the time to be on the lookout for the great Monarch migration.  You have heard that if you want to help the Monarchs, grow milkweed, which is true.  It’s the only plant Monarch caterpillars eat, so without milkweed, we won’t have Monarchs.  However, there’s more we can do in addition to planting milkweed. Adult monarchs need nectar, LOTS of nectar, especially during their grueling fall migration.  This is where fall blooming natives such as asters and golden rod play a major role in the life of the Monarch. 

What is the great Monarch Migration?

Unlike other butterflies who overwinter in place, our endangered eastern Monarchs migrate up to 3000 miles south in the fall to overwinter in the Sierra Madre Mountains of central Mexico.  In mid-March, these same Monarchs begin to travel back north and east to central Texas and the southern US sucking up nectar, mating and laying eggs.  Their offspring are the “spring” generation. The “spring” generation flies north and east to the summer breeding grounds in the northern portion of the US and Canada. Thanks to those  planting milkweed, Tarrytown is a part of the summer breeding grounds where 2-3 more “summer” generations of Monarchs will drink nectar, mate and lay eggs, living about 2-6 weeks each generation.  During this time, milkweed and other blooming natives are vital to Monarchs.  The generation born after mid-August, the “fall” generation, holds off on mating (milkweed no longer needed) and over the next few months make the long trek back to Mexico in the millions (let’s hope) where they overwinter and start the whole process again in the spring. This “fall” generation lives up to 9 months. (For more information on the Monarch migration, check out this link.)

In years past, Tarrytown has sometimes been lucky enough to be on the migratory path of more northerly Monarchs heading south with hundreds of Monarchs hanging out for a few days to dine on fall blooming natives before continuing south. The above photo is from my garden on October 7, 2017. I hosted more than 50 Monarchs while they feasted on my New England asters.  It was magical!

So be on the lookout for Monarchs this October and, if you haven’t already, be sure to plant some asters and goldenrod for next year to invite these mighty migrators for a visit.  If you need some advice on what to plant, look back (to Mai Mai Margules article from the September Newsletter here). Oh, and plant some milkweed while you’re at it.  The Monarchs will thank you for it.

The Tarrytown Lakes Parkland consists of 72 acres that has two lakes at its center. There are many trails throughout the parkland, the most prominent being the one that circumvents the lakes.

Having lived in Tarrytown for all of our lives, the lakes and its surrounding trails have always been a special place for my brother and me. It is where we learned how to kayak, ride our bikes, and run. Additionally, it is often used by teachers and students alike at Hackley.

However, there are many issues that plague the lakes. The most prominent are the invasive plants and the amount of litter on the trails. The invasive plants have pushed out and killed off many of the native plants. And since the trails are used by so many people, the sides of the trails are oftentimes covered in trash, even though there are designated trash cans alongside portions of the trail. People have also thrown bottles and wrappers from their cars onto Neperan Road which winds up in the lakes. All of this is obviously terrible for the environment.

The Hackley Lake Keepers was founded three years ago by my brother, Maxwel Lee, when he realized there was a real need to keep the lakes and its surrounding trails clean of trash. Its mission statement is as follows: Our club gives back to the Tarrytown community by partnering with TEAC in order to monitor the ecosystem around the Tarrytown Lakes Parkland and keep its surrounding waters/trail-ways clean. We host cleanups throughout the year and recruit volunteers to pick up refuse around the lakes.

While my brother and his co-chairs have graduated and gone off to college this year, my co-chair and I really hope to recruit more volunteers, collaborate with other clubs, and organize more cleanups this year. Our faculty advisor even suggested that we partner with the Pollinators club and try to make native plant seed bombs that we can throw during our cleanups.

Ultimately, we hope to attract more students across our K-12 school, and local volunteers to come to our cleanups, and that the Lake Keepers will continue to grow in its mission.

On September 25th, we held our first cleanup for the 2022/23 school year. We had over a dozen students show up as well and one faculty member, and three parents. Collectively we picked up eighteen bags of trash, ranging from tire rims to fishing rods.

We would like to thank Ms. Tieger and Mr. Gallea for their support in bringing supplies such as pickers and vests, as well as the Tarrytown Police for providing an escort along Neperan Road to keep us all safe while picking up trash. 

Please check out our Instagram @HackleyLakeKeepers for information on upcoming cleanups!

By Dean Gallea, TEAC Co-Chair

There were EV dealers showing the latest from Chevrolet, Volvo, Audi and Ford, and the amazing new F150 Lightning truck, whose battery can serve as a source for keeping your home running in a power outage.

The Bee-Line bus company, who operates the public bus lines in Westchester, gave tours of one of their full-size, fully-electric buses, and the White Plains school district showed their electric school bus. 

There were all sorts of electric lawn equipment on display, both professional-grade and for homeowners. There was even a “buy-back” program, allowing Bedford residents to turn in one piece of gas-powered lawn equipment in exchange for a $100 voucher towards the purchase of an electric alternative; this will be an ongoing program, with the next buy-back event on Oct 15th. https://bedford2030.org/gva_event/lawnbuyback/ 

Environmental organizations represented included the NY League of Conservation Voters, 511 RideShare, and the NY Power Authority. Live music, a food vendor with empanadas and tacos and dry weather made for an enjoyable event for the hundreds of attendees. Plan to go next year!

Mini Solar Farm “Up the Hill”: The new David Rockefeller Creative Arts center, which I toured a few days ago, is opening to the public on Oct 15th. Adjacent to Kykuit, it will host an art gallery, performance space, and educational programs. I was pleased to learn that the rebuilt former storage building – a grand one, in Rockefeller style – was designed to be a LEED Platinum, net-zero-energy facility. It has a large solar array behind the building, on former lawn area, that will produce more electricity than the building can consume, and it will have a rain garden that will both conserve water and reduce runoff pollutants. https://thehudsonindependent.com/art-comes-alive-at-the-new-david-rockefeller-center/ 

California Clean Car Policy Spawns Nationwide: As you may have heard, California adopted rules that mandate a stop to sales of non-plug-in gasoline-powered cars and trucks in the state by 2035. As is often the case with California’s trend-setting environmental laws, this one is catching on in other states as well. New York, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts and others have signed onto the ban. According to Green Car Reports, more than a half-dozen other states likely will clarify their policies soon, adopting stricter emissions requirements at the least. These new laws will speed the transition to electric driving. According to U.S. Government figures, by 2026 about 17% of the U.S. fleet will be plug-in hybrid or fully electric, on the way to a target for EVs and PHEVs to make up 50% of the fleet in 2030.

The vision for the mural (see the image at the top of this newsletter) on Kaldenberg Place across from the Music Hall, originated from the Placemaking Committee. 

The Placemaking Committee is a newly established body that the Village of Tarrytown created to collectively “reimagine and recreate special places throughout the village for people to gather, meet and mingle. “

A mural was envisioned as a way to transform a public space, strengthening the connection between people and the places they share. It was agreed by the committee that the mural would communicate an inviting and welcoming message, keeping it bipartisan and non sectarian, acknowledging the history and diversity of Tarrytown. 

A call for artists was sent out to various art organizations throughout Westchester and New York City. After reviewing the submissions, Tim Grajek was selected, a local artist with proven artistic talents. 

The location of the mural on Kaldenberg Place is the perfect spot for brightening up the street and for welcoming visitors and residents entering Tarrytown. The Placemaking Committee is optimistic that the mural is one of the first of future art projects throughout the village. 

There is a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for October 24th at 6:00 PM and immediately following, a celebration at Horsefeathers 6-8.

By Kim Dejesus, Community Garden Manager



When you hear “collard greens”, do you think of those brown mushy things that have been cooked for half of the day? We aren’t sure why collard greens have been so overlooked, but they can be used in place of almost any greens in a recipe, although you may have to adjust cooking time for the firmer texture. If you are a gardener, you may know that collard greens offer a great bang for the buck. Three or four plants can supply a small household greens all season long! 

This is a super quick and easy preparation, but feel free to modify and experiment. 

• 4 - 6 collard leaves

• 1/2 red Bell pepper (cut in strips) - can substitute other seasonal peppers from the farmers market or garden

• 1/2 onion ( sliced) - shallots would be delicious too

• 1 Garlic clove (thinly sliced)

• 1-2 Tbsp Olive oil

• Vinegar - any flavor (splash, cap full) or could use a splash of crisp white wine

• ½ C Water

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Pepper flakes (optional)

Wash leaves, remove center rib. Roll a couple of the leaves up at a time and chop – set aside

Add olive oil to a skillet, once heated (not too hot) add bell pepper saute till slightly tender

Add onion & garlic and saute till both are tender

Add the chopped collard greens, salt pepper and saute all together

Add about a 1/2 a cup of water (or more as needed) and simmer with top lid on till tender

Add vinegar and pepper flakes 

Optional: can toss in some black-eyed peas, tofu or your favorite legume to add plant based protein

Enjoy!



Extremely local: Vitamin-rich, delicious and versatile greens, growing in Tarrytown's Community Garden.

by Suzy Allman, TEAC member

Have you discovered all the hiking, biking, kayaking, and historic sites the Hudson Valley has to offer?

The Hudson River Valley Ramble is an annual calendar of (mostly) outdoor events throughout the Hudson Valley, from north of Albany to Yonkers. It takes place weekends in the month of September, and this year TEAC's Eco-Fair was on the schedule.

Events are located in nature preserves, historic sites, on the Hudson River, in cemeteries (yes indeed!), farms, distilleries, orchards, and more! 

If you're new to the area, or haven't really explored the Valley (or your county) deeply, put the Ramble on your calendar for next year. The catalogue of events is released, typically, in late August.

There were over 130 events on this year's calendar, and every year the list grows.  Some of my favorites this year were: 

Canoeing in Tivoli Bays, Tivoli



Amazing, and true!: New York DEC's National Estuarine Research Reserve provided, for free, all gear and canoes, along with a fascinating introduction to the Tivoli Bays area and the Hudson River beyond. Participants paddled through a cattail marsh as a naturalist spoke about the marsh at rest stops. All free! (This program is held every year, and several times a year, at different estuary locations in the Hudson River. Watch for it, and sign up, here.)

The Equinox Sunset Hike at Rockwood Hall, Sleepy Hollow

Gorgeous at any time of day, this hike was particularly picturesque in the setting sun, and as it finally faded to night, the hikers --  a jolly group on this walk -- were treated to a rare glimpse of the bridge, lighthouse and New York City skyline.


Hiking through the tall grass of Rockwood Hall, Sleepy Hollow. The trails offer wide views of the Hudson River, especially picturesque at sunset.


The view of the TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE at sunset, with the New York City skyline and shadowy lighthouse.


Beekeeping at Olana State Historic Site, Hudson

It's no big deal to get up close to a swarm of bees if you're protected. Olana Historic Site's resident beekeeper and pollinator advocate Chris Layman took us for a deeper look inside keeping bees and maintaining a healthy hive. Donning bee veils, we visited an active (and extremely healthy!) observation hive.


Olana State Historic Site's resident beekeeper and pollinator advocate Chris Layman with a "smoker", used to relax bees during observation.

A Two-Lighthouse Cruise, via a Solar-Powered Boat

Only seven lighthouses remain in the Hudson River; this cruise took participants to two of them: the Kingston Rondout Lighthouse and the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse in the Mid-Hudson area. The noiseless glide to these historic buildings is via Solaris, the 100%-solar-powered boat built by the Hudson River Maritime Museum. 


Visitors to the Rondout Lighthouse stand atop its square tower and enjoy views up and down the Hudson River and the mouth of the Rondout Creek.

Did you know: Switching from plastic bags to reusable bags is only 1 percent as effective as giving up meat for one year! Source: Journal of Environmental Resource Letters