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:
TEAC, the Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council, organized the fair. A volunteer, citizen-led committee operating under the auspices of village government, TEAC “researches, reports and makes recommendations on land use, ecological integrity, environmental consequences, quality of life and public health and safety.” “We had been asked a day or two before the event if we would cancel due to the rain forecast,” said Tieger. “But it felt counterintuitive to cancel an “Eco Fair” due to poor weather. We thought that dedicated environmentalists would attend regardless of the weather – and we were right!”
Westchester Rivertowns Mothers Out Front is a team of moms and others working together to transition our communities off fossil fuels to renewable energy. Their core values are: climate justice, teaching and learning about protecting the Earth, building leadership and helping each other.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby declares itself “laser focused” on carbon pricing legislation pending in Congress.
The Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (FCWC) invited visitors to rank their environmental concerns. (Climate change was leading over ten other choices, with water quality running second.
Sustainable Westchester is nonprofit consortium whose goal is to “create healthy, resilient, sustainable communities.”
The Refillery Shop is a “zero-waste” store that promotes sustainability through “pop-ups” like their table at Tarrytown’s Eco Fair.
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